A Practical Christianity: Meditations for the Season of Lent

by Jane Shaw, Curtis G. Almquist (Foreword)

A Practical Christianity: Meditations for the Season of Lent is a devotional book that challenges
readers to take up “practical Christianity”—proposing Christian faith as something we do, not
something we merely believe in. The starting point for Christianity lies within its practice, says the author, and not in the blind acceptance of a chunk of undigested doctrine.

The book samples fiction, poetry, art and music, combined with the wisdom of scripture and theology, to help pilgrims make sense of faith in the context of everyday life.

Shaw reconsiders the central doctrines of Christian faith through the lens of how we practice
them. She explores five themes: dust, forgiveness, time, doubt and love—devoting a chapter
to each. This thematic approach is a way of presenting (covertly, since it’s not revealed until
the end of the book) the doctrines of Creation and Sin, Forgiveness, the Trinity, Salvation, and finally Love.

Genres: Religion

103 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

The Very Rev. Dr. Jane Shaw was installed as the eighth Dean of Grace Cathedral on November 6, 2010. She is responsible for the overall vision and mission of the Cathedral, overseeing the spiritual life of the Cathedral and giving leadership to the Cathedral community. She runs the Cathedral in collaboration with the Chapter (the Senior Management Team) and Trustees (the Cathedral Board).

Dr. Shaw joined Grace Cathedral from the University of Oxford where she was Dean of Divinity and Fellow of New College, Oxford, and taught history and theology at the university for sixteen years. She is also Canon Theologian of Salisbury Cathedral and an honorary canon of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford, and has served as Theological Consultant to the Church of England House of Bishops.

Dr. Shaw was educated as an undergraduate at Oxford, has an M.Div. from Harvard and a Ph.D. in History from UC Berkeley, and was awarded an honorary doctorate by Episcopal Divinity School. She is a Fellow of the Society of St. John the Evangelist, an Anglican monastic community in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Reviews

[Anne Fischer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the art and poetry within it’s pages. The theme of Christian action is mentioned over and over again, “ Turn to God during this Lenten season and look outward.”
I especially took Evelyn Underhill’s Lenten words to heart, “Instead of wasting energy in being disgusted with yourself, accept your own failures saying to God, ‘Well, in spite of all I may say or fancy, this is what I am really like, so please help my weakness.’ This is not self-disgust, it is the real and fruitful humility.”
I highly recommend this book to accompany anyone’s personal Lenten journey.

[Madeleine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is really intended to be a discussion book and I struggled to engage with the chapters that I read but couldn't attend the study sessions. ALSO. completely different Episcopal!Jane Shaw than I thought and I am Shook.

*Lent 2022.

[Billy landes · Rating 3 out of 5]

This study starts slowly. It is more of an academic study than your typical Bible study. The questions at the end of each chapter are thought provoking.

[Harry Allagree · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very nice and, well, "practical" little collection of meditations. The theology, as I see it, is solid and down-to-earth. I very much liked her borrowing of Baptist theologian, Paul Fiddes' characterization of the Holy Spirit as "the unrepentant disturber of God within Godself". Also very helpful to me personally was her fresh analysis of Mark's Gospel as injecting "an important ingredient into our faith, keep us right-sized and thus keeping us united as the body of Christ."

I recommend this, not only for Lent, but for any time you feel that a nudge is needed for your spiritual life!