This beautiful book would make an excellent gift. I loved reading through the different pages and seeing inspiration throughout the year for decorations and traditions that we already do as a family and ones I would love to celebrate and adopt.

This is a beautiful book - filled with all sorts of ideas to bring God into the home with your family. It would be good to start this journey at the new year as this is where the book begins. You will enjoy this!

Seasons of Wonder
Making the Ordinary Sacred Through Projects, Prayers, Reflections, and Rituals: A 52-week devotional
by Bonnie Smith Whitehouse
Pub Date 15 Nov 2022
Convergent Books
Christian


A copy of Seasons of Wonder has been provided to me by Convergent Books and Netgalley for the purpose of this review;


The purpose of this 52-week interactive devotional is to help family and friends discover God enfleshed in the world around them.


With Seasons of Wonder, you are able to gather together weekly with your loved ones and explore divinity, specifically the radical but faithful idea that everything is sacred. There are weekly contemplative activities included in this devotional, as well as interactive and transformative practices that connect us to surprise, awe, and wonder, such as:


uncomplicated crafts that honor creation
* simple recipes to make together
* conversation guides to cultivate the gifts of storytelling, deep listening, mystery, and community
* accessible introductions to liturgical observations and rituals
* plus four additional weeks of activities that you can incorporate whenever they’re appropriate, such as birthdays, sick days, or when you’re traveling together or blessing your home.

To understand Ash Wednesday’s significance, readers might make a hiking stick in February to embark on a holy pilgrimage (even if it’s just in their neighborhood). In the summer, readers can make prayer cards, bath salts, and family time capsules to celebrate the Earth’s seasons of holy pause while reading peaceful liturgies and ancient prayers to learn how to cherish these seasons of holy pause.


Bonnie Smith Whitehouse’s book is based on the idea that small, intentional moments of wonder represent the grand presence of Christ in us, in our world, and on this dazzling, vast, and increasingly endangered blue planet. Seasons of Wonder can transform an ordinary meeting into a sacred experience by spending a short amount of time together each week this year.


I give Seasons of Wonder five out of five stars!


Happy Reading!

I struggle with reviewing this book because it’s a beautiful book that matches ritual with the Christian liturgical calendar. There are a lot of wonderful ideas that for beautifully with each season.
However, my struggle is the fact that there is a lot of universalist teaching and many quotes or things the author says about church or God made me uncomfortable and we’re not biblical. I can’t recommend it for that reason- rather than focusing on the reason for the liturgical calender being to showcase the saving Grace of God, this book describes it as reasons to gather or be kind. I really wanted to love it.

Described as a 52 week devotional "designed around weekly contemplative activities," the author provides a great mix of history, scripture, and practical hand on activities. A mix of storytelling, crafts, recipes, and gardening, this would make a great personal, group, family, or community devotional- though likely best in community.

Thank you to NetGalley and Convergent Books for a copy to read.

This is such a great book! I'll definitely use this alot and recommend it to others!!!
I enjoyed the different aspects of each month

Seasons of Wonder: Making the Ordinary Sacred Through Projects, Prayers, Reflections, and Ritual by Bonnie Smith Whitehouse is a 52-week devotional with thoughts and ideas to use throughout the year. I thought this was a really lovely book full of crafts, recipes, conversations, and other activities. Thanks to NetGalley for the free digital review copy. All opinions are my own.

Seasons of Wonder by Bonnie Smith Whitehouse is a wonderful look at 52 ways to experience God’s wonder and beauty in a new way. While some aspects were not in my religious tradition, I appreciated the new way to look at the ordinary in a holy way. I highly recommend this devotional to anyone looking to experience God in a new way this year.

The intro of this book is so solid and really prepares you for the remainder of the book. Weekly gathering is so attainable for the audience of this book. It’s creative, engaging and overall so interesting.

“A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle.“

Making the ordinary sacred is so simple with this beautiful book! After flipping through and reading a few of the chapters, I am hoping to incorporate it into some of my journaling and weekly planning on a regular basis. I am finding a lot of value in the quotes and topics of each chapter. They are meaningful and important, regardless of your spiritual beliefs. Readers of all walks can find something to love about this book. It will be the perfect bedside book for me, and I can imagine myself using it as a journal and mindfulness companion for a long time to come. Plus, it has stunning cover art that is a joy to look at and keep on display! Paired with a blank journal or nice pen, this book would make a great gift for anyone who loves journaling. I must mention that it does have a religious tone, and thats not for everyone, and I get that. But it has value, and as a non-religious person myself I found meaning from this book on the whole. Thank you so much to Penguin Random House for sending me a copy! All opinions are my own.

Seasons of Wonder brings together not just a devotional but allows the reader to explore God's creations through crafts, recipes, and journaling. I cannot wait to be able to further enjoy this book. I received a copy through Netgalley. A review was not required.

Taking the ordinary and creating sacredness. What a concept, and yet, I haven't seen it done like this, to this extent, and all I can say is wow. Bonnie has created a gem here of taking each month, breaking it down for what that time represents, how to take it from ordinary to sacred, with different events, recipes, prayers, practices to incorporate into our lives to help make it more special and honoring what we know holds more weight than just keeping it mundane. I am going to find a hardcopy of this so that I can refer back to it to not just read it, but really put some of these into practice. Thank you for highlighting what we have in our everyday lives and giving us something practical we can do to hold it sacred.
*I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. This review is my own opinion*

Walking in Grace Through 52 Weeks

Seasons of Wonder is a well-written book for a 52-Week spiritual growth season. As the author states, month by month and week by week, Seasons of Wonder, there is a theme for each week, and each monthly theme is linked to both the Earth’s seasons and the liturgical seasons, which are an ancient way Christians have marked holy time.

She also states that each month invites us to think about an action, such as in January, the monthly theme will be “Transcend Dualities”; and during February, the theme will be “Encounter Contemplation”; and each month for the remainder of the year will have its separate theme.

Additionall, I love the fact that each month will introduce new things to discover as a family, a church, or as an individual. During each month, one will be introduced to such things as:
1. Liturgical seasons
2. Special days in the life of the Christian church
3. Simple but meaningful actions, recipes, or crafts that are fitting to the season.

During this 52 weeks of devotions, in addition to going through the weekly theme, it would be nice to read applicable scripture from your Bible preferably the (NRSV with Apocrypha or another modern translation), the Book of Common Prayer, and A New Zealand Book of Common Prayer, if you have one or can get one. The author suggests two other titles:
1. Common Prayer: A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals by Shane Claiborne
2. New Directions for Holy Questions by Claire Brown and Anita Peebles.

Additionally, the author has included four additional weeks of activities that we can insert whenever we need to, such as opportunities to celebrate birthdays, recover from a sick day, travel together, and bless our homes.

This is a magnificent book that one can uses to study with others, or along as lone as we make time for our Lord.

Many thanks to the author.

I went into this book with high hopes. At only 5% in the book, I started to become skeptical. The introduction ended up taking almost 10% of the entire book. It should not take an author that many pages to explain her idea. Ms. Whitehouse refers to God as the “divine presence” several times in the introduction and throughout the book. Her writing felt more like mysticism and panentheism where the created was being worshiped instead of the Creator.

I tried to push myself to finish this book, but I gave up about 60% through it. I became increasingly more uncomfortable with the ideas of the author. The dancing female pastor (priest?), references to the “divine presence”, and recommendation of a Bible with the Apocrapha raised red flags for me. The book reminded me of a mashup of many world religions instead of a book written to worship God. I will not recommend this book.

For those who want to discover something new about God's love or God's creation
A member of the Episcopal Church, professor and writer Bonnie Smith Whitehouse presents her book "Seasons of Wonder. Making the Ordinary Sacred Through Projects, Prayers, Reflections, and Rituals: A 52-week devotional", published by Convergent Books. In the introduction Whitehouse talks about the "joyful little moments" of her childhood and states: "I believe these little startling moments of marvel to be manifestations of the divine, and I want to help you and the people you love hunt down, discover, and savor them together. This book is aimed at reminding you and your family (and by “family” I mean the people you love—your children, your spouse, your parents, your friends, your roommates, or your family of choice) that we are part of the wondrous, grand spirit of the universe. Seasons of Wonder can easily be read and applied in solitude or in community. This book is designed to be a guide that helps you set aside a little time every week of the year to broaden your understanding of divinity, specifically the radical idea that everything is sacred. The birthplace of faith is not dogma, creed, or doctrine; faith emerges from awe, wonder, and joy. Just to be alive in creation is holy" (in Introduction).
The fourteen parts of the book start with an introduction to every month and offer content for four weeks (e.g., "Week 6: Embark on a pilgrimage", "Week 11: Come with Bread", or "Week 36: Receive a Story"). The themes of each month try to link what is happening on earth with what is happening in the Christian calendar. The thirteenth part is entitled "Four Special Weeks in the Lives of Loved Ones" (e.g., "Week 49: Savor: Celebrating a Birthday"). The last part is entitled "Benediction". The book also contains Sources and Notes which can help readers who want to do research or further study a certain topic.
In offering prayers, projects, reflections, and rituals Whitehouse offers something for various types of readers especially if their background is in the Catholic, Episcopal, Anglican, Orthodox, Lutheran, Presbyterian, or Methodist church tradition. Since my background is in the Lutheran-Evangelical church tradition I do not always agree with her theological standpoint but I recommend the book to readers who are interested in expanding their approach to worship with open hand, an open mind, and a willing heart. I am also recommending the book to readers who are willing to create their own "Chronicle of Wonder".
The complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley free of charge. I was under no obligation to offer a positive review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
#SeasonsOfWonder #Netgalley

“Seasons of Wonder” by Bonnie Smith Whitehouse is a 52-week devotional that encourages you to gather weekly with the ones you love to see faith throughout the seasons.

This devotional was filled with information and unique activities. You can really see Whitehouse’s passion for combining nature and faith. As the seasons go by, Whitehouse offers up different activities that match both seasons and religious holidays to give you a more well-rounded year. I love that she provides ways to include the whole family!

Overall, this book was 3 stars for me. It was interesting, but there were a lot of theological differences that I didn’t expect when I first read the description. While this wasn’t a fit for me, I’m sure those with more episcopal faiths would enjoy it.

Thanks to NetGalley and Convergent Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Seasons of Wonder is a delightful devotional that focuses on seeing the presence of spirit both in reflections to ponder but also in practical and fun activities/crafts/etc. I received an advance copy as an e-book but I can see that a paper copy will be far more engaging for most. Definitely a devotional to consider as you look for spirit not only in reflection but in doing too.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

What a lovely devotional! I cannot wait to dig into Seasons of Wonder throughout the next year! Thank you for an advance copy of this book I ended up picking up a hardcover copy!

This devotional merges the Christian liturgical calendar with the seasons of the year and gives readers weekly ways to honor both. Each month has a different theme, and each week focuses on aspects that relate to the monthly theme. The author encourages wonder; wonder for all things - in nature, in ourselves, in others - and for the God who created it all and wants to foster relationships with us.

The book is full not just of devotions, but also activities, recipes, journal and discussion prompts, prayers, and blessings, using many means to get readers actively involved. It is also written with fellowship in mind, to be explored and studied with family and/or friends with the goal of getting to know ourselves and each other better yielding closer relationships with each other and with our God.

This is different from any devotional book I have ever experienced. Well-done! 3.5 stars rounded to 4 stars.

My thanks to Convergent Press for allowing me to access an ARC of the the book via NetGalley. All opinions stated in this review are my own and are freely given.

Such a beautiful book that works to keep you present and focused on the good. I can’t wait to continue to follow the prompts through each season. Highly recommend!