What do you think?
Rate this book
A is for Alabaster: 52 Reflections on the Stories of Scripture
Beloved preacher and writer Anna Carter Florence brings winsome insight to an array of characters and stories in the Bible—some celebrated and some overlooked. From courageous Abigail to Zelophehad’s daughters, and from an alabaster jar of ointment to Zacchaeus in the sycamore tree, Florence takes readers on an enchanting tour of the Old and New Testaments with reflections that reveal ancient wisdom and spark imagination anew.
243 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 3, 2023
48 people are currently reading
64 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
June 26, 2023
The phrase A-to-Z is commonly used to give us a grasp of the scope of any particular topic. When we say, "Let me give you the A-to-Z of the matter," it simply means the salient points to help us appreciate the gist of the matter. It is a convenient way to use the alphabet to run down the list of things that we could share. It is not meant to be comprehensive. Rather, it is a popular framework to sample anything. In this book, author Anna Carter Florence adopts this framework to talk about the Old and the New Testaments. Altogether, there are 52 reflections, based equally on both testaments of the Bible. The purpose is to show us that just like God has participated and revealed Himself to His People over the ages, God is also present in our lives from A to Z. Inspired by Frederick Buechner's Peculiar Treasures, this book is originally written as a "Who's Who" in the Bible, the content has been expanded from just names and people to include animals, places, themes, objects, and other stories in the Bible. Each chapter begins with a letter, a Scripture passage, and a key theme as depicted by the word. From the context of the biblical passage, the author guides us through her reflections. From the ancient stories, she connects us to modern cultural sensitivities such as community, gender acceptance, nationhood, power politics, war, etc, to spiritual themes like grace, honesty, hope, patience, wisdom, etc. Some helpful reflections come from rare passages such as Numbers 27, animals from Genesis 2, Quirinius in Luke 2, allusions to the country of India in John 20, and so on. What we have is a delightful collection of reflections from both well-known and other relatively obscure parts of the Bible.
My Thoughts
==============
Let me give three broad thoughts about this book. First the depth of reflections. When I first read the first few pages of the book, I was surprised at the depth of reflection that goes beyond the standards of ordinary devotionals. There is a consistent grip on the big idea that is derived from the passage selected. For students of the Big-Idea Preaching method, this book is a godsend. Beginning with A for Abigail and ending with Z for Zelophehad's daughters, readers are treated to one of the best selections of seeing the big picture from the Bible passage concerned. The reflection on Abigail contrasts the wisdom of a wife and the folly of a selfish husband. The chapter on Zelophehad's daughters reminds us of the critical role of parents in passing on their stories about faith through history. The reflection strikes me as profound teachings of core biblical messages we all need to learn. Sometimes, even preachers tend to focus more on popular passages of the Bible in their preaching. By highlighting some of the less prominent verses, we can learn to move beyond the familiar toward the less studied portions of the Bible. I marvel at the frequency of sharing from the Book of Numbers. There are at least three references out of the 26 alphabet. For the chapter on Z, the author highlights the need for order in the midst of chaos.
Second, there is a pleasant breadth of coverage of the biblical story from A to Z. Not only are the letters used to describe key characters and events in the Bible, I notice a conscious orientation toward female characters. In spite of an ancient patriarchal society, there are essays written about Abigail, Esther, Naomi, Puah, the Queen of Sheba, Rahab, Tamar, and even the short-lived Queen Vashti. In fact, the number of male characters is disproportionately fewer. Not that I am gender-biased, I am simply intrigued by the emphasis. Is it because the author is a woman? Perhaps. Was this influenced by the recent rise of championing gender rights, such as the #MeToo movement? Maybe. Personally, I think it is a noble attempt to bring to the fore these female characters who have often been ignored. More importantly, if we could remember that male or female, we can learn from everyone. God's Word is for all people, regardless of gender or sexual orientation.
Third, I ask myself what the book has to say about the height of our relationship with God. My sense: Moderate. Compared to the focus on the various persons of character, the events of interest, and the historical lessons to bear, there is more description of Bible stories compared to any meditative inference on the Divine relationship with God. One of the objectives of the book is to realize that "God is everywhere in the stories." However, I feel that some of the connections from the alphabet to the Bible story do not necessarily make that connection clear enough. In other words, the A to Z of making these connections are wide and varied. They do not hit the mark all the time. There are some that are more explicit. One needs to be consciously mindful of this in order to sense the God connection. For example, in the chapter on Q, the Queen of Sheba, I need to make a sizable mental jump to connect the story with the Person of God. To be fair, some parts of Scripture are like that as well. For instance, the book of Esther does not even mention the name of God! Having said that, maybe if the author was to come up with a second edition of the book, she might want to choose topics that make it easier for the lay reader to connect the story with the Person of God.
Nevertheless, I enjoyed this book and would readily recommend it for all.
Anna Carter Florence is the Peter Marshall Professor of Preaching at Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Georgia. She is an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.); the author of several books, including Preaching as Testimony and Rehearsing Scripture: Discovering God’s Word in Community; and a frequent preacher and lecturer in the United States and abroad.
Rating: 4.25 stars out of 5.
conrade
This book has been provided courtesy of Westminster John Knox Press via NetGalley without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.
My Thoughts
==============
Let me give three broad thoughts about this book. First the depth of reflections. When I first read the first few pages of the book, I was surprised at the depth of reflection that goes beyond the standards of ordinary devotionals. There is a consistent grip on the big idea that is derived from the passage selected. For students of the Big-Idea Preaching method, this book is a godsend. Beginning with A for Abigail and ending with Z for Zelophehad's daughters, readers are treated to one of the best selections of seeing the big picture from the Bible passage concerned. The reflection on Abigail contrasts the wisdom of a wife and the folly of a selfish husband. The chapter on Zelophehad's daughters reminds us of the critical role of parents in passing on their stories about faith through history. The reflection strikes me as profound teachings of core biblical messages we all need to learn. Sometimes, even preachers tend to focus more on popular passages of the Bible in their preaching. By highlighting some of the less prominent verses, we can learn to move beyond the familiar toward the less studied portions of the Bible. I marvel at the frequency of sharing from the Book of Numbers. There are at least three references out of the 26 alphabet. For the chapter on Z, the author highlights the need for order in the midst of chaos.
Second, there is a pleasant breadth of coverage of the biblical story from A to Z. Not only are the letters used to describe key characters and events in the Bible, I notice a conscious orientation toward female characters. In spite of an ancient patriarchal society, there are essays written about Abigail, Esther, Naomi, Puah, the Queen of Sheba, Rahab, Tamar, and even the short-lived Queen Vashti. In fact, the number of male characters is disproportionately fewer. Not that I am gender-biased, I am simply intrigued by the emphasis. Is it because the author is a woman? Perhaps. Was this influenced by the recent rise of championing gender rights, such as the #MeToo movement? Maybe. Personally, I think it is a noble attempt to bring to the fore these female characters who have often been ignored. More importantly, if we could remember that male or female, we can learn from everyone. God's Word is for all people, regardless of gender or sexual orientation.
Third, I ask myself what the book has to say about the height of our relationship with God. My sense: Moderate. Compared to the focus on the various persons of character, the events of interest, and the historical lessons to bear, there is more description of Bible stories compared to any meditative inference on the Divine relationship with God. One of the objectives of the book is to realize that "God is everywhere in the stories." However, I feel that some of the connections from the alphabet to the Bible story do not necessarily make that connection clear enough. In other words, the A to Z of making these connections are wide and varied. They do not hit the mark all the time. There are some that are more explicit. One needs to be consciously mindful of this in order to sense the God connection. For example, in the chapter on Q, the Queen of Sheba, I need to make a sizable mental jump to connect the story with the Person of God. To be fair, some parts of Scripture are like that as well. For instance, the book of Esther does not even mention the name of God! Having said that, maybe if the author was to come up with a second edition of the book, she might want to choose topics that make it easier for the lay reader to connect the story with the Person of God.
Nevertheless, I enjoyed this book and would readily recommend it for all.
Anna Carter Florence is the Peter Marshall Professor of Preaching at Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Georgia. She is an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.); the author of several books, including Preaching as Testimony and Rehearsing Scripture: Discovering God’s Word in Community; and a frequent preacher and lecturer in the United States and abroad.
Rating: 4.25 stars out of 5.
conrade
This book has been provided courtesy of Westminster John Knox Press via NetGalley without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.
February 11, 2024
There are many ways to tell biblical stories, among them is a form is abecedary. It is a way of telling stories or sharing information using the alphabet as a primer. Each letter of the alphabet serves to mark a word or phrase. It might be a name or an idea. It's an ancient tool, but was especially popular in the medieval world. It is a form of presentation that Anna Carter Florence has chosen to use in her book "A Is for Alabaster."
Florence, who serves as the Peter Marshall Professor of Preaching at Columbia Theological Seminary, drew inspiration from Frederick Buechner's trilogy: Wishful Thinking: A Seeker's ABC,
Peculiar Treasures, and Whistling in the Dark: A Doubter's Dictionary. As a preacher, I have often turned to Buechner's books, especially in my early years as a preacher. This trilogy offered helpful insight that could be shared with others. With "A Is for Alabaster" Anna Carter Florence adds a new compilation of reflections on biblical people and ideas.
As the subtitle notes, there are fifty-two reflections in this book. There are twenty-six reflections on each testament. Florence shares her enjoyment in creating this book and picking the characters and images that would match each letter of the alphabet. To accomplish her task, she had to "get creative to make room for everyone. Jacob, for instance, finds his place with 'I is for Israel.' Jonah takes 'F is for Fish." (p. 3) As for Jesus, she tells us that she had to go rogue to describe him. Thus, she has "G is for Growing Up." There is also "W is for Walking on Water."
As we work our way through the fifty-two reflections we discover new ways of envisioning the biblical story. Since Florence is a preacher and teacher of preachers, you get that homiletical feel. She roots the reflections in serious biblical scholarship, but she also brings the stories alive. Generally, each meditation is three to four pages in length, making for a nice series of daily devotions. Each reflection includes a reading from scripture, which is printed in the text. Florence writes "Whether you're new to biblical literature or well seasoned and experienced in this regard, I hope you'll find encouragement here for your own reading journey--- and even inspiration and a fresh take on some familiar stories A to Z, if that's what you're looking for" (p. 4).
As we work our way through this collection of reflections we'll encounter people like Abigail, Esther, Naomi, and King Solomon (you will find his story of seeking wisdom under "K is for King Solomon" as she uses S for Salt. Salt stands in for Lot's wife). There is an "A is for Alabaster" which invites us to consider the story of the woman in Mark 14 who breaks open the alabaster jar so she can pour nard on Jesus' head, preparing him for burial. You might enjoy "T is for Troas," where Carter recounts the story of Paul's lengthy sermon that leads young Eutychus to fall asleep and then out the window. He dies, but Paul brings him back to life. Florence uses the story to chide preachers not to bore their audiences to death!
To make the book more useful for study groups and for preachers, Florence includes a group discussion guide and a scripture index. The latter will be useful for lectionary preachers for easy reference.
If you enjoyed Buechner's abecedaries, as I did, I think you will enjoy Anna Carter Florence's version. It's thoughtful and imaginative. It doesn't cover every element of the biblical story, but it gets into the story and that's the important point.
Florence, who serves as the Peter Marshall Professor of Preaching at Columbia Theological Seminary, drew inspiration from Frederick Buechner's trilogy: Wishful Thinking: A Seeker's ABC,
Peculiar Treasures, and Whistling in the Dark: A Doubter's Dictionary. As a preacher, I have often turned to Buechner's books, especially in my early years as a preacher. This trilogy offered helpful insight that could be shared with others. With "A Is for Alabaster" Anna Carter Florence adds a new compilation of reflections on biblical people and ideas.
As the subtitle notes, there are fifty-two reflections in this book. There are twenty-six reflections on each testament. Florence shares her enjoyment in creating this book and picking the characters and images that would match each letter of the alphabet. To accomplish her task, she had to "get creative to make room for everyone. Jacob, for instance, finds his place with 'I is for Israel.' Jonah takes 'F is for Fish." (p. 3) As for Jesus, she tells us that she had to go rogue to describe him. Thus, she has "G is for Growing Up." There is also "W is for Walking on Water."
As we work our way through the fifty-two reflections we discover new ways of envisioning the biblical story. Since Florence is a preacher and teacher of preachers, you get that homiletical feel. She roots the reflections in serious biblical scholarship, but she also brings the stories alive. Generally, each meditation is three to four pages in length, making for a nice series of daily devotions. Each reflection includes a reading from scripture, which is printed in the text. Florence writes "Whether you're new to biblical literature or well seasoned and experienced in this regard, I hope you'll find encouragement here for your own reading journey--- and even inspiration and a fresh take on some familiar stories A to Z, if that's what you're looking for" (p. 4).
As we work our way through this collection of reflections we'll encounter people like Abigail, Esther, Naomi, and King Solomon (you will find his story of seeking wisdom under "K is for King Solomon" as she uses S for Salt. Salt stands in for Lot's wife). There is an "A is for Alabaster" which invites us to consider the story of the woman in Mark 14 who breaks open the alabaster jar so she can pour nard on Jesus' head, preparing him for burial. You might enjoy "T is for Troas," where Carter recounts the story of Paul's lengthy sermon that leads young Eutychus to fall asleep and then out the window. He dies, but Paul brings him back to life. Florence uses the story to chide preachers not to bore their audiences to death!
To make the book more useful for study groups and for preachers, Florence includes a group discussion guide and a scripture index. The latter will be useful for lectionary preachers for easy reference.
If you enjoyed Buechner's abecedaries, as I did, I think you will enjoy Anna Carter Florence's version. It's thoughtful and imaginative. It doesn't cover every element of the biblical story, but it gets into the story and that's the important point.
July 12, 2024
Skilled preacher, Anna Carter Florence, has written a gem of a book-- a resource that delights the imagination and will provide the seeds for rich, thought-provoking learning and discussion for adults and older teens. Florence journeys through the alphabet twice, once for each Testament of the Christian bible. Her chosen bible stories may be familiar to most Christian readers, but her way of weaving together historical understandings of life "back then", critical discussions of translation choices, popular church-y interpretations and social issues in contemporary American life make this volume a must for any preacher's or church library.
Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a free copy for review.
Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a free copy for review.
October 8, 2025
Really enjoyed this book, provided an excellent perspective of the Bible and provided some interesting insights on mistakes made in the Bible and where God checks people out when they have turned away from him. My favorite part was that of King Solomon where it highlighted his knowledge of wood and animals. King Saul could do the same thing but King David could not.
November 10, 2023
Anna Carter Florence's writing and preaching makes me fall in love with Scripture over and over again. "A is for Alabaster" is brilliant and awakened a hunger in me for hearing the familiar stories in fresh ways. Highly recommended.
Read
June 28, 2024forgot to update but was written by one of my mom’s mentors and was a very useful literary field guide to biblical references. I have a pretty children’s bible-esque understanding of scripture so this walked me through some major players I hadn’t come across
April 16, 2025
I read this book for a faith-based, ecumenical, book-study group I belong to. The book has merit on it's own, but the discussion we had, as women from a variety of denominations, was truly rich. I think I'll refer back to the book over the years, with fond memories of the insights we shared.
September 27, 2025
This is one of those books that I savored a chapter two at a time. I enjoyed the theological reflection, humor and energy in its pages, and as always, love hearing the voice of a dear teacher, colleague and friend as I read Anna's work.
March 5, 2024
A fun and informative read!
June 18, 2024
Fabulous! Thank you Anna Carter Florence for your study, wit, insight, and all around enlightening perspectives!
November 27, 2024
Lots to reflect on. This was a church recommendation. Glad I was able to get it.
June 20, 2025
Some wonderful reflections on scripture and insightful interpretations to the characters and personalities. It never hurts to get a fresh view of this particular literature every now and then.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews