A Gift of Remembrance is being launched at the Christian Resources Exhibition at Esher, Surrey.

The booklet offers reflections on death, dying, mourning and loss, and includes Bible passages, prayers and reflections from different authors, including John Donne, Anne Bronte and Major Malcolm Boyd, who was killed in action in France in 1944.

President of the Methodist Conference, the Rev Alison Tomlin, encouraged people to use the booklet.

“Everyone is affected by death at some point in their lives and a faith that shies away from these issues would be neither real nor relevant," she said.

"Because it can be emotionally difficult and painful it’s easy to want to put the issue to one side, to try not to think about it or deal with it.

"But as Christians we believe in a God of hope, a God who is with us even in the valley of the shadow of death.”

A Gift of Remembrance is ideal for pastoral care and chaplaincy and people are being encouraged to share it with friends and family who are mourning.

“This booklet is not just for Remembrance Sunday – it’s something I know I can give to people who are grieving, as we reflect on the experience together,” Tomlinson added.

The booklet is also ideal for small group and personal reflection, and is the latest in the highly successful 'A Gift of...' series, which includes A Gift of Peace, which has already sold nearly 15,000 copies.

It can be purchased from www.methodistpublishing.org.uk at the price of £5 for 50 copies (plus postage and packing).