A Homemade Year: The Blessings of Cooking, Crafting, and Coming Together

by Jerusalem Jackson Greer

Overview

This gorgeously-designed book is a guide to celebrating the rhythm of life’s calendar of events, as well as the Christian liturgical year, focusing on God’s love in our lives. Greer weaves her own faith story with original recipes, crafts and entertaining ideas, creating a vibrant, personal narrative that is a modern take on timeless traditions.

Praise for A Homemade Year

 

“This energetic book is as useful as it is comforting. Christian formation begins in the home and A Homemade Year gives us ways and means of accomplishing that with joy, holiness, and a healthy portion of just plain, old-fashioned fun.”

 —Phyllis Tickle, author of The Divine Hours

 

"I began reading A Homemade Year one afternoon when I had no fewer than a thousand things going on in my house. Almost immediately, I was drawn into Jerusalem Greer's beautiful writing and became fascinated with her journey through an entire year of liturgical celebrations—-some of which (Advent, Epiphany) I celebrate in my own home, but some of which I never knew about before. Two hours later, I was still reading, happily resigned to letting my plans for the day slide. Jerusalem so clearly conveys the significance and beauty of liturgical tradition, and her celebration-specific recipes and crafts are sweet and meaningful, while at the same time completely "do-able" for everyone. This book is an absolute treasure. I want to share it with everyone I know!"
-Ree Drummond, #1 New York Times Bestselling author of The Pioneer Woman Cooks

 

 

“Like many moms, I’m longing to create a sense of rhythm and tradition in our lives and our home, and this sweet book gives many imaginative, practical places to start.” 

—Shauna Niequist, author of Bittersweet and Cold Tangerines

 

“With waffle crumbs and bacon drippings and brown sugar crystals, Jerusalem Jackson Greer leaves a Hansel and Gretel-like path to follow as we travel through the seasons of the liturgical year. A Homemade Year gives families a wonderful sensory way to share and experience the Christian story at home. I was charmed and moved by this book.” 

—Sybil MacBeth, author of Praying in Color and Praying in Color for Kids

 

“In a world that struggles to slow down and stay focused on what’s really important, A Homemade Year gives you new vision to do just that. I can’t wait to get started myself!”

—Courtney Walsh, New York Times bestselling author of A Sweethaven Summer and

Scrapbooking Your Faith

 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781612610672
Publisher:	Paraclete Press
Publication date:	04/01/2013
Pages:	224
Product dimensions:	6.90(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Jerusalem Jackson Greer lives in an old house with her husband, their two boys, and a host of friendly critters. She fancies herself a farm-girl living in the city and she likes to rescue furniture off the side of the road. You can find her blogging, most days, at www.jerusalemgreer.com.

Interviews

Arkansas

Editorial Reviews

Greer, a blogger, has found another church -- in her home. She understands soundly that church doesn't end on Sundays at noon; serving others happens, not just at homeless shelters, but at home where "biscuits and jelly are simple everyday reminders ... of the Eucharist." Greer, a Southern Baptist preacher's kid, came late to the concepts of the church year and of liturgy, but she has respectfully folded those traditions into her down-home life. She marries the calendar year with the church year: the four seasons comprise holy days, beginning with winter's Advent and going through autumn's Michaelmas; each season carries a theme, such as hope for spring and joy for summer. Greer offers patterns for simple crafts such as "grateful" mobiles and carpenter aprons, and she presents recipes, like Sawdust Lasagna for St. Joseph's Day. She plaits decorating and food-preparing with wordsmithing: her revealing essays describe growing up poor in Alaska and Arkansas, nestling within families, and juggling songs of praise with cries for help. Her words and works inspire. (Apr.)

Publishers Weekly

A Homemade Year: The Blessings of Cooking, Crafting, and Coming Together is a wonderful resource for those looking to celebrate some of the more obscure Christian holidays that typically don’t show up on a calendar (but are constantly mentioned in classic 18th- and 19th-century books).

When the author, Jerusalem Jackson Greer, moved to Alaska, she was exposed to a number of holidays she knew nothing about. After she married, she decided to look into many of these holidays to start her own family traditions.

This book, a beautiful paperback with clear colorful pictures, starts with winter and moves through the seasons. The author takes you through various recipes, crafts, and games for the holidays. While she does not go into a lot of detail about the holidays, she does give you a number of ideas for each. Greer also tells you a little something about her family throughout each of the holidays.

Winter includes: Advent, St. Lucy’s Day, Christmas Day, St. Stephen’s Day, Epiphany, and Candlemas.

Spring includes: Shrove Tuesday, Ash Wednesday, The Season of Lent, St. Joseph’s Day, Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Holy Saturday, and Easter.

Summer includes: Pentecost Sunday, Corpus Christi, St. James’s Day, and Ordinary Time.

Autumn includes: Holy Cross Day, Michaelmas, All Saints’ and All Souls’ Day, and Christ the King Sunday.

While some of these crafts may take a lot of time and energy, others, like the Advent wreath, only have to be created once and will last for years of family celebrations. Some may become family favorites that will have the children begging to do them year after year.

Some of the recipes Greer provides are not the “real deal,” but rather simplified versions. For example, instead of the traditional Scandinavian buns with saffron, she substitutes an easy sweet roll, starting with a store-bought tube of cinnamon rolls you then transform into orange sweet rolls.

Greer does warn you that you may not want to celebrate all the holidays, at least not the first year. Sometimes you can take on just too much!

Start your own traditions with what you think would work best for your family.

—Jo Dee Soles, Practical Homeschooling



Have you ever read a book and heard your own story in the words? Though you’d never met the author, you knew without a doubt she could be your “bosom friend?” Once upon a time, there was a woman who loved writing, crafting, cooking and Jesus.
To her surprise, God blessed her to be the mother of two boys and called her in to ministry. I could be talking about myself or the author of A Homemade Year: The Blessings of Cooking, Crafting and Coming Together, my newfound bosom friend and Episcopal twin Jerusalem Jackson Greer.
A mixture of family recipes, beautiful liturgical crafts and heartfelt stories, this book is sure to speak to your soul and remind you of days past and the traditions you hold dear. If you long to make life special for your family and friends in simple yet significant ways and share the rich traditions of the Christian liturgical holidays, Jerusalem’s words, ideas and simple country style are sure to bring a smile to your face and ideas to your Pinterest boards. —Rev. Monique McBride, Perspectives

From the Publisher

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