In this Book

buy this book Buy This Book in Print
summary
Caregiving practices in churches often center around listening and giving counsel, making referrals, and creating support groups for specific needs. In Caring Liturgies, Susan Marie Smith proposes that Christian ritual is both a method and a means for helping people through liminal times of transition and uncertainty, even vulnerability and fear. It teaches readers to recognize the ritual needs of fellow Christians and thus create post-baptismal rites of passage and healing that might strengthen and support them in the fulfillment of their ministries.The book extends the usefulness of denominational "occasional services" books and other resources by suggesting ways to build a rite around a central symbolic action, pointing out issues of ritual honesty and ethics, and identifying skills and attributes necessary to preparing and leading a rite. Numerous narrative examples help to flesh out the principles and illustrate the key argument: that rituals are necessary means to enable human growth and maturity, both through times of suffering and times of transition, and that ritual-making leaders are central to the ongoing health of the church.

Table of Contents

restricted access Download Full Book
  1. Cover
  2. p. 1
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Title Page, Copyright
  2. pp. 2-5
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Contents
  2. pp. vi-7
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Acknowledgments
  2. pp. vii-9
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Introduction
  2. pp. 1-18
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. 1. Creative Rites
  2. pp. 19-42
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. 2. Ritual Midwives
  2. pp. 43-64
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. 3. Metaphors and Symbols
  2. pp. 65-88
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. 4. Ritual Honesty
  2. pp. 89-108
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. 5. Holy Sacrifice
  2. pp. 109-122
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. 6. The Paschal Mystery
  2. pp. 123-138
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Notes
  2. pp. 139-146
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
  1. Index
  2. pp. 147-151
  3. restricted access
    • Download PDF Download
Back To Top

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Without cookies your experience may not be seamless.