Who doesn't love a good story? Storytellers who excel at their craft have the ability to draw readers or listeners into the worlds they create, using characters and situations to entertain and enlighten us. Jesus, the Master Storyteller, often spoke using parables -- short stories that conveyed spiritual truths. By drawing his listeners into his stories, he unlocked their minds and hearts to hear the truth he was relating to them.

This compilation of stories for the entire church year, written by Peter Andrew Smith, follows in that same tradition. The stories within CSS Publishing's latest Lectionary Stories for Preaching and Teaching, Series II, Cycle A are inspired by the source gospel passages and serve to highlight and illustrate the gospel Jesus taught through his words and life. They can serve as a companion when studying the scripture, as illustrations for sermons, and as devotional material for personal or group use. Smith offers thought-provoking contemplations on Cycle A lectionary passages that draw out the biblical theme by relating it to aspects of modern life we have all experienced.

Some chapters included in this volume

Always Room for Another

Starting A New Life

Preparing for Temptation

The Taste of Cold Water

Because I Love You

Peter Andrew Smith lives in Antigonish, Nova Scotia with his wife, Meredith, daughter Hope, and dog Sophie. A graduate of the University of New Brunswick and the Atlantic School of Theology, he is an ordained minister in the United Church of Canada who currently serves at St. James United Church and as a visiting chaplain at St. Francis Xavier University. Passionate about expressing the gospel through the spoken word, Smith is the author of All Things are Ready (CSS), a book of lectionary based communion prayers, Year B and Year C volumes of Lectionary Stories for Preaching and Teaching (CSS), and a number of stories and articles, which can be found listed at www.peterandrewsmith.com.