Faces at The Cross

From the author of Faces at the Manger comes another delightful collection of prose and poetry. In J. Barrie Shepherd's book, Faces at the Cross, the visages are of persons in Jerusalem during Holy Week and at the scene of the Crucifixion. As you meet Mary, Peter, Pontius Pilate, Simon of Cyrene, and others, their dramatic sketches will engage you as they tell of their encounters with Jesus. In addition to monologues, Faces at the Cross is brimming with readings appropriate for congregational or family worship. It provides monologues and poetic verse for Lent and Easter.

""Many of us have long admired Barrie Shepherd's way with words--his great capacity to turn theology into poetry and poetry into revelation. In the shadow of the cross, Shepherd now focuses upon the faces of the folk who stood around the cross. With Barrie Shepherd as our guide, we will see things in those faces we have not seen before.""
-- William H. Willamon

""Here's a book for Lent: poetic monologues from Simon of Cyrene to Joseph of Arimathea, fine meditations, plus a package of poems to deepen your life. In a barren age, Barrie Shepherd is a poet who can still sing faith.
-- David G. Buttrick
Professor of Homiletics and Liturgics
The Divinity School
Vanderbilt University



The Reverend Dr. J. Barrie Shepherd, a native of Great Britain, retired as Minister Emeritus from The First Presbyterian Church in New York City. Prior to that he was senior minister of Swarthmore Presbyterian Church for sixteen years and served in college and university chaplaincy and teaching. He has preached and lectured at Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Cornell, Dartmouth, Duke and other universities and colleges and many of the major seminaries, as well as in distinguished pulpits across the USA and in the UK, Europe and Africa.

The author is an avid saltwater fisherman and sailor. He enjoys swimming, walking, gardening and playing the euphonium in community bands. He and his wife Mhairi have four daughters and three granddaughters.