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celeste57's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
Bread and Wine is a collection of reflections on Lent and Easter and why both matter. As a Protestant, Lent isn’t something I ever observed or even knew much about until the last few years. The same can be said of Advent. But something I’ve come to respect deeply about Catholicism are the sacred rhythms of their year. Evangelicals tend to see Easter and Christmas as important days, sure, but they’re only a day each. Catholics (and some of the more ritualistic Protestant faiths) see the importance of meditating on these events instead of flying through them, of observing a season of preparing the heart for the celebrations. I love this, and it’s something I’m trying to institute in my own life. One of the biggest ways I’m doing this is through reading such meditative works as the writings showcased in Bread and Wine.
In this book, we have a collection of 72 brief essays or excerpts about the life, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, as well as a handful of poems. No author has more than one inclusion. While there were authors included that I already loved and was familiar with, like C.S. Lewis, Madeline L’Engle, N.T. Wright, G.K. Chesterton, Philip Yancey, and more, I was also introduced to an incredible amount of new-to-me writers, or those I’ve heard of but whose work I’ve never read. Among these were Amy Carmichael, Frederic Buechner, Søren Kierkegaard, and Dorothy Sayers.
As with any collection including so many authors, the pieces varied wildly in terms of quality. None were terrible, but some were certainly better than others. There are about twenty that I loved enough to mark so that I could return to them easily. My favorites of these were written by: Barbara Cawthorne Crafton, Kahlil Gibran, Dorothy Sayers, Peter Kreeft, Brennan Manning, Frederica Mathewes-Green, Philip Yancey, Amy Carmichael, Barbara Brown Taylor, and (a poem by) John Updike.
I found some of these profoundly moving, or thought-provoking, or both. Many were penned by people from different faith backgrounds from mine, which helped me stretch myself. Even if I didn’t agree with every single piece theologically, they still made me think and look outside of my own narrow beliefs. Overall, I really enjoyed my time with Bread and Wine, and I feel like it did a lot to help prepare my heart to celebrate the Resurrection. The same company has another book, Watch for the Light, that is similar readings for Advent and Christmas, and I will absolutely be buying myself a copy before December. I can see both of these being books that I revisit in part or whole on a yearly basis.
pattydsf's review against another edition
4.0
The folks that put this devotional together did a great job. There is a wide variety of authors and subjects from Kathleen Norris through Muggeridge to some folks I have never read before.
This is the third year I have used this book for my Lenten devotions. So far it hasn't gotten old. There are some devotions that I remember from year to year, but that does not affect the impact that the whole collection has.
Every year I read and learn something new. I would recommend this to anyone who is interested in looking deeper into your faith.
This is the third year I have used this book for my Lenten devotions. So far it hasn't gotten old. There are some devotions that I remember from year to year, but that does not affect the impact that the whole collection has.
Every year I read and learn something new. I would recommend this to anyone who is interested in looking deeper into your faith.
ddejong's review against another edition
4.0
As with the companion collection of Advent readings, a nice compendium with a wide variety of writers. It’s inevitable that not every reading will be a slam dunk with each reader (especially with 72 different readings in this book) but I enjoyed and appreciated much of what I read. I did note with interest a very clear pacifist leaning in multiple (3+) essays- a view certainly not broadly accepted as a definite implication of orthodox Christian theology.
allisonseverson's review against another edition
5.0
I thoroughly enjoyed many of the readings from this book. My family read the poem, "The Seven Stanzas of Easter" together before Easter dinner, and I read others throughout lent and Easter. I didn't read every single reading, but will definitely go back to this book next year. I like that the book is divided into sections (crucifixion, new life, passion, etc) so that you can pick and choose what to read.
brendaclay's review
5.0
This is an excellent Lenten devotional with deep thoughts from a wide variety of writers and thinkers. If you start it on Ash Wednesday, reading a chapter each day, you'll still have a few weeks to go after Easter. I actually liked that because it kept me in an Easter frame of mind!
ob_ledbetter's review against another edition
4.0
A lovely book of substantive writings and reflections on Easter. I will admit that I like their advent book better, but this is a great touchstone to come back to again and again.
kristidurbs's review
3.0
Took me a little longer to finish this one beyond the Easter season. I have previously read "Watch for the Light" which is for the Advent season. I enjoyed it so much that I was thrilled to learn there was a Lenten edition. While this one is much lengthier than its Advent counterpart, the selection of writings is still top notch and made for wonderful devotional reading for Lent and Easter this year.
emilybriano's review
5.0
A daily devotional for the season of Lent. Wonderful authors....a must have for any literary Christian.
maynovalis's review against another edition
5.0
You can’t go wrong with this collection of writers all bound up in one volume of focused thoughts on the resurrection of Christ! Many of my favorites and many writers I had never heard of with the same caliber of being able to bring truth out like a good punch to the gut of my comfortable, comfort-seeking Christianity. I need these voices in my life and they are well gathered here. Great for reading during Lent and throughout the year!