Chapter Sandra L.L.

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=125 BGCOLOR="#BFBF00" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="05b467d1dwoxjb.png"> <bR> <div> <B><IMG SRC="275207d0.jpg" border=0 width="800" height="125" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=189 style="border-right: 1px solid #CCCCCC;" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <bR> <bR> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="WovenWord Press"><B>home</B></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id89.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="new from the press/Mother Blessings/Jour"><B>new from the press</B></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id30.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="catalog"><B>catalog</B></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id31.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="how to order this book"><B>how to order</B></A><B> </B><A HREF="id31.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="how to order this book"><B>books</B></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id32.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="who we are"><B>who we are</B></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id33.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="links"><B>links</B></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id34.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="contact"><B>contact </B></A></div> <div> <B>    </B></div> <bR> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=355 width="100%" BGCOLOR="#FFFF99" TEXT="#080000"> <div>               </div> <div>                      </div> <div>      <FONT SIZE="6" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Verdana" ><I><B>c h a p t e r   s a m p l e</B></I></FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <div> Word, Wisdom & Worship</div> <div> <I>      WomanChurch Celebrates the Seasons</I></div> <bR> <div> <B>                              by Sandra Louise Litzinger</B></div> <div> <B> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="787" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 1259 WIDTH="783"><div> <B>  </B></div> <div> Preface:</div> <bR> <div> From ancient times, the change of seasons has been celebrated in myth and ritual. Nature provides the occasion for people with a common history, a common faith, a common hope to reflect together, to remember, and to sanctify the ordinary. In the words of Joseph Campbell, "myths and rites were means of putting the mind in accord with the body and the way of life in accord with the way nature dictates." (p.70).</div> <div> Authentic ritual flows out of everyday activity, out of the rhythm of our lives. Ritualizing is a way of expressing common meanings and common understanding, a recognition that there is more to life than can be measured or put into words. Rituals are an integral part of human experience, a way of linking the individual to the community and the community with a tradition that reaches beyond any particular time and place, an expression of a spiritual reality, of reverence and respect.</div> <div> Many women today, and a growing number of men, are keenly aware that the predominant world view, rooted in the European male experience and reinforced by religious ritual, does not flow out of their reality. More over, institutional ritual which is created, controlled, and implemented by men does not function for women as a link to the community and to the tradition. Since it frequently excludes the experience of women in its language, its selection of stories, its choice of symbols, and its leadership, women are seeking alternative opportunities to tell their stories and create rituals that flow out of their experience and which have meaning for them.</div> <div> For some women this situation has lead to total separation from the patriarchal religious traditions. For others, those for whom this project was undertaken, it means searching for ways to connect with women and men who share their longing for an inclusive community whose ritual is, in fact, expressive of their human experience and of their desire for union with one another and with God.</div> <div> What follows is a guide for individual or group study, reflection, and prayer that is based on or flows out of the common lectionary readings for selected seasons and Sundays throughout the liturgical year. It focuses on selections that are appropriate for use by women who find it difficult to relate to many of the readings now used at liturgy and who appreciate the opportunity for alternative experience which is based on Scripture and is connected in some way to the weekly worship of the larger Christian community. This guide is intended for use by men as well as women, either as preparation for or reflection upon upon the parish weekly celebration of liturgy. It could also be used in place of current institutional ritual. Since the life experience of this author is female, Roman Catholic, and North American, it does not claim to be inclusive of other cultures, but is presented with the hope that future revisions of official lectionaries and sacramentaries might become inclusive of the culture, gender, and life experience of all those for whom the readings and rites are intended.</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></B></div> <bR> <div> <B>_______________________________________________________________</B></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id155.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Author Sandra Louise Litzinger"><B>about the author</B></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id145.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter Sandra L.L."><B>sample book chapter</B></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id30.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="catalog"><B>catalog</B></A></div> <div> <B>                  </B></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>                                         </B></FONT><B> </B><A HREF="id31.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="how to order this book"><B>How to Order this Book</B></A><A HREF="id31.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="how to order this book"><B> </B></A></div> <bR> <div> <B>Word, Wisdom & Worship</B></div> <div> <I><B>WomanChurch Celebrates the Seasons</B></I></div> <div> <B>Sandra Louise Litzinger  </B></div> <div> <B>140 pgs.  $13.00  paperback  ISBN: 0965813762</B></div> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>