October's Book of the Month

Joan Chittister reflects on the importance of the feasts and seasons of the Christian calendar in The Liturgical Year.

Query: What seasons and feasts do you celebrate with your congregation, family, and friends? How do you celebrate? What makes these celebrations meaningful for you?

September's Book of the Month

The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown, Ph.D., L.M.S.W., includes ten guideposts for engaging with the world from a place of worthiness.

Query: How do you engage with the world?

August's Book of the Month

Speaking of Faith, Why Religion Matters and How to Talk About It by Krista Tippett, explores complex subjects like science, love, virtue, and violence within the context of spirituality and everyday life.

July's Book of the Month

Appropriate for all denominations, The Church of Mercy by Pope Francis is a heartfelt collection of his insights regarding mercy, service, and renewal within our churches today.

Query: Interfaith reading is a valuable way to learn about our Christian brothers and sisters. What books do you recommend?

June's Book of the Month

Rhyming verse, colorful illustrations, and the non-preachy text in My Spiritual Alphabet Book by Holly Bea introduces children of all faiths to their spiritual world. Recommended for children ages 3-7.

 

This book would make a great baby shower gift too! 

 

Query: What books do you share with children? 

We're Collecting Crayons!

This summer we're collecting new and used crayons for The Crayon Initiative. The following information is copied from their website: 

What We Do
The Crayon Initiative organizes crayon collections that take unwanted crayons, remanufactures them, and provides them to hospitals that are caring for our kids. Hospital arts' programs provide in-hospital entertainment and learning programs. During a hospital stay, it's important for children to continue normal childhood development and skills building and to keep life as close to "normal" as possible for them. Art helps hospitalized children by alleviating anxiety, providing psychological support, and offering creative outlets for self-expression. Childrens' arts programs also enhance problem-solving and critical thinking skills, and promote creativity and imagination. Children can escape into a world of fantasy penned by their own imagination just by using crayons.

The wax from crayons is not biodegradable and will never break down, leaving a waxy sludge in our landfills for centuries to come. The Crayon Initiative supports environmental efforts by diverting crayons from the landfills. Annually, over 500,000 pounds of broken crayons are discarded in landfills throughout the country. By collecting unwanted crayons from restaurants, schools, as well as other locations, and recycling them into new ones, The Crayon Initiative is doing our part to prevent crayons from depositing in the landfill.

This is a great project for churches and/or Sunday School classes. You can access more information and request collection boxes (free) on The Crayon Initiative's website: thecrayoninitiative.org.

May's Book of the Month

Jesus, An Illustrated Life, by Jean-Pierre Isbouts, is based on the latest archaeological and literary research and vividly reconstructs the life and times of Jesus.

Query: How do you envision Biblical times? While studying God's Word try inserting yourself into the scene and imagine what you might smell, hear, taste, see, touch, feel, or do.