Women S Uncommon Prayers

Looking for ways to be strong yet tender, independent yet intimate, women today strive toward ever greater understanding of themselves, their relationships with family and friends, and their place in the world. Written by clergy and lay women from all around the country, this compilation of prayers and poems is the collective wisdom of contemporary women who base their search for such understanding on the belief that all of life must be seen against the backdrop of a vital faith. Offered in a spirit of sharing and encouragement, these prayers and poems are as rich, intricate, and complex as the women's lives they represent. Women's Uncommon Prayers covers the full spectrum of emotions from desperate pleas for compassion in times of despair to quiet gratitude for the simple blessings of everyday living, to raucous praise during moments of celebration. These prayers touch on an amazing array of topics organized under the categories of identity, daily life, stages of life, spirituality, and ministry. Also included are comprehensive sections of seasonal and corporate prayers.

Written by clergy and lay women from around the country, this compilation of prayers and poems is the collective wisdom of contemporary women who base their search for such understanding on the belief that must be seen against the backdrop of a vital faith. These prayers touch on a variety of topics organized under the categories of identity, daily life, stages of life, spirituality and ministry.

After a near-death experience following a prolonged back surgery in 1973, Neva Balduff began a spiritual search to help her incorporate her powerful experience. Through prayer and meditation, she began 'receiving' poetry, prose, and original musical compositions. When her husband became critically ill in 2005, she spent the next two years caring for him and was inspired to keep a journal of this challenging time. The journal evolved into a book of Uncommon Prayers, poems through which Neva expressed feelings ranging from frustration to gratitude. It is her hope that these writings will be helpful to others who are experiencing difficult times, times when faith in God is the only thing that can keep body and soul together.

This stunning collection of prayers from women throughout the Anglican Communion is organized according to themes of the U.N. Millennium Development Goals. The prayers make direct connections between women’s lives and global concerns of women everywhere, showing the interrelatedness, for example, between a woman’s prayer for her infant in America and the plight of child laborers in developing countries. The prayer selections are representative of women from of all parts of the Anglican world. Members of the editorial board include Jane Williams, Phoebe Griswold, and women from Asia, South America, and the Middle East.

For all women who seek to enrich and expand their prayer life, here is a unique anthology of prayers by Christian women from around the world and through the centuries. The beautiful, classic design of the book makes it perfect as a treasured gift, as well as a practical resource for daily prayer and spiritual renewal.