Renewing Vows


Book Description

If you've been married a while, one of the best ways to show your partner that you want your relationship to remain solid and committed is by planning to renew your vows. A wedding vow renewal can be anything you want it to be; and in some ways, it's even more about you and your partner than your wedding day was. Whether you've been together two years or fifty, your relationship has flourished during the good times and survived during the bad. A vow renewal is a great way to celebrate everything that the two of you have done together and the opportunity to continue the journey. Regardless of your reason for wanting to renew your vows - which there are plenty - this book is designed to help you bring this idea into fruition. Let's get started!




Ostara: The Ancient Origins of Easter The Celebration of Renewal and Fertility


Book Description

Discover the deep-rooted history and origins of the Pagan holiday, Ostara, which eventually evolved into Easter as we know it today. Delve into the ancient rituals and traditions that were practiced to honor the Spring Equinox and celebrate the rebirth of nature. Explore the significance of the symbols associated with Ostara, such as eggs, hares, and flowers, and their connections to fertility, renewal, and new beginnings. Learn about the goddess Ostara, after whom the holiday is named, and her role in mythology as a symbol of the changing seasons. Understand how the Pagan beliefs and customs surrounding Ostara were co-opted by early Christian traditions to create the modern Easter holiday. Uncover the parallels between the two celebrations and the ways in which they continue to intersect in modern times. From the lighting of bonfires to the decorating of eggs, this comprehensive guide explores how Ostara has been celebrated across different cultures and time periods. Gain insight into the spiritual significance of the holiday and how it offers a time for reflection, growth, and embracing the energies of renewal that come with the changing of the seasons. Join us on a journey through history as we explore the rich tapestry of Ostara traditions and practices that continue to evolve and inspire us today. Find inspiration for creating your own meaningful rituals and celebrations to honor the spirit of Ostara in your own life. Embrace the magic of the Spring Equinox and reconnect with the earth's cycles in a deeply spiritual and profound way.




Renewing Your Wedding Vows


Book Description

Say “I do” all over again with significance and style Whether this is your chance to have the wedding you always wanted, you’re celebrating a milestone anniversary, or you simply want to reaffirm your commitment to each other, the renewing of your vows is an important symbolic step in your relationship. Celebrated wedding planner Sharon Naylor helps you make your second time around your best yet. Renewing Your Wedding Vows provides valuable guidance on how to: ?phrase your invitation ?choose appropriate attire and flowers ?incorporate children into the ceremony ?decide about gifts and registries ?write your vows ?plan the logistics of the proceedings ?choose your location: ballroom, beach, your home, and more...




A Practical Wedding


Book Description

A companion to the popular website APracticalWedding.com and A Practical Wedding Planner, A Practical Wedding helps you sort through the basics to create the wedding you want -- without going broke or crazy in the process. After all, what really matters on your wedding day is not so much how it looked as how it felt. In this refreshing guide, expert Meg Keene shares her secrets to planning a beautiful celebration that reflects your taste and your relationship. You'll discover: The real purpose of engagement (hint: it's not just about the planning) How to pinpoint what matters most to you and your partner DIY-ing your wedding: brilliant or crazy? How to communicate decisions to your family Why that color-coded spreadsheet is actually worth it Wedding Zen can be yours. Meg walks you through everything from choosing a venue to writing vows, complete with stories and advice from women who have been in the trenches: the Team Practical brides. So here's to the joyful wedding, the sensible wedding, the unbelievably fun wedding! A Practical Wedding is your complete guide to getting married with grace.




Renewal Rhythms: Embracing Celebrations for Personal Growth and Transformation


Book Description

Embark on a journey of self-discovery and growth with "Renewal Rhythms. This book invites you to explore holidays and rituals that are centered around personal renewal and transformation. From ancient traditions to modern celebrations, you will discover a rich tapestry of practices that can help you cultivate a deeper sense of purpose and fulfillment in your life. Through a blend of insightful commentary, practical tips, and guided exercises, "Renewal Rhythmsoffers a roadmap for harnessing the power of holidays to nourish your mind, body, and spirit. Learn how to use these special occasions as opportunities for reflection, goal-setting, and inner exploration. Whether you are seeking to reignite your passion, overcome obstacles, or simply live more mindfully, this book provides guidance on how to integrate these holidays into your life in a meaningful way. Each chapter of "Renewal Rhythmsdelves into a different holiday or seasonal celebration, unraveling its significance and offering suggestions for rituals and practices that can support your personal growth. From the solstices and equinoxes to cultural festivals and spiritual observances, you will gain a deeper understanding of how these moments in time can serve as catalysts for transformation. Discover how to create your own rituals and traditions that honor your unique path and aspirations. "Renewal Rhythmsempowers you to infuse your life with intention and meaning, as you embrace the cycle of renewal and rebirth that is inherent in these holidays. Whether you are craving a fresh start, seeking clarity and direction, or simply looking to deepen your connection to yourself and the world around you, this book offers a wealth of inspiration and guidance. With "Renewal Rhythmsas your companion, you will embark on a transformative journey of self-exploration and personal growth. Learn to cultivate a deeper sense of purpose, presence, and joy as you align with the rhythm of the seasons and the cosmic cycles that guide us all. Open your heart to the possibilities of renewal and transformation, and embrace the power of holidays to catalyze your evolution and evolution.




Ceremonies & Celebrations


Book Description

All of us have the right to choose and organise our own ceremonies according to our beliefs: this book tells us what we have to do and how to do it. Events covered within the book include: weddings (formal and informal), commitment to partnerships, renewal of vows, name giving/naming, graduation, significant birthdays, divorce, stepfamily acceptance, house dedication, 'sorry', funerals and memories. Combining details of organising a celebration or ceremony, a wealth of suggested readings and music, checklists and advice on how to write and structure your own ceremonies, CEREMONIES & CELEBRATIONS is an essential handbook.




The Survivors of Israel


Book Description

This study challenges the conventional view of scholars like E. P. Sanders that Late Second Temple Judaism was theologically nationalistic, offering in its place a theory which argues that the intertestamental writings do not anticipate the salvation of all Jews but only of a faithful remnant within Israel. Working carefully with the major books of the pseudepigrapha and the Dead Sea Scrolls, Mark Adam Elliott shows that the authors of such works anticipated an imminent - and scathing - judgment of Israel that would exclude many, or even most, Israelites from the saved community. This provocative finding not only confronts accepted perspectives on Late Second Temple Judaism but also suggests important implications for our reading of Paul and the New Testament.




Renewal


Book Description

From the acclaimed author of Unfinished Business, a story of crisis and change that can help us find renewed honesty and purpose in our personal and political lives Like much of the world, America is deeply divided over identity, equality, and history. Renewal is Anne-Marie Slaughter’s candid and deeply personal account of how her own odyssey opened the door to an important new understanding of how we as individuals, organizations, and nations can move backward and forward at the same time, facing the past and embracing a new future. Weaving together personal stories and reflections with insights from the latest research in the social sciences, Slaughter recounts a difficult time of self‐examination and growth in the wake of a crisis that changed the way she lives, leads, and learns. She connects her experience to our national crisis of identity and values as the country looks into a four-hundred-year-old mirror and tries to confront and accept its full reflection. The promise of the Declaration of Independence has been hollow for so many for so long. That reckoning is the necessary first step toward renewal. The lessons here are not just for America. Slaughter shows how renewal is possible for anyone who is willing to see themselves with new eyes and embrace radical honesty, risk, resilience, interdependence, grace, and vision. Part personal journey, part manifesto, Renewal offers hope tempered by honesty and is essential reading for citizens, leaders, and the change makers of tomorrow.




סדר ט״ו בשבט


Book Description

The Festival of Trees, Tu Bishevat, celebrates nature's rebirth after winter. Seder Tu Bishevat not only marks the observance but celebrates Judaism's appreciation of the larger cycles of nature as the work of God. This volume contains two Seders: Seder I addresses both adults and children of various ages; Seder II is specifically designed for the understanding and participation of younger children. The book includes prayers and selections from traditional sources, original poetry by Rabbi Fisher and 20 songs with complete chording for guitar. Ideal for congregational or home use.




Taking It to the Streets


Book Description

A quiet yet powerful revolution is going on. All over this country and across the world creativity-in the form of visual arts, music, dance, drama, and technology-is providing an emotionally expressive vehicle for communicating truth, developing character, and crossing cultural boundaries to build the kingdom of God. J. Nathan Corbitt and Vivian Nix-Early visited numerous artists, faith communities, and arts organizations to discover and document how the arts are being used to transform people and communities, especially in urban settings. The result is this extensive handbook that combines real-life stories with tested methodologies to create a new paradigm for the role of the arts in Christian ministry and mission. Taking It to the Streets provides church and mission leaders, youth ministers, and students with a historical perspective and theology for understanding the transforming power of the arts, a vocabulary for discussing them outside the sanctuary, and creative methods for bringing faith to action in the streets of society.