User Comments about Winter of Christian Life
(including field testing)
From participants
(1) Winter of Christian Life was used at Trinity Lutheran Church, Chelmsford MA. Nancy Grove writes in 2016 "We loved this resource. I really resonate with the discussion more now than ever before. After an uncertain autumn Richard was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin lymphoma in November. After the first cycle of chemo he is doing very well but I'm exhausted. I was doing everything and also I was doing all of the worrying. The sentence from "Winter" that stuck out for me was "too tired and emotionally drained to function". I never thought I'd be like that ever!!!"
Participants in other groups write:
(2) “I now know what I need to talk to my parents about.”
(3) “I cannot say that my life is easy and that I have no doubts and fears, but we keep going, don't we? I pray each day for my family, for wisdom, patience and for kindness toward others, especially those in ‘Winter.’ Your book, already, has suggested guidance. Thank you.”
(4) “My parents died last year exactly 3 months apart. We had them cremated and their ashes placed in urns that I kept until I could arrange for interment in Pennsylvania, where they spent all but the last 6 years of their lives. … Only a small plot was opened, large enough for just the two urns, dirt still visible. I thought of that when I read a passage from "Winter," in which a minister planned his own funeral, wanting the soil to be clearly visible, not hidden by Astroturf, so his death would not be denied -- and so his grandchildren wouldn't worry about whether or not he was safely planted.”
(5) “After completing this course, my wife and I wrote our will and our medical power of attorney – and shared them with our children.”
From leaders
(1) “My deepest sense is that this resource taps into an underground well of need and experience that people do not have other opportunity to surface.”
(2) “Real stories of real people. Discussions were focused and spirited, charts and diagrams in the Leader’s Guide were very helpful, and the group responded with personal stories.”
(3) “Thank you so much for sending the completed books "Autumn" and "Winter." Each is beautifully done and presented in an exceptionally "teachable" interactive form. You must be gratified to see your efforts reach print and to be available to help others of faith. I am humbled to be part of your project.
(4) “A husband of one of the participants is in ‘Winter’. She said ‘there is just no manual for this.’ I replied, “There is one now, you have it in your hands or as close to one as possible.’”
(5) “Our group kept growing. As word spread about this class, they started coming out of the woodwork! We used two weeks on each chapter because we did the Re-entry together rather than for home study.”
Recommended by Adult Lutherans Organized for Action in the "Recommended Resources" section of their summer 2015 newsletter.
"Recommended Resources for Small Groups - Authors Richard and Judith Reuning have created a fine series of small group resources, the last two of which (Autumn and Winter of Christian Life) are particularly meaningful for middle and older adults. Study guides are suitable for a home discussion group or a Sunday School class." http://aloaserves.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Newsletter_Summer2015.pdf
(including field testing)
From participants
(1) Winter of Christian Life was used at Trinity Lutheran Church, Chelmsford MA. Nancy Grove writes in 2016 "We loved this resource. I really resonate with the discussion more now than ever before. After an uncertain autumn Richard was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin lymphoma in November. After the first cycle of chemo he is doing very well but I'm exhausted. I was doing everything and also I was doing all of the worrying. The sentence from "Winter" that stuck out for me was "too tired and emotionally drained to function". I never thought I'd be like that ever!!!"
Participants in other groups write:
(2) “I now know what I need to talk to my parents about.”
(3) “I cannot say that my life is easy and that I have no doubts and fears, but we keep going, don't we? I pray each day for my family, for wisdom, patience and for kindness toward others, especially those in ‘Winter.’ Your book, already, has suggested guidance. Thank you.”
(4) “My parents died last year exactly 3 months apart. We had them cremated and their ashes placed in urns that I kept until I could arrange for interment in Pennsylvania, where they spent all but the last 6 years of their lives. … Only a small plot was opened, large enough for just the two urns, dirt still visible. I thought of that when I read a passage from "Winter," in which a minister planned his own funeral, wanting the soil to be clearly visible, not hidden by Astroturf, so his death would not be denied -- and so his grandchildren wouldn't worry about whether or not he was safely planted.”
(5) “After completing this course, my wife and I wrote our will and our medical power of attorney – and shared them with our children.”
From leaders
(1) “My deepest sense is that this resource taps into an underground well of need and experience that people do not have other opportunity to surface.”
(2) “Real stories of real people. Discussions were focused and spirited, charts and diagrams in the Leader’s Guide were very helpful, and the group responded with personal stories.”
(3) “Thank you so much for sending the completed books "Autumn" and "Winter." Each is beautifully done and presented in an exceptionally "teachable" interactive form. You must be gratified to see your efforts reach print and to be available to help others of faith. I am humbled to be part of your project.
(4) “A husband of one of the participants is in ‘Winter’. She said ‘there is just no manual for this.’ I replied, “There is one now, you have it in your hands or as close to one as possible.’”
(5) “Our group kept growing. As word spread about this class, they started coming out of the woodwork! We used two weeks on each chapter because we did the Re-entry together rather than for home study.”
Recommended by Adult Lutherans Organized for Action in the "Recommended Resources" section of their summer 2015 newsletter.
"Recommended Resources for Small Groups - Authors Richard and Judith Reuning have created a fine series of small group resources, the last two of which (Autumn and Winter of Christian Life) are particularly meaningful for middle and older adults. Study guides are suitable for a home discussion group or a Sunday School class." http://aloaserves.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Newsletter_Summer2015.pdf