Good morning…
As our immediate family celebrated the college graduation of our third child last night, it is a perfect morning to feed our ongoing needs as lifelong learners. Privately reading books and collaboratively discussing them is a great way to continue our spiritual education as followers of Christ. For the past few weeks, the following announcement has appeared in our Northside Church bulletin. Today I feel privileged to share it with you.
******
Women’s Summer Reading Group
Looking for a way to connect with other women in our community? Join us on Wednesdays, May 19 through July 28, 10:00–11:30AM via Zoom, for our annual Summer Reading Group. We will have informal discussions of our book selections including Diary of a Pastor’s Soul: The Holy Moments in a Life of Ministry, In My Grandmother’s House: Black Women, Faith, and the Stories We Inherit, and Scouting the Divine: Searching for God in Wine, Wool, and Wild Honey. Purchase your own books and join us as often as possible.
With any questions or to receive our weekly Zoom link, please contact Caroline Smith at Fitzco1@Comcast.net.
******
Unpacking the details of the first book on our list, here is the description drawing us in. Diary of a Pastor’s Soul: The Holy Moments in a Life of Ministry by M.Craig Barnes, president of Princeton Theological Seminary. This Christianity Today 2021 Book Award Winner tells the story of a fictionalized pastor, embarking on his final year before retirement. Through 52 weekly thematic entries, Barnes presents in narrative form interwoven stories about learning to love others with curiosity, amazement, vulnerability, and most of all grace found in flawed lives.
As we learn to love others with curiosity and amazement, vulnerability and grace, the purposes of God will continue to flourish in our flawed lives. They were continually filled with praises to God, enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord kept adding to their number daily those who were coming to life (Acts 4:47, TPT).
I am fascinated to learn that the footnote for this verse in Acts reads: “The Aramaic word for ‘church’ is the joining of ‘meet’ and ‘come.’ This word is an invitation to enter into fellowship with Christ and his people.”
I invite you to “come” and “meet” with our spiritual family via Zoom, as we fellowship with Christ and each other on Wednesday mornings this summer.
…Sue…
