Joyful!

Yes, my third book, “Joyful Spirit Bubbling” is available from mid-December 2023.

(A brief interjection to let you know that if you’ve signed up to updates from my website, I’ve also added you to the mailing list of Progressive Christianity Aotearoa, whose website and social media I administer. If you don’t want to receive the loose PCA network’s very occasional posts, it’s easy to unsubscribe.)

You can read the prayer from which the title is drawn here.

Here’s what publisher Philip Garside has said about my latest book:

Joyful Spirit Bubbling is a poetic journey through the seasons in Aotearoa New Zealand, capturing the essence of summer – December, January, February – and moving through Autumn and Winter to end with the revival and hope of Spring. The author offers poems, prayers, and reflections, most of which can be read aloud as part of a service of worship. The book explores the liturgical and calendar years.

The poems and reflections within the book touch on themes such as the flourishing spirit of growth, liberating spirit of compassion, and perceptive spirit of insight. Bronwyn incorporates elements of Māori culture, discussing concepts like manaakitanga (hospitality) and emphasizing the sacred in everyday life. She invites readers to celebrate the blessings in their lives, ranging from small kindnesses to the wonders of nature.

“Joyful Spirit Bubbling,” pays homage to the creative spirit in nature and celebrations. It calls for empathy and justice, urging readers to work towards peace and justice while holding in their hearts those in need. The text invokes blessings for the homeless, peacemakers, and those dedicated to social, racial, and religious justice.

This book is a rich tapestry of poetic expressions, prayers, and reflections that invite readers to appreciate the sacred in ordinary moments and actively participate in the shared drama of life.


You can order print copies from me, and both print and ebooks from the publisher.

Words of Spirit and Faith #3

The manuscript for “Joyful Spirit Bubbling” is with Philip Garside Publishing; it should be available before the end of 2023.

My third book of inclusive liturgy follows the seasons in Aotearoa New Zealand, starting with summer—December, January, February—and moving through Autumn and Winter to end with the revival and hope of Spring.

As soon as it’s available, I’ll add details here.

Just in time for Advent: “Something new” republished

Philip Garside (PGPL) has republished “Something new to say: words of spirit, faith and celebration for Advent and Christmas” in an expanded 2nd edition. Available in print and as an e-book, from all the usual booksellers, as well as direct from PGPL.

This collection celebrates a festive season where pohutukawa and rata are in bloom, friends gather around barbecues or picnic at the beach on Christmas Day, and many people travel to catch up with family or enjoy school holidays.

Reviewer’s comment
“Bronwyn’s words are more powerful and real than a thousand theological treatises on incarnation.” Rev Dr Margaret Mayman

The title comes from a Christmas Day reflection which Bronwyn led in 2010:

“Every year, in manses and studies and at the kitchen table, preachers and worship leaders approach Advent with a mixture of joy and trepidation. Joy, because Christmas is the penultimate Christian festival—each week the excitement builds, every week another candle is lit, every year is pregnant with possibilities—but trepidation, because December 25 after December 25, the person leading the service tries to find something new to say!”

Winter is coming… and spring, summer & autumn – but not just yet

After a year largely spent with family or working on art+craft projects for various exhibitions (yes, thank you, I’ve managed to sell quite a few items of jewellery, knitting and stitched fibre art), I’ve finally begun compiling the next book in my #Spirit and Faith series.

My plan was to follow both calendar and liturgical years, including liturgical resources suitable for Summer and Advent, Autumn and Passiontide, Winter and Pentecost, Spring and Season of Creation. 60 pages in, and I’m only up to Easter!

What a problem: I’ve got too much material. I’ll have to spread it over two books: one liturgical and one seasonal – or to put it another way, a collection for “high and holy days,” and another for “ordinary time”. Which should I work on first?

Just in time for Advent and Christmas: “Something new to say”

Just in time for planning your Advent and Christmas services: Liturgical resources for Advent, Christmas and the New Year (including Epiphany).

Where to buy:
Softcover available direct from Bronwyn, or purchase from Philip Garside Publishing.
Kindle edition on Amazon


Something new to say + You who delight me: $35.00 + p&p

Buy direct from Bronwyn during September 2018 (delivery in October), for $20.00 plus postage. Combine it with the purchase of “You who delight me” for the discount “bundle” price of only $15.00: two books for $35.00 plus p&p.

The third book in Bronwyn’s “Words of spirit and faith” series is in the planning stages, for publication in 2019.