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Kitchen Grace
Roger and Grace Stanwick have relocated to a university town. As first-generation Mennonites, they understand the difficulty of embracing a separated lifestyle, but they are eager to make new friends and share the Gospel. Settling into a new location brings plenty of headaches—literal ones for Grace. Her kitchen is less than ideal. The Texas heat and the eccentric, unsociable lady next door give Grace plenty to pray about. When Roger and Grace invite a young couple from the university to share their home for a month, Grace knows she will need God’s help to withstand the added stress. Kitchen Grace is a fictional story that encourages hospitality, local outreach, and a heart of understanding for those seeking Truth.
253 pages, Paperback
Published June 1, 2024
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November 20, 2024Conflicted feelings about this one.
Here’s what I disliked: 1, The black-and-whiteness of belief. We’re right, you’re wrong, but we’ll be patient with you till you see the light we stand in. (I dislike this in me, too.) We’re so sad that you chose not to join us. We acknowledge that what God asks of His followers (i.e., being like us) is a difficult step, but, see, we did it. What makes us sad is that, because you are unwilling to make those sacrifices, now you’re not in the kingdom. 2, That Heaven and Hell are capitalized as though they’re divinity. 3, The false doctrine. Not limited to: “eternal separation from God” (which is a cosmic impossibility; how long will believers keep perpetuating the error of truncated omnipresence? These people are Biblical literalists*; where do they find scripture to teach that the One who has always inhabited eternity will someday shrink to a mere portion of it?)
Here’s what made me feel uneasy: 1, How cult-ish it makes Mennonites appear. This would not even matter except that the book is true—very true—to Mennonite thought and practice. So are Mennonites a cult? Why of course not, say the characters in this book—it comes up! But precious few in any cult admit they are in a cult. See point #1 above. I kept reading this from the standpoint of nonMennonite and exMennonite friends, and wincing. 2, That we have entire Bible study discussions on doctrines like divorce/remarriage, the headcovering, and homosexuality, which appear in Scripture once, twice, or occasionally and which Mennonites get “right” according to literal interpretations of Scripture—(*)—but, unless I missed it, not a word about wealth, which Jesus discusses at length. Is this related to Mennonites being one of the wealthier denominations?
Here’s what I loved: 1, The personality of Grace, the main character. She was disarmingly human, sweet, and personable. 2, Her relationship with her husband. And how he calls her “love,” aww. 3, That she’s fifty, an unusual age for the MC of a Mennonite novel. 4, That the author walks straight into the complications of cross-cultural relationships, without flinching and without undue judging. I want to be her friend. 5, The tiny hints of humor throughout the book. A book I would definitely recommend to some. The Anabaptist version of a Cozy Mystery.
Here’s what I disliked: 1, The black-and-whiteness of belief. We’re right, you’re wrong, but we’ll be patient with you till you see the light we stand in. (I dislike this in me, too.) We’re so sad that you chose not to join us. We acknowledge that what God asks of His followers (i.e., being like us) is a difficult step, but, see, we did it. What makes us sad is that, because you are unwilling to make those sacrifices, now you’re not in the kingdom. 2, That Heaven and Hell are capitalized as though they’re divinity. 3, The false doctrine. Not limited to: “eternal separation from God” (which is a cosmic impossibility; how long will believers keep perpetuating the error of truncated omnipresence? These people are Biblical literalists*; where do they find scripture to teach that the One who has always inhabited eternity will someday shrink to a mere portion of it?)
Here’s what made me feel uneasy: 1, How cult-ish it makes Mennonites appear. This would not even matter except that the book is true—very true—to Mennonite thought and practice. So are Mennonites a cult? Why of course not, say the characters in this book—it comes up! But precious few in any cult admit they are in a cult. See point #1 above. I kept reading this from the standpoint of nonMennonite and exMennonite friends, and wincing. 2, That we have entire Bible study discussions on doctrines like divorce/remarriage, the headcovering, and homosexuality, which appear in Scripture once, twice, or occasionally and which Mennonites get “right” according to literal interpretations of Scripture—(*)—but, unless I missed it, not a word about wealth, which Jesus discusses at length. Is this related to Mennonites being one of the wealthier denominations?
Here’s what I loved: 1, The personality of Grace, the main character. She was disarmingly human, sweet, and personable. 2, Her relationship with her husband. And how he calls her “love,” aww. 3, That she’s fifty, an unusual age for the MC of a Mennonite novel. 4, That the author walks straight into the complications of cross-cultural relationships, without flinching and without undue judging. I want to be her friend. 5, The tiny hints of humor throughout the book. A book I would definitely recommend to some. The Anabaptist version of a Cozy Mystery.
February 13, 2026
Has good insights into life in general, plus good ways of building relationships
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews