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Two personal suggestions for Lent and Easter, the first for children features Bartimouse the mouse in Bartimouse and The Easter Egg written by Christina Goodings. This is a fun book with brightly coloured illustrations by Maxwell Lawrence Dorsey. Bartimouse and Emma, the mice, surreptitiously ‘join in’ with the little group of children who learn, in a practical way, about Easter. Age range around four to five year olds but I am sure younger children will appreciate the pictures. I found a lot of positive vibes about this book, for example, little details like the mice also washing their paws before starting to prepare food (and afterwards too!), the delightful interaction between the two mice and the unusual slant involving a real egg. The leader even has a change of heart about mice! Bartimouse and The Easter Egg by Christina Goodings. (Lion Publishing PLC) ISBN 0 7459 4048 £7.99 My adult suggestion is a reflective book by Jane Williams, the wife of the Archbishop of Canterbury. Entitled Approaching Easter Jane Williams encourages us to make space for reflection and, in doing so, draw closer to God. This is not a ‘reading for every day of Lent’ type of book though. I liked the way the author explores themes such as food, power, love, anger and fear. In each chapter, personal story, spiritual reflection, and quotation from scripture or other sources (e.g. Charles Dickens’ ‘Bleak House’) are blended to offer an imaginative and powerful way into the meaning of the season. Jane Williams encourages us to reflect on the positive aspect of God’s unconditional love, to believe it totally and to try to explore what that means. The very astute point is made that Lent is often considered a negative time, a time to give something up but that is only so we may focus on the essentials. Thinking about it that way ‘turns’ the negativity around. Another ‘plus’ for me is the fact that glorious fine art, such as, Tintoretto’s ‘Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes’ illustrate the book throughout. Jane Williams contributes regularly to the ‘Church Times’. She is a trained theologian and has taught Doctrine and History at Trinity Theological College, Bristol. Approaching Easter by Jane Williams. (Lion Publishing PLC) Wishing you all a thoughtful Lent and Blessed Easter. Lynn Winter |
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