Blest Be the Tie

“With its warm and relatable cast of characters, Blest Be the Tie offers up parables of community and faith that feel instantly familiar and welcoming. White's collection of vignettes illuminates the Christian values and plain graces that unite, reconcile, and bring both healing and understanding.”


—David Williams, author of When the English Fall





“When I first began reading Blest Be the Tie, I thought, ‘I know these people.’ As I continued reading, I thought, ‘I am these people!’ White takes what is common in all of us—our frailties, shortcomings, and wounds as well as our beauty, strength, and possibilities—and weaves together stories of community. Not only do we see ourselves, but we see the possibility of redeemed relationships and hopeful community that is a taste of ‘on earth as it is in heaven.’”


—Joanne Lindstrom, Associate Professor of Ministry, McCormick Theological Seminary, Chicago





“White’s beautifully written Blest Be the Tie are stories told with gentle humor and a tender touch. The author reveals a deep love for Scripture and a great confidence in its capacity to surprise us and to transform even the most demanding of our circumstances. These stories draw the reader in and leave us changed.”


—Ian Adams, chaplain, Ridley Hall, Cambridge





“White is well familiar with pastoral ministry, and she shares congregational stories from Pastor Bob’s Presbyterian church in the North Country in upstate New York. . . . White has created a caring, diverse, and integrated community of faith, and has given readers a vacation from their own lives and churches as they immerse themselves in the lives of Pastor Bob and his flock. Using poetic and descriptive language, White does not just tell stories; she paints rich pictures and shares complex emotions. . . . I was moved to tears often, and I laughed out loud several times. Reading this book made me want to be a better pastor—maybe as good as Pastor Bob, or maybe even, in my dreams, as accomplished and understanding as White herself. This is a diverting, engrossing, and pleasurable read.”


—Laurie McKnight, spiritual care professional





“Reminiscent of Garrison Keillor’s and Michael Lindvall’s stories, Joann White writes such delightful vignettes of small-town pastoring that I couldn’t put this book down! In pictures of redemption, provocation, the grief of war, the workings of the Spirit, and questioning one’s calling, Pastor Bob connects faith with the experiences of his people, while feeling blessed by the ties that bind that community together. I laughed and cried, grateful again for the people of God.”


—Scott L. Barton, author of Lectionary Poems, Year B: More Surprising Grace for Pulpit and Pew