Martha Weaver Devotional Booklets

FROM THE CHURCH LIBRARY…Always a welcome addition to the church library are donations of inspiring books that would be meaningful to the church family.  There are labels available if one wants to donate a book in memory or honor of someone.  A newly donated book is “Have A Little Faith.”   This is a true story that parallels the lives of two persons of very different backgrounds who had a great influence on the author, Mitch Albom. This book will be featured on the book cart and would be enjoyed both by young adults and adults—a quick, inspiring read on a warm summer day.

For any one looking for ideas for a new soup to try at home or for the monthly church soup suppers, the book, Soup Suppers, has been donated to the church library.  The book contains more than 100 main course soups and 40 accompaniments.   Another donation, Best Church SupperRecipes, has over 500 potluck favorites from which to choose.  Be sure to look through these cookbooks when looking for something new to fix for the next potluck or soup supper.

Another recent donation, which is a valuable addition to the “world religions” collection is “The Everything World’s Religions Book.” This book offers simplified explanations and comparisons of over fifty beliefs, traditions and cultures of both ancient and contemporary religions.   The “world religions” collection will be featured on the library cart after Easter.

Lent, a time of reflection and prayer is an opportune time to visit the church library and pick up a book on prayer for times of meditation and reflection during Lent.  Books on prayer will be featured on the library book cart during March.  Included in the church library collection are the following books:

RULES FOR PRAYER, compiled by William O. Paulsell, draws on written works by Christian teachers throughout history and is designed to help persons develop a foundation of prayer for their daily lives.

ANSWERED PRAYERS, a Guideposts publication, is an inspirational collection of answered prayers from Guidepost readers and visitors to the Guidepost Web site.

THE POWER OF A PRAYING PARENT written by singer, songwriter, and parent Stormie Omartian shares how a parent can pray through every age and stage of a child’s life.

PRAYER, FAITH, AND HEALING by Kenneth Winston Gaine and Brian Paul Kaufman offers more than 500 tips for handling anger, addiction, depression, divorce, grief, stress, infidelity, financial problems, and over 40 other conditions with advice from more than 160 of America’s top religious leaders, counselors, doctors, and scientists.

LORD TEACH ME TO PRAY IN 28 DAYS by author Kay Arthur  is a 28-day study with practical insights to help one know how to pray, what to pray, and what to expect when one prays.

Within the church library collection of books is a section on Self-Help.  Some examples from the collection includes:

--By author Joyce Meyer, three books to help overcome emotional battles with stress, depression, and worry through the power of God’s Word.

--The Healing Path by Marc Ian Barasch explores the mind-body connection of healing.

--Phillip Berman shares what near-death experiences teach us about the gift of life in The Journey Home.

--In Living the Simple Life, Elaine St. James writes about making wise choices with our “things.”

--House of Cards written by Tom Raabe shares that there is hope for those who have loved ones gambling problem.

--Matthew Fox deals helps persons balance their personal life with their work like in The Reinvention of Work.

These books and others from the Self-Help section will be featured on the library cart during February.

Our church library is fortunate to have a fairly large collection of bible reference books.  This summer might be a good time to learn more about the bible by spending some time with one of these books, which will be featured on the library cart.  Some examples of available Bible reference books includes:

BIBLE TRIVIA by Stephen Lane.  Test yourself with some of the over 4500 questions and answers in this book.

JUMBO BIBLE CROSSWORDS – For the crossword lover, there are more than 200 crosswords with clues taken from the Bible and interspersed with contemporary answers.

FAVORITE PSALMS – Compiled by John Stott, this book helps you come to know God better by looking at dozens of the most beloved psalms.

BIBLE LANDS is an “Eyewitness Book” though which one can discover the story of the Holy Land, its geography history and the ancient civilization of its people.

I’VE HEARD THAT ALL MY LIFE – Over 150 familiar expressions that are part of our everyday conversation have their source and background in the Bible.

WHO WAS WHO IN THE BIBLE – from Adam to Zurishaddai, over 3500 people are referred to in this easy-to-use, fun-to-read “who’s who” of men and women in the Bible.

HANDYMAN NEEDED…A child’s old school desk has been donated to and is in the church library.  It needs a little TLC and to be cleaned up.   A volunteer who enjoys restoration and who would be willing to tackle this project for the library would be greatly appreciated--just let Kathy know in the church office.

 WINTER NIGHTS…A good time to spend with a “warm fuzzy book” and you will find several fiction and mystery series in the church library.  They will be featured on the library cart during February.  A reminder that the check-out policy is just to take the book, enjoy it, and return the book to the library.  To remind you that the books are part of the library collection, a label is on the cover of each book.

NEW DONATIONS TO THE LIBRARY…Thank you to the three persons who recently donated books to the church library!  The books are:

--In Lieu of Flowers – A Conversation for the Living by Nancy Cobb is a meditation on grieving through which the author’s personal experiences helps others to deal with their grieving.

--Green Rubber Boots – A joyful journey to Wellness written by Kathleen Whitmer, a former professor at Kent State University, who shares her experiences after she was diagnosed with cancer.

--The Road to Hope – written by Jeannette M. Silber, Janice McGrogan and Frank L. Weakley, M.D tells the story of Joseph S. and Jeannette M. Silber beginning with their work with the Cuyahoga County American Cancer Society and the ultimate founding of Hope Lodge, a home-away-from-home offering free accommodations to persons and families needing to be near their medical facility for treatment.

The books are on the library cart in the library.

Featured on the Library Cart during this time of reflection and meditation during Lent will be books about prayer to encourage thought and meditation.

Books on the cart include:

--The Everything Prayer Book by Ron Hennies & Sonia Weiss that will help you “learn how to open your heart and soul to find comfort, healing, and hope.”

--Passages of Light with selected scriptures by Thomas Kinkade, painter of light.

--Lord Teach Me to Pray by Kay Arthur is a 28 day study that provides practical insights to help you know how to pray, what to pray, and what to expect when you pray.

    For the young and young at heart:

--Can I Pray With My Eyes Open? By Susan Taylor Brown assures all that they can pray when, where, and how they want, and they will always be heard.

--Bless This House by Leslie Staub with a bedtime prayer that will find a lasting place in the hearts of children of all faiths.

--Give Me Grace in which author Cynthia Rylant has prayers for kindness, for love, for gratitude and guidance to begin or end a busy day.

--The Lord’s Prayer with paintings by illustrator Tim Ladwig  offers a fresh look at the beloved words of The Lord’s Prayer.

Please feel free to spend some time in the library with a book or take one home.

To make the library more “user friendly,” the check-out procedure involving signing out items is being eliminated.  As a reminder to return items, labels are being placed on the front (when possible) of all church library materials requesting return to the church library.  The labeling has been completed!  Thanks to Mary Lou Sheller, Nancy Tyson and Andrea Bennett.   

    A special donation just received in the library is a gift from Greg Russell, pastor at First Congregational from October, 1991 through August 1997.  The book of essays titled  Comfort Ye - Finding Light in Times of Darkness, compiled by Richard H. Schmidt of Forward Movement, shares responses to questions posed when facing some of life’s sole retching experiences.  Grouped in two sections, the essays in the first section are the result of a personal experience, and Pay Attention to Nudges by Greg Russell is the first one.  In his piece, Greg shares how he coped with the sudden death of Jane, his beloved wife who was known and loved by many including those who knew her when Greg was pastor here. The second section addresses a broader scope of issues arising from tragedy and loss.  Thanks to the Weiss family for the “personal” delivery of the book.

For the youth, God’s Words of Life for Teens, is an extra copy of the book presented to “graduating” acolytes by Christian Ed.  Scripturally based, the book is organized alphabetically to give guidance to teens on issues such as attitude, dating, fear, God’s will, peer pressure, temptation, and worry.

A Garden’s Promise by Judith Couchman offers a creative approach to nurturing one’s spiritual life with a focus on pleasure gardening.  All three books will be featured on the book cart during July.