Resource Publications, Inc. 160 E. Virginia St. Suite #290 San Jose, CA 95112-5876 ph: 408-286-8505 fx: 408-287-8748

For Immediate Release Contact: Greg Ingram 408-286-8505 gdingram@rpinet.com www.rpinet.com

SAN JOSE, Calif., Sept. 8, 2003—Part of the inspiration for this new book by Donna Cole came from the efforts of so many people who stepped into leadership roles in the hours, days and months immediately following the terrorist attacks of 9/11/2001. The desire for prayer at that time stood beside an unprecedented sense of national unity. Unusual prayer needs arose and unusual leaders stepped up to tend to those needs.

Author Donna M. Cole says: "Responding in prayer to an urgent situation is nearly a reflex. Even people who claim no connection to any faith tradition are likely to exclaim "Oh my God!" when confronted with crisis or tragedy. This may or may not be an actual prayer, but it nevertheless has the effect of invoking the name of God, which is a large part of any act of prayer. In fact, in situations of crisis and tragedy many of the people who are most drawn to common prayer are those who have wandered from formal traditions of faith."

The unexpected happens continually, whether catastrophic or windfall, and this book, by focusing on basic approaches and references, will help readers prepare prayer services in virtually any situation. Most books on liturgical planning deal with the planning of liturgies as an ongoing process that sustains a prayer community on their transformative journey. This book deals with the other end of the spectrum: liturgies for any occasion and gathering, including emergencies. It shows:

how to involve the assembly in the liturgy

how to use basic resources quickly and effectively

how to create a prayer service with music, symbols and light

Donna M. Cole is editor of Ministry and Liturgy magazine, and the author of Liturgical Ministry: A Practical Guide to Spirituality (Resource Publications, Inc., 1996). She received her MA in Pastoral Ministry in 2000 from Caldwell College. She also has her BA and MS in biology, and is a research scientist at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of NJ-NJ Medical School, Newark, NJ.

LAST MINUTE LITURGIES:
Creating Prayerful Responses to the Unexpected
Donna M. Cole
paper, $19.95
96 pages, 5 1/2" by 8 1/2"
ISBN 0-89390-588-7

To order Last Minute Liturgies call Resource Publications, Inc. at 888-273-7782. For interviews, speaking engagements and writing assignments, call (408) 286-8505 or send e-mail to GDIngram@rpinet.com.

Resource Publications, Inc. strives to help people reach their fullest potential on both personal and professional levels, primarily by providing leadership resources for use by leaders in ministry and education. Current ministry resources include Ministry & Liturgy magazine, Liturgical Catechesis magazine, Celebrating the Lectionary, Sacramental Register 4.0, and many other books and resources. Visit the RPI website at www.rpinet.com.