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Philip Garside Books
A Celebration Of Life - eBooks.
A Celebration Of Life - eBooks.
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A Celebration Of Life
Collected Poems
By Meg Hartfield
A heartfelt collection of poems reflecting deep faith, the life of Jesus, the pursuit of peace, and the beauty of nature.
This book will help you:
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deepen your understanding of Jesus' life through poetic retellings
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find inspiration for personal reflection and spiritual growth
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explore themes of peace, family, and nature in a relatable manner
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access material suitable for worship services and group devotions
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appreciate the fusion of personal experience with universal spiritual themes
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encourage spiritual exploration through poetry
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enrich sermons and liturgies with original, thoughtful poems
Features
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Over 80 poems organised into thematic sections: "Light of the World," "Peace," "Tributes," "Nature," and "Haiku"
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Poetic retellings of the life of Jesus, offering fresh perspectives
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Reflections on peace, inspired by the author's life experiences
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Tributes to family members, capturing intimate moments and relationships
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Observations of nature, reflecting the beauty and wonder of creation
You are buying a zipped file containing eBook editions of this 104 page book in PDF, ePub and Mobi formats. (2017)
ISBNs:
Mobi 9781927260685
ePub 9781927260678
PDF 9781927260692
Philip Garside Publishing Ltd (2017)
Click here for Print Book
Description
Meg Hartfield's A Celebration of Life: Collected Poems invites readers into a world rich with faith, introspection, and a profound appreciation for life’s journey. The collection begins with "Light of the World," where Hartfield poetically narrates the life of Jesus—from the nativity to the resurrection—offering fresh and intimate perspectives on familiar biblical events.
In the "Peace" section, Hartfield explores the complexities of global conflict and the individual’s role in fostering harmony. Her poems reflect a deep commitment to reconciliation and justice, grounded in personal experience and a desire for a more peaceful world.
"Tributes" honours family members and influential people in the poet’s life, capturing the essence of love and connection. The "Nature" section offers reflections on the natural world, drawing out spiritual truths from everyday observations of beauty and wonder. The collection concludes with "Haiku," a series of short, evocative poems that distil profound ideas into simple, powerful language.
This collection will inspire readers to reflect on their faith and the world around them. It offers a rich resource for personal devotion, group reflection, and worship services.
About the Author
Meg Hartfield, who died shortly after the book was published, was born in Cardiff to missionary parents and spent her early years in Kenya. She trained as a nurse and midwife in London, where she met her husband, Jonathan. After ten years in Nigeria, they settled in Whanganui, New Zealand, in 1973. Together they transformed four hectares of bare land into a flourishing garden. Meg has served as a Sunday School teacher and lay preacher and has created banners for church use. Both she and her husband have worked in hospice care and peace initiatives. They have four children and nine grandchildren.
Contents
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Light of the World
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Peace
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Tributes
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Nature
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Haiku
Review by Patricia Stevenson RSJ
for Tui Motu InterIslands – 24 Sep. 2017
The poems are arranged in five sections.
The first is named “Light of the World” and all poems have a religious theme moving from Creation through Biblical figures towards the Resurrection. In these we see something of the author’s own understanding of the Christian message, and her involvement in parish education of children.
The second section is about her family. Meg calls these tributes. They are loving blessings on her four children and hint at both the sorrow and joy a family brings.
In the next two sections Meg returns to Creation. The first, called “Peace” is influenced by her time in Africa. It also speaks of the peace that so many find in a garden.
to where I stand alone on the sand- at peace
at one with sea and sky, and the fading glory
The section named, “Nature”, contains a wide variety of poems which reflect the fruit of hours of gardening and contemplation. Some titles in this group are, “The Plum Tree”, “New Life”, “Bees”, “Seed Wonder” and “Pohutukawa”. Each shows Meg’s appreciation Meg for the beauty around her and her acknowledgement of her Creator God.
The final section of the book is simply labelled, “Haiku”. The author has used the haiku as a verse pattern for longer poems. I think the haiku is better suited to fragments, those tiny glimpses that bring us to a moment of wonder.
One of the strengths of this book is that it may encourage others to keep their own journal. Many have found this method of reflection on life a powerful tool in self-awareness and growth. Meg also uses the way of the psalmist in some instances when after sharing her reflection she gives glory to God for blessings received.”
