Enhanced throughout with beautifully reproduced, full color artwork, God for Us: Rediscovering the Meaning of Lent and Easter, is an impressive compilation of Christian meditations and prayers for Lent through Easter and is as inspired and inspiring, as it is thoughtful and thought-provoking. Simply stated, God for Us: Rediscovering the Meaning of Lent and Easter , is very highly recommended for personal, family, church, community, and academic library Christian Studies collections and supplemental reading lists. Julie Summers, The Midwest Book Review February 2014, In a follow up to their well-received 2007 collection, God with Us, which focused on Advent and Christmas, this new devotional volume from Pennoyer and Wolfe is absolutely top-notch in every way. Beginning with its heavy glossy pages, sturdy construction, ribbon markers, and full-color artwork, this book is physically and visually stunning. Most importantly, the context within is equally impressive, gathering insights from contributors noted for their writings on spirituality, including Richard Rohr, Scott Cairns, and Kathleen Norris. Among the writers are poets, priests, and professors from diverse Christian backgrounds, making this collection equally accessible to Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox readers. Each Day from Ash Wednesday through Easter Sunday includes suggested Scripture readings, a prayer, a two-page reflection, and two full-color works of art. The art has been thoughtfully selected to match the themes of each day, and includes icons from various periods, as well as works from Munch, Van Gogh, Cezanne, and dozens more, spanning more than a millennium and a half of Christian history. The daily reflections are both spiritually and intellectually rich, primarily meditating on the Scripture passages, but also containing valuable gleanings from art literature, and history. Beth Bevins provides a succinct and insightful historical background to the customs and traditions of fourteen key days, such as Ash Wednesday, the Annunciation, and Good Friday. Overall, this gorgeous volume is a wonderful way of readers to enrich their devotional lives and expand their appreciation of this powerful, but often misunderstood, liturgical season. Essential for all Catholic (indeed, all Christian) libraries. –Brain T. Sullivan, Catholic Library World, Enhanced throughout with beautifully reproduced, full color artwork, God for Us: Rediscovering the Meaning of Lent and Easter, is an impressive compilation of Christian meditations and prayers for Lent through Easter and is as inspired and inspiring, as it is thoughtful and thought-provoking. Simply stated, God for Us: Rediscovering the Meaning of Lent and Easter , is very highly recommended for personal, family, church, community, and academic library Christian Studies collections and supplemental reading lists. Julie Summers, The Midwest Book Review February 2014, A portmanteau collection of Lenten observations, garnished with paintings, by a variety of North American writers; it can in turn challenge, move, console: an impressive compilation. The Tablet February 2014, Have you ever celebrated the rhythms of the weeks before Easter? In some traditions of the Church, Christians are surprised by Easter when it appears on store shelves loaded with Easter bunnies and egg baskets. In many modern denominations, Easter is just one more long weekend that culminates in a special church service. There is no Lenten meditation for a thoughtful pause in the calendar. This year, I challenge you to find a good Lenten reader. A new one this year is God For Us: Rediscovering the Meaning of Lent and Easter. ( Look for it in your local bookstore or online.) For those who experience Easter as “Just-Another-Long-Weekend,” this is a godsend. The book is divided into categories: the feasts and fasts, the beginnings and weeks, and Holy Week and Easter. Each unit includes a bit of liturgical or church history as well as scriptures, thoughtful reflection and study, and prayer. The daily readings may make your heart sing. The scripture groupings for daily meditation and the explanations from new points-of-view will encourage and enlighten. I loved the personal prayers in spoken English. So – we may be looking forward to Christmas now – but Easter is coming! Wouldn’t this book be a nice gift for those you care about? –Rosemarie Kowalski