Mudhouse Sabbath: An Invitation to a Life of Spiritual Discipline

By Lauren F. Winner

"After her conversion from Orthodox Judaism to Christianity, Lauren Winner found that her life was indelibly marked by the rich traditions and spiritual practices of Judaism. She set out to discover how she could incorporate some of these practices into her new faith. Winner presents eleven Jewish spiritual practices that can transform the way Christians view the world and God. Whether discussing attentive eating, marking the days while grieving, the community that supports a marriage, candle-lighting, or the differences between the Jewish Sabbath and a Sunday spent at the Mudhouse, her favorite coffee shop, Winner writes with appealing honesty and rare insight.

“Lauren Winner speaks the language of this generation. It is authentic, free and bold.”
—Ben Young, author of The Ten Commandments of Dating

“At a time when we are so aware of the differences between Judaism and Christianity, Lauren Winner's book on what we can learn from each other is so refreshingly welcome.""
—Rabbi Harold Kushner, author of When Bad Things Happen to Good People

“For all of us who can’t get our spiritual lives in shape by shipping out to a monastery, Lauren Winner explores simple, do-able ways of keeping company with God in the ordinary, day-to-day world of eating, working, resting, romancing, aging, earning, grieving, and celebrating. Her rich identity as a Jewish/Christian/scholar/writer informs every sentence.”
—Brian McLaren, pastor and author of A New Kind of Christian

“[Winner is] a gifted writer who has much to teach us about the deep and indestructible bonds between Judaism and Christianity.”
—Richard Mouw, President, Fuller Seminary"

• Language: English
• Publisher: Paraclete Press
• Release date: Nov 30, 2003
• ISBN: 9781557257239

Lauren F. Winner

Lauren F. Winner is an ordained Episcopal priest and the author of numerous books, including Girl Meets God, Real Sex, Mudhouse Sabbath, and Still, which won the Christianity Today Book Award in Spirituality. She teaches at Duke Divinity School in Durham, North Carolina. Her articles have appeared in the New York Times Book Review, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, Books & Culture, and other periodicals.

Reviews for Mudhouse Sabbath

[jenj5 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Winner was raised Jewish, but converted to Episcopalianism as an adult. Since her conversion, she has found that she misses some of her Jewish traditions and Mudhouse Sabbath is her exploration of the ways Judaic and Christian practices differ on several topics. Winner attempts to merge portions of each tradition to create a fuller spiritual life for herself. I found this fascinating and thought-provoking, particularly the section on mourning.

[cheryl.russell · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Winner's Mudhouse Sabbath is a relatively short book in which she reminisces about the spiritual disciplines of her Jewish upbringing; traditions no longer practiced since her conversion to Christianity. She mourns their loss, and I can see why.

She starts off the book with her thoughts on Shabbat; i.e. the Sabbath. It's the practice she misses most, but she writes Sabbath should also be "the piece I should most easily be able to keep." (pg. 3). Shabbat/Sabbath is a time of slowing down, of disengaging the world that gobbles up life and time the other six days of the week. It's a lesson we could all learn--instead, Sunday is at least as busy, if not busier than the rest of the week.

She writes on the history of the Sabbath, and the benefits of setting aside 24 hours a week to rest, to recharge. But there is more to the Sabbath than just disengaging for a set period of time. Sabbath/Shabbat is "both giving a gift to God and imitating him." (pg. 11). In other words, self is no longer the focus of a day. Others become a focus and a Sabbath participant's world is expanded a bit more.

The rest of the book covers topics such as grief, candle-lighting, weddings, and hospitality. The Jewish perspective is covered, and then the thoughts as to how to incorporate these traditions into current Christian life.

Mudhouse Sabbath is a book on spiritual disciplines, ones that are rooted in the ancient belief system that gave birth to Christianity. It's a book that gives one a lot to think about--especially someone like me who hears the term tossed about a lot, but it's a term that comes across as something trendy to do, or yet another checklist item on a "what makes a good christian" list. Winner gives solid reasons as to why the practice of spiritual discipline is good practice that goes beyond the "how does it benefit me" mentality.

[reinadecopiaypega · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I liked this book very much but I have to admit that my first impression was that she was pining away for her former religion, even once to say ' Jews do this better ' and wondered why she ever converted to Christianity when it was so clear she definitely had one foot in her former life.

Then I had an 'aha' moment. I moved to England and lived there for a year, one of 8 trips across the pond over the decades, and I loved my home, my long distance country walks, seeing pheasants and hares, sheep, horses, magpies, etc as I pounded those country roads, and was meant to stay forever but the engagement ended and I came back home. As much as I loved it there and was happy, there were a million times I would find myself saying, ' That only costs $ 3 in Brooklyn, not your equivilent of $ 17'

Looking for a Whole Foods, Trader Joes was out of the question, all their sugar free items were dosed with aspartame and I realized what leaving the land of abundance really meant. So it is possible to love where you are or what you are and at the same time look wistfully backwards.

[thornton37814 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Lauren Winner, a convert to Anglicanism from Judaism, compares the two religions, showing how Jewish practices can enrich Christian experience. Our pastor regularly addresses Jewish traditions, rituals, etc. in his sermons so I was familiar with most of these. Lauren's personal experience gives many Christians an eye into some things that should enrich their faith.

[ctpress_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

For Jews, the essence of the thing is a doing, an action. Your faith might come and go, but your practice ought not waver. (Indeed, Judaism suggests that the repeating of the practice is the best way to ensure that a doubter's faith will return.)Lauren F. Winner has written a fine book on spiritual disciplines. She's a Christian with a Jewish background - and in short chapters she reflects and look back at some of the Jewish practices that she misses in her newfound Christian faith - disciplines she tries to work into her spiritual life. It's a very personal and honest book - and she shares both funny and serious incidents from her own life. I liked best the chapters on food, hospitality, body and aging. It's a book I will return to, no doubt.

[wrmjr66 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Lauren Winner's Mudhouse Sabbath takes an uncommon path when talking about Christian spirituality. Winner converted to Christianity from Judaism, and this book is her attempt to look at places where Christian spirituality can be informed and deepened by Judaic practices. In eleven brief chapters, Winner writes about a single practice, distinguishes between how Christians and Jews approach these practices, and tries to reach some sort of synthesis. At the same time, she is writing a memoir of sorts that describe her attempts to live the syntheses she describes. So while discussing marriage, for example, she shares a bit about her own attempts to create a wedding that takes the strengths from both religious traditions. It's a quick read, but one that merits thought and planning. I agree with her premise: Christians can learn a thing or two about spirituality from our Jewish brethren. I think this book is a good first step in that direction.

[bonni208_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Reading this delightful book is like having a short, meaningful conversation with the author. Winner writes about some of the Jewish customs she used to observe that she wishes were practiced (in some form) in Christianity. I started reading it last night and wrapped up the last couple of chapters this morning, before I even got up. I'm looking forward to exploring what else Winner has written, to continue to learn from her life and wonderful sense of humor.

[lhlibrarian · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A good follow up to Girl Meets God. She continues her themes with more in-depth ideas.

[dunyazade_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

They say that there's no zealot like a convert, but in this case, Lauren Winner's zeal for her new faith comes with self-effacing humor, wistful revelations, and thoughtful observations on the meanings of Jewish practices that have no full equivalent within Christian spirituality. She invites the reader to risk new ways of engaging with God that have centuries of history behind them, building moments of faithfulness into each day.

[disneypope · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Very helpful view in our (Christian) Jewish roots. There are some wonderful practices we have let go by the wayside that we could (re)learn from our Jewish sisters and brothers.

[eltomaso · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

An appealing Christian non-fiction book that sheds light on the value of ritual and tradition in church.