Writing Work of the People

JILL Y. CRAINSHAW is Professor of Worship and Liturgical Theology at Wake Forest University School of Divinity and serves as University Ombuds for both Wake Forest and the UNC School of the Arts. The author of many books and articles, including When I in Awesome Wonder: Liturgy Distilled from Everyday Life and They Spin with Their Hands: Women’s Ordination Rites: Renewing God’s Story with God’s People, she is also a published poet. Crainshaw is a Teaching Elder in the Presbyterian Church (US). She lives in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

“This book breathes with Abundant Life . . . . Crainshaw is unapologetic about the divine power of the biblical and liturgical words we inherit and invites the reader to consider if these sacred words are the seeds of our own speech and life.”—The Rev. Dr. Tricia Lyons, Senior Advisor to the Dean for Evangelism Formation, Virginia Theological Seminary“Jill Crainshaw guides her readers through the centrality of words within the Word, the requirement of poetic space over literal definition for mystery, and the benefits of the spiritual exercise of writing words of prayer to draw us into the ongoing dynamic creativity of God.”—The Revd. Canon Lizette Larson-Miller, PhD, Canon Precentor, Diocese of Huron, Huron-Lawson Professor Huron at Western“Part memoir, part teacher and guide, The Writing Work of the People is a necessary companion particularly to those of us who craft, curate, and lead words in worship.”—The Revd. Eileen Scully, PhD, Director of Faith, Worship, and Ministry, The Anglican Church of Canada“Thank you, Jill Crainshaw, for these inspiring words and helpful, concrete exercises that teach and support those who write now, and those who will be writing long after we are gone.”—Rev. Taylor W. Burton Edwards, ELCA pastor and Chair, The Consultation on Common Texts

• Acknowledgments Prelude: Words Made Flesh Chapter 1: In the Beginning Is the Word Chapter 2: And the Word Becomes Flesh Interlude: wrinkling time Chapter 3: And Dwells Among Us Exercise #1: Wrinkling Time Chapter 4: Full of Grace and Truth Exercise #2: Call and Response Interlude: Dust Chapter 5: Sing Them Over Again to Me Exercise #3: Writing in Dust Chapter 6: With Groanings Too Deep for Words Exercise #4: Crying Out to God Interlude: sacramental seasons Chapter 7: The Kin(g)dom of God Belongs to Them Exercise #5: The Writing Work of the Children Chapter 8: Eat This Scroll Exercise #6: Praying at the Table Chapter 9: “In These or Similar Words” Exercise #7: “Sayin’ Something” Together Conclusion