Eight titles from Advocate Press for Women’s History Month
March is Women’s History Month, an annual observance to highlight the contributions of women to events in history and contemporary society.
The Advocate’s book-publishing division, the Advocate Press, has a number of titles that can help South Carolina United Methodists celebrate works by female United Methodists who are authors.
Consider the following:
• “Seriously Seeking God,” by Suzan Phillips: In this four-week study, Phillips takes readers deep into the parables in order to hear what new thing Jesus is saying through the parables of the sower, the wedding banquet, the tenants, and the lost (prodigal) son. Out of a contention that God speaks because God is present and active with us in this moment, we will spend a week on an individual parable, listening to it and wrestling with it. What is God revealing to our heart? What word, image, character, human trait or human condition leaps off the page at us? What stays with us throughout the week?
• “Herbert the Hippo” and “Herbert the Hippo In the Moment,” by the Rev. Meg Sweeney Cook and illustrated by P.A. Sweeney: In the Advocate Press’s children’s books, Herbert the Hippo is a small pink hippo figurine who was made in South Africa. He’s so small he can fit in the palm of your hand. In the first book, Herbert shares a message about how, even though he’s small, he’s a great big reminder that everyone can make a difference in the world, and everyone is God’s special work of art. In the second book, Herbert explores what it looks like to live fully in the moment.
• “Betrayed with a Kiss: One Pastor’s Story of Finding God In the Wake of Sexual Assault and Intimate Partner Violence,” by the Rev. Chrisie Reeves-Pendergrass: Raised a “good girl” pastor’s daughter in a wholesome Christian environment, Chrisie Reeves-Pendergrass thought the horrors of abusive relationships or sexual assault were things that happened to other people. But quickly she found herself in the midst of an abusive marriage, wedded to a predator who convinced her she was to blame for the rape and degradation she endured. “Betrayed With a Kiss” is the story of how she escaped her marriage, the chaos of post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental anguish that threatened to tear her apart. Her memoir shines light into the spiritual transformation she experienced out of heartbreak and betrayal.
• “Who Am I? A Devotional for a Jesus-Centered School Year,” by Cindy Curtis: In this student devotional, which follows the school year from August through May, students from sixth to 12th grade dive into Jesus’s seven “I Am” statements week by week, helping them navigate their identity in Christ as they navigate the academic season. From “I am the true vine” to “I am the way, the truth, and the life,” students uncover the freedom each of us has in the risen savior even as they struggle to figure out what God has planned for their life. Curtis is youth director at St. Andrews Parish United Methodist Church, Charleston.
• “Walk With Me: Your Spiritual Self-Esteem Journey,” by the Rev. Cathy Joens and Toni Taylor: Joens and Taylor take you on a journey to learn what holds you back from sharing your faith confidently and what keeps you from stepping out of the boat to lead. As holy friends, the two explore spiritual esteem, what tears it down and why it matters. They walk with you as you discover a deeper, more authentic relationship with God, self and others. Spiritual esteem is the confidence to absolutely, with conviction, without a doubt, believe in who you are—the same way God believes in you. It gives you the courage to rise above yourself for the sake of others and the Gospel.
• “Feed My Sheep: A 40-Day Devotional to Develop a Heart for Hunger Ministry,” by Jessica Brodie: Perfect for a Lenten study, in this 40-day devotional written by the Advocate’s editor, verses from God’s Holy Word are teamed with hunger ministry stories that have appeared in the South Carolina United Methodist Advocate newspaper over the years. Not only does this book lift up the work of United Methodists in South Carolina who provide food for people in need, but it glorifies the message Jesus gave His disciples in John 21:15-17 to feed and otherwise care for others.
• “More Like Jesus: A Devotional Journey,” by Jessica Brodie: Also penned by the Advocate’s editor, this 40-day devotional teams Jesus’s words and actions in Scripture with articles that have appeared in the Advocate over the years, showcasing what it looks like to be a real-life, modern-day Christ-follower. Also ideal for Lent.
To purchase the books in paperback or ebook format, visit https://advocatesc.org/books.