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vii Acknowledgments + It takes a village to raise a child and to midwife a book. The community , care, and critique of others brought this book into being. I give thanks for all who shared their liturgical labor with me: Miriam , Sharon, Paula, Gayle, Stephanie, Trish, Amy, Justin, Josy, Anamonica , Betsy, Dennie, Wendy, Cat, Nancy and Carrie-on, Margaret, Julie, the Fischer family, Tom, David, Jim and Frederick, S. Moya, Heath, Karen, Erin, Janiece, Kinga Reka, Brigitte, Mary, S. Mary Jo, S. Therese, and S. Annie, Marlene, and the S. Women in Ministry, among others. Many stories could not find a place in the limited space of this book, so I include several on my blog, WalkingtheWay.org, along with a bibliography. The women who created rites for me gave me inside experience of ritual power and possibility: Judy, Paula, Gayle, Mary, Josy, Grailville and company; Judith, Jan, Nancy, Barbara, Jen and company; Lucia, Kristen, Suzan, Barbara, Mo, Jane, Kate, and Julia; and the Sisters of the Order of St. Benedict who invited me to dance in their liturgy. Men know about ritualization, too, and I give thanks for the rites prepared by Logan, Larry, Robert, Hal, and Art, with Vallory and the UM Order of St. Luke. Many read early parts of the manuscript and gave invaluable input. Thanks to the first group: Jack Dickson, Anne Hutcherson, Teresa Stewart , SueEllen McCalley, and Nancy Pauls. Other blessed readers include Bill Doggett, Jason Lewis, Richard Fitzgerald, Jim Gordon, Angie Loomis , Amanda Ross, Kathy Todd, Lisa Senuta, Robert Martin, Jim Hempler , Laura Simmons, Nelvin Vos, and Frank Henderson. Gayle Reichert, viii Acknowledgments whose poem appears herein, gave up a summer to read and respond to chapters. Mary McGann, writing partner for years, talked and prayed me through myriad revisions. Several others also prayed this book into being: my sister Carol, Diane, Bill and Catherine, Sue Ellen, Nancy, Amy, Jude, Lucia, and Rosemary ; and from the next world, Mari Koch. Others were hospitable nurturers : S. Annie, Mother Anne, Cornelia, neighbor Betsy, jogging partner Linda, cousin Dennis, my oblate group, Lea Durard, Devena Reed, Jerry and Randi Walker, Mary McGann, RSCJ, and Mary Dian and Warren Molton. Former students, especially Khenneth, Kyle, Kathy, and Meg, and my exceptional student assistants, Kim Dominic and Cathryn Love, were invaluable. Thank you to my blessed writing coaches: Dorothy Duff Brown, Nancy Barry, and Bill Tammeus. David Schlafer and Marvin Anderson are encouragers par excellence. My editor David Lott is a godsend. Dean Judith Berling of the Graduate Theological Union granted me a visiting professorship to work in the GTU library. St. Paul School of Theology granted me a sabbatical, and the Collegeville Institute of Ecumenical and Cultural Research at St. John’s University, Minnesota, a place to write and colleagues in conversation. A Wabash Center research grant enabled me to pursue new veins of research. To my mentors I give deepest thanks: Louis Weil, Michael Aune, Duncan Ferguson, James Fowler, Don Saliers, S. Mary Collins, Peggy Skelton, and Catherine Bell, whose too early death is a loss to all who study ritual. To her and to my Aunt Margot, in whose home I completed these pages, I dedicate this volume. ...

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