Book Review: New Normal: Discerning the Rhythm of Lament, Thanks, and Praise in Bad Times and Good by Dr. Paul Mercer

A book review on Dr. Paul Mercer's New Normal: Discerning the Rhythm of Lament, Thanks, and Praise in Bad Times and Good by Dr Sam Hey, Brisbane.

Dr Sam Hey is a lecturer in Education and Theology with Alphacrucis University College.

As I read Dr. Paul Mercer's book, New Normal: Discerning the Rhythm of Lament, Thanks, and Praise in Bad Times and Good I was reminded of John Witvliet writing where he says that lament is not simply a reaction to crisis but a biblically grounded and theologically necessary expression of faith that deepens hope in the midst of the challenges of life. Witvliet critiques the tendency to suppress lament and instead calls for its reintegration as a vital practice of communal solidarity, honest spirituality, and hope filled longing for the better life that God provides. He emphasizes that Christian hope is not grounded in denial of suffering but in the trust that God’s promises will ultimately prevail—a trust sustained and expressed through lament and praise. The 117 prayers in Mercer's book help to meet this need, through a progression from lament, to hope filled thanksgiving and praise.

Gail Ramshaw also emphasizes the necessity of liturgical lament in times of collective crisis, such as pandemics, climate anxiety, or systemic injustice. calls for liturgy that engages the whole human experience, including sorrow, rage, and longing (Ramshaw, 2019). At the same time, expressions of thanksgiving and praise can be seen as acts faith in God to resist hopeless and injustice, and look forward to a better world through relationship with the Godhead. A liturgical rhythm that balances these elements enables communities to express faith honestly and resiliently.

Dr. Paul Mercer's  prayers encapsulate these sentiments and provide a valuable resource for individuals and faith communities with reference to weekly readings from the Old and New Testament to adopt this rhythm by focusing on the themes of lament, thanksgiving, and praise that mirror the rhythms of the Christian calendar.

The passages on lament acknowledging the pain, loss, and confusion brought about by life challenges such as the Covid pandemic, provide opportunity and support for congregants to express grief and seek solace in God. The passages on thanksgiving help to lift the participants from a focus solely on adversity by encouraging recognition of the blessings and moments of grace that are at times less visibly, thus fostering a spirit of gratitude. The prayers and passages on praise reaffirm trust in the divine, celebrating the constancy of God's presence and encouraging endurance and faith,

Developed around a well structured yet flexible framework to support worship during a time when the world grappled with the emergence of a "new normal" of contemporary times, such as the complexities of worship during and beyond the Covid pandemic, these prayers align with the weekly morning and evening liturgical readings of the Uniting Church of Australia, particulars as practiced at the Bayside Uniting Church at Manly West, in Queensland, Australia where Dr. Mercer attends.

In New Normal, Dr. Paul Mercer offers a meaningful exploration of faith's capacity to navigate and make sense of the unprecedented challenges of our times. Through these carefully crafted prayers, his book invites readers to engage deeply with biblical answers to their spiritual, emotional and practical needs, fostering a sense of heart felt, supportive community and continuity in the face of disruption.

Dr. Paul Mercer is a highly experienced GP who founded Silky Oaks Medical Practice in 1987. Over his distinguished career, Dr. Mercer mentored more than 90 registrars, contributing to the development of the next generation of medical professionals. He has also been instrumental in establishing Theology on Tap, a public space for presentations and discussions on contemporary theology issues in Brisbane. His experience in both of these areas is reflected in this book.

These prayers show the relevance of Christian hope in the contexts of our time, and more broadly, through all times that face similar disruptions to our own experience of Covid and other challenges in the last few years. They are designed for both in-person and online gatherings, the prayers demonstrate flexibility, accommodating various worship settings. This has made them particularly suitable for online gatherings, such as those necessitated by the Covid pandemic, and to changes in the nature of gatherings following these challenges. The integration of Old and New Testament themes allows for broad applicability across different Christian traditions.

They show an attentive listening to the Holy Spirit, Scripture, tradition, and the lived experiences of the worshipping community in developing a liturgy of prayers that respond to challenges such as Covid, and to the Hope found in faith in God. Particularly valuable is the capacity of these prayers to hold together lament, thanksgiving, and praise, allowing a faith building response to both good times and bad.

The prayers reflect on and provide support for the spiritual, emotional and relational journeys of a faith community and its members as they navigating our challenging times. They offer a sound and balanced approach to spiritual reflection, with a close liturgical alignment that encourages ongoing relevance throughout the church year.

At the same time, some readers may suggest that more background details could be briefly included in this publication, such as details about the place in the book where specific types of prayer are found. An index that groups and numbers the different types of prayer would be useful.  Despite these, and other limitations in background details and cultural specificity, Mercer's collection stands as a testament to adaptive and resilient worship practices which can benefit individuals and congregations alike.

Mercer, P. (2024). New Normal: Discerning the Rhythm of Lament, Thanks, and Praise in Bad Times and Good. Wipf and Stock Publishers.

Ramshaw, G. (2019). Liturgical Language: Keeping It Metaphoric, Multivalent, and Meaningful. Liturgical Press.

Witvliet, J. D. (2007). The Biblical Psalms in Christian Worship: A Brief Introduction and Guide to Resources. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing.