I guess I should begin by saying that I have the pleasure of being part of the same Parish as Ann in Southampton. What Ann brings in person to the life of our Parish she shares through this book with a wider audience.
This is a gentle but thought provoking collection, bringing some of her poems together with particular thoughts on the season of Advent and then on to Christmas. There are many books out there that try to make the "Advent - not Christmas" point, but often this come through a rage against the capitalist/consumerist society. Ann takes a slightly different approach, rather than rage against it with the futility of Canute she suggests we pray through it, let each early carol or plastic reindeer but a cause to stop and explore the mysteries of the season.
Her reflection for Epiphany was for me particularly welcome, a moment to refresh the joy of Christ coming into the world when the default reaction of Twelfth night is to sigh and say "thank God that's over for another year..."
A little gem of a book that is well worth seeking out.
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