News

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JUNE NEWS

Plan your holiday reading at re:fresh Taming the Tiger, the dramatic story of three-times World Kung Fu Champion, Tony Anthony, is now available from re;fresh books and christian resources in a ‘Mass market Edition’ at only £2.99.   This is an ideal book for our “Take it and Leave it” initiative (See below) Meanwhile, throughout June and July re:fresh books & christian resources has a range of Christian fiction and biographies, all reduced by £2.   While stocks last there is also a FREE sampler book with chapters from ten biographies and ten novels in this offer.   A novel that is currently proving popular is The Shack by William Young.  This tackles the issue “Where is God in a world so filled with unspeakable pain” through the medium of Christian fiction. Take it & leave it Once again re:fresh books is encouraging christians to take a good book on holiday and leave it behind for somebody else to read.   This is similar to ‘bookcrossing’.  Many Holiday Hotels and Accommodations have a ‘library; where guests can leave books they have finished reading and pick up books left by others.   Why not take a good book to read and leave?   Choose something like Taming the Tiger that is not overtly ‘Christian’ but has a general appeal.  One of the novels or biographies from the re:fresh summer promotion is another possibility. Prince Caspian is coming – June 27 On June 27 the second movie in the CS Lewis Chronicles of Narnia series opens in cinemas.  Harper Collins is producing a whole range of film tie-ins.  Meanwhile re:fresh books always has stocks of all the books in the Chronicles of Narnia series. Special to re:fresh – 3 for 2 on Candle Bible for Toddlers range The Candle Bible for Toddlers is an excellent introduction to the Bible, with 133 Bible stories from the Old and New Testament told in clear, simple sentences with colourful illustrations.  There is also a Candle Prayers for Toddlers plus a whole range of other products – Mix and Match Bible Stories, Noah and his great ark, Carry along Bible fun, Jigsaw fun etc.  These are all available in a 3 for 2 offer at re:fresh books.     Going up to University for the first time? FRESH is a 176-page resource for freshers from the publisher who knows the University scene best – IVP.   Designed to help Christian students maintain a strong personal faith, it provides five weeks’ worth of daily information on everything from writing essays to writing home, from making friends to making the grade, and from debt to dating. NOTE: On June 21 there is a ‘FRESH’ day conference for new students at St Pauls’ Church, Cheam, see the re:fresh website www.refreshbooks.co.uk/localevents.htm for details. …and music Two newly-released CDs are on special offer, £2 off, exclusively at refresh books: One is Lou Fellingham’s Promised Land and the other is String Heaven, an inspirational orchestral arrangement of 15 popular worship songs.   Meanwhile, Great God who Saves, is the debut album from a new singer, Laura Story, from whom we shall surely  be hearing a lot more.  Sufficient to say she wrote the popular Chris Tomlin song Indescribable and backing vocals on some of the tracks are provided by Amy Grant! Meanwhile, there are three new albums containing fresh acoustic mixes of some of the best songs from Hosanna Music.  Published as renew, restore and refresh, each contains 12 or 13 tracks at only £7.99.

APRIL/MAY NEWS

What’s new and re:freshing on Tolworth Broadway? Tolworth Broadway has a new look – gone is the subway that few people used and gone are the green railings that formed a visual and physical barrier between the road and the shops.  Now there is a controlled pedestrian crossing and the railings have disappeared. Instead there are pay and display parking bays right outside re:fresh books & christian resources.  Meanwhile, inside the shop there are changes too!   Willow Tree figures now available from re:fresh re:fresh books has recently added the Willow Tree range of figures to its gift selection.   They join a wide range of new cards and gifts suitable for Anniversaries, Birthdays, Baptisms, Christenings, Confirmation and First Holy Communion. Willow Tree products can be an excellent way of expressing love or thanks to other people.   They use simple yet expressive figures to communicate sentiments or represent themes like peace, love, thanks, care and blessing.  The figures have no facial detail but rely simply on the tilt of the head, the pose of the body or the position of the hands to convey meaning. There are figures that express relationships like grandfather, grandmother, father and daughter, brother and sister etc.   See the re:fresh website www.refreshbooks.co.uk or visit the shop to see examples.   Many are less than £10.00.   “Re:fresh aims to offer high quality cards and gifts that are different and will appeal both to our regular Christian customers and the general public.  The Runnymede range of 3D laser-engraved crystal glass products has been popular since we opened and we believe the Willow Tree figures will be equally popular” says re:fresh Manager, Marguerite Williams. Bible promotion A cracking £9 off the beautifully bound soft-tone NIV Study Bible,  £2 off the  brand new NIV Popular Bible and £3 off the Hardback Good News Sunrise Bible, are just some of the special offers on a wide range of Bibles available throughout April and May at re:fresh books & christian resources.  Of particular interest are offers on NIV, Good News and NCV Youth Bibles. Hot off the press is Hodder’s new NIV The World’s Most Popular Bible range in a distinctive white cover with Scripture passages printed on the spine and in a cross shape on the front.  This means that the words of Scripture can be read whether the Bible is displayed ‘face out’ or ‘spine out’ on a bookshelf.  This new hardback edition, for the first time includes both the Gideon ‘Helps’ and a Bible Guide.  Re:fresh is offering this new edition at a special introductory price of £15.99 instead of £17.99.   Other editions include a pocket-sized  hardback gift edition which would make an ideal wedding, confirmation or first communion gift. Love your local school – Give some Bibles! Another special for re:fresh is the offer of an additional 10% discount off the promotional price on Good News HARDBACK Sunrise or Rainbow Bibles to anybody ordering 20 or more to give to their local school – maybe for school leavers, or for class use.  This deal would save over £4 a Bible, bringing the price down from £15.99 to £11.69 per Bible.   There are also offers available on the NCV NEW updated Hardback Youth Bibles. National Year of Reading With 2008 designated “The National Year of Reading” re:fresh books & christian resources  has many books to help stimulate an interest in reading amongst children and young people, they range from Cecil the Lost Sheep to Prince Caspian.    With the release of the second Chronicles of Narnia movie, Prince Caspian, in cinemas from June 26, a tie-in version of the CS Lewis allegory is published by Harper Collins at £5.99.  Come and see the full range of Narnia titles at re:fresh. Cliff Richard’s 50 Favourite Bible Stories is a book and CD package specially commissioned to mark the singer’s 50 years in Show Business.  Cliff narrates the stories while the hardback book brims with colourful illustrations.  At £14.99 it will make an ideal gift for a family or for Cliff Richard fans of all ages.  Worn out by work?  Get a life!  That is the title and the message of a brand new IVP book on special offer at re:fresh.  Written by Paul Valler, it looks at what causes our tiredness and suggests solutions.  Going on holiday or taking time off?   Come and browse our greatly extended range of fiction.  Other new titles, also on special offer, include John Piper’s The Future of Justification, a response to Tom Wright; and Cherishing the Earth by Martin and Margot Hodson;  A different sort of fantasy game Also for the family is a new Pilgrim’s Progress board game at £14.99 from re:fresh books & christian resources.  With an accompanying book by Tim Dowley, it offers children the opportunity to enter into the spirit of John Bunyan’s classic story.  Players meet terrifying monsters, huge giants, raging lions and scary dark places as well as making good friends on the journey to the Celestial City.  Here is a Christian response to some of the games available to children today – and it is based on a Classic of English literature. Courses and resources Running an Alpha course, marriage course or parenting course?  Don’t forget to order your course materials through re:fresh books & christian resources.  In most cases you can save on postage and get a discount.   And if you send details of your course, re:fresh will publicise it, free of charge, on the shop website at www.refreshbooks.co.uk.

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A Selection of past news stories appears below

Re:fresh in the news again
(February 2007)
The February 2007 issue of Christianity Magazine includes a ‘briefing’ article from re:fresh books and christian resources.  This looks at the role of Christian bookshops in the modern retail climate.  It makes the point that Christian bookshops represent a Christian presence on the High Street and are open at times when most churches are closed!

Fresh veggies from re:fresh books
(July/August 2006)
After a number of years, the Veggie Tales are back, now on DVD.  Aimed at pre-school children, and presenting Biblical stories and concepts in an engaging style, they are also “cult” viewing amongst many Christian teenagers.    Titles initially available include:-  Josh and the big Wall, Madame Blueberry, Ballad of little Joe, Minnesota Cuke and the Search for Samson’s hairbrush and Rack, Shack and Benny