About the Author

Kenneth L. Sehested is co-pastor of Circle of Mercy Congregation in Asheville, NC. A recipient of numerous awards for activism and writing, in 1984 he also became the founding director of the Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America. His most recent book is Peace Primer II: Quotes from Jewish, Christian and Islamic Scripture and Tradition.

Reviews

"Having spent a lifetime at the convergence of Scripture, faith, ministry, and justice, Sehested brings to voice what he has seen and heard and known in that long, faithful life. Readers will be led beyond themselves in this poetry in the way worship-filled utterance has always led afresh. No doubt good poetry comes from suffering. This poetry exhibits both suffering and the hope that does not give in to it."
--Walter Brueggemann, author of Prayers for Privileged People "Never pray in a room without windows, the Talmud teaches. Ken Sehested prays in a room with wall-to-wall windows, all wide open to the heartbreak of the world. In the Land of the Living makes Scripture what it was meant to be. . . . If you want to learn how to pray the Scriptures, start with this book."
--Mary Lou Kownacki, author of A Monk in the Inner City "For decades Ken has been one of our most passionate faith-rooted organizers for peace and justice. Unlike many, however, his vision and competence extend to the aesthetic and poetic. This volume should be employed alongside prayer books and hymnals, whether our work is in the seminary, the sanctuary, and/or the streets!"
--Ched Myers, author of Binding the Strong Man
"In the Land of the Living is the cry of a modern psalmist. Here is poetry for authentic worship of the wild and unfettered God. This collection should be within easy reach of every pulpit and a companion for those following the way of Jesus."
--Rose Marie Berger, author of Who Killed Donte Manning? "This collection is not the standard 'plug and play' worship aid. Sehested offers prophetic, mercy-filled, prayerful poetry that demands deep soul work. Get ready to pray, to sing, to lament, to groan, to shout, and to rejoice with authentic, powerful, evocative voices!"
--Taylor Burton-Edwards, Director of Worship Resources, The General Board of Discipleship of The United Methodist Church, Nashville, TN "Ken Sehested has profound thoughts and an excellent grasp of the English language. He combines them to produce poems that facilitate needed reflection on Scripture."
--Tony Campolo, author of Red Letter Christians "Through Ken Sehested's liturgical poetry, the spirit is set free to blow afresh. Full of faith and anchored in the realities of our current context, Ken makes the wall between worship and the world a very 'thin place.' This is a rich treasure. Enjoy, be troubled, be stretched, be transformed."
--Daniel L. Buttry, author of Christian Peacemaking "Ken Sehested has provided us with a wonderful collection that speaks to our human condition. That he has done so in poetic form adds another delightful dimension to this book. There is great hope in these writings."
--Martin Darby, past President, Institute for Servant Leadership, Greenville, SC "Here is a prophetic poet whose voice cries out against our collective lies and second-hand convictions. It is a gift to have these transforming prayers collected in a single work. I recommend it highly. In the Land of the Living casts nourishing bread upon the waters."
--James Douglass, author of JFK and the Unspeakable "Here's the salt for words that have lost their savor. From psalm and prophecy, ancient liturgy and prayer, In the Land of the Living brings fresh meanings to our ears and souls."
--William Johnson Everett, author of The Politics of Worship "Sentimentality threatens Christian speech. It is with gratitude we receive these litanies. Hopefully these acts of strong conviction will be widely used."
--Stanley Hauerwas, author of The Peaceable Kingdom "Every age has to retranslate scriptural truth, not just for convenience but in a way that grips the heart with an immediacy that stirred the imagination of those who first heard it. Sehested finds the pulse of a passage and juxtaposes it against the rhythm of our reality."
--Michael Hawn, author of Gather into One "Worship leaders will not want to miss this marvelous collection of prayers. They draw deeply from biblical wells and flow freely from the heart of one who walks with God. Every prayer will refresh and renew and awaken."
--E. Glenn Hinson, author of A Serious Call to a Contemplative Lifestyle "Rare is the writer who shines as prophet, pastor, preacher, and poet. With eloquence, Ken Sehested covers all this ground, and then some. He draws his readers into an imaginative dance with both hard-hitting truth and gentle whimsy. This book of litanies is a poignant and powerful invitation to hope."
--Joyce Hollyday, author of Clothed with the Sun
"Rabbis endorse the heartfelt prayers of Christians they know well. Having traveled with Ken to Iraq when our travel was against the law, in order to protest the inhumanity of sanctions, I came to appreciate and admire the heart behind the hand that wrote of these powerful words. I appreciate the way he wrestles with texts revered by Jews and Christians alike, and that makes me want to stand up and shout: Amen!"
--Douglas Krantz, Rabbi, Congregation B'nai Yisrael, Armonk, NY "This anthology of poetic readings, prayers, litanies, and settings for hymns challenges our imaginations, prods us from stale readings of familiar Scripture, and opens us to innovation. Preachers especially would benefit from this varied collection as they seek exciting and creative worship. Justice-oriented folk like me have longed for a source such as this."
--Wallace Ryan Kuroiwa, co-minister, Justice and Witness Ministries, United Church of Christ, Cleveland, OH "I found myself reading aloud some phrases from this work to my unsuspecting husband because they roll off the lips so gleefully: 'Repent and confess you creatures of flesh. Linger and hear, for mercy draws near, bewildering fear in its wake.' Thanks, Ken, for a book I'll use often."
--Susan Mark Landis, past denominational minister for peace and justice, Peace and Justice Support Network, Mennonite Church, Orrville, OH "Those responsible for planning worship services will find this book full of material that is theologically relevant and rich in poetic verse."
--Howard Moody, minister emeritus, Judson Memorial Church, New York City, NY "Only someone with the depth of Ken Sehested's commitment to peace, justice, and following Jesus--no matter what the cost--could create the brilliant litanies in this collection. This is the kind of resource progressive churches have longed for!"
--Kristy Arnesen Pullen, Vice President, The Alban Institute, Ashburn, VA "In the Land of the Living connects heart with words that I wish I had. Ken prays prayers that connect with the God of passion witnessed to by psalmists and prophets--prayers that now we can all pray, because now we have his prayers for our own praying. Get his prayers and make them your own!"
--Glen Harold Stassen, author of Living the Sermon on the Mount "In the Land of the Living is a gift to pastors and worship leaders and to any Christian who reads these litanies, prayers, and poems for personal reflection. The clarity of his expression wakes up our sleepy encounters with Scripture."
--Maren Tirabassi, co-author of Before the Amen "Listen to these and repeat them together. Hear midrashes in a down-home accent to make Clarence Jordon smile from beyond. Hear litanies that teach with a gospel wit. Hear prayers from the depths of earth made to make one's heart sigh and groan. Mine does. Hear what the spirit is saying to the churches."
--Bill Wylie-Kellermann, author of Seasons of Faith and Conscience