For my Advent discipline this year I’m going to be reading “God With Us” (Rediscovering the Meaning of Christmas), Edited by Greg Pennoyer and Gregory Wolfe. It features daily writing for Advent (and for feasts through Epiphany) by such writers as Scott Cairns, Emilie Griffin, Richard John Neuhaus, Kathleen Norris, Eugene Peterson and Luci Shaw. I’ve already done some browsing.
The major question for me was whether to wait for Advent and live through the season day by day with the book, or to start tomorrow (and maybe be able to use what I’m reading in the week ahead. I’m pretty sure at this point I’m going to start tomorrow, hoping that I can use some of what I’m reading with my congregation in a timely manner. (We’ve already got our second reading for our early service on I Advent set up to use an excerpt from Neuhaus’s piece for that day. I’m hoping it will inform my sermons.
So far, I really like what I’ve seen. I’m looking forward to using this as a daily reading (maybe in conjunction with Morning Prayer). I have to thank my wife, Anne, who found this and bought this for me. There are some wonderful advantages to having a librarian in the family!
As you might gather from the title, it’s geared towards discovering the meaning of the incarnation (Jesus’ birth) in our lives.
The Sunset Juggler (formerly The Dragon's Mouth) 
November 21, 2009 at 6:38 pm
John, this is amazing! God has such a fun sense of humour! Must be something about this title that librarians are drawn to? I am studying the exact same book for Advent, and through into Epiphany I imagine, since the book leads us onward. I have never had a study book that went straight through from now till Epiphany. For me, it will be after reading Morning Prayer that I read my portion. I found copies in Solano County Library. Napa and St. Helena have it too, so I reckon there must library copies out there in other cities and counties.
John: We can discuss it if you like. For other folks, who may wonder how the various authors and seasons intertwine, here are some more bibliographical details:
Introduction / Eugene Peterson —
Living the church year : an invitation /
Beth Bevis —
First week of Advent / Richard J. Neuhaus —
Second week of Advent / Scott Cairns —
Third week of Advent / Luci Shaw —
Fourth week of Advent / Kathleen Norris —
From Christmas to Epiphany / Emilie Griffin.
November 21, 2009 at 7:38 pm
Thank you Susan!
Maybe we can do some discussion. I do appreciate the added details for folk who are interested.
It wouldn’t have occured to me to look for this in the library. And me with a librarian as a spouse! Can you keep the book for the whole “season?”
November 21, 2009 at 8:18 pm
As for keeping the book for a season… well, I work for Solano County Library so I need to be extra scrupulous about that stuff. Fortunately, all our materials are 21 days loan, and renewable two times unless requested by another customer or part of our special “hot shelf”. That’s a loooong time! I will borrow it first and see if Father Christmas will bring me my own copy if I am getting a lot out of the content.
Be sure to ask your public library what they are buying in the Dewey 200s! Also in the areas of grief, aging and so forth. Encourage local librarians to display and promote these sections of the collection. I think I am preaching to the choir, sorry.
November 22, 2009 at 2:11 pm
Sounds like you have it well scoped out. I’m going to have to learn to get books back to the library better and use it more again.