The Circle of Seasons: Meeting God in the Church Year

by Kimberlee Conway Ireton

The seasons tell a story. Are you listening? The church year is a uniquely Christian way of marking time. When Kimberlee Conway Ireton began to understand this, even the most ordinary incidents of her life began to resonate with the stories of Scripture. In this book, Kimberlee follows the structure of the liturgical year--from Advent to the second cycle of Ordinary Time--describing the origin of each observance and its ongoing relevance for our lives. In a word, The Circle of Seasons offers you structure--a simple and traditional way of building your life around your faith, rather than the other way around.

Genres: Faith, Nonfiction, Christian, Christian Living, Christianity, Spirituality, Holiday

138 pages, Paperback

First published November 30, 2008

Reviews

[Sarah Fowler Wolfe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent, with minor cautions

This is a beautiful book exploring how the church calendar is applicable to our lives and growth as believers. It shares historical context, personal stories, and practical recommendations for family traditions. I will be recommending it to many, with cautions.

My cautions are theological: the author is Arminian, continuationist, and (as a woman) speaks of occasionally preaching at her church. A few other minor quibbles, mostly spiritualistic, means I recommend it with the reminder to read it with a grain of salt. But do read it!

[MacKenzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! Memoir mixed with practically. It gave me an entirely different perspective on celebrating the church year than I've ever had before. It made me realize that the church year isn't just about ritual and "religion" but can actually be an intense opportunity to draw closer to Jesus and all that he has done for us. This book has opened my heart to so much other research and so many more books.

I plan to buy this little beauty in all its used glory since it is so ashamedly out of print!

[Jessica Telian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. As someone who is just discovering the riches of the church year, I so appreciated how the author broke it down and made it personal, while also sharing some of the history behind the different parts of the church year. Very thankful for this book!

[Jenna Prince · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been wanting to read this book for literal years. I finally had to buy it because I couldn’t borrow it anywhere, and I’m so glad to own it now!

[Tammy K · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best basic explanations I've read on the church calendar. I so appreciated the simplistic approach and personal storytelling the author used to explain what the seasons are and how they gave meaning to her life's rhythms. Would highly recommend!

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has been a wonderful companion as I learn more about the church liturgical year. I appreciate Kimberlee's voice and her encouragement to make whatever practices you can a part of your life, whether you are in a church tradition that celebrates liturgically or not. I especially appreciated the sections that gave the nuts and bolts of what each celebration includes. That way I can pick and choose what fits our family.

[Annie Bruza · Rating 3 out of 5]

As someone who has recently joined a church that follows the church calendar, this was a very helpful introductory book to me. Besides outlining the calendar, Kimberlee uses events from her own life as examples of how "God reaches into time to draw us to himself."

Her descriptions of the seasons did not always align with how my church practices them, showing that there is a greater variety of the tradition than what she puts forward. I appreciate that she provides a quality resource list at the end of the book for further reading. We also disagreed on several aspects of theology (and a little bit on church history- we did NOT decide to celebrate Christmas in winter to rival a pagan holiday).

Overall, I thought this book was thoughtful and well-written, but maybe a little too progressive for my taste.

[Elisabeth White · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read for work, but deeply enjoyed it! Excellent overview for how brief the book is!

[SaraJane · Rating 4 out of 5]

pg. 114 "Sometimes the world simply unfolds its mystery and we happen to be in the right place at the right time and in the right emotional or spiritual space to notice the mystery, to receive it, to be encountered by it."

pg. 118 "We live the bulk of our lives in the daily, doing the same tasks again and again...and it can come to feel like a grind, pointless and redundant. But it is precisely because these tasks are daily that they have such transformative potential. Such work has 'an intense relation with the present moment, a kind of faith in the present that fosters hope and makes life seem possible in the day-to-day.' It is in the daily, ordinary moments of our lives where we have the most opportunity to notice mystery, to encounter it and to be encountered by it."

Pg. 119 “For in sharpening our physical senses to be more aware of this world, we are also quickening our spirits, opening them to the earthly beauty that surrounds us so that we will be more ready to receive visions of the unearthly beauty that lies just beyond our senses on the other side of the veil. As with any grace, we cannot force or demand such a vision. We can only wait for it, attentively and hopefully, as we engage in the relationships and work that constitute our lives. In this waiting, we see through a glass, darkly. But occasionally the glass clears, the veil parts, and we see more fully, more truly, more real-ly than we usually do. These glimpses through the glass, beyond the veil, are what sustain us, filling us with hope that, ultimately, all will be well. …. When I encountered mystery…. It didn’t instantaneously end my depression and bring me to a place of joy. But it stirred my desire to live. It enticed me to notice and pay attention to the world around me. And at a time when I felt hopeless, this moment of mystery gave me hope that there is more to life – my life, the life of the world – than usually meets the eye. In the moments when the veil parts, we see the not-yet now, we glimpse the mystery and beauty at the heart of all that is; we see things as they really are and not as they usually appear. It is as if we, like the disciples, are half=asleep and dreaming until the glory of transfiguration overshadows us and we wake, for a moment, to mystery.”

[Kari · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great little book on the seasons of the church calendar. I have learned most of these things through loosely practicing them at my church but it would have been a perfect book for me a few years ago. Excellent as an introduction and for parents who want practices to include for home. Though I didn’t need an introduction, I can see myself pulling it off the shelf to get some ideas of ways to celebrate certain seasons with Atticus. Pairs well with To Dance With God by Gertrud Mueller Nelson. (You can order The Circle of Seasons directly from the author herself and she will sign it for you.)

[OvercommuniKate · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is mostly a memoir so wasn't the nonfiction book I was looking for, but the main issue is the author is trying to fit a Catholic box into a Protestant circle. The author is clearly non-denominational Evangelical but the content is drawn from a variety of different dominations.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am reminded of how C.S. Lewis begins his book Reflections on the Psalms: "It often happens that two schoolboys can solve difficulties in their work for one another better than the master can...The expert met it so long ago he has forgotten. He sees the whole subject, by now, in a different light that he cannot conceive what is really troubling the pupil; he sees a dozen other difficulties which ought to be troubling him but aren’t."

Though Ireton references theological training, reading this book feels a lot like coming alongside a peer just beginning to dip her toe into the rhythms of the church year. In that respect, The Circle of Seasons is a highly accessible introduction to the church calendar for readers with a Christian, non-liturgical background. She walks through the seasons of the church (Advent/Christmas/Epiphany, Lent/Easter/Pentecost, and Ordinary Time.) Each chapter digs a little bit into how the church (or at least, Ireton's particular church tradition) celebrate each season, with a brief story from her own life mirroring the season.

I'm not a huge fan of Ireton's personal stories. It sometimes felt like it detracted from the majesty of the moment to hone in on her own life hurts and hiccups. But at the same time, I don't mind them. They show that when grasping massive spiritual realities, we're striving to comprehend and implement them in our own limited condition.

This book really strives to be a launching pad. It contains a variety of suggestions for implementation and future readings. I'm glad I read it and look forward to digging deeper. I'd especially be interested in another book lie this written now by Ireton, perhaps reflecting a little more hard won maturity and wisdom. But as she notes in the preface, that would be a very different book. She'd be more a expert than a schoolboy, and perhaps less able to connect with the very beginner questions that make this book so helpful!

(Technically I think I read this edition but this one seems more legit and has more reviews, so we're rating this one.)

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I knew very little about the liturgical year, except for the most basic of the basics, and this thoughtful book is the perfect introduction to it. The writing is lovely, if a bit polite. Perhaps because the last two church-y books I read were so forceful (necessarily so), the tone of this one struck me as a bit too timid.

The book starts with Advent and we move chapter by chapter through the liturgical year. Ireton has lovely, thoughtful insights into Ordinary Time, but because so much of the church year takes place in Ordinary Time, more space devoted fleshing out of these sections would've been nice, perhaps differentiating them by literal season backdrop--the bleak midwinter is very different from summer or early fall. I'm very interested in the quotidian, the everyday sacred, the daily minutiae that is so often "women's work," and how unglamorous tasks or daily slogs can be, well, holy. Those sections just weren't as meaty as I wanted.

Minor quibbles in the end. I rarely keep books, but I'll hang on to this one to revisit throughout the church year. Recommended.

[Jamey · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the past year, I became aware that the Christian Church has its own calendar. Aside from Christmas and Easter, I never knew of the other days and seasons. On discovering there was a liturgical calendar, and after some research, I determined to read “The Circle of Seasons” to more familiarize myself with this calendar. I expected to enjoy the book, and was not disappointed. It is only 120 pages, so is a quick intro into the seasons of the church year, with some ideas on how to celebrate. I loved the idea of these celebrations, and how it points Christians daily and monthly, always toward Christ. I would recommend this book to worship leaders especially, because the church calendar is a lost element of worship that is rarely seen outside of Christmas and Easter. I would also recommend it to the average Christian who wants a deeper connection to Christ all year long. It is unlikely that every church will be interested in celebrating through the church calendar, but it is easily feasible that individual Christians can do so in their own homes.

[Melody · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book explains the Catholic religious calendar. While I'm sure that those who made up the system of observances were well intentioned, and maybe the system was even helpful for instructing the illiterate in Biblical concepts back in the day, I'm afraid that now following this set of rules allows people to feel virtuous without actually living by Biblical principles. Like the Pharisees in the New Testament, it is often easier to adhere to a set of man-made rules than it is to cultivate a relationship with God and a love for others. Unfortunately, I'm afraid that this calendar, albeit originally well-intentioned, may now be more of a stumbling block than something that actually cultivates godliness.

[Hailey Hudson · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I want my faith in Christ to be integrated and embodied in my whole life.”
—
“The church year is another way God reaches into time to draw us to Himself... The church year draws our focus continually back to Christ.”
—
“In Hebrew, the word for wait is also the word for hope... They are one and the same activity.”
—
“The daily, ordinary rhythms of our lives are sacred; there is something holy to be found in the midst of what often feels like the daily grind; God is just as present in the grittiness and the glory of an ordinary day as in great celebrations of Easter or Christmas or Pentecost.”

[Meagan | The Chapter House · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored Ireton's memoir Cracking Up: A Postpartum Faith Crisis, and it certainly took me long enough to read this earlier work of hers. It's thought-provoking, accessible, practical, and ever-so-helpful. I particularly enjoyed the "moments of memoir" interspersed throughout, as Ireton and I attended the same church for a number of years and have enjoyed the all-too-infrequent dinner together. She is such a joy, and so is this book.

[Kim Koi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a great introduction to the church year. The author shares a lot of anecdotes of her own life and how she lives the church year in the everyday. I enjoyed the practical tips, and especially the candle lighting litanies. If you are looking for a deeper understanding of church season origins and history, this is probably not the book for you. If you want an intro and how to incorporate into life outside of the church, this is a great primer.

[Elizabeth Romine · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Observing the seasons of the church year also helps us embrace the church’s telling of time instead of our culture’s.”
This book is designed to get you thinking and started in following the church year. I can’t get behind everything that is in this book fully, but it’s given me lots of good things and very practical/doable applications. I’m still very much learning but I want to be better about centering my year around Christ.

[Aneta · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a gem of a book. I'd recommend it to anyone who is interested in following the church calendar. It's practical, informative, and a book you will want to read throughout the year. It has been so helpful in explaining the structure and relevance of the liturgical year. I'd highly recommend this book, but I think you can only find it used or on Kindle.

[Susan Mansfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very useful and did exactly what it set out to do. The only thing more I would have liked was an actual calender with the seasons and festivals and the months they take place in order so I could see them and their names at a glance. It is easy to search on the internet but would have been helpful in the book.

[Mary Niedermeyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short, accessible, very helpful book on the liturgical year. Since I am new to liturgy, this book was extremely helpful in providing historical context, meaning and practical implementation on how to live our lives within the cycles and rhythms of church calendar. I highly recommend it to others who are interested in this!

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good read. I don't agree with her on everything, and she is a little strict for me, but it was good and had good info for how to incorporate the church calendar more. I really agreed with her point on fasting being about creating an opening or space for God rather than punishing ourselves.

[Shelley Vaughn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The church year is a way of marking time for many Christians, and because I didn’t grow up in a church that observed this liturgy I knew very little about the structure and traditions surrounding it. This was a re-read for me (originally read in 2018, maybe?) and I enjoyed it just as much. There is short historical context for each season, personal stories and applications.

I do not align perfectly with the author’s theology, but like anything, read it with discernment and I think you’ll find some thoughtful information. This is a good one to read during Advent, as the church year starts then.

[Julie Mabus · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a great introduction to the church year. Not having grown up in a church that followed the liturgical year I found the practices mentioned thought provoking and profound. I look forward to rereading this and trying to implement some of the practices with my family.

[Kristen Gebbia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thought provoking ideas about advent (delaying all Christmas celebrations until Christmas Day and the 12 days of Christmas). Good explanations of the church holidays and ideas about how to celebrate them.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I do not agree with everything in this book, it is an excellent introduction to the church year, and I enjoy the practical ideas it presents for celebrating the church year as a congregation and just as a family or individual. A great reference book.

[Ashleigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book explained the church year in a simple (but not boring or dull) way and made it practical.
That’s the type of nonfiction that I prefer to read and K.C. Ireton knocked it out of the park with this one.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this accessible look at the church year. Includes relatable examples and suggestions for several meaningful practices I look forward to implementing.

[Connor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anyone seriously contemplating the power of the lectionary does themselves a great service reading this simple primer.