A great book for anyone who plans worship services and wants the entire year to make sense and point to the reason for worship... Jesus Christ, and His resurrection.

While Joan Chittister writes in a more "mystical" style than i would have approached this subject i think she dose an amazing job of relaying the importance of saying to the world... your calendar is not the calendar that runs my life; the calendar that tells me who i am in Christ is the calendar that point to Him, a... (show more)

A great book for anyone who plans worship services and wants the entire year to make sense and point to the reason for worship... Jesus Christ, and His resurrection.

While Joan Chittister writes in a more "mystical" style than i would have approached this subject i think she dose an amazing job of relaying the importance of saying to the world... your calendar is not the calendar that runs my life; the calendar that tells me who i am in Christ is the calendar that point to Him, and the calendar around which i will live!

Sr Chittister, being a nun, i think also does a good job of balancing the protestant view of the calendar with her own roman version. The chapter on the Marian feasts is written as to convey her devotion to the importance of the role of Mary, while not placing Mary on an equal plane with God, rather as she was - like the calendar and other saints, one who points to God.

Overall, i say this book should be required reading for all members of Altar Guilds and Worship Committees... assuming you want your worship to be Christ centered. (show less)

The book takes us through the liturgical year, beginning on the first Sunday of Advent and carrying through the following November.

The premise of the book is to help us begin to fully understand that Christmas and Easter are our anchors to the Christian faith, and the in-between time a cause for reflection and anticipation of what is to come.

Joan is a Benedictine nun, and I have come to love her writing through other books of hers such as “Scarred by Struggle, Transformed by Hope.” S... (show more)

The book takes us through the liturgical year, beginning on the first Sunday of Advent and carrying through the following November.

The premise of the book is to help us begin to fully understand that Christmas and Easter are our anchors to the Christian faith, and the in-between time a cause for reflection and anticipation of what is to come.

Joan is a Benedictine nun, and I have come to love her writing through other books of hers such as “Scarred by Struggle, Transformed by Hope.” She has a connection with the heart of God that is evident. She loves Jesus, and it appears she has a passion to paint the picture of liturgy as a source of hope and life to those who call themselves Christians.

Being Liturgically clueless, this book was a bit confusing. There are many feasts and celebrations I had not heard of before. I chose this book hoping it would somehow connect me to the Liturgical practices I don’t really know about, but the book left me wanting for more understanding and desire for clarity on practical ways I can incorporate the Liturgical practices into my Evangelical life.

With that said, I think anyone who wants to explore the Liturgical life further should pick up this book. It certainly opened the door of curiosity a little wider for me, and I walked away understanding a bit more of what the Liturgical calendar is and why it is important. (show less)