Barefoot Ways: Praying through Advent, Christmas and Beyond

by Stephen Cherry

Barefoot Ways offers the reader a poetic, prayerful meditation for every day of December and January. It connects with the spiritual themes of Advent, Christmas and Epiphany and takes the reader from the first days of a new Christian year to the feast of Candlemas on February 2nd. These three great Christian seasons are divided into thematic areas, each of which is given a brief introduction. . .
The distance from Advent to Candlemas is considerable, and there are many ways across its fearful and fascinating terrain. I offer here some ‘barefoot’ ways – by which I mean ways that are both down to earth and yet full of spiritual aspiration and hope. . .

132 pages, Paperback

First published August 20, 2015

About the author

Stephen Cherry is the Dean of King's College, Cambridge.

Reviews

[Karin Jenkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book which contains a poem prayer for each day from the beginning of Advent to Candlemas. The Advent and Christmas ones are very specific to the season but the ones in the reminder of January are, quite properly prayers for everyday life. Some of those are quite specific and don’t necessarily apply to your life on that day, but they’re all situations you can see yourself facing, so it’s worth keeping for reference. I’ve also shared several of the poems with friends and groups who I felt might benefit from them.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I chose two new Advent devotionals this year in addition to re-reading one of NT Wright's books, and I'm glad I did because each of them added something new to the season.

This one, by Stephen Cherry, the Dean of King's College in the UK, is a collection of poems that reflects on the themes of calling and humility.

One poem a day from December 1 through February 2, Candlemas, which is the Feast of Presentation, when Mary and Joseph bring Jesus to the temple to be dedicated.

Some of the poems were reflections on daily life; some were celebratory; some were like poems.
I resonated with some of them deeply, and I shrugged my shoulders wondering what some of them were about.

But overall, this was a unique way to embrace the season, and I plan to return to this book again.

[Carole · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some reflections better than others, as is usually the case with these types of books.