Genshin Impact is an open-world, action RPG developed and published by miHoYo for PC, iOS/Android, and PS4/PS5 platforms. The game is Free-to-Play with a Gacha monetization system in the form of Wishes. This wiki is an English resource for information about the Global version of the game. Please read the Community Page before editing! The Mother Butler Guild invites you all to our 2nd Webinar in celebration of the MBG @60 Diamond Jubilee entitled“THE. MBG 2021 Memo #4. 3) How does one become a member of the Mother Butler Guild? A) Membership in the MBG may either be by invitation or by application. In either case, the prospective member/candidate is to file her application with the MBG Parish Unit. Acceptance into the Guild needs the approval of the parish priest as Spiritual Director.

• Mother Butler Guild Handbook Pdf
• Mother Butler Guild Handbook 2020
• Mother Butler Guild Handbook Online

Selected books from my library (linked below)

I have included several categories: Doctrine and Official Teaching, Catholic and Christian Apologetics, Conversion Stories, Creation/Evolution, and some Protestant/Evangelical/Orthodox books that respond to Catholic teaching.

DOCTRINE AND OFFICIAL TEACHING

Catechism of the Catholic Church (1994)
THE authoritative source for doctrine, quotes extensively from Scripture, the Fathers, the Councils, the Popes

Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma by Ludwig Ott (TAN Books 1974)
The best source for precise definitions of Catholic dogma and the development of doctrine from Scripture, the Fathers, the Councils, the Popes -- the entire Catholic faith and heretical opposition through the centuries is found in this classic work

CATHOLIC AND CHRISTIAN APOLOGETICS

Handbook of Christian Apologetics by Peter Kreeft and Fr. Ronald Tacelli, SJ (Intervarsity Press 1994)
A modern classic that covers the basic apologetic issues, answers to hundreds of questions and objections from non-Christians and atheists in the Summa format of St. Thomas Aquinas, covers faith and reason, the existence of God, the problem of evil, the divinity of Christ and His Resurrection, the Bible, life after death, Christianity and other religions -- more rigorous and convincing than Evangelical apologists such as Josh McDowell. The 2009 edition published by Ignatius Press is called Handbook of Catholic Apologetics with a capstone section on why one should be Catholic.

Catholicism and Fundamentalism: The Attack on 'Romanism' by 'Bible Christians' by Karl Keating (Ignatius Press 1988)
The book that began the recent wave of Catholic apologetics, extremely well-written and politely argued, contains rebuttals to anti-Catholic groups, a chapter on how we know the Bible is inspired, and presents Biblical arguments for all the major Catholic doctrines and beliefs -- many Fundamentalists have tried to refute this book but it still stands up overall quite well, see also Keating's more recent books The Usual Suspects and Controversies: High-Level Catholic Apologetics

A History of Apologetics by Avery Cardinal Dulles (Ignatius Press, 2005, orig 1971)
A grand history of the apologetics movement in Christianity, from the New Testament to the Fathers, Doctors, the Middle Ages, Reformation and beyond, to modern apologetics -- William Lane Craig has called the Cardinal's original book 'a scholarly masterpiece and an invaluable reference work' (Reasonable Faith, preface)

A Biblical Defense of Catholicism by Dave Armstrong (1st Books/Sophia Institute Press, 2001, 2003)
An outstanding volume making a biblical case for Catholicism, written by the amazing online apologist, see also the sequel More Biblical Evidence

The Case For Catholicism: Answers to Classic and Contemporary Protestant Objections by Trent Horn (Ignatius Press, 2017)
A new comprehensive biblical and historical response to all the major 'modern' anti-Catholic evangelical and 'classic' Protestant arguments and objections

Upon This Rock: St. Peter and the Primacy of Rome in Scripture and the Early Church by Stephen K. Ray (Ignatius Press 1999)
By the author of Crossing the Tiber, this volume in the Modern Apologetics Library series is a comprehensive study of the Biblical and patristic evidence for the primacy of St. Peter and the Papacy in the early Church, this study serves as a detailed reply to recent anti-Catholic efforts by William Webster and James White to undermine the Papacy, over 300 pages and fully documented from ancient and modern Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant historical works, Biblical commentaries, and the Church Fathers -- a nice companion to Jesus, Peter, and the Keys by Scott Butler, Norm Dahlgren, David Hess (Queenship, 1996)

Pope Fiction: Answers to 30 Myths and Misconceptions About the Papacy by Patrick Madrid (Basilica Press 1999)
From the editor of Envoy Magazine, a book that answers all the well-known objections to the Papacy from the Bible and provides responses to the classic 'problem' issues involving Popes Liberius (Arianism), Vigilius (Monophysitism), Gregory the Great (the meaning of 'universal bishop'), Honorius (Monothelitism), Sixtus V (his Latin Vulgate), Pius XII (during WWII)

Not By Scripture Alone: A Catholic Critique of the Protestant Doctrine of Sola Scriptura edited by Robert Sungenis with contributors Philip Blosser, Joseph Gallegos, and others (Queenship Publishing 1997)
This work will remain the most comprehensive refutation of the primary Protestant principle well into the new millennium, answers the current Evangelical critics of Catholicism such as James White, John MacArthur, Norm Geisler/Ralph MacKenzie, demolishes alleged support for Sola Scriptura with impressive chapters by Bob Sungenis (Biblical texts and Protestant objections), Joe Gallegos (Church Fathers), Phil Blosser (philosophical/practical problems) -- over 600 pages!

Not By Faith Alone: The Biblical Evidence for the Catholic Doctrine of Justification by Robert Sungenis (Queenship Publishing 1997)
The most comprehensive book on the Justification doctrine refuting many modern Protestant critics, covers all the major Biblical texts, a good section on the historic Protestant beliefs of Luther, Calvin, others -- over 700 pages!

How Can I Get to Heaven? The Bible's Teaching on Salvation Made Easy to Understand by Robert Sungenis (Queenship Publishing 1998)
A condensed version of Not By Faith Alone, excellent if you aren't ready for the big book, simply and clearly written -- just over 300 pages

Not By Bread Alone: The Biblical and Historical Evidence for the Eucharistic Sacrifice by Robert Sungenis (Queenship Publishing 2000)
A complete study of the Eucharist and Sacrifice of the Mass from the Scriptures and the early Fathers, quotes many prominent Protestant and Catholic scholars and theologians, answers the modern Evangelical/Reformed critics (I am quoted on page 209 of this book, and included in the bibliography) -- with appendices about 500 pages!

Catholic For A Reason: Scripture and the Mystery of the Family of God edited by Scott Hahn with many contributors (Emmaus Road 1998)
Sure to become an apologetics classic, many chapters written by former students of Scott Hahn himself

Catholic For A Reason II: Scripture and the Mystery of the Mother of God edited by Leon J. Suprenant with many contributors (Emmaus Road 2000)
The sequel contains a biblical and historical presentation of the special role of the Blessed Mother in salvation history

Refuting the Attack on Mary: A Defense of Marian Doctrines by Fr. Mateo (Catholic Answers 1993, 1999)
A powerful booklet from Fr. Mateo, much biblical and Protestant commentary, answers in detail articles published in the Christian Research Institute (CRI) Journal

Mary and the Fathers of the Church by Luigi Gambero (Ignatius Press 1999)
An excellent historical presentation of the patristic view of Mary, covers all the major Fathers and Saints of the first eight centuries of Christianity, for more see the three volume Mariology edited by Juniper Carol published in the 1950s

Behold Your Mother: A Biblical and Historical Defense of the Marian Doctrines by Tim Staples (Catholic Answers, 2014)
Comprehensive defense of all the Marian doctrines from the Bible, the Fathers and Doctors, and impeccable logic, answers all the major non-Catholic critics such as Walter Martin (Kingdom of the Cults), James White (Mary - Another Redeemer?), Eric Svendsen (Evangelical Answers), James G. McCarthy (Gospel According to Rome), Geisler/Mackenzie, and others, probably the current best single volume explaining with much detail how an orthodox Catholic Christology and Mariology go hand in hand, Know Mary, Know Jesus, No Mary, No Jesus!

Catholic and Christian: An Explanation of Commonly Misunderstood Catholic Beliefs by Alan Schreck (Servant Books 1984)
A very irenic non-polemical book helpful for the Catholic and non-Catholic alike

CONVERSION STORIES

Surprised By Truth: Eleven Converts Give the Biblical and Historical Reasons for Becoming Catholic edited by Patrick Madrid (Basilica Press 1994)
The conversion stories of 11 converts to the Catholic faith, many former Evangelical Protestants

Surprised By Truth II edited by Patrick Madrid (Sophia Press 2000)
The sequel contains another 15 conversion stories

Surprised By Truth III edited by Patrick Madrid (Sophia Press 2002)
More conversion stories, including one by Patty Bonds

Journeys Home edited by Marcus Grodi (Queenship Publishing 1997)
About 20 conversion stories, edited by the director of the Coming Home Network and host of EWTN program The Journey Home

Born Fundamentalist, Born Again Catholic by David Currie (Ignatius Press 1996)
Conversion story of someone born into a Fundamentalist family, and his reasons for becoming Catholic, simply yet clearly written, covers many of the topics in Keating's book

By What Authority? An Evangelical Discovers Catholic Tradition by Mark Shea (Our Sunday Visitor 1996)
A good explanation of Sacred Tradition in the Shea style with his reasons for becoming Catholic -- covers the 'Jesus Seminar', how we know Scripture is inspired, and why Tradition and the Church are also necessary

Crossing the Tiber: Evangelical Protestants Discover the Historical Church by Stephen K. Ray (Ignatius Press 1997)
Wonderful conversion story of an Evangelical Protestant family discovering the historic Church, good refutation of Sola Scriptura, and comprehensive chapters on Baptism and the Eucharist from the Bible and the Fathers

CREATION/EVOLUTION

Darwin on Trial by Phillip E. Johnson (Intervarsity Press 1991, 1993)
The book that started the resurgence of the new anti-evolution and 'Intelligent Design' movements

Darwin's Black Box: The Biochemical Challenge to Evolution by Michael Behe (Touchstone, 1996, 1998)
A challenge to evolution at the 'molecular level' by a Catholic biochemist

Finding Darwin's God: A Scientist's Search for Common Ground Between God and Evolution by Kenneth R. Miller (Cliff Street Books, 1999, 2000)
By a self-described 'orthodox Catholic' and 'orthodox Darwinist' -- responds to both Johnson's and Behe's books, and (in my opinion) demolishes young-earth creationism, presents an alternative to 'intelligent design' and shows how God and evolutionary theory are compatible

PROTESTANT EVANGELICAL AND ORTHODOX BOOKS

The Primacy of Peter: Essays in Ecclesiology and the Early Church edited by John Meyendorff (St. Vladimir's Seminary Press, 1963, 1992)
Presentation of the Eastern Orthodox understanding of the primacy of Peter and the Papacy, many contributors, excerpts from this book HERE

Roman Catholics and Evangelicals: Agreements and Differences by Norman Geisler/Ralph MacKenzie (Baker Books 1995)
Probably the best modern work on the Catholic-Protestant debate, written from an Evangelical 'baptistic' perspective, divided into two major sections -- the agreements that Catholics have with Evangelicals (Christ, the Creed, the Bible, salvation by grace), and the differences that (some) Evangelicals have with the Catholic Church, a third section contains the issues of common moral cause

The Roman Catholic Controversy by James R. White (Bethany House 1996)
A more polemical work, attempts to defend Sola Scriptura (Scripture alone) and Sola Fide (faith alone), and argues against Catholic doctrines from a 'Reformed Baptist' perspective, much of this work is taken verbatim from formal debates White had with Catholic apologists

Evangelical Answers: A Critique of Current Roman Catholic Apologetics by Eric Svendsen (New Testament Restoration Foundation 1997)
Another polemical work (formerly 'Protestant Answers'), written by a former Catholic turned Evangelical, attempts to directly rebut the current major Catholic apologists such as Hahn, Keating, Madrid, and others -- interesting Biblical material but his history is weak and much of his logic is flawed

The Church of Rome at the Bar of History by William Webster (Banner of Truth 1995)
An interesting book by a former Catholic turned Evangelical since it tries to undermine Catholic doctrine by appealing to the Church Fathers, however after carefully checking some of the author's sources I found the book fatally flawed and unbalanced in the information it leaves out, several scholars are taken out of context and too many sweeping statements are made, and his logic is very bad and contradictory

The Gospel According to Rome by James G. McCarthy (Harvest House 1995)
Another book by a former Catholic, offers many Biblical arguments against the Catholic Church from a modern Fundamentalist 'baptistic' viewpoint, and even cites from Catholic sources, however the book misunderstands Catholic doctrine in its 'Biblical Response' sections, and ignores the Fathers, Saints, and Doctors of the first 1,500 years of Christianity, my responses here

To search for books go to

Apologetics, Theology and Religious Books (sorted somewhat by topics)

Patrology by Johannes Quasten (Christian Classics, 4 volumes)
The Faith of the Early Fathers by William A. Jurgens (3 volumes)
The Teachings of the Church Fathers by John R. Willis (Ignatius, 2002, orig 1966)
The Founding of Christendom by Warren H. Carroll (1985)
One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic: The Early Church was the Catholic Church by Kenneth Whitehead (Ignatius, 2000)

Inquisition by Edward Peters (Univ of California Press, 1989)
The Spanish Inquisition: A Historical Revision by Henry Kamen (Yale Univ Press, 1998)

Fundamentals of the Faith by Peter Kreeft (Ignatius, 1988)
The Catholic Church and the Bible by Peter Stravinskas (Ignatius, 1996, orig 1987)
Catholic Apologetics Today by William G. Most (TAN, 1986)
Catholic Evidence Training Outlines by Maisie Ward and Frank Sheed (Catholic Evidence Guild, 1992, orig 1925)
Theology for Beginners by Frank Sheed (1957, original edition)
The Spirit of Catholicism by Karl Adam (Franciscan Univ, 1996)
The Catholic Controversy by St. Francis de Sales (TAN, 1989)
Catholic Apologetics by John Laux (TAN, 1990, orig 1934)
Pillar of Fire, Pillar of Truth by Catholic Answers (booklet, 1993)
Evangelical Catholics by Keith Fournier (Thomas Nelson, 1990)

Radio Replies by Fathers Rumble and Carty (TAN, 1979, three volumes, orig 1938)
Any Friend of God's is a Friend of Mine by Patrick Madrid (Basilica Press, 1996)
The Salvation Controversy by James (Jimmy) Akin (Catholic Answers, 2001)
More Biblical Evidence for Catholicism by Dave Armstrong (1st Books, 2002)
Nothing But the Truth: Essays in Apologetics by Karl Keating (Catholic Answers, 1999)
The Usual Suspects: Answering Anti-Catholic Fundamentalists by Karl Keating (Ignatius, 2000)
Controversies: High Level Catholic Apologetics edited by Karl Keating (Ignatius, 2001)

Vatican Council II: The Conciliar and Post-Conciliar Documents edited by Austin Flannery (St. Paul Editions, 1988, two volumes)
The Canons and Decrees of the Council of Trent edited by H.J. Schroeder (TAN, 1978)
The Christian Faith in the Doctrinal Documents of the Catholic Church edited by J. Neuner and J. Dupuis (Alba House, 1996)
Introduction to Christianity by Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger (Ignatius Press, 2004 revised, orig 1969)

Scripture Alone? 21 Reasons to Reject Sola Scriptura by Joel Peters (TAN, 1999)
Where We Got the Bible: Our Debt to the Catholic Church by Henry G. Graham (TAN, 1977, orig 1911)
What Faith Really Means by Henry G. Graham (TAN, 1982, orig 1914)
How Firm a Foundation by Marcus Grodi (Coming Home Resources, 2002, a novel)

The Case For Clerical Celibacy by Cardinal Stickler (Ignatius, 1995)
Mass Confusion: The Do's and Don'ts of Catholic Worship by James (Jimmy) Akin (Catholic Answers, 1999)
Mass Appeal: The ABCs of Worship by Jimmy Akin (Catholic Answers, 2003)

Jesus, Peter and the Keys: A Scriptural Handbook on the Papacy by Scott Butler et al (Queenship, 1996)
The Papacy by Catholic Answers (1999, workbook)
The Vatican Council 1869-1870 by Dom Cuthbert Butler (The Newman Press, 1962, orig 1930)
The Russian Church and the Papacy by Vladimir Soloviev, edited by Fr. Ray Ryland (Catholic Answers, 2001)
Ending the Byzantine Greek Schism by James Likoudis (1992)
Pius XII: Greatness Dishonored by Michael O'Carroll (Laetare Press, 1980)

Studies on the Early Papacy by Dom John Chapman (Kennikat Press, 1971, orig 1928)
The Primitive Church and the See of Peter by Luke Rivington (1894 full photocopy)
Documents Illustrating Papal Authority AD 96-454 by Edward Giles (Hyperion, 1979)

Spiritual Journeys (27 Converts) edited by Robert Baram (Pauline Books, 1988)
Apologia Pro Vita Sua by John Henry Cardinal Newman (W.W. Norton, 1968)
Newman Today edited by Stanley Jaki (Ignatius, 1989)
Rome Sweet Home: Our Journey to Catholicism by Scott and Kimberly Hahn (1993)
Welcome Home! (11 Reverts) edited by St. Joseph Comm and Victor Claveau (Ignatius, 2000)
My Life on the Rock by Jeff Cavins (e3Press, 2000)

On Being Catholic by Thomas Howard (Ignatius, 1997)
The Everlasting Man by G. K. Chesterton (Ignatius, 1993, orig 1925)
Saint Thomas Aquinas and Saint Francis of Assisi by G. K. Chesterton (Ignatius, 2002, orig 1923, 1933)
C.S. Lewis and the Catholic Church by Joseph Pearce (Ignatius, 2003)

The Truth About Mary edited by Robert Payesko (Queenship, 1996, 3 volumes)
Mary of Nazareth by Kenneth Howell (Queenship, 1998)
An Introduction to Mary: The Heart of Marian Doctrine and Devotion by Mark Miravalle (Queenship, 1996)
Mary: Coredemptrix, Mediatrix, Advocate by Mark Miravalle (Queenship, 1993)
The Dogma and the Triumph by Mark Miravalle (Queenship, 1998)
Maiden and Mother edited by M.M. Miles (Ignatius, 2001)
The World's First Love by Fulton J. Sheen (Ignatius, 1996, orig 1952)

The Secret of the Rosary by St. Louis De Montfort (TAN, 1976)
The Autobiography of St. Therese of Lisieux: The Story of a Soul (Image Books, 1957)
It is I Who Have Chosen You: An Autobiography by Judie Brown (American Life League, 1997)
The Imitation of Christ by Thomas a Kempis (Image Books, 1989)
Crossing the Threshold of Hope by Pope John Paul II (1995)
John Paul II Speaks to Youth At World Youth Day (Ignatius, 1993)

The Facts About Luther by Patrick F. O'Hare (TAN, 1987)
Flawed Expectations: The Reception of the Catechism of the Catholic Church by Michael Wrenn and Kenneth Whitehead (Ignatius, 1996)
Battle for the American Church (Revisted) by George A. Kelly (Ignatius, 1995)
Salt of the Earth by Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger with Peter Seewald (Ignatius, 1997)

A Father Who Keeps His Promises by Scott Hahn (Servant, 1998)
Ignatius Catholic Study Bible: The Gospel of Matthew by Scott Hahn and Curtis Mitch (2000)
Antioch and Rome: New Testament Cradles of Catholic Christianity by Raymond E. Brown and John P. Meier (Paulist Press, 1983)

Catholics and the New Age by Mitch Pacwa (Servant, 1992)
A Book of Angels: Stories from the Bible by Marigold Hunt (Ignatius, 1995)
The Bible and the Quran by Jacques Jomier (Ignatius, 2002, orig 1959)
A Christian Looks at Mormonism by William J. Mitchell (1977)
Inside Mormonism: What Mormons Really Believe by Isaiah Bennett (Catholic Answers, 1999)
Shockwave 2000: The Harold Camping 1994 Debacle by Robert Sungenis et al (New Leaf Press, 1994)

Philosophy 101 by Socrates by Peter Kreeft (Ignatius, 2002)
Arise from Darkness: What To Do When Life Doesn't Make Sense by Benedict Groeschel (Ignatius, 1995)

Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis (HarperSanFrancisco / Zondervan editions)
Miracles by C.S. Lewis
The Problem of Pain by C.S. Lewis
The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis
The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis
A Grief Observed by C.S. Lewis
The Abolition of Man by C.S. Lewis

Why I am Not a Christian and Other Essays on Religion by Bertrand Russell (Touchstone, 1957)
The Atheist's Debater's Handbook by B.C. Johnson (Prometheus, 1983)
Atheism: The Case Against God by George H. Smith (Prometheus, 1989)
The Jesus Puzzle: Did Christianity Begin with a Mythical Christ? by Earl Doherty (Age of Reason, 1999, 2005)
The Empty Tomb: Jesus Beyond the Grave edited by Robert Price and Jeffery Jay Lowder (Prometheus, 2005)

Losing Faith in Faith: From Preacher to Atheist by Dan Barker (FFRF Inc, 1992, 2006)
Why I Rejected Christianity: A Former Apologist Explains by John W. Loftus (Trafford Publishing, 2006)
Leaving the Fold: Testimonies of Former Fundamentalists edited by Edward T. Babinski (Prometheus, 2003)

The Blind Watchmaker by Richard Dawkins (W.W. Norton, 1996)
The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark by Carl Sagan (Ballantine Books, 1996)
Sense and Goodness Without God: A Defense of Metaphysical Naturalism by Richard Carrier (AuthorHouse, 2005)
Naturalism Defeated? Essays on Plantinga's Evolutionary Argument Against Naturalism edited by James Beilby with Alvin Plantinga and many contributors (Cornell Univ Press, 2002)

Scientists Confront Creationism edited by Laurie R. Godfrey (W.W. Norton, 1983)
What Evolution Is by Ernst Mayr (Basic/Perseus Books, 2001)
The Age of the Earth by G. Brent Dalrymple (Stanford University Press, 1991)
The Journey of Man: A Genetic Odyssey by Spencer Wells (Random House Paperback, 2003)
Evolution: The Remarkable History of a Scientific Theory by Edward J. Larson (Modern Library Paperback, 2006)

Does God Exist? The Debate Between Theists and Atheists by J.P. Moreland and Kai Nielsen with Peter Kreeft (Prometheus, 1993)
Does God Exist? The Craig-Flew Debate by William Lane Craig and Antony Flew edited by Stan W. Wallace (Ashgate Publishing, 2003)
God? A Debate Between a Christian and an Atheist by William Lane Craig and Walter Sinnott-Armstrong (Oxford Univ Press, 2004)
Reasonable Faith: Christian Truth and Apologetics by William Lane Craig (Crossway Books, 1994, updated 2008)

Science and Religion: Are They Compatible? edited by Paul Kurtz with many contributors (Prometheus, 2003)
Rocks of Ages: Science and Religion in the Fullness of Life by Stephen Jay Gould (Ballantine Books, 1999)
God and the New Physics by Paul Davies (Touchstone, 1983)
The Mind of God: The Scientific Basis for a Rational World by Paul Davies (Touchstone, 1993)
God and Evolution: A Faith-Based Understanding by David L. Wilcox (Judson Press, 2004)
Responses to 101 Questions on God and Evolution by John Haught (Paulist Press, 2001)
Science and Religion: A Historical Introduction edited by Gary B. Ferngren with many contributors (John Hopkins Univ, 2002)

A Mind's Matter: An Intellectual Autobiography by Fr. Stanley Jaki (Eerdmans, 2002)
The Limits of a Limitless Science and Other Essays by Fr. Stanley Jaki (ISI Books, 2000)
Bible and Science by Fr. Stanley Jaki (Christendom Press, 1996)

The Creator and the Cosmos by Hugh Ross (NavPress, 1993, 2001 3rd edition)
The Genesis Question by Hugh Ross (NavPress, 2001 2nd edition)
Adam, Apes, and Anthropology by Glenn R. Morton (DMD Publications, 1997)
Foundation, Fall, and Flood by Glenn R. Morton (DMD Publications, 1999 3rd edition)

In Six Days: Why Fifty Scientists Choose to Believe in Creation edited by John F. Ashton (Master Books, 2000)
Bones of Contention: A Creationist Assessment of Human Fossils by Marvin L. Lubenow (Baker Books, 1992, 2004 2nd edition)

'In the Beginning....' A Catholic Understanding of the Story of Creation and the Fall by Joseph Ratzinger, Pope Benedict XVI (Eerdmans, 1986, English translation by Boniface Ramsey, 1990)
Origin of the Human Species by Dennis Bonnette (Sapientia Press, 2003, 2nd edition)
Did Darwin Get It Right? by George Sim Johnston (Our Sunday Visitor, 1998)

Intelligent Design: The Bridge Between Science and Theology by William A. Dembski (Intervarsity, 1999)
Science and Evidence for Design in the Universe by Dembski, Meyer, Behe (Ignatius, 2000)
Darwinism Defeated? The Johnson-Lamoureux Debate on Biological Origins by Phillip E. Johnson and Denis Lamoureux (Regent College, 1999)

Perspectives on an Evolving Creation edited by Keith B. Miller (Eerdmans, 2003)
Coming to Peace with Science: Bridging the Worlds Between Faith and Biology by Darrel R. Falk (Intervarsity, 2004)
The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief by Francis S. Collins (Free Press, 2006)

Uncommon Dissent: Intellectuals Who Find Darwinism Unconvincing edited by William A. Dembski with many contributors (ISI Books, 2004)
Debating Design: From Darwin to DNA edited by William Dembski and Michael Ruse (Cambridge Univ Press, 2004)
Intelligent Thought: Science versus the Intelligent Design Movement edited by John Brockman with many contributors (Vintage Books, 2006)

The European Philosophers From Descartes to Nietzsche edited by Monroe C. Beardsley (1960)
Classic Philosophical Questions edited by James A. Gould (1989)

To search for books go to

A General Introduction to the Bible by Norman Geisler and William Nix (Moody, 1986 revised)
The Canon of Scripture by F.F. Bruce (Intervarsity Press, 1988)
The New Testament Documents: Are They Reliable? by F.F. Bruce (Intervarsity/Eerdmans, 1981 sixth edition)
The Quest for the Original Text of the New Testament by Philip Wesley Comfort (Baker, 1992)
An Introduction to the New Testament by Raymond E. Brown (Doubleday, 1997)

The Historical Reliability of the Gospels by Craig Blomberg (Intervarsity Press, 1987, updated 2007)
What are the Gospels? A Comparison with Graeco-Roman Biography by Richard Burridge (Cambridge / Eerdmans, 1992, 2004)
Jesus and the Eyewitnesses: The Gospels as Eyewitness Testimony by Richard Bauckham (Eerdmans, 2006)

A Marginal Jew: Rethinking the Historical Jesus (volume 1) by John P. Meier (Anchor Bible / Doubleday, 1991)
The Historical Jesus: The Life of a Mediterranean Jewish Peasant by John Dominic Crossan (HarperSanFrancisco, 1991)
An Introduction to New Testament Christology by Raymond E. Brown (Paulist Press, 1994)
Jesus Under Fire: Modern Scholarship Reinvents the Historical Jesus edited by Michael Wilkins and J. P. Moreland (Zondervan, 1995)
The Real Jesus: The Misguided Quest for the Historical Jesus and the Truth of the Traditional Gospels by Luke Timothy Johnson (HarperSanFrancisco, 1996)
The Historical Jesus: Ancient Evidence for the Life of Christ by Gary Habermas (College Press, 1996)
Jesus and the Victory of God by N. T. Wright (Fortress, 1996)
Studying the Historical Jesus: A Guide to Sources and Methods by Darrell Bock (Baker, 2002)

Will the Real Jesus Please Stand Up? A Debate between William Lane Craig and John Dominic Crossan with William F. Buckley, Jr. edited by Paul Copan (Baker, 1998)
The Resurrection of the Son of God by N. T. Wright (Fortress, 2003)
The Resurrection of Jesus: John Dominic Crossan and N.T. Wright in Dialogue (Fortress, 2006)

Jesus Outside the New Testament by Robert E. Van Voorst (Eerdmans, 2000)
The Gospel and the Greeks: Did the New Testament Borrow from Pagan Thought? by Ronald Nash (P & R, 1992, 2003)
Evidence for Christianity: Historical Evidences for the Christian Faith by Josh McDowell (Nelson Reference, 2006)
What Have They Done with Jesus? Beyond Strange Theories and Bad History by Ben Witherington III (HarperSanFrancisco, 2006)
Fabricating Jesus: How Modern Scholars Distort the Gospels by Craig A. Evans (IVP Books, 2006)

The Quest for Unity: Orthodox and Catholics in Dialogue by John Borelli and John Erickson (St. Vladimir's Seminary Press, 1996)
The Eucharist by Alexander Schmemann (St. Vladimir's Seminary Press, 1988)
For the Life of the World: Sacraments and Orthodoxy by Alexander Schmemann (St. Vladimir's Seminary Press, 1995, orig 1963)
Sola Scriptura: An Orthodox Analysis of the Cornerstone of Reformation Theology by John Whiteford (Conciliar Press, 1996)
Dancing Alone: The Quest for Orthodox Faith in the Age of False Religion by Frank Schaeffer (Holy Cross Orthodox Press, 1994)

Come, Let Us Reason: An Introduction to Logical Thinking by Norman Geisler and Ronald Brooks (Baker, 1990)
Christian Apologetics by Norman Geisler (Baker, 1976)
Thomas Aquinas: An Evangelical Appraisal by Norman Geisler (Baker, 1991)
Answering Islam by Norman Geisler (Baker, 2002 revised)

Mary, Mother of All Christians by Max Thurian (1963, also complete photocopy form)
Mary, The Second Eve by John Henry Newman (various Anglican/Catholic writings)
Mary: A Catholic-Evangelical Debate by Dwight Longenecker and David Gustafson (Brazos Press, 2003)

Early Christian Doctrines by J.N.D. Kelly (1978 revised)
The Oxford Dictionary of Popes by J.N.D. Kelly (1986)
The Christian Tradition: The Emergence of the Catholic Tradition by Jaroslav Pelikan (1971)

God in Three Persons by E. Calvin Beisner (Tyndale House Publishers, 1984)
The Forgotten Trinity by James R. White (Bethany House, 1998)
The Trinity: Evidence and Issues by Robert Morey (World Publishing, 1996)
Death and the Afterlife by Robert Morey (Bethany House, 1984)

Sola Scriptura and Salvation Sola Fide

Sola Scriptura! The Protestant Position on the Bible edited by Don Kistler (Soli Deo Gloria, 1995)
The Shape of Sola Scriptura by Keith Mathison (Canon Press, 2001)
Holy Scripture: The Ground and Pillar of Our Faith by David King and William Webster (2001, 3 volumes)
Scripture Alone by James R. White (Bethany House, 2004)

The Moody Handbook of Theology by Paul Enns (Moody, 1989)
Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words by W.E. Vine et al (Thomas Nelson, 1985)
Evangelical Affirmations edited by Kenneth Kantzer and Carl F.H. Henry (Academie Books, 1990)

Life in the Son: A Study of the Doctrine of Perseverance by Robert Shank (Bethany House, 1989)
Chosen But Free: A Balanced View of Divine Election by Norman Geisler (2001, 2nd edition)
Right With God: Justification in the Bible and the World edited by D.A. Carson (Baker, 1992)
Faith Alone: The Evangelical Doctrine of Justification by R.C. Sproul (Baker, 1995)
The God Who Justifies by James R. White (Bethany House, 2001)
Why I am Not a Calvinist by Jerry L. Walls and Joseph R. Dongell (InterVarsity Press, 2004)

Dispensationalism and End Times

An Examination of Dispensationalism by William E. Cox (Presbyterian and Reformed, 1963)
A Primer on Dispensationalism by John Gerstner (1982)
Whatever Happened to Heaven? by Dave Hunt (Harvest House, 1988)
Global Peace and the Rise of Antichrist by Dave Hunt (Harvest House, 1990)
The Reduction of Christianity: A Biblical Response to Dave Hunt by Gary DeMar and Peter Leithart (American Vision, 1988)
The Debate Over Christian Reconstruction by Gary DeMar et al (Dominion Press, 1988)
Hal Lindsey and the Restoration of the Jews by Steve Schlissel and David Brown (Still Waters Revival, 1990)
End Times Fiction: A Biblical Consideration of the Left Behind Theology by Gary DeMar (Thomas Nelson, 2001)
Will Catholics Be Left Behind? A Catholic Critique of the Rapture and Today's Prophecy Preachers by Carl E. Olson (Ignatius, 2003)
The Da Vinci Hoax: Exposing the Errors in The Da Vinci Code by Carl E. Olson and Sandra Miesel (Ignatius, 2004)

Understanding the Cults by Josh McDowell and Don Stewart (Campus Crusade, 1982)
Answers to the Cultist at Your Door by Robert and Gretchen Passantino (Harvest House, 1981)
The Kingdom of the Cults by Walter Martin (Bethany House, 1985 revised)
Larson's Book of Cults by Bob Larson (Tyndale House, 1982)
The Cult Explosion by Dave Hunt (Harvest House, 1980)
I Was Raised a Jehovah's Witness by Joe Hewitt (Kregel, 1997 revised)
Jehovah's Witnesses Answered Verse By Verse by David Reed (Baker, 1986)
Why You Should Believe in the Trinity by Robert Bowman (Baker, 1990)
Is the Mormon My Brother? by James R. White (Bethany House, 1997)
The Reincarnation Sensation by Norman Geisler (Tyndale House, 1986)
Larson's Book of Spiritual Warfare by Bob Larson (Thomas Nelson, 1999)
When the Devil Dares Your Kids by Bob and Gretchen Passantino (Servant, 1991)

Which Bible? by David Otis Fuller (1975)
The King James Only Controversy by James R. White (Bethany House, 1995)
New Age Bible Versions by Gail Riplinger (1993)
New Age Bible Versions Refuted by James R. White (1994, booklet)

Roman Catholicism: A Contemporary Evangelical Perspective by Paul Schrotenboer (Baker, 1987)
The Fatal Flaw by James R. White (Crowne Publications, 1990)
Answers to Catholic Claims by James R. White (Crowne Publications, 1990)
The Facts on Roman Catholicism by John Ankerberg and John Weldon (Harvest House, 1993)
Protestants and Catholics: Do They Now Agree? by John Ankerberg and John Weldon (Harvest House, 1995)
A View of Rome by John Armstrong (Moody, 1995)
Roman Catholicism: Evangelical Protestants Analyze What Divides and Unites Us edited by John Armstrong (Moody, 1994)

The Cult of the Virgin: Catholic Mariology and the Apparitions of Mary by Elliot Miller and Kenneth Samples (Baker, 1992)
Mary, Another Redeemer? by James R. White (Bethany House, 1998)
Who is My Mother? by Eric Svendsen (Calvary Press, 2001)

Salvation, the Bible, and Roman Catholicism by William Webster (Banner of Truth, 1995)
The Matthew 16 Controversy: Peter and the Rock by William Webster (1996)

Far From Rome, Near to God edited by Richard Bennett (1994)
Romanism: The Relentless Roman Catholic Assault on the Gospel of Jesus Christ by Robert Zins (White Horse Publications, 1994)
A Woman Rides the Beast: The Roman Catholic Church and the Last Days by Dave Hunt (Harvest House, 1994)
Reasoning from the Scriptures with Catholics by Ron Rhodes (Harvest House, 2000)
The Two Babylons or the Papal Worship by Alexander Hislop (Loizeaux Brothers, 1959, orig 1916)
Roman Catholicism by Loraine Boettner (Presbyterian and Reformed, 1962, two editions)

To search for books go to

About | Apologetics | Philosophy | Spirituality | Books | Audio | Links

(Outline from the Methodist Hymnal,p.870 with additional prayers and hymns. Cut and paste what appeals to you.

Have someone be leader or read all in unison.

Gathering

We have gathered here to praise God and to witness to our faith as we celebrate the life of ……… We come together in grief, acknowledging our human loss. May God grant us grace, that in pain we may find comfort, in sorrow hope, in death resurrection.

Prayer
O God, who gave us birth, you are ever more ready to hear than we are to pray. You know our needs before we ask, and our ignorance in asking. Give to us now your grace, that as we shrink before the mystery of death, we may see the light of eternity. Help us to live as those who are prepared to die. And when our days here are accomplished, enable us to die as those who go forth to live, so that living or dying, our life may be in you. AMEN

(See additional prayers below)

The 23rd Psalm

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
He leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul:
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness
For his name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk
Through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil:
For thou art with me;
Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou prepares a table before me
In the presence of mine enemies;
thou anointest my head with oil;
My cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life:
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

or

PSALM 121

We lift our eyes up to the hills.

From where does our help come?

Our help comes from the Unseen One,

The Maker of the heavens and the earth,

Who will not cause our feet to stumble,

Our protector who never sleeps.

The Abundant One preserves us,

The Watchful One is our shelter and

support.

The Vigilant One guards us from evil,

And keeps our Life-breath safe.

The Shepherd guards our going out

and out coming in from now unto eternity.

Commendation(place the urn in the ground)

O God, all that you have given us is yours. At first you gave ……. to us, so now we give him back to you.

or

Into your hands, O merciful God, we commend your servant ……….
Acknowledge, we humbly beseech you, a sheep of your own fold,
A lamb of your own flock, a sinner of your own redeeming. Receive ………into the arms of your mercy, into the blessed rest of everlasting peace, and into the glorious company of the saints of light. Amen

or

A PRAYER OF COMMENDATION

And now we offer and commend (name of person) to the Everlasting One.

(Name of person), we say to you in the midst of our sorrow and loss that we are grateful that you lived your life among us. We are grateful for your quiet gentleness and for your firm resolve to live life and to die on your own terms. We take joy and relief in knowing that your suffering has ended. We ask you now for forgiveness for any of the ways we may have hurt you in this life – – and we forgive you for any of the ways you may have hurt us. We release you now into the Everlasting Arms. May your passage be swift. May you know Wholeness and Peace now and through all eternity. (May be followed by the Lord’s Prayer.)

Closing

Hymn? See suggestions below.

Benediction:

A BENEDICTION

May you be at ease.

May you be free from suffering.

May you be healed.

May you know joy and lightness of being

May you dwell in comfort and compassion.

May you be a source of comfort and compassion for all whom you meet.

Go in peace.

or

May the road rise to meet you, may the wind be always at your back, may the sun shine warm upon your face, may the rains fall soft upon your fields, and until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of his hand.
AMEN
or

God be in your head, and in your understanding.
God be in your eyes, and in your looking.
God be in your mouth, and in your speaking.
God be in your heart, and in your thinking.
God be at your end, and at your departing.
AMEN

or

Like a rock, God is under our feet.
Like a roof, God is over our heads.
Like the horizon, God is beyond us.
Like water in a pitcher, God is within us and in the pouring out of us.
Like a pebble in the sea, we are in God.
AMEN

ALTERNATE OPENING

We have gathered to mourn the passing and to celebrate the life of _________________.We have come together to grieve and to give thanks for his life.For the next brief space in time, we will cry and laugh almost simultaneously.As human beings we are the only creatures gifted to feel such a range of emotions all at the same time.It is good that we can do it together.

Whenever a death occurs, those of us who remain behind enter a space in time that is quite out of the ordinary.Whether we recognize this or not, this is sacred time – a time that holds potential for healing and insight and understanding that does not come readily in ordinary time.With the death of someone we have known and loved, something in each one of us dies too.We are reminded of the frailties and the gifts of our relationships.We become more aware that we live in fragile human bodies.We may come to know a heightened consciousness of what is precious and what is true.Indeed with the passing of a loved one, we encounter our own mortality.

When we gather in (Christian) community, this sacred time is heightened by our affirmation that there is eternal life after death – and it is here, together, where we glimpse the mystery of the mansion with many rooms that Jesus promised his disciples as he prepared to leave them. There is nothing we can touch, nothing we can describe or pin down – – nothing concrete – – but the mystery of death has the power to bring us to the threshold of faith.In this extra – ordinary and sacred time, what we encounter is the power of grief – – and the power of hope.It is here, together, where we may intuit the meaning of Paul’s words when he affirms that “Neither life nor death……can separate us from the love of God.”So, I welcome you to this time out of ordinary time.I invite you to pause, to let it settle in that a precious life has passed from among us.We can use the gift of our worship and our memories to bring comfort and peace and joy and laughter to one another as we remember _______________ and…..perhaps……we will enjoya “trace” of________________ presence as we share together.

A couple of Celtic blessings – – I have used the first one as an opening blessing after welcoming people.The second one as a closing blessing at the end of the service They are from John Phillip Newell’scollection called “Praying With The Earth”

God of birth and life and death and beyond,

On this day

the blessings of earth.

On this day

the blessings of sea and sky.

To open us to life

to ground us in life

to fill us with life

and with wonder.

On those we love this day

and on every human family

the blessings of heaven,

the blessings of earth

the blessings of sky and sea.

In the rising of the sun and its setting,

in the whiteness of the moon and its seasons,

in the infinity of space and its shining stars,

you are God and we bless you.

May we know the harmony of Heaven

in the relationships of earth,

and may we know the expanse of its mystery within us.

We take your promised peace with us.Amen.

******************************************************

ADDITIONAL PRAYERS

A PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING

(from the United Methodist Hymnal)

God of love, we thank you

For all with which you have blessed us

Even to this day:

For the gift of joy in days of health and strength,

And for the gifts of your abiding presence and promise

In days of pain and grief.

We praise you for home and friends, and for our baptism

And place in your church

With all who have faithfully lived and died.

Above all else, we thank you for Jesus,

Who knew our griefs,

Who died our death and rose for our sake,

who lives and prays for us.

And as he taught us, so now we pray:

(The Lord’s Prayer)

A NORDIC FUNERAL PRAYER

An ancient Nordic funeral prayer. It is prayed by the one who is about to die:

Lo, there do I see my father

Lo, there do I see my mother and brothers and sisters

Lo, there do I see the line of my people

Back to the beginning.

Lo, they do call me to take my place among them

In the Halls of Heaven

So – it is time for us to say good-bye. It is time for us to begin to accept that (name of person) has answered the call to return to his/her eternal origins. It is time for us to recognize that death is not the enemy, but the Ultimate Healer.

********************************************************************************

Lord’s Prayer from The New Zealand Prayerbook

Eternal Spirit Earth-Maker, Pain-bearer, Life-giver,

source of all that is and that shall be,

Father and Mother of us all.

Mother Butler Guild Handbook Pdf

Loving God, in whom is heaven.

The hallowing of your name echoes through the universe!

The way of your justice be followed by the peoples of the earth!

Your heavenly will be done by all created beings!

Your commonwealth of peace and freedom sustain our hope and come on earth. With the bread we need for today, feed us.

In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us.

In times of temptation and test, spare us.

From the grip of all that is evil, free us.

For you reign in the glory of the power that is love,

now and forever.

Amen.

Mother Butler Guild Handbook 2020

********************************************************

Peace, my heart let the time for parting be sweet.

Let it not be a death but a completeness.

Let love melt into a memory and pain into songs.

Let the flight through the skies end in the folding of wings over the nest

Let the last touch of your hands be gentle,

Like the flower of the night.

Stan still, O Beautiful End, for a moment,

I bow to you and hold up my lamp

To light you on your way. – Rabindrinath Tagore

***************************************

HYMNS

ABIDE WITH ME

1. Abide with me; fast falls the eventide;
   The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide;
   When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
   Help of the helpless, oh, abide with me.
2. Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day;
   Earth’s joys grow dim, its glories pass away;
   Change and decay in all around I see—
   O Thou who changest not, abide with me.
3. I need Thy presence every passing hour;
   What but Thy grace can foil the tempter’s pow’r?
   Who, like Thyself, my guide and stay can be?
   Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me.
4. I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless;
   Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness;
   Where is death’s sting? Where, grave, thy victory?
   I triumph still, if Thou abide with me.

AMAZING GRACE by Newton

1. Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
   That saved a wretch like me!
   I once was lost, but now am found;
   Was blind, but now I see.
2. ’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
   And grace my fears relieved;
   How precious did that grace appear
   The hour I first believed.
3. Through many dangers, toils and snares,
   I have already come;
   ’Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
   And grace will lead me home.
4. The Lord has promised good to me,
   His Word my hope secures;
   He will my Shield and Portion be,
   As long as life endures.
5. Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
   And mortal life shall cease,
   I shall possess, within the veil,
   A life of joy and peace.
6. The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
   The sun forbear to shine;
   But God, who called me here below,
   Will be forever mine.
7. When we’ve been there ten thousand years,
   Bright shining as the sun,
   We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
   Than when we’d first begun.

HYMN OF PROMISE P.707 IN Methodist Hymnal. Google for chords

The United Methodist Hymnal Number 117
Text: Isaac Watts, 1674-1748
Music: Attr. to William Croft; harm. by W.H. Monk
Tune: ST. ANNE, Meter: CM

Mother Butler Guild Handbook Online