Welcome

Maddy & Adam-1069

PETER SILLS

Anglican priest, pilgrimage leader and prayer guide. Welcome to his website!

Like many priests I have developed materials for Christian education and formation, and the main purpose of this website is to make them available to anyone who might find them helpful. They are available for use in parishes or by individuals.

I also give details of recent and forthcoming pilgrimages, retreats and publications. New material is added from time to time, and details are given on this page.

NEW BOOKS

SIX STEPS INTO THE BIBLE

For many people the Bible is a closed book, quoted more often than read. Six Steps is written for those who would like to open it up and do a bit of serious study to deepen their understanding of the book and its message. Six Steps is not a book about the Bible or a textbook; it is a course designed to aid study of the Bible and deepen faith. 

Written in a straightforward style, it takes the reader into the world of the Bible, exploring how it came to be written; how the Old and New Testaments relate to one another; how the picture of God develops and changes over the millennia; what the Bible says about faith and hope, morality and human destiny; and how its message relates to life today.

               ‘A feast for enquiring minds and hungry spirits.’
               ‘Gets under the skin of the Bible.’
               ‘Superbly written, engagingly accessible.’

Six Steps is a snip at £19.99!
(For full information including reviews, contents list, and how to order, go to the Courses page. Oct ’23)  

SIGNS, SYMBOLS & CEREMONIES : Exploring the Meaning of Christian Worship

This concise exploration of the meaning of Christian worship takes the reader on a journey through five basic steps of the Christian life from a first reaching out to God to becoming a witness for Christ. It is presented as a five part course based on the liturgy of the Church of England and explores the fatih expressed in the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist through the symbols used in worship: water, oil, gesture, bread and wine, light and fire. As worship unites the head and heart, so the approach is experiential: each step of the course includes times for reflection, and concludes with an act of worship designed so that the different symbols can be experienced. The course is suitable for individual study as well as for groups.
(Available in print version now (price £7.00); a downloadable version is forthcoming. For further information see the Courses page. Oct ’23)

RECENT BOOKS

FAITHFUL IS THE ONE WHO CALLS – Responding to the Call of God

The second decade of this millennium has not been a good time for the Church, scarred by the child abuse scandal and suffering a marked decline in Christian allegiance, especially in the ‘West’. At the same time there is widespread recognition of the moral vacuum that characterises our world and an enduring spiritual yearning for something deeper than materialism to shape our lives. The Christian message of speaks to this yearning, and despite its faults God calls the Church to respond. In these reflections, based on talks and courses given during the fourth decade of my ministry, I reflect on what it means to be called by God, and to all who would respond, they are offered as a resource and encouragement.
(Further information on the Books page. Available in the print version only. Copies (£5) may be ordered direct from me: click here. Oct ’21) 

I WAS THERE – The Meaning of the Story of Jesus told by those who were there

Jesus had an unforgettable impact on the lives of everyone he met. I Was There takes the reader imaginatively into the story of Jesus, exploring its meaning through the eyes of those who were there. We join Jethro as he hears Jesus teach at the lakeside, and Michal who was healed. We eavesdrop on Nathaniel and Omri, two Pharisees arguing about who Jesus is; we absorb the feelings and confusions of the disciples; and we share the joy of Mary Magdalene on the first Easter morning. As the drama unfolds, and its meaning explored, we are invited to enter into the story of Jesus and find in it meaning for our own lives. Illustrated.
(Further information on the Books page. Available in the print version only. Copies (£10) may be ordered direct from me: click here. July ’21)

LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS – Exploring the Path of Christian Hope

Taking to heart the petition in the Lord’s Prayer that the Kingdom shall come on earth as it is in heaven, I explore what it means to place our hope in Christ: What does it mean for human society and for us individually if we really want heaven on earth? The Christian hope is often thought of simply as a hope for the life to come, but, I argue, if we are true to Jesus’ prayer, then our hope cannot be limited to the life to come, but is also for the life here and now – as the Christian Aid slogan put it, We believe in life before death.
(Further information on the Books page. Available in the print version only. Copies (£15) may be ordered direct from me: click here. Oct ’20)

MEDARD’S JOURNEY – Walking the pilgrim way to Santiago

Published in the autumn of 2019, Médard’s Journey brings together the talks that I gave on the 2014 and 2019 pilgrimages. It is based on the experiences of two medieval pilgrims, Médard, a wool merchant from La Chaise Dieu, and Robert, Under-Steward to the Vicompte Beaucaire. The reflections help us to enter into the world of medieval pilgrimage, and to explore the spiritual journey of the two pilgrims – their questions and concerns have quite a contemporary ring! Details and a Review on the Pilgrimage page. Illustrated in colour.
((Further information on the Books page. Available in the print version only. Copies (£12) may be ordered direct from me: click here. Dec ’19)