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: Monique Derenia 408-286-8505 monique@rpinet.com

SAN JOSE, Calif., January 14, 2002—Resource Publications, Inc. today announced the availability of the bilingual book, Reading the Signs of the Times. Written in both English and Spanish for small-group communities, it encourages and guides them to become more active in the life of their local communities.

Authors Stephen Hicken, Nora Petersen and Hector D. Medina designed the book to reflect the needs they saw in their local small communities.  Petersen and Medina both have hands-on experience working with small-groups as specialists for small communities in the Diocese of Oakland.  The authors then used those experiences to guide the content of the book, concentrating on the need to identify God’s call for response and action in the world.

“Small Christian communities may be strong in prayer and support, but they are often weak in reaching beyond themselves”, remarked Nora Petersen.  The book’s aim is in getting people to identify the social needs of the community and to recognize that they have a faith role to play and an action to take in response to those needs.

The book is a resource tool for all those communities seeking to respond to the call of the gospel by using practical and workable methods for making a difference in the world.  It gives direction and guidance to small groups and gives them ways to put their faith into action.  Stephen K. Hicken, co-author, commented, “People are looking for a way to make ‘sense’ of what’s happening around them and in their daily lives.  This tool helps them do that. It helps them create a community vision together that revolves around their power to change and affect society.”

The process consists of seven sessions of prayers and reflections. The first six sessions help participants look at a different “reality” within their larger community — cultural, economic, family, political, media, and religious—using a format that combines prayer, scripture, and reflection. The concluding session helps the group decide on a specific social action based on the observations and reflections that emerged in previous sessions.

The book does not follow the lectionary and therefore is not tied to a particular time frame.  This allows each small group to use the sessions according to their needs, at a pace with which they are comfortable.

Nora Petersen is director of the Department of Parish Resources for the Diocese of Oakland, California.  Over the course of her ministry, she has been involved with RENEW groups, the Catholic Family Movement, cursillo groups, and many other small Christian communities.

Stephen K. Hicken is director of Friends Across Borders-- a Maryknoll Ministry of Global Spirituality.  He is a graduate of the Theological Union/Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley and of Gonzaga University.  He frequently leads workshops and gives talks on the subjects of social outreach and everyday spirituality through Friends Across Borders.

Hector D. Medina is currently the small communities resource specialist for the Diocese of Oakland.  He is a graduate of the Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley with a certificate in Hispanic Theological and Pastoral Studies.
 

READING THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES
A Seven-Week Small-Group Process for Social Change
Nora Petersen, Stephen K. Hicken, and Hector D. Medina
60 pages 5½" × 8½",
ISBN: 0-89390-542-9, $5.95
August 2001

To order READING THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES call Resource Publications, Inc. at 888-273-7782. For interviews, speaking engagements, and writing assignments call (408) 286-8505 or send email to monique@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 3.0, and many other books and music collections. Visit the RPI website at www.rpinet.com.