Sparkhouse

Dimming the Day: Evening Meditations for Quiet Wonder

The moon is out, the air has cooled, you are ready for bed. You know that scrolling on your phone does not draw you toward sleep. Power down your phone, take a breath, and begin to dim the day. Author Jennifer Grant offers gentle meditations that help you direct your gaze away from screens and toward the natural world. Replace anxiety with awe, distraction with focus, and worry with true rest.

9781506471198

You Are Revolutionary

This empowering picture book teaches all kids, no matter their age or abilities, that they have what it takes to change the world. They don't need to wait until they grow up, and they don't even need any special skills. They can make a big difference--just as they are.

9781506478302

The Animals Speak: A Christmas Eve Legend

Long ago and even today, the story is told of how all the animals in the world, at the stroke of midnight on Christmas Eve, speak. With their newfound power of speech, the animals rejoice at the birth of Jesus, born humbly in a manger and surrounded by animals. Singing in treetops, braying in stables, barking in yards--the animals all rejoice and proclaim, "The Child is come."

9781506466439

Breath Prayer: An Ancient Practice for the Everyday Sacred

Christine Valters Paintner, abbess of Abbey of the Arts, introduces us to the spiritual practice of breath prayer and offers beautiful poem-prayers for walking, working, dressing, cleaning, sitting in silence, doing the dishes, living in community--breathing the divine into our daily lives. Over time these recitations become as natural as breathing. We don't so much recite the prayers as the prayers recite us, guide us, and open our hearts to the everyday sacred.

9781506470672

We Cry Justice: Reading the Bible with the Poor People's Campaign

In We Cry Justice, leaders of the Poor People's Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival uncover what the Bible really says about justice and poverty. Liz Theoharis is joined by pastors, organizers, scholars, low-wage workers, and people in poverty in interpreting sacred stories about the poor seeking healing, justice, and freedom. Find in the pages of Scripture God's persistent call to repair the breach and fight poverty, not the poor.

9781506473642

Church of the Wild: How Nature Invites Us into the Sacred

Like many who feel unfulfilled by traditional faith expressions, Victoria Loorz went in search of a spirituality strong enough to reckon with the unraveling of her vocation, identity, and planet, and found herself in the wilderness. As cofounder of the Wild Church Network and Seminary of the Wild, Loorz invites us to reimagine our relationship with and deepen our commitment to a suffering planet by falling in love with it--and calling it church.

9781506469645

A Simple Christmas on the Farm

Warm and heartfelt, this story invites readers to imagine an inclusive, generous Christmas, focusing on the simple pleasures of family, community, and making things by hand.

9781506471365

Squirrel's Sweater

As Winter Warmup approaches, all but one of the woodland friends are bundled up for the snowy season ahead. When Squirrel discovers that her favorite sweater no longer fits, her friends help her navigate this change and turn her sweater into something new.

9781506472850

Feed the Wolf: Befriending Our Fears in the Way of Saint Francis

Turn from fear and find peace. In Feed the Wolf, author and Saint Francis scholar Jon M. Sweeney explores fifteen spiritual practices from the essential wisdom of Saint Francis for us to apply to our twenty-first-century lives.

9781506470733

Our Fair Share: How One Small Change Can Create a More Equitable American Economy

Over the past fifty years, our economy has been pulling us apart at unprecedented rates by allowing the richest Americans to hoard wealth like almost never before. In Our Fair Share, Brian C. Johnson combines accessible scholarship on wealth and income inequity with stories of real people struggling to survive and thrive in America today. Ultimately, Johnson lays the groundwork for a reasonable and actionable solution, drawing us together to build a common American future.

9781506470757

Jesus is Risen!: An Easter Pop-Up Book

The story of Jesus' resurrection and ascension is told with vibrant pop-ups by renowned paper artist Agostino Traini.

9781506433400

Portraits of Peace: Searching for Hope in a Divided America

Frustrated with an increasingly polarized society, award-winning photographer John Noltner set out on a road trip across the US to rediscover the common humanity that connects us by asking people the simple question "What does peace mean to you?"

9781506471211

The Story of Easter: A Spark Bible Story

Colorful art and rich storytelling engage young children with the extraordinary story of the death and resurrection of Jesus. Perfect for reading aloud with kids, The Story of Easter includes fun activities and questions to help children connect with the narrative - as well as Squiggles, an expressive little caterpillar that responds to the story. Spark Bible stories are designed to help kids grow in faith as they explore, discover, and wonder about God's Word.

9781506402307

A More Perfect Union: A New Vision for Building the Beloved Community 

America is at a spiritual and political crossroads. A new narrative is needed to counter the discord in her politics and culture, a new way forward rooted in Martin Luther King Jr.'s vision of community. A More Perfect Union calls for a shared vision that transcends partisanship to live out America's best ideals and realize a more perfect union.

9781506464534

Welcoming and Affirming: A Guide to Supporting and Working with LGBTQ+ Christian Youth

A handbook for pastors, youth workers, church leaders, educators, and other adults in Christian settings, this guide provides answers to the most pressing questions about sexuality, gender, mental health, safe sex, and more. You'll walk away with a lot of insight, prepared to love, affirm, and accept the LGBTQ+ teens in your community the way God does--exactly as they are.

A companion book to Queerfully and Wonderfully Made: A Guide for LGBTQ+ Christian Teens.

9781506464985

Maybe God Is Like That Too

A young boy asks where God is in his city. His grandma shows him that where love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control are, there too is God.

9781506421896

Big Bear Was Not the Same

With a relatable story and warm characters, Big Bear Was Not the Same gently introduces children to the impact that a traumatic event can have on even the strongest and bravest among us.

9781506471419

Jo and the Not-So-Little Lie: A Book about Telling the Truth

Jo's friends get upset when he lies to them. Can he find the courage to tell the truth?

9781506425030

Pray to God: A Book about Prayer

We can pray to God anywhere, any time, in any way, and about anything!

9781506410463

Rufus and the Scary Storm: A Book about Being Brave

A scary storm sends Rufus running for cover. Can a prayer help him overcome his fear?

9781506439716