cover image She Who Prays: A Woman's Interfaith Prayer Book

She Who Prays: A Woman's Interfaith Prayer Book

Jane Richardson Jensen, Patricia Harris-Watkins. Morehouse Publishing, $22 (212pp) ISBN 978-0-8192-2113-1

Although feminists of many Christian traditions are likely to find this book helpful, its most appreciative audience will likely be liturgical Christians who already follow a similar format in their daily prayers. The book is arranged in roughly the same manner as the Anglican/Episcopal Book of Common Prayer, but with female-friendly twists: The scripture readings, for example, don't typically come from the Bible because of what the authors call its ""male-oriented and militaristic nature."" Jensen and Harris-Watkins substitute readings from the Apocrypha and various other sources, including hymns of the early Church (nimbly translated from Syriac, Greek and Hebrew by Jensen). Also, the authors borrow readings from many different faith traditions, which are helpfully introduced in a special table at the end of the book. The book even includes a few craft suggestions for women to make items that are related to the prayer rites. In Anglican fashion, there are prayers for morning, noon and evening, and for specific seasons, occasions and rituals.