Customer Reviews

Feasting With God: Adventures in Table Spirituality

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This delightful book lifts up the spiritual aspects of gathering around a table and the many ways we come together to feast with one another and God. The author is a pastor, spiritual director, workshop and retreat leader and shares many ideas which speak to the soul. Divided into sixteen "feasts" and six "culinary interludes", there are many possibilities for celebrations with birth families, chosen families and friends. The feasts reflect on theme such as life passages, wisdon, creativity, gratitude and comfort, while the interludes are reflections planned around food, but not entire feasts. As I read, I kept thinking of friends who would enjoy this book and will be giving it as gifts.

This is a thought-provoking book which gives instructions on how to create 22 different creatively themed 'feasts' for one's closest friends and family members which explore events of each of your guest lives or the life of a community together. Each chapter is a different feast, has discussion questions which the guests can talk about during / after the meal (usually a potluck dinner with a specific coordinated theme to it) and includes a recipe which the host(ess) can make. The book includes quotes from the Bible but also many known authors as well, which will provoke discussion. The feasts described include: (1) Bringing Heaven to Earth; (2) Table of Creativity; (3) Boast, Toast and Boast Some More; (4) Rites of Passage: A Feast of New Beginnings; (5) Flamboyant Fantasy: An Outrageous Feast; (6) Broadening the Boundaries: A Global Potluck; (7) Taking Care: A Feast of Comfort; (8) At Wisdom's Table; (9) Feast of Wonder; (10) Celebration for a Chosen Family; (11) Everyone Working Together; (12) Birthday Feast; (13) Living in Thanksgiving: A Feast of Gratitude; (14) Nature's Bounty: A Summer Picnic; (15) Trusting and Waiting: A Winter's Picnic; (16) Feast of the Foremothers; (17) Tea and Sabbath; (18) Hearts!; (19) Eating on the Mountaintop; (20) Making and Breaking Bread; (21) Eating the Serpent; and (22) You Who Are the Gift. Each feast includes section such as: Theme; Planning Ahead; Reflecting Together: Opportunities for Discussion; Setting the Table; and Food as Symbol. The book ends with an Appendix on Creating the Environment. There is also a very good Bibliography. This is a really wonderful book of ideas as to how create meaningful events for one's friends or chosen family... or possibly in the life of a church community.