Audrey Elledge - Liturgies for Hope: Sixty Prayers for the Highs, the Lows, and Everything in Between

Rich Villodas , lead pastor of New Life Fellowship and author of Good and Beautiful and Kind This is a marvelous book. I am not surprised it emerged from one of the urban epicenters of our global pandemicof course this fierce hope would grow in such a place and such a season. Audrey Elledge and Elizabeth Moore weave rich Scriptural imagery into powerful, prayerful poetry covering topics that are at once universal but also timely in their particularity. The liturgical pronouns shift between we, you, and I in a way that is spacious and welcoming. Best of all, this book compelled even this solitary reader to reach out to her friends; these are liturgies that simply must be prayed in the company of others. Christie Purifoy , author of PlacemakerLiturgies for Hope will be a trusted companion for those who struggle to find words for the cry of their hearts.

In this book, Audrey and Elizabeth encourage us to lay our deepest requests before the Lord as a humble act of worship. This collection of prayers stirred my hearts affection for Christ by reminding me of the strong hope we have in Him. Hunter Beless , founder and host of the Journeywomen podcast and author of Read It, See It, Say It, Sing It!

Both secular and religious sources got caught up in reaction and response. Fear, hysteria, misinformation, and despair were dripping the toxin of anxiety into our hearts, one update at a time. I remember grasping for what to say, some kind of comfort or lament, but words often failed me. The Psalms emerged as a source of comfort, as Scripture is timeless in a holy way, but I longed for something that would express this moment and carry a defiant hope, from someone who had been through it. On Easter morning, some new liturgies began to emerge. These words seemed ancient yet immediate, and they spoke with strange authority and deep understanding.

They pierced the endless noise of both local and national media and spoke to the human heart in a deep way. I kept asking where they came from and was delighted to find they were written by two women who have quietly served in our church community for some time. Audrey and Elizabeth had a front-row seat to what people in New York City were saying and feeling during those early days of the pandemic. Feeling the pain and longings of the city, they gave voice and language to what we were going through. They put pen to paper to express our collective fears, hopes, and desires and ultimately gave us words when we had none. I hope that Audrey and Elizabeths liturgies do the same thing for you, wherever you are and whatever youre facing.

I pray that these words will draw you deeper into the love of God, help you fix your eyes on things above, and echo with the comfort of the One who is acquainted with both grief and joy. Jon Tyson Lead Pastor, Church of the City New York