My new book, Ordinary Mysteries: Faith, Doubt, and Meaning, will be released on April 30. But I’m doing a special limited edition Hardbound release now to all my friends on Substack, this website and in the New England Synod.

This book collects the best of my writing over the last four years. Every essay has been edited and portions rewritten for clarity, accuracy, and, sometimes, just for fun.

The collection includes 26 different columns, including these titles:

Why We Need Symbolic Intelligence
The Soul and Artificial Intelligence
How Do You Explain the Virgin Birth?
The Beatitudes Inside and Out
Why Do Bad Things Happen?
Sabbath: Give It a Rest
The Meaning of Money
Compassion As Spiritual Practice

“Throughout this book of essays, James Hazelwood extends a continual and continuous invitation that dares us to see differently. Reading Ordinary Mysteries felt like meeting a friend for an honest conversation. I was left with a sharpened awareness of The Holy within and around me.”
Sheila Longo Petruccelli
Director of Creative Embodiment
The Haden Institute

Read a couple sample chapters here.

“ORDINARY MYSTERIES is extraordinary in how much in-depth theology, psychology, and spirituality are brought together in one book. Here is Carl Jung paired with Howard Thurmond. Explorations into Trinity, Beatitudes, Ash Wednesday. We are invited to a “holy curiosity” and “a gritty mysticism grounded in compassion.”
Bishop Doug Fisher
Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts

The hardbound edition includes artwork for each section break designed by my brother, Art Hazelwood. He also designed the cover, which portrays everyday attire, the hoodie, with elements from several essays within the book. You can see more of his work at www.arthazelwood.com

We’ve had 100 copies printed and they are available for $35 each, plus shipping. As I mentioned, each book will be autographed and comes with a custom bookmark as well as a small envelope containing several cards from an accompanying Table Talk Conversation Cards. The Table Talk cards are in production and printing, so they aren’t ready to launch yet. But you’ll get a sneak preview of some advanced samples.

This limited edition 100 run is also a fundraiser. The proceeds from this sale will all go to the schools, hospitals, and people of the Palestinian community of the ELCJHL. This small community of congregations in the Holy Land is suffering greatly under the current conditions brought on by the war in Gaza. While they live and work miles and miles away in the West Bank, the emotional, economic, and spiritual toll on the people is significant. Your purchase will be a message of concrete support.

How to order the book.

You can order directly from my website store at www.jameshazelwood.net. Click here to go directly to the bookstore.

Buy Now

You can also order from the New England Synod. If you’d prefer to mail a check, contact Martha at this email link: click here. She will take care of your order.

The books and other items will ship to you the week of April 15 via US Priority Mail.

If you live outside the continental US, send me an email and we’ll get the shipping details worked out. jim@jameshazelwood.net