Utterly beautiful. Sarah Bessey sets out to recreate the prayer circles that have influenced and shaped her. She does this not with prescriptive prayer but by sharing the wisdom, witness and love of the people around her. I thought I needed a prayer book, but what I needed was someone to show me that its OK to crawl back to God in prayer, tired, run down and always always welcome. I will be buying a paper copy of this to flick through, love and guide me.

There are some really beautiful prayers, laments and reflections in this timely and thoughtfully curated collection by Sarah Bessey. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

I love the diversity represented by the authors of the prayers. Although I believe they are all cisgendered women, they represent many different cultural backgrounds, sexualities and several are people with disabilities. They also come from a number of different church traditions, although predominantly from America and a fair number are from evangelical denominations. For me it was powerful to read these reflections from a range of different voices, whose experiences may be very different from my own, yet they resonated with me. These are also voices that are not always given enough time and space within our churches. The prayers and reflections on prayer are drawn from real life, in all its beauty and confusingness. As I put my roots down deeper into the Anglican church, I am growing more familiar with the power of liturgy for when you can’t find the right words yourself. This book for me is already being incorporated into my ministry as an ordinand, and will be a resource I return to repeatedly through the course of my ministry. One of the reflections – ‘A Reminder’ by Sarah Bessey – I have already used in a church service I was leading and with my tutor group (I also heartily recommended the book on both occasions). I really loved this book, so much so that I have already bought a hard copy. It came at a time when I really needed it, and I know I will frequently return to it and by nourished by it throughout my life and ministry.

This is rest for the soul, an invitation to come to God which is both honest and beautiful. Each chapter contains scripture, an essay and/or prayer - some are prayers I felt I could use directly in my own prayers, others seemed more like personal memoir, but all made me think, reflect; all brought me to God.

The voices included are theologically diverse, but lean towards progressive faith, which won’t be for everyone. Prayer is very personal, but I found it challenging and encouraging to read and reflect on the rhythms of prayer from women whose expression is faith very differently from mine.

I loved this selection of prayers and calls to prayer. The writing is powerful and disruptive in the best way. After the year we've had and how 2021 is shaping up to be - it's a must read.