Skip to content
Home/ Approaching the Divine: Signs and Symbols of the Christian Faith
Approaching the Divine: Signs and Symbols of the Christian Faith

Approaching the Divine: Signs and Symbols of the Christian Faith

No customer reviews yet ISBN 9781532656750

Approaching the Divine is a handbook on signs and symbols in the Christian tradition, written from a Mennonite perspective. It provides a window into the meaning behind liturgical practices and art forms developed by the church through the ages. It also explores the seasons of the church year and observances related to special "Holy Days" in the Christian tradition. Included is a section on more universal signs and tokens, such as numbers and shapes, and some "popular"expressions of faith. The last section draws on articles and sermons related to the subject of symbols and rituals in the Christian tradition. The book is based on a column entitled "Signs and Symbols" that appeared in the Mennonite Reporter and later Canadian Mennonite. That material has been expanded and updated for this book, with an introduction to the meaning of symbols within the life of the church and a bibliography of sources and suggestions for further reading. The book is intended as a resource to help individuals and congregations explore the meaning of worship and its artistic expressions. It is written with the hope that it will inspire a greater appreciation for the richness of the Christian tradition and stimulate thinking.

About the author

Product details

Pub dateMay 14, 2018
ISBN-101532656750
ISBN-139781532656750
LanguageEnglish
Last updated 2026-07-04 07:38
$12.78 $18.00 29% off
You save $5.22 · list price $18.00
In stock soon — order now to reserve your copy
Delivery by Monday, September 14, 2026
Qty
Sign in to Add to Saved list
Free delivery on orders over $35.
15-day returns. Any reason.
Secure checkout. We never store card details.

Readers who bought this also bought

More from Christian Rituals & Practice - Worship & Liturgy
See all
Oxford Handbook of the Book of Common Prayer
The use of a <em>Book of Common Prayer</em> has been a hallmark of Anglicanism, resulting in a liturgical language that shapes doctrine. What began as a single <em>Book of Common Prayer</em> in sixteenth-century England has developed into a family of prayer books authorized by member churches of the global Anglican Communion. <em>The Oxford Handbook of the Book of Common Prayer</em> offers a holistic view of the prayer-book tradition in Anglicanism and explores new directions emerging in the Communion. Written by forty-six diverse Anglican scholars from throughout the world, it analyzes historic and more recent editions bearing that title in churches throughout the Anglican Communion, as well as modern books that fulfill the same function, to aid understanding and practices of worship in Anglicanism. <p/>The <em>Handbook</em> begins with an exploration of the <em>Book of Common Prayer </em>in context, assessing its colonial legacy and exploring the significance of the book for Anglican identity. It considers inculturation of worship and cultural differences in the texts of the books and in the use and interpretation of the books. Themed sections cover the language of the <em>Book of Common Prayer</em>, including questions of translation and inclusive and expansive language, and worship space, rubrics, and music. Other sections consider theologies and practices of the liturgical year, Christian initiation (baptism, confirmation, admission to communion), services of the word (daily offices and eucharist), ordination and ministry, and pastoral offices. <p/>While many of the chapters introduce historical background, the focus in this volume is the interpretation and use of contemporary Prayer Books, with attention to the impact of the twentieth-century Liturgical Movement. Since the 1980s, Anglicans have met through the International Anglican Liturgical Consultation to consider principles for liturgical revision and to share news of developments in their home Provinces, and this book takes note of the findings of these consultations.
$228.53