Books

Writing to God 

Writing to God is a creative devotional especially for self-conscious, bored, or fatigued pray-ers. Writing to God: 40 Days of Praying with My Pen provides scriptural prompts to guide readers in their own prayer-writing. Ideal for Lent. A small group guide is available for download. (Paraclete Press 2011)

Review of Writing to God:
“I immediately began using the book in my morning prayer practice. I loved it. … It could be used in any season, though the 40-day structure and the Holy Week feature make it ideal for Lent. I recommend it!” A review from RevGalBlogPals.

Writing to God: Kid’s Edition

An engaging book to help young readers to talk to God about everyday life using everyday language. Writing to God: Kids’ Edition offers 35 prayer ideas alongside Hackenberg’s own prayers and the prayers of young writers. This endearing book is excellent for families and Christian education programs. (Paraclete Press 2012)

Review of Writing to God: Kid’s Edition:
“This book could be functional for elementary school children wanting to be more creative in their approach to prayer, but, interestingly enugh, it contains suggestions that many adults would find original and stimulating, too.”
A review at ChristianBookPreviews.com.

Denial Is My Spiritual Practice

For the wondering and the struggling, the disillusioned and the faithful, Denial Is My Spiritual Practice explores faith’s failure to provide answers when life gets complicated. Rachel Hackenberg and Martha Spong combine scripture and memoir to offer comfort, grace, laughter, and a few tears in solidarity along the way. (Church Publishing 2018) #denialismyspiritualpractice

Review of Denial Is My Spiritual Practice:
“Acquire a copy, read it, savour it, and then keep it close for those moments when, for the sake of faith or sanity, you need once more to find yourself reflected in the mirror of another soul, another spirit, one that has wrestled with God.”
A review by Rosalind Hughes for Episcopal Cafe

Sacred Pause 

Sacred Pause: A Creative Retreat for the Word-weary Christian is an inspiration for the spiritually creative and stagnant alike, with its invitation to listen more closely to the Word Made Flesh. The review from RevGalBlogPals affirmed, “Rachel Hackenberg’s book will change your life.” Sacred Pause offers a retreat experience for one or many. (Paraclete Press 2014)

Review of Sacred Pause:
“The beautiful invitation to ponder deeply and experience God’s grace.”
A review from Hearts & Minds Books.

Be sure to add your book reviews on Amazon.com!

I’m also a contributor to these titles: 

Disciplines 2021: A Book of Daily Devotions

Disciplines 2021 provides a daily companion and spiritual routine for Christians seeking to nurture their faith. Featuring 53 writers, Disciplines 2021 follows the daily lectionary and includes tips for using individually or in a small group. Rachel’s reflections focus on Holy Week. (The Upper Room 2020)

Rally: Communal Prayers for Lovers of Justice and Jesus

“When Holy Days Are Hurting Days,” Rachel’s reflection for Rally, includes liturgies for Christmas and Easter. Rally: Communal Prayers for Lovers of Justice and Jesus equips faith communities for the work of justice. Shane Claiborne describes, “This is a prayer book for revolution.” (Fresh Air Books 2020)

Disciplines 2020:
A Book of Daily Devotions

Disciplines 2020 features 53 writers who previously contributed to the beloved Weavings journal. The week of reflections by Rachel are part of the Lenten season, on texts such as Ezekiel’s vision of dry bones and Lazarus’ resurrection from the dead. (The Upper Room 2019)

Sacred Habits: The Rise of the Creative Clergy

Sacred Habits, edited by Chad R. Abbott. Essays from ministers who serve in a wide range of ministry settings, and who write honestly on clergy roles in the 21st century. Rachel’s chapter is “Disrupting Sabbath.” (Noesis Press 2016)

Disciplines 2016:
A Book of Daily Devotions

Disciplines 2016. A daily “pause” in prayer with God is a vital habit of Christian spirituality. Disciplines 2016 nurtures this practice with its collection of daily devotions by 53 writers, including Rachel Hackenberg. (The Upper Room 2015)

Kids and Prayer (DVD)

Kids & Prayer introduces children to prayer through an engaging 4-session video that includes field trips, interviews with kids, and Bible stories. A delightful resource to support kids’ faith formation! DVD includes a booklet with discussion questions and activity suggestions.

There’s A Woman
in the Pulpit

There’s A Woman in the Pulpit, edited by Martha Spong, foreword by Carol Howard Merritt. Learn and laugh with these clergywomen-authors as they reflect on ministry. There’s A Woman in the Pulpit (Skylight Paths 2015) includes two essays by Rachel: “High Heels in the Pulpit” and “Soccer and Starbucks.”

Hear My Prayer (CD)

Hear My Prayer: The Audio Book of Psalms lifts the psalms from the page to the ear to the heart. Hear My Prayer is an unexpected gift in a world full of sound; each psalm comes to life with the tempo and timbre of each unique voice — of which I am one, having recorded three psalms for Hear My Prayer.

Voices Crying Out
in the Wilderness

Voices Crying Out in the Wilderness: Contemporary Theologies of Preaching (BorderStone Press 2014), edited by Gregory M. Howard, collects modern hermeneutics of preaching to inform and critique the sound proclamation of the Word. Rachel Hackenberg contributes a chapter on “Opening the Canon.”

Before the Amen

Before the Amen: Creative Resources for Worship, edited by Maren C. and Maria I. Tirabassi, provides creative liturgies for every season of the Church Year and special occasions. Rachel has five prayers in Before the Amen (The Pilgrim Press 2007).

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