Take Our Moments # 1: An Anabaptist Prayer Book: Ordinary Time

by Arthur Boers, Barbara Nelson Gingerich (Editor), Eleanor Kreider (Editor)

Take Our Moments and Our Days is a four-week cycle of morning and evening prayer services prepared for the period in the church year between Pentecost and Advent. The services focus on the teaching and ministry of the Lord's Prayer (week one), the Beatitudes (week two), Jesus' parables (week three), and Jesus' miracles (week four). The prayer services are designed for use by small groups of families, although they are suitable for individuals as well.

Genres: Nonfiction, Spirituality

432 pages, Hardcover

First published May 24, 2007

About the author

Arthur Paul Boers holds the R. J. Bernardo Family Chair of Leadership at Tyndale Seminary (Toronto, Canada). He is an ordained Mennonite minister and Benedictine oblate. He served for over sixteen years as a pastor in rural, urban, and church-planting settings in the USA and Canada.

Boers is an author. His newest book is Living into Focus: Choosing What Matters in an Age of Distractions. (Brazos, 2012). His other books are The Way is Made by Walking: A Pilgrimage Along the Camino de Santiago (InterVarsity, 2007) The Rhythm of Gods Grace (Paraclete, 2003); Never Call Them Jerks: Healthy Responses to Difficult Behavior (Alban, 1999); Lord, Teach Us to Pray: A New Look at the Lord's Prayer (Herald, 1992); Justice that Heals: A Biblical Vision for Victims and Offenders (Faith and Life, 1992); On Earth as in Heaven: Justice Rooted in Spirituality (Herald, 1991); He is co-editor of Take Our Moments and Our Days: An Anabaptist Prayer Book (Herald, 2007).

Boers earned the following degrees: D. Min. with distinction in worship and spirituality (Northern Baptist Theological Seminary), M. Th. in Pastoral Counseling (Waterloo Lutheran Seminary), M. Div. (McCormick Theological Seminary), M.A. in Peace Studies (Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary), B.A. (University of Western Ontario). He is Book Review Editor for Conrad Grebel Review. For many years he served as columnist and editorial advisor for Christian Ministry, The Builder and as contributing editor to The Other Side. His articles and reviews have been published in Biblical Preaching Journal, Catholic New Times, Christian Century, Christianity Today, Congregations, Leadership, St. Anthony Messenger, and Sojourners.

Hobbies include hiking, canoeing, kayaking, and windsurfing. In 2005, he walked the 500 mile pilgrimage route, the Camino de Santiago in Spain, the experience which formed the basis for his newest book. He is also an Indiana Master Naturalist. Boers is a Canadian, the oldest son of Dutch immigrants. He is married to Lorna McDougall, a nurse practioner. They are the parents of two young adult children."

Reviews

[Robinson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Confusing

Not easily understood. Need to buy correct version of Mennonite hymnal. May be useful if conducting worship service, but there are many better books for personal prayer/devotion.

[Kirk · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a 4-week cycle, with 1 week each organized around the Lord's Prayer, the Beatitudes, parables, and signs and wonders. Great for one 4-week cycle as a reset during ordinary time. My main issue with it is that the scripture readings are in homeopathic doses, but the intercessions and second person versions of the songs of Mary, Zechariah, and Simeon alone make it worth using a couple of months a year.

[Nathan Good · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've started using this prayer book in my personal times with the Lord. I find a lot of added benefit in being disciplined in setting aside time and this adds some structure to those times (scripture to read, hymns to sing, prayers to pray and spots for free prayer, thanks, praise, petitions).

[Ian Guy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent daily office book in the Anabaptist tradition