A Dresser of Sycamore Trees

by Garret Keizer

Book Overview

A surprise critical sensation that brings to life everyday epiphanies of a lay minister in Northern Vermont. From winding the town clock to comforting elderly parishioners to riding with snoring veterans in the local Memorial Day Parade, Keizer explores the little-known pleasures, trials, and revelations of being a lay vicar in a small town in which time has come undone.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0060643579
• ISBN13: 9780060643577
• Release Date: January 1993
• Publisher: David R. Godine Publisher
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.3" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

Excellent Description of the Everyday work of the Spirit

Garret Keizer's book, A Dresser of Sycamore trees is a thoughtful and carefully written book which describes the "everyday" work of the Holy Spirit in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont. Keizer's descriptions of his friends and neighbors in this small town are tremendous. He does an amazing job seeing God's presence in his everyday work and ministry as a vicar of a small church and a high school English teacher. He reminds me of what St. Francis is quoted to have said, "Preach the gospel. If necessary, speak." Garret Keizer preaches with his actions and through his descriptions of the lives of "ordinary" people. This is a must - read.

Taking the ordinary to the Divine....me

Garrett Keizer's story will settle even the most adventurous spirit from searching to enfolding an inner Spirit much more gratifying.

Soon to be a classic, sincere, humble, excellently written

I am shocked that the publisher would describe this book as "a surprise critical sensation." It's prose alerts us to one Christian's view of the invisible Christ, manifest in people, things, and incidences. It is excellently, thought provokingly written. I cannot with my own words evoke the message of this book, so I will defer to the author, in a quote from his work. . . ."It is about mysticism and orthodoxy, ordinariness and sanctity, unity and diversity and about the intersection of all these things in a design that looks to me like a cross." -pg. 150 Read this book because it is about a common man doing the uncommon and thereby transforming his world, our world, into a place "set apart" for divine possiblities.

A Model for Anyone considering Ministry or Ordination

The story of a man who was a deacon and priest almost without knowing it, and how he ultimately came to be ordained to serve a rural town and church as their priest. Moving and poignant for persons called to serve as deacon or priest who have already been ministers.