Six New Things – Week of October 10, 2022
A few ‘retroactive’ practices to nurture spiritual maturing as we grow in faith; honor Indigenous Peoples’ voices; share gratitude for our clergy; reflect with our Jewish siblings; explore Black men’s spirituality; and rejoice in the stories of our ancestors.
ONE
Steeped in the timeless wisdom of Julian of Norwich, All Will Be Well: Learning to Trust God’s Love (IVP) explores how God’s love is with us – even when we’re sad, angry, grieving, and confused.
TWO
Today is Indigenous Peoples’ Day – and every day is Creation Care Day – so any day is a good day to read Fresh Banana Leaves: Healing Indigenous landscapes Through Indigenous Science (North Atlantic) – a great option as we move into Indigenous History Month (November) and prepare for Un/Thanksgiving observances.
THREE
It’s also Clergy Appreciation Month: our Pastor Appreciation Month – 10 Ideas for Celebrating Great Idea offers exactly what its title suggests+.
Do some folx need convincing about showing clergy appreciation? Share People Throw Rocks at Things That Shine (People Throw Rocks) – an unfortunate number of clergy will relate to the stories (and not just from the UMC); fortunately, solutions for putting what gets shattered back together again are included.
The Ministry Lab appreciates clergy a lot – and we’re always ready to give you your props. Find out how we support all areas of ministry – and let your colleagues in on it – here.
FOUR
For a unique take on the spiritual practice of gratitude – and love, boundaries, beautify, endurance, grounding, and presence – see Shechinah, Bring Me Home! Kabbalah and the Omer in Real Life (Cascade) – and discover a 49-day ‘program of spiritual reflection’ that ‘helps readers find Shechinah, a divine archetypal mother, in the intimacy of ordinary life’.
FIVE
Further intercultural spiritual exploration with A Gift Grows in the Ghetto: Reimagining the Spiritual Lives of Black Men (WJK), an invitation to reconsider W.E.B. DuBois’ question, “How does it feel to be a problem?” with an exploration of ‘the vital role that spirituality has in remedying the problem’.
SIX
Continue on the road of spiritual exploration in Story Quilts: Appalachian Women Speak (Reycraft). Many of these women lived in poverty and lacked formal education, but they stitched their stories into quilts, revealing ‘the beauty of mountain life’, piece by piece; possibly a lovely invitation to family heirlooms and legacy artwork for sharing ancestral stories this All Saints Day.
