Abigail O’Neel
ministry wife, podcast host, & bible teacher
A Note from Abigail
ABOUT HER BOOK CLUB
Welcome to the About Her Book Club. Glory in the Ordinary was the first book our book club read together and it still remains a favorite. Whatever season of life you are walking through as a woman, Courtney Reissig’s counsel inGlory in the Ordinary is sure to be an encouragement to you.
The About Her Book Club completed our reading of Glory in the Ordinary in March of 2021, but I invite you to read it anytime. Below you will find a detailed summary of the book, an author profile, a link to purchase the book, a four-week reading plan, helpful tips for hosting an in-person discussion, and recipe inspiration for your next book club get-together. I hope you enjoy this very practical read!
Happy Reading!
Abigail O’Neel
Book Summary
Folding laundry. Weeding the garden. Cooking dinner. Changing diapers. Work in the home can seem so ordinary. Does any of it matter? Is there meaning in our most mundane moments at home?
When the work of the home fills our days, it is easy to get disillusioned and miss God’s grand purpose for our work. As image bearers of the Creator who made us to work, we contribute to society, bringing order out of chaos and loving God through loving others―meaning there’s glory in every moment. In this encouraging book, Courtney Reissig combats the common misconceptions about the value of at-home work―helping us see how Christ infuses purpose into every facet of the ordinary.*
About the Author
Courtney Reissig is a wife, mother, and writer. She has written for numerous Christian publications including the Gospel Coalition, Christianity Today, and the CT Women blog. She lives in Little Rock, Arkansas, with her husband, Daniel, and their four sons.
*Summary & author profile taken from book blurb.
Weekly Reading Plan
A(TYPICAL) WOMAN
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Read chapters 1 & 2
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Read chapters 3 & 4
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Read chapters 5 & 6
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Read chapters 7 & 8
Book Club Menu
AUGUST
inspiration
How cute are these Pressed Flower Short Bread Cookies from Monika’s blog? They just pair too perfectly with the cover of (A)typical Woman! I tested the recipe earlier this Summer and they were as delicious as they look. The flowers bring a very earthly flavor to the cookie. Lavender would also add a great mild floral flavor to the short bread!
Just be sure to select flowers that are safe to eat before adding them to your cookies. I purchased my edible flowers from a local specialty market and they had a wide variety of edible flowers to choose from. Purchasing from a market or bakery is the safest option when it comes to decorative flowers and I definitely encourage asking a professional or doing your research before consuming flowers of any kind.
Happy baking!
Pressed Flower Short Bread Cookies
by Monika Hibbs
Are you interested in hosting an in-person book club discussion in your home? Here are five helpful tips for hosting meaningful book club discussion.
Hosting a Discussion
HELPFUL TIPS FOR
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Preparation is key, especially before your first meeting. Your guests may not open up if they are unfamiliar with the group, but intentionally prepared questions can help minimize excessive silence. Spend time carefully crafting 8-10 intentional questions before each meeting. Even if you don’t get to every question, having these questions on hand will help direct conversation when lulls in the conversation arise.
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Open ended questions are an invitation to your guests to talk about whatever was most meaningful to them. Closed-ended questions will quickly limit the depth of your conversation. The discussion questions provided at the end of each chapter in (A)typical Woman are a great place to begin meaningful conversation.
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Effective leaders know when to speak and when to listen. I am certain you have much to offer the group as a host, but your guests have much to offer too. Be quick to listen to the insights of those in the group and make it your goal to draw these insights out of your guests.
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As a host, it’s your job to ensure all guests feel welcome and heard. No two group members are the same and it’s essential that you are attentive to the unique needs of every member. Invite a quiet guest into the conversation by asking them a question directly, or utilize a talkative guest’s enthusiasm for discussion by privately inviting them to help you draw out interactions from others.
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As you facilitate discussion, don’t fear silence. Silence enables group members to process and craft their response. Extended pauses may also compel quieter group members to speak up when they otherwise may not.
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It is a humbling thing to pray. Plan time to pray together and for one another as some topics may be sensitive for some women.
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