Bolz-Weber - Accidental saints: confessions from a religious (but not so spiritual) life

I always feel narcissistic when I affirm writers who think like I do. But Nadia says itand does itso much better, with much more humor, more living examples, and a conviction that will convict you!

F R. R ICHARD R OHR , O.F.M., Center for Action and Contemplation, author of Falling Upward

This is a collection of stories about how liturgy (who would have imagined?), ritual (what?), church (really?), and a bunch of flawed people (like us?) can catch the light of grace and catch fire with the beauty of God. For so many reasons, you really should read it.

B RIAN D . M C L AREN , author of A New Kind of Christianity and A Generous Orthodoxy

[Bolz-Weber] is a tatted-up, foul-mouthed champion to people sick of being belittled as not Christian enough for the right or too Jesus-y for the left.

T HE W ASHINGTON P OST

The amazing thing about Nadia Bolz-Weber is that she manages to take her Christianity into corners of life where the church can be pretty uncomfortable going.

T HE D AILY B EAST

I am miles away from Nadia Bolz-Weber theologically, but I sure would love to have her in my foxhole if I got in trouble.

R OD D REHER , The American Conservative, author of How Dante Can Save Your Life and The Little Way of Ruthie Leming

Bolz-Weber has such a distinctive voice and outlook, its amazing she hasnt written more books. Perhaps its because shes been too busy living the checkered and fascinating life that is the subject of her theological memoir.Heres hoping her authentic voice continues to preach in more books.

P UBLISHERS W EEKLY

Bolz-Weber is a surprisingly vulnerable narrator who pairs personal confessions with beautifully articulated statements of faith.

T HE C HRISTIAN C ENTURY

Engaging and accessibleBolz-Weber is clear-eyed about the personal travails faced by the marginalized and those without faith.

B OOKLIST

This is an astonishing bookcontagious, honest, captivatinga rare giftI realize that Im gushing, but thats what you do when a book inspires and moves and touches you like this one does.

R OB B ELL , author of What We Talk About When We Talk About God and Love Wins

For anyone who is Christian, interested in Christianity, anti-Christian (or anti-Religion), I recommend this book.

G ORDON G ANO , lead singer, Violent Femmes

Pastor Nadia Bolz-Weber speaks the truth of our humanity that we too often want to deny. She declares the radical power of Gods grace for Jesuss sake that we so often water down rather than daily be drowned in it. Yes, read at your own risk.

F ORMER P RESIDING B ISHOP M ARK H ANSON , Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)

Funny, raw, and packed with truth, this book is offensive in all the right waysThis book reminded me of why I am a Christian, and I wept with gratitude when I finished it.

R ACHEL H ELD E VANS , blogger, author of A Year of Biblical Womanhood

Nadia has written a wonderful, rule-breaking, stereotype-smashing book that succeeds as a memoir, as a sermon on love, and as a welcome home letter to the rejected. With this book, Nadia will become Americas pastor to those alienated from religion but who still crave transcendent purpose.

F RANK S CHAEFFER , author of Crazy for God

Pastrix: The Cranky, Beautiful Faith of a Sinner & Saint

Salvation on the Small Screen

A CCIDENTAL S AINTS

P UBLISHED BY C ONVERGENT B OOKS

All Scripture quotations are taken from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Details in some anecdotes and stories have been changed to protect the identities of the persons involved.

Hardcover ISBN9781601427557

eBook ISBN9781601427571

Copyright 2015 by Nadia Bolz-Weber

Cover design by Jessie Sayward Bright; cover image of Bertie the Tattooed Lady tattooed by Charles Red Gibbons, c.1920 (black-and-white photo), American School (twentieth century)/Private Collection/Prismatic Pictures/Bridgeman Images

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

Published in the United States by Convergent Books, an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House LLC, New York.

C ONVERGENT B OOKS and its open book colophon are registered trademarks of Penguin Random House LLC.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Bolz-Weber, Nadia.

Accidental saints : finding God in all the wrong people / Nadia Bolz-WeberFirst Edition.

pages cm

ISBN 978-1-60142-755-7ISBN 978-1-60142-757-1 (electronic) 1. House for All Sinners and Saints (Denver, Colo.)Biography. 2. Christian biography. I. Title.

BX8076.D46B65 2015

284.1'78883dc23

2015012506

v4.1

ep

For the people of House for All Sinners and Saints.

You make me believe.

Rejoice, now, all heavenly powers! Sing, choirs of angels!

Exult, all creation around Gods throne! Jesus Christ is risen!

Celebrate the divine mysteries with exultation; and for so great a victory, sound the trumpet of salvation.

Rejoice, O earth, in shining splendor, radiant in the brightness of your king!

Christ has conquered! Glory fills you!

Darkness vanishes forever.

Rejoice, O holy church! Exult in glory!

The risen Savior shines upon you!

Let this place resound with joy, echoing the mighty song of all Gods people.

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These readings are taken from the Exsultet, an ancient Roman Catholic hymn that is sung as part of the Easter Vigil.