VICE MODERATOR FOR STUDIES & SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT
Christel Hilgarth, sabine44@earthlink.net, 740-354-4609
Books that are a Wonderful Addition to the 2007
Horizons Bible Study
“Above and Beyond-Hearing
God’s Call in Jonah and Ruth
I searched for books that
can serve as companions and extensions to the 2007 Horizons Bible study and
found two books that I believe are a fine addition to the Naomi and Ruth story.
“Seasons of Friendship-Naomi and Ruth as a Model for Relationship,”
by Marjory Zoet Bankson, Augsburg Books. The author guides the reader through
the seasons of friendships that deepens the understanding and refreshes the
memories of friendships in time past and friendships of today. This book is
ideal for small groups who like to deepen their understanding not only of the
friendship in the book of Ruth between Naomi and Ruth, but also of their own
friendships. The author guides the reader to a deeper understanding of the inner
seasons and growth of friendships. The book is divided into eight chapters,
1
The Circle of Seasons
2 Winter Friendships:
Finding myself
3 Spring Friendships:
Being New Together
4 Summer Friendships:
Searching for Call and Identity
5
Autumn Friendship: Community Context
6 Winter Again: Sharing My
Self
7 Spring Returns: Birthing
New Life
8 Seasons of Friendship
with God
Each
chapter concludes with suggestions for individual reflection or for sharing and
reflection as a group. As I read the book, I could not stop wondering if we,
too, enter a season and seasons of friendship (John 15:15) with Christ that
deepens as we open to the Spirit and journey trough our seasons of life. It is
a delightful book to explore and grow our friendship with others and by growing
our friendship with others we grow our friendship with Christ.
“The Story of Ruth-Twelve
Moments in Every Woman’s Life”
by Joan D. Chittister, art by John August Swanson, Wm. B. Erdmans
Publishing Company. Joan Chittister has written this book as companion to the
Biblical story of Ruth. The author demonstrates in the book how the original
story of Ruth still is relevant to us today. The book helps the reader to
reflect on their own life, quote “Calling us to reflect on what it means to be
truly whole and Spiritual women.” The book has 12 chapters with wonderful
colorful illustrations by John August Swanson. The 12 chapters are:
1 Loss
2 Change Respect
3 Transformation
4 Aging
5 Independence
6 Respect
7 Recognition
8 Insight
9 Empowerment
10 Self-Definition
11 Invisibility
12 Fulfillment
I
found that both “Seasons of Friendship-Naomi and Ruth as a Model for
Relationship” and “The Story of Ruth-Twelve Moments in Every Woman’s
Life” lend themselves to the same spiritual expression for beading,
journaling or art. One can make a bracelet of each of the themes in the book or
what ever speaks to you that connect to an episode in our life to the story of
Ruth and Naomi. The books are so great for a book club and sharing of insights
and ideas.
Some
suggestions to enhance your study are:
Buy an assortment of beads
and elastic cord to make a bracelet or a necklace.
·
Light a
Christ Candle.
·
Breath in
deeply and breath out slowly three times. This helps to center you so to leave
the hustle and bustle of the day behind.
·
Offer a
prayer for enlightenment and for the Spirit’s guidance before reading the given
chapter or for any other concern that is on our heart.
·
Slowly read
through the text and stop if a word, phrase, or sentence speaks to you.
·
Stop and
reflect on the word, phrase, or sentence. Let it sink into you. You might
repeat the words silently to yourself. What feelings do they arouse in you?
·
Reflecting,
look at your beads. What color bead speaks to you? Pick the chosen bead and
string it. Continue doing this throughout the book as you read and reflect.
·
You might
journal your thoughts.
People find expression in different ways. Those of you who find expression in
art, draw your feelings instead and express yourself in a color on paper.
Others might write a poem or prayer. Sharing in a community of women is where
spiritual growth happens.
Jonah
I
have been unable to find books on Jonah. Anyone who has found some material,
please share with us. I did find a children’s book that has the story of Jonah
in it. Reading the story on a child’s level can be delightful fun and very
expressive. It’s in the book, “Noah, Build Your Boat-Old Testament
Stories & Pictures by Kids,” Edited by Jeff Kunkel, Augsburg. The story
of Jonah can be found on page 44.
Let me know which
additional books you have chosen and which one suited your community of women
most. I truly like to hear from you. And, if you have an article or book that
you think would benefit other women please share with us.
If you have any questions
you can contact me by email (please put PW in the subject line) at
sabine44@earthlink.net or phone 740-354-4609. You can send your article to
Martha Pool, who is the Leadership Coordinator
poolfam@verizon.net Martha will put it on the PW/S web.
Shalom,
Christel Hilgarth
Other ideas:
Have you ever explored “TheThoughtfulChristian.com
website?”
It
has a smorgasbord of books, so many books to choose from for your personal use
or your book club (if you do not have one start one!).
http://www.thethoughtfulchristian.com/main/home1.asp
Are you looking for extra devotionals? Then log into PW Fundamentals
On
this web site, the PW Churchwide Coordinating Team has made several available to
your PW to use. Specific daily devotions can be found by clicking on the
following links:
Morning Devotions 1
Morning Devotions 2
Morning Devotions 3
Evening Devotions
Closing Worship
Please note that
permissions for the hymns and other reprints were secured only for the CCT
meeting. To use these with your group, you must seek permission for your
particular event.
