The Vicar’s First Book

I’ve been away from blogging more than I would like this month, in part because I’ve been finishing a book manuscript. Hooray! I want to fill you in a bit on what I’m working on, since it’s taken me away from doing much writing here.

The backstory: last summer, Westminster John Knox offered me a contract for a book proposal I’d been shopping around all year, for a book of Advent reflections based on the novel, The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, by C.S. Lewis. I decided not to work on it over sabbatical because I wanted to concentrate on my pilgrimage experiences, and because about a third of the book was already finished.

I’m in the final stretch now – the editor wants it on New Year’s Eve. I’ve taken a week of vacation from the church to finish it. I’m ignoring a messy house, a bunch of movies I’d love to see, a stack of books I got as Christmas gifts, and various friends and family, to pound away at the text! And still, there’s plenty to distract me. Here’s my current favorite depiction of that ongoing reality, courtesy of Dory from “Finding Nemo”:

This blog post may be another tiny-jellyfish-distraction moment.

I’m going to share my (draft!) Table of Contents with you, below, as a little window into what I’m writing these days and as a little advertisement of what’s to come. Thanks for all the support so many of you have offered me! It means a lot.

Advent 1

• Through the Wardrobe
• The Lamppost
• “A great light” – Isaiah 9:2-7
• Mr. Tumnus
• Repentance – Matthew 3:4-10
• Turkish Delight
• “I am the Bread of Life” – John 6:31-35

Advent 2

• Lucy
• The Professor
• Becoming Like Children – Matthew 18:2-3
• Edmund
• “Keep awake” – Mark 13:24-27, 35-37
• The Fur Coats
• On Adam and Eve – Genesis 2-3

Advent 3

• “A thief in the night” – 2 Peter 3:9-10a
• The Robin
• Angels and Messengers – Luke 1:26-38
• Mr. and Mrs. Beaver
• Christmas Eucharist – Matthew 26:26-28
• The Witch’s House
• The House of David – 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16

Advent 4

• Is He Safe? – Malachi 3:2-3
• Father Christmas
• “The full armor of God” – Ephesians 6:10-17
• A Tiny Feast
• “The Lord will prepare a feast” – Isaiah 25:6-9
• Aslan is Near
• “The Word became Flesh and dwelt among us” – John 1:14

Sessions for Small Group Discussion: A Leader Guide

1. The Wardrobe
2. The Witch
3. Father Christmas
4. The Lion

Creating a “Narnia Night” for Families

• Decoration Ideas
• Activities
• Closing Prayer Service