The seasons tell a story. Are you listening? The church year is a uniquely Christian way of marking time. When Kimberlee Conway Ireton began to understand this, even the most ordinary incidents of her life began to resonate with the stories of Scripture. In this book, Kimberlee follows the structure of the liturgical year--from Advent to the second cycle of Ordinary Time--describing the origin of each observance and its ongoing relevance for our lives. In a word, The Circle of Seasons offers you structure--a simple and traditional way of building your life around your faith, rather than the other way around.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Review
"The church year has largely slipped from our historical memory. If we observe it at all, it is during Advent and Lent. But even in those cases we do not see the signficance of the church year for our understanding of time. Kimberlee Conway Ireton has served the church well in this useful little book. She does more than explain the church year (which she does with brevity and clarity); she also invites us to experience it. I have explored this territory before. Yet in Conway Ireton's book I found myself entering into the rhythm of sacred time with renewed insight and passion. Her book surprised me with its freshness, transparency and simplicity. I plan to recommend it to my students." (Gerald L. Sittser, professor of theology, Whitworth University, and author of Water from a Deep Well )
"Offering simple practices built on Scripture, history and everyday life, Conway Ireton helps us participate in the rhythm of the Christian year. In so doing, we unite with Christians throughout the world and throughout the ages." (Jan Johnson, author of Invitation to the Jesus Life and Spiritual Disciplines Companion )
"I would recommend this book to any religious educators, and specifically to the women and men who teach children and adults at the parishes where I've worked. The hands-on projects are a godsend for anyone trying to make the Bible vivid to learners of any age." (Father James Harbaugh, S.J., author of A 12-Step Approach to the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius and A 12-Step Approach to the Sunday Readings )
"A useful and inspiring reexamination of how the church has always marked time and the seasons of the year from its Christian worldview. Reading Kimberlee Conway Ireton it is clear: living in the culture of Christianity is now--once again--countercultural." (Noel Anderson, executive pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Bakersfield, California )
"This isn't just another book on the liturgical year. It penetrates more deeply. The author welcomes us into a different rhythm for measuring time. Rather than the cadence of our days being driven by the demands of our consumer culture, we are invited into a more human and more divinely ordinary way of life. Drawing together everyday experiences from her own life with ancient practices of the church, she charts a route to liberation from our society's frenzied busyness and crippling self-indulgence. Reader beware. This book can draw us into a life-re-creating journey." (Tim Dearborn, director, Christian Commitments Programs, World Vision International )
"Having grown up in denominations that didn't follow the church calendar, I found The Circle of Seasons to be an engaging introduction to the rich history and spiritual blessing of this annual cycle. Through her use of personal stories and worship resources, Kimberlee Conway Ireton invites all Christians, regardless of tradition, to experience God in this yearly rhythm. This book is deeply beautiful in the insights it conveys, yet helpfully pragmatic in the suggestions for everyday worshipful living it provides. This balance makes it a welcome resource for anyone seeking to follow the historic church calendar." (Julie Clawson, pastor, Via Christus Community Church, Yorkville, Illinois )
"Kimberlee Conway Ireton writes beautifully. Her stories from daily life are winsome, her reflections on God's grace are insightful, and her explanations of Christian history are clear and helpful. In a rich and deep way, with lovely prose, she illuminates the intersection of everyday life with the biblical themes connected to the church year." (Lynne M. Baab, author of Sabbath Keeping and Fasting: Spiritual Freedom Beyond Our Appetites )
"There is so much more to the church year than Lent and Advent! Kimberlee Conway Ireton guides us on a lovely and inviting tour through the liturgical year, reminding us of the 'transformative potential' and sacredness of every season, even Ordinary Time. She artfully blends honest personal stories with practical tips on spiritual practices into an inspiring, well-written book. Her clear, simple, yet thought-provoking chapters on each season will help readers to find common ground with the church around the world, and to gain a deeper understanding of the Scripture and traditions that have shaped each season's celebrations." (Keri Wyatt Kent, author of Breathe: Creating Space for God in a Hectic Life and Rest: Living in Sabbath Simplicity )
"Most people (like me) are bone tired of our own little stories. We are fatigued by our incessant consumption and by the suffocating pressure to produce something or feel something. We crave to move beyond our smallness and into the wide, bright story of God. Kimberlee Conway Ireton offers a gracious gift by reminding us that we don't have to look far for help, that the simple rhythms the church has practiced most of its history provide us precisely the delightful, healing, communal, earthy spiritual cadence our soul needs. If you want to breathe fresh air and drink in much grace, these beautifully crafted words offer you a feast." (Winn Collier, author of Restless Faith and Holy Curiosity: Encountering Jesus' Provocative Questions )
"Only rarely does an introductory volume on Christian liturgy manage to cover its assigned subject with both detail and grace, but this one most assuredly does just that. In her deftly written book, Conway Ireton provides all of us a very accessible and enormously appealing overview of the church's liturgical year." (Phyllis Tickle, compiler of The Divine Hours )
"In a nanosecond world we need sane rhythms that slow us down enough to notice God in our lives. Kimberlee Conway Ireton guides the reader to a simple annual pathway--the church year. The Circle of Seasons takes a practical look at how the church journeys with Jesus through Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Ordinary Time, Lent, Easter and Pentecost. Each season opens a door to deeper understanding and formation in faith. Accessible, readable and personable, The Circle of Seasons is a way forward for our time." (Adele Calhoun, copastor, Redeemer Community Church, Wellesley, Massachusetts, and author of Spiritual Disciplines Handbook )
"Offering simple practices built on Scripture, history and everyday life, Conway Ireton helps us participate in the rhythm of the Christian year. In so doing, we unite with Christians throughout the world and throughout the ages." (Jan Johnson, author of Invitation to the Jesus Life and Spiritual Disciplines Companion )
"I would recommend this book to any religious educators, and specifically to the women and men who teach children and adults at the parishes where I've worked. The hands-on projects are a godsend for anyone trying to make the Bible vivid to learners of any age." (Father James Harbaugh, S.J., author of A 12-Step Approach to the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius and A 12-Step Approach to the Sunday Readings )
"A useful and inspiring reexamination of how the church has always marked time and the seasons of the year from its Christian worldview. Reading Kimberlee Conway Ireton it is clear: living in the culture of Christianity is now--once again--countercultural." (Noel Anderson, executive pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Bakersfield, California )
"This isn't just another book on the liturgical year. It penetrates more deeply. The author welcomes us into a different rhythm for measuring time. Rather than the cadence of our days being driven by the demands of our consumer culture, we are invited into a more human and more divinely ordinary way of life. Drawing together everyday experiences from her own life with ancient practices of the church, she charts a route to liberation from our society's frenzied busyness and crippling self-indulgence. Reader beware. This book can draw us into a life-re-creating journey." (Tim Dearborn, director, Christian Commitments Programs, World Vision International )
"Having grown up in denominations that didn't follow the church calendar, I found The Circle of Seasons to be an engaging introduction to the rich history and spiritual blessing of this annual cycle. Through her use of personal stories and worship resources, Kimberlee Conway Ireton invites all Christians, regardless of tradition, to experience God in this yearly rhythm. This book is deeply beautiful in the insights it conveys, yet helpfully pragmatic in the suggestions for everyday worshipful living it provides. This balance makes it a welcome resource for anyone seeking to follow the historic church calendar." (Julie Clawson, pastor, Via Christus Community Church, Yorkville, Illinois )
"Kimberlee Conway Ireton writes beautifully. Her stories from daily life are winsome, her reflections on God's grace are insightful, and her explanations of Christian history are clear and helpful. In a rich and deep way, with lovely prose, she illuminates the intersection of everyday life with the biblical themes connected to the church year." (Lynne M. Baab, author of Sabbath Keeping and Fasting: Spiritual Freedom Beyond Our Appetites )
"There is so much more to the church year than Lent and Advent! Kimberlee Conway Ireton guides us on a lovely and inviting tour through the liturgical year, reminding us of the 'transformative potential' and sacredness of every season, even Ordinary Time. She artfully blends honest personal stories with practical tips on spiritual practices into an inspiring, well-written book. Her clear, simple, yet thought-provoking chapters on each season will help readers to find common ground with the church around the world, and to gain a deeper understanding of the Scripture and traditions that have shaped each season's celebrations." (Keri Wyatt Kent, author of Breathe: Creating Space for God in a Hectic Life and Rest: Living in Sabbath Simplicity )
"Most people (like me) are bone tired of our own little stories. We are fatigued by our incessant consumption and by the suffocating pressure to produce something or feel something. We crave to move beyond our smallness and into the wide, bright story of God. Kimberlee Conway Ireton offers a gracious gift by reminding us that we don't have to look far for help, that the simple rhythms the church has practiced most of its history provide us precisely the delightful, healing, communal, earthy spiritual cadence our soul needs. If you want to breathe fresh air and drink in much grace, these beautifully crafted words offer you a feast." (Winn Collier, author of Restless Faith and Holy Curiosity: Encountering Jesus' Provocative Questions )
"Only rarely does an introductory volume on Christian liturgy manage to cover its assigned subject with both detail and grace, but this one most assuredly does just that. In her deftly written book, Conway Ireton provides all of us a very accessible and enormously appealing overview of the church's liturgical year." (Phyllis Tickle, compiler of The Divine Hours )
"In a nanosecond world we need sane rhythms that slow us down enough to notice God in our lives. Kimberlee Conway Ireton guides the reader to a simple annual pathway--the church year. The Circle of Seasons takes a practical look at how the church journeys with Jesus through Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Ordinary Time, Lent, Easter and Pentecost. Each season opens a door to deeper understanding and formation in faith. Accessible, readable and personable, The Circle of Seasons is a way forward for our time." (Adele Calhoun, copastor, Redeemer Community Church, Wellesley, Massachusetts, and author of Spiritual Disciplines Handbook )
Review
"Only rarely does an introductory volume on Christian liturgy manage to cover its assigned subject with both detail and grace, but this one most assuredly does just that. In her deftly written book, Conway Ireton provides all of us a very accessible and enormously appealing overview of the church's liturgical year."
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Kimberlee Conway Ireton is a beautiful writer, evocative and poetic. Her book is lovely that way; her use of words is exemplary and wonderful. She does a great job explaining the background of the seasons of the church year, and she vividly illustrates the themes of the church year with stories from everyday life. For people who have never understood why observing the seasons of the church year has any value, her book lays an excellent foundation for grasping the significance of the church seasons. For those who already understand the church year, her stories and suggestions will bring depth to the experience of the circle of the seasons. The rhythm of the church year affirms the variety of experiences that are a part of the Christian life, and Ireton does a wonderful job describing the value of all the different moods that connect us with Christian truth.
I like the way Ireton writes about all the holy days and seasons. My favorite chapter is the one on ordinary time. She describes those moments in ordinary life when we get glimpses of God's glory, and she ruefully acknowledges the way we want to hold on to them, contain them, even control them. The way she illuminates those glimpses makes me more willing to receive them with joy and thank God for them, without needing to know when the next one is going to come. Kimberlee Conway Ireton thinks deeply, and her depth and wisdom come through so clearly in her writing.
I like the way Ireton writes about all the holy days and seasons. My favorite chapter is the one on ordinary time. She describes those moments in ordinary life when we get glimpses of God's glory, and she ruefully acknowledges the way we want to hold on to them, contain them, even control them. The way she illuminates those glimpses makes me more willing to receive them with joy and thank God for them, without needing to know when the next one is going to come. Kimberlee Conway Ireton thinks deeply, and her depth and wisdom come through so clearly in her writing.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book is ideal introduction to the cycle of the church year, especially for those who, like myself, grew up in a church that only marked Christmas and Easter. Now that I'm older, I find myself wanting to follow the pattern set by the church in ages past as I now find value in the structure of a time of waiting (Advent, Lent) before the usual celebrations of Christmas and Easter. I appreciated the author's use of examples from her own life to illustrate what might otherwise be a dry description of a portion of the calendar. But what I loved best were the pages she spent describing Ordinary Time, which is "a profound way of recognizing that the daily, ordinary rhythms of our lives are sacred; that there is something holy to be found in the midst of what often feels like the daily grind, that God is just as present in the grittiness (and the glory) or an ordinary day as in the great celebrations of Christmas or Easter or Pentecost.
"The promise of Ordinary Time is that God is present in the midst of such daily activities as my interactions with my husband and children, with my friends and neighbors; in my caring for the needs of my body; in my work for the day, whether it be writing a book or sweeping a floor. Because God is present and active in the midst of the very tasks that often seem pointless, these tasks can, if I'm paying attention, become means of grace--and of growth in my relationship with God."
Highly recommended.
"The promise of Ordinary Time is that God is present in the midst of such daily activities as my interactions with my husband and children, with my friends and neighbors; in my caring for the needs of my body; in my work for the day, whether it be writing a book or sweeping a floor. Because God is present and active in the midst of the very tasks that often seem pointless, these tasks can, if I'm paying attention, become means of grace--and of growth in my relationship with God."
Highly recommended.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By M. Royston
Format:Paperback
This book is a wonderful resource for every person interested in growing and deepening their faith through practical and theologically sound applications. The explanations of the Church seasons and of the traditions around them are helpful and informative. More than a few times I found myself saying, "Oh, that's why the Church does that!"
Ireton's writing style is approachable, while at the same time profound. She balances information with applications, blowing life into what can often be seen as dry and irrelevant religiosity. The stories she uses are well told and appropriate, consistently pointing us toward the ways in which God's presence surprises us as we intentionally practice looking for Him.
Most importantly, this book has given my family a number of practical ideas for us to see God more in the seasons of the calendar, and I would certainly recommend it.
Ireton's writing style is approachable, while at the same time profound. She balances information with applications, blowing life into what can often be seen as dry and irrelevant religiosity. The stories she uses are well told and appropriate, consistently pointing us toward the ways in which God's presence surprises us as we intentionally practice looking for Him.
Most importantly, this book has given my family a number of practical ideas for us to see God more in the seasons of the calendar, and I would certainly recommend it.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Beautiful book!
This is a lovely and wise introduction to the seasons of the church year. It manages to mix the history of each season or holiday with a story that evokes the meaning of it, and... Read more
Published 7 days ago by Mary Austin
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best Book Bought in Past 2 Years
This is the best book I've purchased in past 2 years. It truly does introduce the value of learning about and embracing the liturgical year in one's own personal / family life. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Maurice Cusseaux
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great intro to the Church Year
I'm a pastor and it's with this lens that I wholeheartedly recommend this book. As the chaos that is the 21st century American Church continues to drive individuals and churches to... Read more
Published 19 months ago by Jeremy D. Scott
5.0 out of 5 stars
Delightful and reflective
The Circle of Seasons offers a wonderful, grace-full meditation on the seasons of the church year. But even more, it goes beyond information to how to live the sacred rhythms of... Read more
Published on November 12, 2010 by Susan
4.0 out of 5 stars
Practical Reflections on the Church Calendar
Kinberlee Conway Ireton's book on the church calendar is a refreshingly practical look at how ancient practices can find new relevance within our contemporary way of life. Read more
Published on November 12, 2009 by T. T. Turner II
5.0 out of 5 stars
Highly recommended
I am enjoying reading this book as I go through the church year! I would highly recommend to anyone who is unfamiliar with the liturgical seasons or anyone who wants a fresh... Read more
Published on February 14, 2009 by Blue-eyed Daisy
5.0 out of 5 stars
Helps bring the church year to life!
From ways to mark the seasons of the Church at home, to creative fasting and prayer practices, Conway Ireton's "The Circle of Seasons" invites us to enter more deeply into the... Read more
Published on December 22, 2008 by Steven Lympus
5.0 out of 5 stars
It's More Than Church Seasons
Yes, Conway Ireton's new book is about the seasons of the Christian church calendar, but it is so, so much more. Read more
Published on November 29, 2008 by Timothy Burgess
5.0 out of 5 stars
If you like the Advent Conspiracy, read this book!
I've always been perplexed by our Christian holidays and overwhelmed by the pressure to buy just the right gift for the Hallmark season du jour. Read more
Published on November 25, 2008 by Michaelynn Ryan
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