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Letters for Pilgrimage: Lenten Meditations for Teen Girls
Here there be dragons...and dragon-slayers! In this timely travel companion for teen girls embarking on the journey of Great Lent, A. N. Tallent and Sarah Gingrich tell stories drawn from their adventurous life experiences to help their younger sisters in the faith navigate the difficulties and gifts of pilgrimage toward Christ. Each letter engages the reader like a sister telling stories as you sit with mugs in hand around the kitchen table. Unique stories covering the full span of Orthodox Lent and Holy Week bear witness to the life-giving disciplines of the Church, interceding Saints, and how God showed up in the midst of darkness and trials. These letters reveal God's gracious guiding presence in hardship by addressing difficult topics without smoothing them over with platitudes. Venture with Gingrich and Tallent into the richness of grace in Lenten rituals and obligations by joining this holy journey. Both treasures and dragons abound, but the Feast of Feasts waits for the pilgrims at the end.
210 pages, Paperback
Published February 23, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
February 27, 2021
Letters for Pilgrimage, is a real find! It is a wonderful devotional written especially for teenage girls: a day-by-day journey through Lent according to the Orthodox liturgical calendar.
Each day has a Psalm and a letter from one of the authors to the teen reader. The letters are honest, affectionate, and direct, interwoven with wisdom from the saints and personal stories, and touching on issues like attitudes to food, spiritual life, prayer, how to read the Bible, gossip, trauma, and embarrassment. The tone is sympathetic but never sappy. Difficult issues are discussed but the tone is always sympathetic and encouraging. The answers are hard-won, not pat. A nice touch: each letter is signed with a pseudonym. There is no ego here from the authors.
I particularly liked that the book does not end with Pascha, but continues on through Bright Week to Thomas Sunday.
The letters are meant to be read daily, but the Introduction tells readers not to worry if they miss a day here and there. This is another very nice touch, because our plans for spiritual efforts can burden us with guilt if we don't live up to them, and this book is welcoming, rather than demanding.
I read it all at once for this review, and while it was a huge blessing, I think that reading it as intended, if possible, would be the best way to experience its power, because it is a powerful book.
I feel very grateful to have received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest review. My copy will now go to my teen daughter, and I'll be recommending it everywhere I can.
Each day has a Psalm and a letter from one of the authors to the teen reader. The letters are honest, affectionate, and direct, interwoven with wisdom from the saints and personal stories, and touching on issues like attitudes to food, spiritual life, prayer, how to read the Bible, gossip, trauma, and embarrassment. The tone is sympathetic but never sappy. Difficult issues are discussed but the tone is always sympathetic and encouraging. The answers are hard-won, not pat. A nice touch: each letter is signed with a pseudonym. There is no ego here from the authors.
I particularly liked that the book does not end with Pascha, but continues on through Bright Week to Thomas Sunday.
The letters are meant to be read daily, but the Introduction tells readers not to worry if they miss a day here and there. This is another very nice touch, because our plans for spiritual efforts can burden us with guilt if we don't live up to them, and this book is welcoming, rather than demanding.
I read it all at once for this review, and while it was a huge blessing, I think that reading it as intended, if possible, would be the best way to experience its power, because it is a powerful book.
I feel very grateful to have received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest review. My copy will now go to my teen daughter, and I'll be recommending it everywhere I can.
March 6, 2021
This devotional is a wonderful resource that touches on so many issues that young women are faced with today in a down-to-earth and relatable manner. Each day's reading features a bible verse and a letter written by one of the authors. The letters are written as if writing to a friend or a sister. Beautiful and meaningful correlations are made between everyday experiences and how we can use those experiences to grow spiritually. Easy to read and easy to relate to, this book is truly a one-of-a-kind resource for Orthodox teen girls. Whether you read it on your own, with a friend, or with a parent, one thing is certain... this book is a must read!
Not only is the content of this book lovely, but the soft, smooth cover feels so nice in your hands. The ink style drawings throughout the book are really appealing and the font is nicely sized and spaced. I think the size and spacing communicates a non-threatening invitation to read the book. You don't open this book and feel overwhelmed by the amount of text... that is something I value in a daily devotional and would have definitely noticed as a teenager that was accustomed to reading textbooks all the time!
--I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review but as a youth group advisor at our church, I definitely would have purchased this book anyway and left the same review... wonderful!
Not only is the content of this book lovely, but the soft, smooth cover feels so nice in your hands. The ink style drawings throughout the book are really appealing and the font is nicely sized and spaced. I think the size and spacing communicates a non-threatening invitation to read the book. You don't open this book and feel overwhelmed by the amount of text... that is something I value in a daily devotional and would have definitely noticed as a teenager that was accustomed to reading textbooks all the time!
--I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review but as a youth group advisor at our church, I definitely would have purchased this book anyway and left the same review... wonderful!
March 4, 2023
Quiet amazing and inspiring. I read it in two sittings. The author's gently guide you through lent/life, as they share their story, giving you encouragement and advice. It's short and easy to read. The Chapters are categorized by week and day, making it perfect for quick reading here and there.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews