‘Ever-Widening Circles’ by Marg Schrader - Book Review by Leanne Munro
Photo credit: Jemma Allen
Marg Schrader has been a formative presence in New Zealand’s contemplative landscape and a respected elder within the Spiritual Growth Ministries community. As a spiritual director, minister, teacher, and retreat leader, she has nurtured generations of spiritual directors with wisdom, compassion, and prophetic insight. Through initiatives like The Still Point retreat centre and her ecumenical leadership, she has fostered a deep listening presence in individuals and communities. Marg’s book ‘The Ever-Widening Circles’ shares the story of her personal and vocational life.
This book review by Leanne Munro was first published in the Dec 2023 issue of Refresh Journal of Contemplative Spirituality
Book: The Ever-Widening Circles by Marg Schrader
Publisher: Philip Garside Publishing LTD (www.philipgarsidebooks.com)
Available in print, eBook
Reviewed by: Leanne Munro
‘Stories have to be told or they die, and when they die, we can’t remember who we are or why we’re here’, Sue Monk Kidd, The Secret Life of Bees. Thus, begins chapter two. Thank goodness Marg’s story has finally been told in her words!
This is a book like no other. A deeply personal story. A story where life, community and faith are interwoven in a way that’s natural, practical, honest, full of compassion and a sense of adventure – surprising no one who knows Marg. Ten years in the creating, this memoir is part life-story, part God-story. It’s the ever-widening circles of Marg’s life as she follows God’s call, and theological rumination of the best sort!
This memoir, while the story of a life, is also a strong commentary on social and church history at a particular time, in a particular place. Most of all, it’s about what matters most to Marg, as she journeyed with the One she calls ‘an amazing friend’.
From teacher to Methodist Deaconess and chaplain, from Australia to New Zealand, from mother and wife to Minister of Word and Sacrament in the PCANZ, and on into offering Spiritual Direction and exploring Interfaith conversations.
We share Marg’s memories growing up, meeting Warren and becoming mother to a readymade family; her co-ministry at Wadestown Presbyterian and how that faith community supported her family; her co-creation of The Still Point retreat place and her work there with Srs. Judith Anne O’Sullivan and Yvonne Munro (no relation!). Stories of shared Sacred Space worship. We’re privy to her time as Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand in the mid 1990’s and the deeply human issues the church still struggles with today.
Chapter 11 is her final paper for Spiritual Director Training in the USA: ‘The Effect of Sexual Abuse on Women’s Naming and Experiencing of God’. I found this poignant considering the Royal Commission on Abuse in State and Faith Based Care, here in NZ. Chapter 12 deals with dreams and dream therapy, which I found helpful. Chapter 14 is her keynote address to the PCANZ General Assembly in 2018 – I don’t know if our church has listened.
Marg writes of an unconventional relationship with the Church, feeling on the edge of the church in terms of her ministry – a sense familiar to those of us not in parish ministry, but still in ministry. With humour and honesty, she deals with the challenges of aging, transition and change. The Ever-Widening Circles is a story of faith, gentle strength, communities, connections, love and grace. A story of God’s call answered by one woman who sought to live it out honestly and courageously.
Thank you, Marg, for sharing with us – finally!
