New Daylight January - April 2014: Your Daily Bible Reading, Comment and Prayer

New Daylight offers four months of daily Bible reading and reflection for everybody who wants to go deeper with God. It is ideal for those looking for a fresh approach to regular Bible study, and offers a talented team of contributors who present a Bible passage (text included), helpful comment and a prayer or thought for the day ahead. Richard Fisher writes As the front cover shows, this issue marks the 25th anniversary of New Daylight. It's a milestone of special significance to me, as the launch of New Daylight in November 1988 was one of the first events that I was involved in, having joined BRF the previous month. The launch issue caused a real stir with its arresting cover image of a female coal miner! The January-April 1989 issue of New Daylight brought a completely fresh, new approach. It replaced BRF's Daylight series, which, in 1979, had replaced the original Series B notes, first launched in 1929. The vision for New Daylight came from its first editor, Shelagh Brown. Shelagh wanted to develop a relationship with the readers. In the past, the Bible readings had been written anonymously, but Shelagh drew together a team of regular contributors and included brief biographies so that readers could get a sense of who they were. Many have told us, over the years since, that they felt they knew those who wrote the notes. Another innovation was that New Daylight was the first Bible reading notes series in the UK to include the printed Bible passage for each day. Some were concerned that this might discourage readers from looking up the passage in their own Bible. However, Shelagh's idea was to make it easy for people to take New Daylight with them, to read on the bus or train, at work, or on holiday; so it made sense for each issue to be self-contained. In addition, she pointed out that you couldn't assume any longer that everyone actually had a Bible of their own. Over the last 25 years, New Daylight has only had three editors. Shelagh continued until her untimely death in June 1997. At that point, with absolutely no notice, David Winter, who had joined the writing team several years before, very kindly agreed to take on the role. He stepped down at the end of 2001, whereupon Naomi Starkey became editor alongside her role as commissioning editor for BRF books. New Daylight continues to be BRF's flagship publication and one of the UK's bestselling Bible reading notes series. It continues to reflect the heart of BRF's vision: to connect people with God and resource their spiritual journey. As one reader recently put it, New Daylight brings us the treasures in the word of God each day. Richard Fisher, Chief Executive In this issue: The Beatitudes: 'How happy are you...!' David Runcorn 1-11 January The big issue Andrew John 12-25 January 2 Kings 13 - 17 Naomi Starkey 26 January-8 February Bible stories rediscovered: Queen Esther David Winter 9-22 February Waiting for God's still, small voice Margaret Silf 23 February-8 March Bible stories rediscovered: Daniel Michael Mitton 9-22 March The faith of John Donne Rachel Boulding 23 March-5 April Jesus the Messiah Tony Horsfall 6-20 April After Pentecost: Acts 25 - 26 Lakshmi Jeffries 21-30 April About the contributors in this issue: Rachel Boulding is Deputy Editor of the Church Times. Previously, she was Senior Liturgy Editor at Church House Publishing. She lives in Dorset with her husband and son. Lakshmi Jeffreys, an Anglican priest, has served in parish ministry, university chaplaincy and as a mission officer across a diocese. She has recently undertaken church leadership in a village just outside Northampton. Andrew John has been the Bishop of Bangor since 2008, having previously served all his ministry in the Diocese of St Davids. He is married to Caroline, who is also a deacon in the Church in Wales, and they have four children. Michael Mitton is a freelance writer, speaker and consultant and the Fresh Expressions Adviser for the Derby Diocese. He is also the NSM Priest-in-charge of St Paul's Derby and honorary Canon of Derby Cathedral. He has written A Heart to Listen, Restoring the Woven Cord, A Handful of Light, Dreaming of Home and Travellers of the Heart for BRF. David Runcorn is a writer, spiritual director, theological teacher, retreat leader and conference speaker. He lives in Gloucester. You can meet him at www.davidruncorn.com. Margaret Silf is an ecumenical Christian, committed to working across and beyond the denominational divides. She devotes herself to writing and accompanying others on their spiritual journey. Naomi Starkey is a Commissioning Editor for BRF and edits and writes for New Daylight Bible reading notes. She has also written Pilgrims to the Manger and The Recovery of Love for BRF. David Winter is retired from parish ministry. An honorary Canon of Christ Church, Oxford, he is well known as a writer and broadcaster. His most recent book for BRF is Facing the Darkness and Finding the Light.