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A Time to Grow: Lenten Lessons from the Garden to the Table
From Eden to Gethsemane to the garden in which Jesus was buried and raised, our story of faith wanders through much fertile soil. But in our current world of fast food and to-go meals, we often do not make time to explore where our food comes from and how we break bread together. Journeying through the season of Lent with this in mind, A Time to Grow encourages readers to slow down, move through the painstaking process of growth, and end together with great feasting and celebration of the resurrection. Themes of soil, water, light, time, fasting, feasting, and more guide the way from Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday. Readers will explore the intricacies of how faith is required to produce food and how that faith can lead us all to feast at the table on Easter morning.
Additional elements are included to enhance communal spiritual practice for small groups or the entire congregation during Lent. These elements include sermon prompts, liturgies with communal responses, altar art ideas for decorating worship spaces, and prompts for children's time in worship.
Additional elements are included to enhance communal spiritual practice for small groups or the entire congregation during Lent. These elements include sermon prompts, liturgies with communal responses, altar art ideas for decorating worship spaces, and prompts for children's time in worship.
138 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 11, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
February 16, 2022
When we read the gospels, there are two things that appear quite frequently in the life of Jesus: Food and Feast. Matthew, Mark, and Luke detail the parables related to sowing seeds. Mark collects several parables of Jesus that connect the seed parables with the kingdom of God. John structures his narrative according to the feast schedules (Passover, Purim, Tabernacles, etc). Using these metaphors, Jesus teaches us about faith and the kingdom of God. Taking a leaf from the gospels, author Kara Eidson introduces us to a unique way of observing the season of Lent. Inspired by her faith and her love for food, Eidson shares with us spiritual lessons from our everyday food choices. Lamenting at how a new generation who lives in cities is lacking a basic understanding of our favourite foods, she seeks to connect common produce with faith matters. Spurred by a desire to connect with her congregation familiar with rural living, she becomes more sensitized to the relationship between what we eat and where the food comes from. Written for small groups for use during the season of Lent, the purpose of this book is to make these connections more authentic in the hope that whenever we are eating or drinking with friends and family during mealtimes, we will be able to appreciate far beyond the food and faith relationship, and be guided toward gratitude the farming community who made it all possible, and ultimately to the One who had blessed us all: Our God in Heaven.
Traditionally, Lent begins with Ash Wednesday and Eidson starts most appropriately with the humble soil beginnings. The quality of the food we grow depends on the quality of the soil they grow in. Cultivating the soil means recognizing that barren soil could be redeemed by turning them over and adding fertilizer. It's a powerful metaphor to show us that our lives too need to be "turned over" from time to time. Like searching for a house, seeking one with sufficient sunshine on the lawn and garden reminds us of living a life that is regularly under the light of Christ. The ways of the world can also creep into the life of believers. Like the pandemic that recently resulted in an upsurge of hoarding and panic buying, Christians need to be careful not to let the ways and worries of the world influence the way they live. Reflecting on water, we learn that there are many ways water can refresh, rejuvenate, and restore us. Things from bathing to dirty dishes remind us constantly the blessed power of water as a cleansing agent. We learn of how light inspires; how the eating of fruits could reveal many spiritual aspects of restoration. As Lent draws to a close, Eidson shares the predicament of how we could celebrate Palm Sunday on the one hand, and on the other hand, lament the events leading up to Good Friday, or Passion of Christ. There are also other resources such as children's activities, community spiritual practices, liturgies, sermon starters, etc to help us prepare for Lent.
My Thoughts
==============
I like this book. Right from the very beginning, I was hooked. Eidson's start from the ground soil up is particularly inspiring because of the close connection our human bodies have with the soil. The word "human" is derived from the Latin word "humus," which means soil or earth. This is related to humility and the humble beginnings of every human person from the womb and eventually to the tomb. We are but a moment while God is forever. The life that we live in the present is a gift for us to cherish. God has blessed us with many things and the season of Lent is to be used as a reminder of how He has blessed us with food, feast, and faith. Sometimes, people see Lent merely as a time of abstention, of fasting, of spiritual disciplines, and of controlled diets. The author shows us more. Lent is also a time of connecting using everyday things we can commonly see, hear, smell, taste, and feel. The framework is simple. As we progress through the 40 days of Lent, leading up to Holy Week and Easter, each day is an opportunity to reflect on the grace of God and to praise our Creator, our Sustainer, and our Blessed Saviour. With the resources given to us, we can invite more people into appreciating the significance of Lent each day of the week, instead of merely on Sundays when the people of God gather.
I also like the way the author is intentional about helping readers connect with the items concerned.
Even a stubborn blueberry stump becomes a lesson to teach us faith in terms of courage, to trust God to take care of the stubborn brambles of our lives. There are some things in our lives that do not seem to go away no matter how hard we try to get rid of them. Things like poor habits or temptations that we cannot seem to run away from. The harder we try, the harder they grip. Letting go of our impatience also means letting God take care of our limited strengths. Perhaps, the way Eidson has taught us about using everyday food to connect to faith could inspire us to do the same for many other things as we practice the presence of God each day.
This book is a most appropriate resource to use for Lent 2022, and beyond.
Kara Eidson has pastored in rural, suburban, and urban settings. She holds a degree in psychology from Missouri State University and an MDiv from Duke Divinity School. After ordination in 2010, Eidson served four years as the United Methodist campus minister at the University of Kansas. She currently serves a UMC in Topeka, Kansas. Eidson and her husband love spending time tending to their garden with their ten chickens and two goats.
Rating: 4.5 stars of 5.
conrade
This book has been provided courtesy of Westminster John Knox Press and NetGalley without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.
Traditionally, Lent begins with Ash Wednesday and Eidson starts most appropriately with the humble soil beginnings. The quality of the food we grow depends on the quality of the soil they grow in. Cultivating the soil means recognizing that barren soil could be redeemed by turning them over and adding fertilizer. It's a powerful metaphor to show us that our lives too need to be "turned over" from time to time. Like searching for a house, seeking one with sufficient sunshine on the lawn and garden reminds us of living a life that is regularly under the light of Christ. The ways of the world can also creep into the life of believers. Like the pandemic that recently resulted in an upsurge of hoarding and panic buying, Christians need to be careful not to let the ways and worries of the world influence the way they live. Reflecting on water, we learn that there are many ways water can refresh, rejuvenate, and restore us. Things from bathing to dirty dishes remind us constantly the blessed power of water as a cleansing agent. We learn of how light inspires; how the eating of fruits could reveal many spiritual aspects of restoration. As Lent draws to a close, Eidson shares the predicament of how we could celebrate Palm Sunday on the one hand, and on the other hand, lament the events leading up to Good Friday, or Passion of Christ. There are also other resources such as children's activities, community spiritual practices, liturgies, sermon starters, etc to help us prepare for Lent.
My Thoughts
==============
I like this book. Right from the very beginning, I was hooked. Eidson's start from the ground soil up is particularly inspiring because of the close connection our human bodies have with the soil. The word "human" is derived from the Latin word "humus," which means soil or earth. This is related to humility and the humble beginnings of every human person from the womb and eventually to the tomb. We are but a moment while God is forever. The life that we live in the present is a gift for us to cherish. God has blessed us with many things and the season of Lent is to be used as a reminder of how He has blessed us with food, feast, and faith. Sometimes, people see Lent merely as a time of abstention, of fasting, of spiritual disciplines, and of controlled diets. The author shows us more. Lent is also a time of connecting using everyday things we can commonly see, hear, smell, taste, and feel. The framework is simple. As we progress through the 40 days of Lent, leading up to Holy Week and Easter, each day is an opportunity to reflect on the grace of God and to praise our Creator, our Sustainer, and our Blessed Saviour. With the resources given to us, we can invite more people into appreciating the significance of Lent each day of the week, instead of merely on Sundays when the people of God gather.
I also like the way the author is intentional about helping readers connect with the items concerned.
Even a stubborn blueberry stump becomes a lesson to teach us faith in terms of courage, to trust God to take care of the stubborn brambles of our lives. There are some things in our lives that do not seem to go away no matter how hard we try to get rid of them. Things like poor habits or temptations that we cannot seem to run away from. The harder we try, the harder they grip. Letting go of our impatience also means letting God take care of our limited strengths. Perhaps, the way Eidson has taught us about using everyday food to connect to faith could inspire us to do the same for many other things as we practice the presence of God each day.
This book is a most appropriate resource to use for Lent 2022, and beyond.
Kara Eidson has pastored in rural, suburban, and urban settings. She holds a degree in psychology from Missouri State University and an MDiv from Duke Divinity School. After ordination in 2010, Eidson served four years as the United Methodist campus minister at the University of Kansas. She currently serves a UMC in Topeka, Kansas. Eidson and her husband love spending time tending to their garden with their ten chickens and two goats.
Rating: 4.5 stars of 5.
conrade
This book has been provided courtesy of Westminster John Knox Press and NetGalley without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.
May 25, 2022
The Lenten season is designed as a period of prayer and contemplation in preparation for Holy Week. It begins with Ash Wednesday, when we allow ourselves to be marked as a sign of repentance. It's often a season of fasting, of giving up something. Though some would suggest that it is better to add something, a spiritual discipline, instead. Whatever the case, we rarely equate lent with food, but perhaps they do go together.
I write this review of "A Time to Grow" by Kara Eidson during the final days of the Easter season, so Lent has already transpired, but it's never too early to prepare for next year. So, I offer up this book of devotions and worship outlines for those who seek to engage in a structured period of Lenten reflection.
The subtitle of the book is indicative of what finds in the book. "Lenten Lessons from the Garden to the Table." Eidson, who is a United Methodist Pastor and writer living in Topeka, Kansas, draws on her own experience as a gardener, seeking to make use of food in season. Having lived in nearby Manhattan, Kansas for three years, I can tell you that winter is not a good growing period. But that's not really the point. Eidson introduces her devotional book noting that when she's in her garden, tending to it, she feels connected to God our Creator. She also reminds us that "at the heart of every human celebration, we find food. It is the common thread of the human experience." (p. 1). That's very true. The challenge for us moderns is that due to industrialization of agriculture and urbanization, our connections with the creation of our food has been lost. As she points out, the big red strawberries we buy in the store are designed to be transported and don't taste the same as the ones she grows in her own garden.
In this book, which includes weekly reflections and a study guide, as well as worship materials, we are invited to consider the message of gardens and food as the center of one's Lenten journey. She suggests that the materials might inspire a sermon series that would accompany such a study. So that this can be used during any Lenten season, she draws on the lectionary texts from across all three cycles of the Revised Common Lectionary.
Each week's reflection carries a garden/food-related title/image. Thus, we begin Ash Wednesday with the theme of Soil. She reflects on cultivating soil and the challenge of barren soil, leading to a conversation about motivations and the need for repentance. From there we move on to "Order," -- you have to map the garden and reordering the world! From there we move to a reflection on life, Week 3 is Water. Week 4 is Light. Then in Week 5, she reflects on Restoration, telling the story of the blueberry thief, that seemed to take her bushes. But one voluntarily restored itself, offering a reflection on resurrection.
She offers reflections for Palm/Passion Sunday under the theme of Time. Maundy Thursday is Remember, where she invites us to remember gardens and meals (in her case a pecan tree and Thanksgiving dressing that reminded her of her grandparents). Good Friday is a reflection on fasting, or embracing discomfort. Finally, on Easter Sunday it's a feast as one would expect. Here she speaks to the importance of inclusion of all at the table, especially children.
The reflections are deeply spiritual and personal and tied to Scripture and the season. Thus, this will make for a nice Lenten series/study. So plan now for next year.
I write this review of "A Time to Grow" by Kara Eidson during the final days of the Easter season, so Lent has already transpired, but it's never too early to prepare for next year. So, I offer up this book of devotions and worship outlines for those who seek to engage in a structured period of Lenten reflection.
The subtitle of the book is indicative of what finds in the book. "Lenten Lessons from the Garden to the Table." Eidson, who is a United Methodist Pastor and writer living in Topeka, Kansas, draws on her own experience as a gardener, seeking to make use of food in season. Having lived in nearby Manhattan, Kansas for three years, I can tell you that winter is not a good growing period. But that's not really the point. Eidson introduces her devotional book noting that when she's in her garden, tending to it, she feels connected to God our Creator. She also reminds us that "at the heart of every human celebration, we find food. It is the common thread of the human experience." (p. 1). That's very true. The challenge for us moderns is that due to industrialization of agriculture and urbanization, our connections with the creation of our food has been lost. As she points out, the big red strawberries we buy in the store are designed to be transported and don't taste the same as the ones she grows in her own garden.
In this book, which includes weekly reflections and a study guide, as well as worship materials, we are invited to consider the message of gardens and food as the center of one's Lenten journey. She suggests that the materials might inspire a sermon series that would accompany such a study. So that this can be used during any Lenten season, she draws on the lectionary texts from across all three cycles of the Revised Common Lectionary.
Each week's reflection carries a garden/food-related title/image. Thus, we begin Ash Wednesday with the theme of Soil. She reflects on cultivating soil and the challenge of barren soil, leading to a conversation about motivations and the need for repentance. From there we move on to "Order," -- you have to map the garden and reordering the world! From there we move to a reflection on life, Week 3 is Water. Week 4 is Light. Then in Week 5, she reflects on Restoration, telling the story of the blueberry thief, that seemed to take her bushes. But one voluntarily restored itself, offering a reflection on resurrection.
She offers reflections for Palm/Passion Sunday under the theme of Time. Maundy Thursday is Remember, where she invites us to remember gardens and meals (in her case a pecan tree and Thanksgiving dressing that reminded her of her grandparents). Good Friday is a reflection on fasting, or embracing discomfort. Finally, on Easter Sunday it's a feast as one would expect. Here she speaks to the importance of inclusion of all at the table, especially children.
The reflections are deeply spiritual and personal and tied to Scripture and the season. Thus, this will make for a nice Lenten series/study. So plan now for next year.
April 30, 2022
3.5 Parts of this book of daily reading were really lovely. I appreciated the close focus on how food and growth don't just provide metaphors for spiritual life but also present regular opportunities—how we eat, how we procure food, how we treat the earth and the people who grow and distribute food—for spiritual practice. That said, it felt unfinished. Some sections dove into ideas thoroughly, others threw out a provocative question but just left it sitting there, not in an open-ended way, but more in an abandoned way. (To be fair, fleshing out the ideas in this book would be a huge task that's intimidating just to consider.)
February 22, 2022
What a refreshing take on Lent and our modern world of busy-ness. The blend of garden stories with a solid theological foundation makes this a great read on its own, outside of the Lenten season. I look forward to taking a good 40 days to read this liturgically.
Bonus content with all the liturgy resources!
Bonus content with all the liturgy resources!
April 5, 2025
A good resource for preaching during the Lenten season. Growth and renewal being two of the central themes. I especially liked that there was a Hebrew scripture reference and a gospel reference for every theme.
July 16, 2022
Outstanding Lenten devotional that I enjoyed reading.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews