Customer Reviews

Out of the Ordinary: Prayers, Poems, and Reflections for Every Season

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Out Of The Ordinary features more than 125 thoughtful compositions drawn from author Joyce Rupp's treasure trove of unpublished work. Herein contained are attentive prayer resources for a wide spectrum of needs and times, including resources for groups, individuals, prayer rituals, guided visualizations, reflections, and poems -- suitably for open or closed meetings, prayer sessions, and days of recollection. When used within the context of worship and small group prayer, they can be duplicated without cost or written permission. Out Of The Ordinary is further enhanced for students of spirituality with a collection of prayerful, Taize-like chants that Rupp composed to accompany the many rituals outlined in her book. The musical notation of these chants is contained in the Appendix, and are also available on CD or cassette.

"The natural object is always the adequate symbol." Joyce Rupp embodies Ezra Pound's famous quote by using diverse images as springboards for spiritual transformation; in elevating the ordinary, she reveals an extraordinary God.

These meditations and seasonal reflections include prayers of all kinds: from call and response to blessings to holy day invocations. Drawn from her years as a spiritual director and retreat leader, her work gives voice to our common losses and aspirations, our longings and celebrations. Forthright poems emulate traditional religious poetry, and her prose is direct, insightful, and heartfelt.

This is one generous soul. "Use the rituals and prayers as seeds or as whole plants," she writes. "Either way is fine with me." She requests that her poems be preserved intact but graciously offers the other materials in her book -- including the music -- for adaptation for personal or liturgical use. The user need only include the appropriate acknowledgement, as explained in her introduction.

A great value as a used book. It is in very good condition.
Rupp connects spiritual musings with personal conditions very nicely. An ordinary situation can gain timeless depth. A divine thought can gain practical application.
Not meant for a quick read-through. Rather, it's useful for slowing down, centering, connecting to eternal good.

Joyce Rupp's name came up a few times over the last couple of months and I decided to order one of her books. It is filled with spiritually inspirational prose. I look forward to reading many of her other books.

The name says it all. A very useful book for me in my work.
The book arrived on time and in very good condition.