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A NOTE FROM THE PASTOR

  Summer is for reading!

“You’ve got to read this book!”

I hear this quite frequently from Tracy, my amazing colleague and wife, who is always reading a great book and suggesting to me that I need to read it too. She loves to read and has instilled in our children a love for reading as well. Me? I read when I need to read, typically for a particular task. I’m a task reader! I feel too guilty reading a novel when there are so many books that I feel like I need to read to improve my understanding of ministry. The truth is, reading good novels is a practical part of the preaching ministry.

So, what’s on your summer reading list? Have you read any good books lately? Summer ought to be a time when we are allowed to read whatever we would like to read! Kids especially enjoy summer reading, because they don’t have to read something as an assignment from school.

What about reading a book that has a particular spiritual bent? Have you read The Shack ? Or, what about one of my favorite author’s, Brian McLaren’s books? Why not stop by the Church library and peruse a title to take home for the month, or better yet, to relax while on vacation this summer? Sara Fenn, our Church Librarian does an excellent job of keeping our library full of wonderful current titles, you would do well to ask for her recommendations! Tracy always has several excellent titles on our Grace Book cart that awaits your visit outside our offices or in Fellowship Hall on Sunday mornings! These are wonderful ways to deepen our spirituality and to foster more questions for faithful living! Cutting for Stone, by Abraham Verghese is the July Book Discussion Groups’ selection. They will meet on Thursday, July 15 th in the Parlor to discuss this “Wildly imaginative” book as described on it’s back cover….sounds good!

So, why not swing by the church and grab a good book! Summer is a great time for reading a good book, especially a book that deepens your walk with God and your witness to the ways of Jesus! And, while you’re nearby, why not pop your head into our office and catch us up on your life for a while!

See you around this summer, perhaps with a good book in your hand!