Book reviews

Just Begin: A Sourcebook of Spiritual Practices

Just Begin: A Sourcebook of Spiritual Practices

It’s the nature of most believers to seek a means of communing with their Creator. However, there are so many choices, where does one begin? Just Begin: A Sourcebook of Spiritual Practices, Dann E. Wigner’s collection of 40 different spiritual practices from both...

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The Black Friend

The Black Friend

Frederick Joseph begins his story in The Black Friend: On Being a Better White Person sharing his memories of growing up being the only black kid in a white neighborhood. The white kids in his school called him an “oreo” (black on the outside, white on the inside)...

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Contemplative Knitting

Contemplative Knitting

Let’s be honest -- I love to knit; I also love to quilt, papercraft, read books, and cook. I have a husband, children, and grandchildren, so that is 13 handmade gifts that I should make every year. All this fills my days and sometimes it overfills them. Sometimes I...

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A Little Blue Bottle

A Little Blue Bottle

A Little Blue Bottle, published by Church Publishing, Inc., is a children's picture book on the topics of loss, grief, death, and faith. The sensitive words of Jennifer Grant and vivid illustrations of Gillian Whiting pair together to tell the story of a child who is...

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Faces

Faces

During the pandemic, we missed many things, some of which we previously took for granted. It wasn’t until wearing a face mask became the norm, that we realized how strange it was not to see the faces of those around us. For those longing to see faces with their...

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Breathe

Breathe

When I heard that Paraclete Press was publishing another book by Laura Alary, I was excited! I loved her previous books Make Room: A Child’s Guide for Lent and Easter and Look! A Child’s Guide to Advent and Christmas. They stand head and shoulders above other...

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Making Room for Everyone

Making Room for Everyone

The subtitle for the book Making Room for Everyone is “More Stories for Building a Children’s Chapel.” It follows author Bill Gordh’s book, Building a Children's Chapel: One Story at a Time, and both books include information on creating a children’s chapel,...

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Silence

Silence

The pandemic has been traumatic for many of us, including our children. As we look for ways to help children cope with their anxiety and loss of structure, there has been a surge of interest in spirituality and mindful practices. A recently released book from Church...

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