Services for Healing and Renewal: Praying With Christ-Sophia - Softcover

Jann Aldredge-Clanton

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0896226972 ISBN 13: 9780896226975

Publisher: Twenty-Third Publications, 1996

Synopsis

This book offers a collection of worship services to bring healing and renewal to both individuals and faith communities. The services focus on Christ-Sophia, a symbol drawn from Hebrew and Christian Scripture and tradition that embraces new possibilities for wholeness and shared responsibility. This symbol is built on the foundation of the inclusive christology the author developed in her book In Search of the Christ-Sophia, and is intended to overcome dualisms and make equal connections between female and male. The rituals in Praying with Christ-Sophia focus on such themes as justice, relationship, peace, freedom, and healing to address the concerns of contemporary women and men. The inclusive language and images seek to convert the imagination to view God and humanity in a balanced, holistic perspective, one that benefits all people. These rituals contribute to justice by giving equal value to women and men of all races, sexual orientation, and abilities. Over 35 original texts set to standard Christian hymn tunes are featured. These songs offer participants an opportunity to express their spirituality and human needs through egalitarian words sung to familiar tunes.

About this title

About the Author:

Jann Aldredge-Clanton currently serves as a chaplain coordinator for Baylor University Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, where she also chairs the Interfaith Task Force and the Healing Environment Team. A native of Louisiana, Jann received the B.A. degree from Louisiana Polytechnic University, the M.A. and Ph.D. degrees from Texas Christian University, and the M.Div. from Southwestern Theological Seminary. She is the author of Inclusive Hymns for Liberating Christians (Eakin Press, 2006); Breaking Free: The Story of a Feminist Baptist Minister (Eakin Press, 2002); In Search of the Christ-Sophia: An Inclusive Christology for Liberating Christians (Twenty-Third Publications, 1995; Eakin Press, 2004); Imagine God! A Children's Musical Exploring and Expressing Images of God (Choristers Guild, 2004); In Whose Image? God and Gender (Crossroad, 1990, 2001); Praying with Christ-Sophia: Services for Healing and Renewal (Twenty-Third Publications, 1996); Counseling People with Cancer (Westminster John Knox, 1998); God, A Word for Girls and Boys (Glad River, 1993). She has also published articles in The Journal of Pastoral Care, The Christian Ministry, and elsewhere. Her lectures include The School of Theology for the Laity, Perkins School of Theology Women's Week, Texas Christian University Women's Week, United Methodist Fall University, Baptist Women in Ministry, and American Association of Pastoral Counselors Conference. Her diverse career includes serving as consultant in the internship programs at Perkins School of Theology and Brite Divinity School; Associate Pastor, St. John's United Methodist Church, Waco, Texas; Executive Director, Waco Conference of Christians and Jews; Pastoral Counselor, Samaritan Counseling Center of Central Texas; Chaplain, Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center; and English professor, Dallas Baptist University.

Review:

"Try singing these words to the tune of Adeste Fideles: O come, Christ-Sophia, full of grace and wisdom; Come bless us, come challenge us to make life anew. Come bring us power, beauty, hope, and harmony. O come, thou Christ-Sophia, O come, thou Christ-Sophia, O come, thou Christ-Sophia, wisdom and peace." Jann Aldredge-Clanton has written 36 original texts about Christ-Sophia which are intended to be sung to traditional church songs. They are part of this uplifting collection of rituals which use inclusive language on themes of justice, peace, and healing. The image of Christ-Sophia is the thread that brings to life all of the 21 ritual celebrations and 36 pieces of music. There are rituals for wise aging, mourning loss, a newborn baby, diversity, All Saints' Day, Advent and Christmas, winter solstice, and many more. A great book for small groups, liturgists, and prayer leaders everywhere. Jann is a Baptist minister, co-founder and pastor of an inclusive worship comunity in Texas." --Catholic Women's Network

Beverly Wallis James The Christian Ministry At the beginning of this impressive collection of litanies, prayers and hymns, Jann Aldredge-Clanton states that the book comes to you as an invitation to join the creative adventure of developing egalitarian sacred symbols and rituals that bring healing and power. We who confess Jesus Christ are not all comfortable with a Christology that readily and unselfconsciously uses the term Christ-Sophia. To put forth, as this author does, a liturgy and hymnody using Christ-Sophia is to make a courageous statement that many members of mainline denominations would call unacceptable or even heretical. Yet to read this book as a statement from the feminist fringe would be to do violence to its deep and profound beauty. This is a book worth owning, reading and using. It is an invitation to join a creative adventure of reshaping what is into what is becoming. A refreshing drink of water, this book does not argue a point of view. It is a gift of thought and poetry, of idea and metaphor, of cadence and song, offered to give words to some of life s most poignant, difficult and joyful moments. Praying with Christ-Sophia: Services for Healing and Renewal provides over 20 services in detail for Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter and Pentecost, as well as for occasions of healing, peacemaking, birth of a baby, wise aging, mourning a loss, and nurturing creativity. The services are followed by 36 hymns set to familiar tunes consonant with the liturgies. --The Christian Ministry

ames Conlon Director and Chair, The Sophia Center "Praying with Christ-Sophia is marvelous; it is inviting, inclusive tender, and transformative. A welcome gift for all who long to give expression through ritual, symbol, and song to what lies deep within. A wonderful book! Courageous and creative!" --The Sophia Center

About this edition

• Publisher: Twenty-Third Publications
• Publication date: 1996
• ISBN 10: 0896226972
• ISBN 13: 9780896226975
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 160
• Editor: Mary Carol Kendzia