Customer Reviews

Living the Christian Year: Time to Inhabit the Story of God

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This book provides an excellent means to synthesize one's prayer life with the liturgical calendar of the church year. The topics selected for each week are picked in order to focus on the church season, and the biblical readings are designed to fit with that topic and are often readings in the revised common lectionary for that week. Other than during Christmas and Easter, it is easy for Christians to lose track of the seasons of the church year. This book provides an outstanding resource to focus one's prayer life on the liturgical calendar throughout the year, and to apply the teachings and readings from the liturgical calendar and scripture to our daily lives.

This book should have more reviews! :) My background is non-liturgical but I have been leaning towards liturgy more and more the past few years. I am glad to have found this book. I was using the Lutheran Treasure of Daily Prayer for my devotions for the past couple of years, which I like a lot. But, I wanted something different, and broader denominationally speaking, and wanted to learn a little more.

As the author explains in this book, different denominations have different saints that they commemorate throughout the Christian year. Readings on the saints was part of the Lutheran devotional I have, so it was interesting, but reading about mostly Lutheran saints, year after year, for me, is not essential. This book by Gross does not focus on saints, which for me right now, I like. And his choice of Scripture readings are not specific to any particular denomination. Sometimes he uses those that are common to most or all, and at times he chooses Scripture passages on his own. The traditional readings are marked with A,B,C according to year, and there is a liturgical calendar in the back of the book that goes through 2025.

Mr. Gross explains the Christian year simply and clearly. I didn't get started with the devotionals in time for this past advent, but just started using it devotionally beginning with epiphany. It's a great beginner's guide and devotional but certainly is not just for liturgical or Christian "beginners."

The devotionals are weekly as opposed to daily. Right now I am enjoying focusing on a limited amount of passages during the week as opposed to different extended readings each day. But I would also be interested if this author ever comes up with a daily devotional in the future.

A good basic introduction to the major portions of the church year. No single book on the subject covers everything one would want but this has a nice, basic mix of history, devotional ideas and suggested readings for each season. One unique aspect of this book is that the author came from a very non-liturgical background and it's interesting for those in similar situations to read about how such a person came to embrace and deeply appreciate the liturgical year not as an empty "tradition" but as a vital part of spiritual life.

This book is a great read. We just began attending a more ancient(liturgical) church. This book explains the history and symbolism. If gives beautiful devotional thoughts. I celebrated advent this year with understanding and great joy. I look forward to experiencing the richness of the rest of the year.

It's a good devotional and good for reference, not too detailed as far as the calendar for any specific year but helps you figure out where to be,