Betsy Schwarzentraub

This book explores the church cycles. Advent-Christmas-Epiphany and Lent-Easter-Pentecost. It uses a semi-fictionalized (enhanced) story of Simon Peter (from when he walked on the water) to illustrate the concepts. Each part of the cycle gets its own chapter along with ideas for celebrating it.

A late chapter discusses the daily cycle of 3 hour increments and what the focus of each of them should/could be.

Charts at the end summarize the church cycles for quick reference (however, in my copy, they did not change the titles for the Easter cycle so it remained with the titles of the Christmas cycle). There is also a leader's guide.

This is billed as an "expanded edition"--author note early in the book indicates that the drawings/illustrations are an addition.

I did write down some basics in a journal to refer to in the future, but I don't see myself returning to reread this book now that I've finished it.

I received this book through LibraryThing Early Reviewers which asks for, but does not require, an honest review in exchange.… (altro)

This is a beautiful introduction and guide for anyone wanting to understand or expand their experience of the Christian calendar or recognize worship as a rhythm of hours, days and seasons. Rev. Dr. Betsy Schwarzentraub (long-time United Methodist pastor) explains historical and scriptural bases for the church seasons (Advent, Christmastide, etc.). She includes chapters on sabbath and the daily hours, some Christian practices of rest and worship. Tethering her chapters to the story of Peter's walk on the Sea of Galilee, her explanations draw our modern sensibilities to the value of worship in our tumultuous time. Included are lovely, imaginative line drawings of Jesus with friends and followers; suggestions for practicing the seasons and worship in one's home or community; and projects of "worship arts." I was disappointed in the lack of an index and endnotes for sources of quotes and practices. She does included a page of additional resources. Parenthetical season/topic references in the table of contents would be helpful to guide the reader.… (altro)