Derl G. Keefer and C. Neil Strait jointly served as compilers and editors of The Wesleyan Preaching Annual 2001-2002 (CSS Publishing), which is based on Cycle A lectionary texts. The editors and majority of contributors are Nazarene, but the list also includes non-Nazarenes who stand in the Wesleyan tradition. Assembled in a loose-leaf notebook format, the Annual includes worship helps and two "sermon briefs" (a term that originated in Preaching) for each Sunday of the year.

New Proclamation -- Year A, 2001-2002 (Fortress Press), edited by Marshall D. Johnson, is an annual resource for preachers who use the lectionary texts in planning their messages. Taking each Sunday of the year, the authors provide brief reflections and/or interpretations of each of the lectionary readings, with the Gospel text receiving a more extended treatment.

Of course, the "granddaddy" of such volumes is The Minister's Manual 2002 (Josey-Bass), edited by James W. Cox. Used by successive generations of ministers, the Minister's Manual continues to provide one of the most comprehensive one-volume resources for pastors, including both lectionary and topical sermons (full texts and outlines), children's sermons, various worship aids, and more. Cox, who has edited this volume since 1984, is senior professor of preaching at Southern Baptist Seminary in Louisville.

In Wisdom from a Pastor's Heart (Josey-Bass), Douglas Connelly has gathered excerpts from 75 years of The Minister's Manual to provide a fascinating collection of quotes and scripture passages on a variety of topics, from "Anger" to "Work." You'll find plenty of "sermon seeds" in this small volume, along with words of encouragement and inspiration.

One of the finest contributions to pastoral publishing this year is In Times of Crisis and Sorrow -- A Minister's Manual Resource Guide (Josey-Bass), edited by Carol M. Noren. Published as a companion volume to the Minister's Manual, this publication offers an excellent collection of resources for pastors as they deal with sorrow and crisis within a congregation. The book is packed with sermons, prayers, and other resources which will make it one of those references which is pulled from the shelf again and again by pastors as they minister to the hurts and griefs found in any congregation. Noren is a former pastor and chaplain who now teaches at Chicago's North Park Seminary (and is a Contributing Editor of Preaching).

Finally, preachers will welcome volume 5 of "The Words of Gardner Taylor" series: Lectures, Essays and Interviews (Judson Press). Edited by Edward L. Taylor, this wonderful series is making accessible to a wide audience the remarkable sermonic contributions of Gardner C. Taylor, often called the "Dean of American Black Preachers." This particular volume contains essays written and lectures presented by Taylor, primarily about preaching. Any preacher's work will be strengthened by reading the insights of this towering figure of the 20th century American pulpit. Here's a prayer that he will continue to preach long into the 21st century!