Book Marks - January 2008

Happy New Year from your church library! We accomplished a lot of things in the last year. Here are just a few noteworthy items:
* We installed a book return slot in the door, so materials can be returned at any time – even when the library is closed!
* We have several resources now available for the UMW reading program, including Response magazine and New World Outlook.
* Our library catalog is now available online and continues to grow as we catalog more and more books in our collection. The link can be found through the new library page on the church’s website.

Looking forward to 2008, we hope to finish our library handbook, continue cataloging the collection, and offering new resources to meet your needs. If you have any research interests or questions, please feel free to ask Myka Kennedy Stephens. Your church librarian can usually be found in the library on Sunday mornings from 9:45-11:00, and always available via e-mail: library@druidhillsumc.org.

We always welcome suggestions and comments about how we can improve the collection and our library ministry. Hope to be seeing you in the new year!

New Resource Guide Available for UMW Reading Program

A new resource guide is now available on our Wiki: UMW Reading Program. Although UMW maintains its own collection of reading program books, several of these titles can also be found in the church library's collection. This guide provides basic information about the reading program as well as a list of reading program books currently available in the church library. Access it at the following address:
http://dhumclibrary.pbwiki.com/UMWReadingProgram

Library to be open this Wednesday 10/24

The Library will be opening around 6:15 this Wednesday, 10/24. It will remain open during the administrative council meeting and for approximately 10 minutes after. Hope you can drop by!

Watch our cataloging progress!

The bulletin board outside the library has been updated (finally!) for the first time in about a year. The most exciting new addition is a notice about our online card catalog. It features the number of titles currently in the catalog, a number which will be updated periodically so you can watch our progress. The current number is 288... watch it grow!

Coming soon: The Good Heart by H.H. The Dalai Lama

Discovery Class will be studying this book, and Dan Browning has been kind enough to provide the library with both a copy and synopsis of it.

The Good Heart: A Buddhist Perspective on the Teachings of Jesus.

This book is a collection of lectures given by the Dalai Lama on various familiar Gospel passages. Noted author and scholar of world religions Huston Smith described this as "arguably the best book on interreligious dialogue published to date". According to the Publishers Weekly review:

It is refreshing to read the Dalai Lama's meditations on the New Testament selections, many of which he had never read before this seminar but which are among the most familiar for Christians. As His Holiness thinks about famous passages like the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:1-10) and Jesus' resurrection appearance to Mary (John 20:10-18), we see them from the entirely new perspective of Tibetan Buddhist spiritual knowledge and understanding. Consequently, familiar passages are renewed and opened to unexpected insights.

Gilead by Marilynne Robinson

Announcing a new arrival in Adult Fiction: Gilead by Marilynne Robinson.

From the back cover, and quoting the Los Angeles Times Book Review: "Twenty-four years after her first novel, Housekeeping, Marilynne Robinson returns with a story about fathers and sons and the spiritual battles that still rage in America's heart. In the luminous and unforgettable voice of Congregationalist minister John Ames, Gilead reveals the human condition and 'manages to convey the miracle of existence itself.'"
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Adult Fiction call number: Robinson Gilead
Library catalog record
Request this book

Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt by Anne Rice

Announcing a new arrival in Adult Fiction: Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt by Anne Rice.

From the book jacket: "Having completed the two cycles of legend to which she has devoted her career so far, Anne Rice gives us now her most ambitious, and courageous book, a novel about the early years of CHRIST THE LORD, based on the gospels and on the most respected New Testament scholarship. The book's power derives from the passion its author brings to the writing and the way in which she summons up the voice, the presence, the words of Jesus who tells the story."
***
Adult Fiction call number: Rice Christ
Library catalog record
Request this book

House by Frank Peretti and Ted Dekker

Announcing a new arrival in Adult Fiction: House by Frank Peretti and Ted Dekker.

From the book jacket: "On a deserted back road in Alabama, Jack and Stephanie find themselves driving fast and running late. Their world suddenly changes when a strange accident leaves them stranded with no car, no cell phone coverage, and no help in sight. They have no choice except to continue on foot. As darkness approaches, they round a bend and see a small sign at the top of a long gravel driveway: THE WAYSIDE INN.

"The exhausted couple stands in front of an inviting house, complete with gated stone wall, ancient oak trees, and a note welcoming weary travelers. Inside they find another couple with an equally troubling story about a similar accident. It seems that backwoods pranksters have made their day miserable. Still they are safe... Or so they think.

"So begins a story that will keep you guessing and short of breath until the very last page. As the house slowly reveals its secrets, you'll come face-to-face with the sin that haunts us all and a game that can be won by very few. Think you can win? Go ahead, walk through the door, play the game."
***
Adult Fiction call number: Peretti House
Library catalog record
Request this book

The Messenger of Magnolia Street by River Jordan

Announcing a new arrival in Adult Fiction: The Messenger of Magnolia Street by River Jordan.

From the book jacket: "The Messenger of Magnolia Street tells the haunting story of three childhood friends who reunite to fight the unnamed presence that is slowly draining their beloved town of goodness and light. Nehemiah Trust fled his home town of Shibboleth twelve years ago, after the death of his mother. Now chief of staff for a powerful senator, Nehemiah has washed his hands of Shibboleth. But one night his older brother Billy and childhood friend Trice appear at his front door. Something is wrong, they tell him. Nehemiah is needed back home.

"This mesmerizing novel of love awakened, purpose abandoned, and legacy reclaimed begins as slow and easy as a southern Sunday, but as the town of Shibboleth begins to sense the approaching darkness, the three friends must race against time to save the lifeblood of the place they call home. The solution requires a willingness to sacrifice everything."
***
Adult Fiction call number: Jordan Messenger
Library catalog record
Request this book

The Mermaid Chair by Sue Monk Kidd

Announcing a new arrival in Adult Fiction: The Mermaid Chair by Sue Monk Kidd

From the book jacket: "Sue Monk Kidd's stunning Debut, The Secret Life of Bees, became a bestselling phenomenon and a modern classic. Now, in her luminous new novel, Kidd has woven a transcendent tale that will thrill her ligion of fans and cement her reputation as one of the most remarkable writers at work today.

"Inside the church of a Benedictine monastery on Egret Island, just off the coast of South Carolina, resides a beautiful and mysterious chair ornately carved with mermaids and dedicated to a saint who, legend claims, was a mermaid before her conversion.

"When Jessie is summoned home to the island to cope with her eccentric mother's seemingly inexplicable act of violence, she is living a conventional life with her husband, Hugh, a life 'molded to the smallest space possible.' Jessie loves Hugh, but once there, she finds herself drawn to Brother Thomas, a monk who is soon to take his final vows. Amid a rich community of unforgettable island women and the exotic beauty of marshlands, tidal creeks, and majestic egrets, Jessie grapples with the tension of desire and the struggle to deny it, with a freedom that feels overwhelmingly right and the immutable force of home and marriage.

"Is the power of the mermaid chair only a myth? Or will it alter the course of Jessie's life? What transpires will unlock the roots of her mother's tormented past, but most of all, it will allow Jessie to make a marriage unto herself.

"Few novels have explored, as this one does, the lush, unknown region of the feminine soul where the thin line between the spiritual and the erotic exists. Where does the yearning for soul-mated love come from? When it comes to love, what are the pulls inside a woman between the ordinary and the sublime? How does a woman find the place of self-belonging in herself?

"The Mermaid Chair is a vividly imagined novel about mermaids and saints, about the passions of the spirit and the ecstasies of the body. It illuminates the awakening of a woman to her own deepest self with a brilliance and power that only a writer of Kidd's ability could conjure."
***
Adult Fiction call number: Kidd Mermaid
Library catalog record
Request this book

A Common Life by Jan Karon

Announcing a new arrival in Adult Fiction: A Common Life: The Wedding Story by Jan Karon, the sixth novel in the beloved Mitford series.

From the back cover: "Mitford's Lord's Chapel seats barely two hundred souls, yet millions of Jan Karon's fans can attend the most joyous event in years: the wedding of Father Tim Kavanagh and Cynthia Coppersmith. Will Father Tim fall apart when he takes his vows? Will Cynthia make it to the church on time? Who'll arrange the flowers and bake the wedding cake? And will Uncle Billy's prayers for a great joke be answered in time for the reception? All the beloved Mitford characters will be in the pews: Dooley Barlowe, Mss Sadie and Louella, Emma Newland, the mayor; in short, everybody who's anybody in the little town with a big heart. So welcome—there's a special seat waiting, just for you."
***
Adult Fiction call number: Karon Mitford 6
Library catalog record
Request this book

My Happy Heart by Melody Carlson

Announcing a new arrival in Juvenile Fiction: My Happy Heart by Melody Carlson, illustrations by Jim Osborn

Recommended for ages 4-10.

From book jacket: "With a heart so full of love and joy, a little boy makes an 'I Love You' card. But now comes the hard part. Who does he give it to? There are so many people who are dear to him—his sister, his mother, his father, his best friends, teacher, aunt, neighbors, grandparents—he loves them all. At the end of the day, he still has his card—although it is now a little worn, a little wrinkled, and crumpled. He decides to give it to the one he loves most..."
***
Juvenile Fiction Call Number: J Carlson My
Library catalog record
Request this book

New in Adult Non-Fiction for October 2007

We've added some new titles to Adult Non-Fiction. They're listed below with links to the catalog records. Come check them out!

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God's Secretaries: The Making of the King James Bible by Adam Nicolson. New York: HarperCollins, 2003.
Subject headings: Bible. English. Authorized—History; Bible. English. Authorized—Influence; Great Britain—History—James I, 1603-1625; Great Britain—Religion—17th century; James I, King of England, 1566-1625
Adult Non-Fiction call number: BS186 .N53 2003
Library catalog record

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The Historical Books by Richard D. Nelson. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1998.
Subject headings: Bible. O.T. Historical books—Criticism, interpretation, etc; Bible. O.T. Historical books—Introductions
Adult Non-fiction call number: BS1205.2 .N45 1998
Library catalog record

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Respectful Kids: The Complete Guide to Bringing Out the Best in Your Child by Dr. Todd Cartmell. Colorado Springs: NavPress, 2006.
Subject headings: Child rearing—Religious aspects—Christianity; Parenting—Religious aspects—Christianity
Adult Non-fiction call number: BV4529 .C427 2006
Library catalog record

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Organic God: Lenten Meditations on the Words of Jesus by Kate Moorehead. Cambridge, MA: Cowley, 2006.
Subject headings: Jesus Christ—Words—Meditations; Lent—Meditations
Adult Non-fiction call number: BV85 .M59 2006
Library catalog record

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A Clearing Season: Reflections for Lent by Sarah Parsons. Nashville: Upper Room Books, 2005.
Subject headings: Lent—Meditations
Adult Non-fiction call number: BV85 .P323 2005
Library catalog record

West of the Jordan by Laila Halaby

Announcing a new arrival in Adult Fiction: West of the Jordan: a novel by Laila Halaby.
*Note: This book is also on the UMW 2005 Reading List*

From the back cover: "This is a brilliant and revelatory first novel by a woman who is both an Arab and an American, who speaks with both voices and understands both worlds. Through the narratives of four cousins at the brink of maturity, Laila Halaby immerses her readers in the lives, friendships, and loves of girls struggling with national, ethnic, and sexual identities. Mawal is the stable one, living steeped in the security of Palestinian traditions in the West Bank. Hala is torn between two worlds—in love in Jordan, drawn back to the world she has come to love in Arizona. Khadija is terrified by the sexual freedom of her American friends, but scarred, both literally and figuratively, by her father's abusive behavior. Soraya is lost in trying to forge an acceptable life in a foreign yet familiar land, in love with her own uncle, and unable to navigate the fast culture of California youth. Interweaving their stories, allowing us to see each cousin from multiple points of view, Halaby creates a compelling and entirely original story, a window into the rich and complicated Arab world."
***
Adult Fiction call number: Halaby West
Library catalog record
Request this book

My Bible Storybook by Mindy MacDonald

Announcing a new arrival in Juvenile Non-Fiction: My Bible Storybook by Mindy MacDonald.

Recommended for ages 2-6.

From the back cover: "Beginning to end with rhyme as our friend. In no time at all, learning's a ball. With colors so bright, just look at the sight: The Bible's made fun for your little ones!

"From 'The Very Beginning' (the creation of the world) to 'The King in the Barn' (the birth of Jesus), these short stories bring the Scriptures to life! Kids will love learning today what God's people experienced long ago."
***
Juvenile Non-Fiction call number: J BS551.3 .M24 2005
Library catalog record
Request this book

Joshua in a Troubled World by Joseph F. Girzone

Announcing a new arrival in Adult Fiction:
Joshua in a Troubled World by Joseph F. Girzone
*Note: This book is also on the UMW 2007 Reading List*

From the book jacket: "Joseph Girzone possesses a unique ability to make Jesus' words and actions come to life for contemporary audiences. His fictional depictions of Jesus' return to the present-day world—the Joshua series—have inspired millions of readers. Joshua in a Troubled World is at once a magnificent continuation of his perennially popular series and an enlightening perspective on the political paranoia and destructive acts of vengeance that fill the front pages of our daily newspapers.

"Arriving in Washington, D.C., Joshua walks along Pennsylvania Avenue with a cool detachment and determination that set him apart from the bustling crowds. Under ordinary circumstances, he would no doubt be seen simply as a man wrapped in his own thoughts. But in these security-obsessed times, his Middle Eastern appearance and his spontaneous stops at various churches, temples, and mosques inevitably arouse suspicions. Taken into custody by two government agents, Joshua challenges the legal and moral justness of their actions, and they reluctantly release him to continue his mission. It is the most difficult and controversial mission he has ever undertaken—a plan to reunite Arab- and Jewish-Americans and to work with them to resolve the bitter wars and religious animosities in the Middle East.

"Peopled with prominent figures such as Ariel Sharon, and moving from Washington to Beirut and then to Oslo while the peace accords are being hammered out, Joshua in a Troubled World explores the most explosive issues of our day and offers a realistic, compassionate assessment of the things that divide us and the beliefs that can serve as a foundation for a new, more peaceful world."
***
Adult Fiction call number: Girzone Joshua
Library catalog record
Request this book

Holy Bible, Human Bible by Gordon Oliver

Announcing a new arrival: Holy Bible, Human Bible: Questions Pastoral Practice Must Ask by Gordon Oliver.

The following review was written by Myka Kennedy Stephens for Congregational Libraries Today, the bimonthly publication of the Church & Synagogue Library Association. Used with permission. Copyright 2007 by the Church and Synagogue Library Association (www.cslainfo.org).

Second in the Using the Bible in Pastoral Practice series, Anglican priest Gordon Oliver examines eight different questions about the Bible and its relation to the Christian community. It is an attempt to engage pastors and church leaders in thoughtful reflection on the nature of the Bible as it is actually used by congregations and in individual practice. Lay people often pose questions to pastors such as, “What is the Bible?” Instead of trying to have the answers, Oliver offers the pastor an opportunity to ask and contemplate the same questions. The core of his argument lies in an examination of what it means to be biblical, or live according to the teachings of the Bible, and what it means to be human. Are these two natures at odds in Christian life?

The conclusions he draws about the Bible and its place in Christianity are helpful and provide a good starting point for further discussion. While many of the examples come from Oliver’s context as a priest in the Church of England, this book can also resonate with American and Canadian audiences. Written with pastors and other church leaders in mind, educated and interested lay people will also find it easy to read and engaging.
***
Call number: BS538.3 .O45 2006
Library catalog record
Request this book

Book Marks - November 2007

Summer Book Sale Success: Thank you to everyone that supported our summer used book sale. We raised more than enough money to install a mail slot in the library door. This will function as a book drop for when the library is locked. The hardware has been ordered and will be installed within the next month.

Join the Library Interest Group: Interested in library ministries? Our new Library Interest Group, hosted by Google Groups, is an online forum for discussing issues related to our library ministry at Druid Hills UMC. For more information please visit the library’s website or ask Myka.

Library Site Online: The library now has an updated page on the new DruidHillsUMC.org website. A special thanks to Peter Kinnaird for helping me set it up. To access the new site, please go to http://www.druidhillsumc.org/ and click on “William D. Thomson Library” in the list of Site Areas.

New Acquisitions: Don’t forget to check our blog for reviews of our newest acquisitions! http://dhumclibrary.blogspot.com/

Church Library on New Church Website

The church library now has it's own space on the new Druid Hills UMC website. Many thanks to Peter Kinnaird for making it happen! Right now we just have some basic information and links up, but look for our policies and procedures to be added in the near future.

http://www.druidhillsumc.org/?page_id=61

DHUMC Library Interest Group has moved

The DHUMC Library Interest Group has moved to a Google Groups interface instead of the service provided by UMCom (United Methodist Communications). The archives of the group will be publicly accessible, so even if you are not a member of the group, you can keep up with the conversations. A direct link to the group is provided below, and a permanent link has been placed on the sidebar of this blog.

http://groups.google.com/group/DHUMC_Library/

To join the group, please visit the group using the link above and click "apply for membership" on the sidebar. Alternatively, just send an e-mail to me (library@druidhillsumc.org) and I will add you to the group.

Good News for Prisoners Seeking Religious Resources

A follow-up to our June 20, 2007 post on the prison religious book ban: The Bureau of Prisons has announced that they are returning religious books previously removed from prison libraries. They will continue to compile a list of acceptable books, but all books will remain on the shelves until the list is complete. The full story can be read online from The New York Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/26/us/27cnd-prisons.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

Formation of DHUMC Library Interest Group

In an effort to generate more interest and participation in our library ministry, I have set up an e-mail group called "DHUMC Library Interest Group." This is a "committee" of sorts that will discuss our library ministry and assist with decision-making. If you are interested in becoming more involved with our library ministry, please visit the United Methodist Communications website (UMCom.org) and request to join this group. A direct link to the group's listing is at the following address: http://www.umcom.org/commtools/com_resourcedesc.asp?resourceid=1728&resourceType=1

Book Marks - October 2007

Are you interested in participating in the exciting and important mission of library ministries? Please contact the church librarian to find out about how you can get involved: library@druidhillsumc.org.

Review of New Acquisition by Darryl Stephens
Mountains Beyond Mountains: The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer, A Man Who Would Cure the World by Tracy Kidder (New York: Random House, 2003).
Kidder, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author, provides an inspiring account of the medical mission work of Catholic layman Paul Farmer, a Harvard epidemiologist and founder of Partners in Health, who made health in Haiti his life's work. Farmer's work fighting TB, AIDS, and other diseases becomes a quest not only for medical intervention but also for improvement of the living and working conditions of the poorest of the poor in the Western Hemisphere. Having traveled to Haiti twice on mission trips myself, I found the book compelling, accurate, and hopeful. While Kidder's journalistic documentary is not heavily theological, he does provide a rich entree into a theological discussion of mission and health care--especially in terms of the "preferential option for the poor" and treating the life of every person (or patient) as intrinsically valuable, challenging our all-too-common utilitarian calculus for moral decision-making.
***
Call number: R154 .F36 K53 2003
Request this book now!

Special Announcement: Book Sale canceled for 7/29

The final Sunday of our 2nd Annual Book Sale has been canceled. The good news is that we have been able to raise a considerable amount from the last three Sundays, so we may be able to purchase our new book drop. The book sale books will remain in the library throughout the month of August for your perusal, and the final day of the sale will be rescheduled at a later date.

2000 Years of Amazing Grace by Paul F. M. Zahl

Announcing a new arrival: 2000 Years of Amazing Grace: The Story and Meaning of the Christian Faith by Paul F. M. Zahl.

The following review was written by Myka Kennedy Stephens for Congregational Libraries Today, the bimonthly publication of the Church & Synagogue Library Association. Used with permission. Copyright 2007 by the Church and Synagogue Library Association (www.cslainfo.org).

This lengthy yet compact volume claims to be “The Christianity Primer.” It is written with the new Christian in mind and very easy to read. It is organized chronologically, beginning with the birth of Christ and ending with a brief account of twenty-first century Christianity. Each page includes notes in the margin that summarize the author’s arguments. The book also includes a lengthy appendix of Christian writings throughout history, including Luther’s Preface to the Book of Romans, selected Negro spirituals, and the Barmen Declaration. It also includes two comprehensive indices of subjects and historical figures.

While Zahl’s Anglican evangelical background influences his telling of Christian history, he has attempted to make Christian history accessible to anyone. The result is a book that lacks citations, references and bibliographies. There are many areas of Christian thought that Zahl simplifies for easy reading to the detriment of providing resources for further reading and exploration. Congregational librarians are advised to preview this book before adding it to their collections.
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Call number: TBA
Request this book now!

The Creation by E. O. Wilson

Announcing a new arrival: The Creation: An Appeal to Save Life on Earth by E. O. Wilson.

The following review was written by Myka Kennedy Stephens for Congregational Libraries Today, the bimonthly publication of the Church & Synagogue Library Association. Used with permission. Copyright 2007 by the Church and Synagogue Library Association (www.cslainfo.org).

The latest work from renowned entomologist E. O. Wilson is an attempt to educate people of faith about the need to protect the environment. As a letter addressed to a Southern Baptist pastor, The Creation seeks to explore the science behind our biosphere and relate it to a philosophy of stewardship that all humans might embrace. The text is written on the scientific layperson’s level and peppered with grayscale illustrations to enhance the reading experience. It is a primer for those interested in learning more about environmental and biological studies.

The more discerning reader may be slightly disappointed in Wilson’s lack of engagement with religion and faith. Aside from being addressed to a pastor, there is nothing about the book that implies a Christian audience. The cooperative solution he offers in the last pages, forgetting about the differences between science and religion in order to work together, is unimaginative and lacks supporting examples of how this might be carried out. Nevertheless, in the wake of renewed concern about our environment, this book provides good discussion material for any small study group within a congregation.
***
Call number: QH303 .W55 2006
Request this book now!

Church Library 2nd Annual Book Sale

The William D. Thomson Library is having its Second Annual Used Book Sale after worship every Sunday in July! Stop by the book cart parked in the narthex and see if there's something for you. All books are $1 each and the proceeds will be put toward a book drop slot to be installed in the library's door.

Religious books removed from prison library

Dear friends,
This story from ALA caught my eye and I thought you might appreciate seeing it as well. Please feel free to share thoughts via the comment function on this blog.
Thanks!
Myka
http://www.ala.org/ala/alonline/currentnews/newsarchive/2007/june2007/prisons.cfm

Calendar of Events now launched

The church library now has a public calendar powered by Google Calendar. Links to upcoming events appear on the right side of this blog page. All open hours, meetings, and special events will be published there. Just another great way to stay informed about the ministry of the William D. Thomson Library!

Librarian Out 6/10 and 6/17

The church librarian (Myka) will be on vacation and not in the library during open hours on 6/10 and 6/17. If you have a specific question or request, please contact her by e-mail: library@druidhillsumc.org. The library will be open on those days for circulation and browsing.

The Internet Comes to the Library!

I am pleased to announce that your humble church library now has high-speed Internet! We are deeply indebted to Andy Brown, IT guru and member of Druid Hills Baptist Church, who wired the library's computer into the existing church network. This included drilling a hole in a 9-inch thick brick wall to run the cable into the library! The work is not complete--some finishing tack work will be done on Monday. I hope you will join me in expressing our deep appreciation to Mr. Brown for his generous gift of labor.

Book Marks - June 2007

Our library continues in its quest to make information available in a variety of ways, meeting you wherever you may be. If you find yourself online searching for church resources, look no further than the DHUMC Library Wiki! This is the one place online where you will find all the resource guides that are available from the William D. Thomson Library. Currently, that list amounts to one guide on United Methodism, but there are plans to add more within the next few months. The great thing about wikis, though, is that everyone in our community can contribute. If there is a topic you want to write about or contribute to, please contact Myka for more information.

We’re testing a new online catalog powered by LibraryThing.com. Links to our catalog now appear on the DHUMC Library Blog. To access the catalog directly, go to http://www.librarything.com/catalog/DHUMCLibrary. Please remember that this is just a trial, so only a few books from our collection are entered at this time. We would really appreciate feedback, so let us know what you think!

Please visit our blog (http://dhumclibrary.blogspot.com) for the latest news and updates. The church library is open Sunday mornings 9:45-11:00, and by appointment. Contact librarian Myka Kennedy Stephens (library@druidhillsumc.org) for more information.

General Conference candidate profiles now available

Are you interested in learning more about those across the North Georgia Annual Conference who are running for election as lay delegates to General and Jurisdictional Conferences in 2008? Well, you're in luck because a guide containing biographies and pictures of all the candidates is now available in the church library. If you have strong feelings about one or more of the candidates, please share your thoughts with lay leader Dan Browning and senior pastor Rex Kaney. They will be representing Druid Hills UMC at Annual Conference this year and will be voting for delegates to the 2008 General Conference and 2008 Southeast Jurisdictional Conference.

The guide is currently displayed on the reading table in the library. We prefer that you spend time looking at this guide in the library so that it remains available to as many people as possible. If you must take it home, don't forget to fill-out the check-out form and please limit your check-out period to 1 week (as with all Reference materials). The guide will be withdrawn from the collection after the election is over.

Introducing the DHUMC Library Wiki

Our library continues in its quest to make information available in a variety of ways, meeting you wherever you may be. If you find yourself online searching for church resources, look no further than the DHUMC Library Wiki! This is the one place online where you will find all the resource guides that are available from the William D. Thomson Library. Currently, that list amounts to one guide on United Methodism, but there are plans to add more within the next few months. The great thing about wikis, though, is that everyone in our community can contribute. So, if there's a topic you'd like to write about or contribute to, create a PBWiki Identity (free and easy) and jump right into the conversation! As always, if you have any questions about this, would like to know more, or need help and training to use the wiki site, just ask your trusty librarian! :-)

Collection Development Policy to Be Presented to Administrative Council

I will be presenting our Library's Collection Development Policy to the Administrative Council on Wednesday night, April 25. The full text of the proposed policy is available online. Please click here to view. A handout with the Collection Goals and Selection Criteria will be distributed at the meeting. If you are unable to attend the meeting, please send your feedback to me by e-mail, or comment on this post (click the comment link below). Thanks!

Restoring Faith edited by Forrest Church

Announcing a new arrival: Restoring Faith: America's Religious Leaders Answer Terror with Hope edited by Forrest Church.

Forrest Church, prolific author and senior minister of All Souls Church in New York City, compiled this impressive volume of 24 sermons and addresses in response to the September 11th terrorist attacks. Although it is now almost six years later, these words of grief and hope still speak to us in a post-9/11 society. It is a collection that spans the Christian, Jewish, and Muslim faiths and draws from well-known scholars and ministers, such as John Shelby Spong and Harold S. Kushner. Of special interest to our congregation, it includes a sermon given in Cannon Chapel, Emory University by Jon P. Gunnemann, Professor of Christian Ethics at Candler School of Theology.

Click here for the publisher's description
Subject headings: September 11 Terrorist Attacks, 2001--Sermons. Sermons, American--21st century.
***
Call number: BT736.15 .R47 2001
Request this book now!

Book Marks - May 2007

As we approach our annual observance of Peace With Justice Sunday, I would like to draw your attention to some new acquisitions that deal with social justice and peace issues. Please visit the DHUMC Library Blog for summaries and reviews of these and other new acquisitions.

War or Words: Interreligious Dialogue as an Instrument of Peace, edited by Donald W. Musser and D. Dixon Sutherland. Cleveland: Pilgrim Press, 2005.

Ending Poverty as We Know It: Guaranteeing a Right to a Job at a Living Wage, by William P. Quigley. Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 2003.

A Revolution of Compassion: Faith-Based Groups as Full Partners in Fighting America’s Social Problems, by Dave Donaldson and Stanley Carlson-Thies. Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2003.

Restoring Faith: America’s Religious Leaders Answer Terror with Hope, edited by Forrest Church. New York: Walker & Co., 2001.

The church library is open Sunday mornings 9:45-11:00, and by appointment. Contact librarian Myka Kennedy Stephens for more information.

State of the Library Report

The State of the Library report which was given to Administrative Council on February 28, 2007 is now available online.
Click here to view

Book Marks - April 2007

Late Breaking News from the Library!

We have two very important and exciting developments to announce in this issue of Book Marks. The first is that our church library’s blog is featured in the current issue of Congregational Libraries Today! Your church librarian wrote an article for the Church and Synagogue Library Association about how blogs can enhance the service of congregational libraries, citing the development of our own blog (http://dhumclibrary.blogspot.com). It is on the cover of their bimonthly magazine, providing great exposure for our library ministry.

The second development I have to report is our potential partnership with Druid Hills Baptist Church to form a union catalog that would be available online. Our current catalog will be merged with theirs, and online access means that you will be able to access our catalog from anywhere! It also opens the possibility for sharing resources between our libraries, and there are plans to invite Druid Hills Presbyterian Church and St. John’s Lutheran Church to join our endeavor. The library would like to extend a special thanks to Dan Browning and Rick Kravako, who are working on getting an Internet connection in the library which will help facilitate this transition.

Please keep watching our blog for new acquisitions and updates. We welcome volunteers to help us catalog and process materials. It is an exciting time to be involved in library ministries! Come by and see what's going on!

Book Marks - March 2007

Help us grow our collection by giving to the library in memory or honor of someone special. The library has a “wishlist” of materials we would like to add to the collection, which is currently available upon request. Choose a book from this list and we will add a special bookplate commemorating the person you would like recognized. Selection is not limited to this list and we welcome all suggestions. However, the church librarian must approve the final selection. Monetary honorariums and memorials are also accepted. Please send these to the church office along with a special note to the church library expressing how you wish your gift to be spent.

Send inquiries to the church librarian: library@druidhillsumc.org, 404-486-7063

New books in February

Here's a list of some new books added to the collection this month. Feel free to click the request link if a title interests you and we will let you know when it is ready to check-out.

Biblical Studies:

Mays, James Luther. Amos: A Commentary. Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1969.
Call number: BS1585.3 .M34 1969
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Collins, John J. Jewish Wisdom in the Hellenistic Age. Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 1997.
Call number: BS1765.2 .C65 1997
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Juvenile Chapter Books:

Carroll, Lewis. Alice in Wonderland. New York: Scholastic.
Call number: Carroll Alice
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Rowling, J.K. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. New York: Scholastic, 1998.
Call number: Rowling HP2
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Young Adult:

Kaplan, Inc. SAT Score-Raising Dictionary. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2005.
Call number: LB2353.57 .K37 2005
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Hawthorne, Nathaniel. The Scarlet Letter. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2005.
Call number: Hawthorne Scarlet
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Street Signs by Ray Bakke and Jon Sharpe

Announcing a new arrival: Street Signs: A New Direction in Urban Ministry by Ray Bakke and Jon Sharpe.

The following review was written by Myka Kennedy Stephens for Congregational Libraries Today, the bimonthly publication of the Church & Synagogue Library Association. Used with permission. Copyright 2007 by the Church and Synagogue Library Association (www.cslainfo.org).

Inside its attractive cover, this book has a depth that lives up to its title in that it provides a new direction for urban ministries. Bakke and Sharpe share their personal stories and how experience in urban ministry has shaped their understanding of the limitless possibilities for the Christian church in an urban setting. It is a practical guide for urban churches and their leaders that is both friendly and challenging. With questions for reflection at the end of each chapter, this book is ideal for small group study or independent reading.

Bakke and Sharpe’s theology of urban ministry develops out of their Lutheran/Baptist and Methodist/Pentecostal backgrounds. They assert that the city is not just another mission field. Rather, God is present in urban areas and the Church is called to listen to and meet the needs of urban Christians. They promote the idea of consultations to invigorate urban ministries and include a how-to guide for organizing a consultation. The theology and missiology contained in this book can be easily translated to any Christian church, from Roman Catholic to Baptist. It would benefit any urban church that reads it and is highly recommended.
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Call number: BV637.5 .B35 2006
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Awakened to a Calling

Announcing a new arrival: Awakened to a Calling: Reflections on the Vocation of Ministry edited by Ann M. Svennungsen and Melissa Wiginton. This book is part of our special Druid Hills Historical Collection, as it is co-edited by a member of our church and the Foreword is by James T. Laney.

The following review was written by Myka Kennedy Stephens for Congregational Libraries Today, the bimonthly publication of the Church & Synagogue Library Association. Used with permission. Copyright 2007 by the Church and Synagogue Library Association (www.cslainfo.org).

This short collection of sermons and homilies speaks to anyone who has ever felt the call to ministry. Compiled as a tribute to former Fund for Theological Education president Jim Waits, Awakened to a Calling includes passionate and encouraging words from well-known preachers such as Tom Long, Fred Craddock, Barbara Brown Taylor, and Walter Brueggemann. For those who are in the life-long process of discerning God’s call, reading this book is like having your own private team of mentors guiding and supporting you. Both burgeoning and seasoned ministers would enjoy this book.
***
Call number: BV4011.4 .A93 2005
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Young Clergy by Donald Capps

Announcing a new arrival: Young Clergy: a Biographical-Developmental Study by Donald Capps

The following review was written by Myka Kennedy Stephens for Congregational Libraries Today, the bimonthly publication of the Church & Synagogue Library Association. Used with permission. Copyright 2007 by the Church and Synagogue Library Association (www.cslainfo.org).

Renowned pastoral psychologist Donald Capps turns his attention toward the development of young clergy in his latest book. In it, he applies Daniel Levinson’s model of adult development to the biographies of Phillips Brooks, Jonathan Edwards, John Henry Newman, John Wesley, and Orestes Brownson. Each of these historical clergymen from the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries represents a different type of development during the early adult era of life. By examining these case studies, the reader hopes to understand more about the driving forces in the life of a young clergy person.

As a critical examination of pastoral development, this book contributes to the existing conversation. While the explanation and application of Levinson’s model is clear and concise, it is questionable whether or not those outside of the field of pastoral psychology will find this work helpful or relevant. The case studies of each clergyman, however, are engaging and make this a book easily adapted for small group study. It should be noted that the case studies do not include full biographies; rather, they trace the life from childhood to early adulthood, approximately to the age of forty. Protestant congregations may find this book more useful for biographical study of these five clergymen.
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Call number: BV600.3 .C37 2005
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Preaching without Contempt by Marilyn J. Salmon

Announcing a new arrival: Preaching without Contempt: Overcoming Unintended Anti-Judaism by Marilyn J. Salmon.

The following review was written by Myka Kennedy Stephens for Congregational Libraries Today, the bimonthly publication of the Church & Synagogue Library Association. Used with permission. Copyright 2007 by the Church and Synagogue Library Association (www.cslainfo.org).

In a world where religious tolerance and interfaith dialogue is becoming a must, Marilyn Salmon offers her suggestions for overcoming anti-Jewish sentiments in Christian preaching. Not every preacher is aware that she or he is promoting anti-Jewish thought because it has been a part of the Christian tradition for so many years. Even the great Barbara Brown Taylor has fallen victim to unintentional anti-Jewish statements in her sermons. In this easy to read manual, Salmon attempts to raise the reader’s awareness of anti-Judaism in Christianity and offers historical and theological evidence that strengthens the bonds between these two faith traditions.

Part of the Fortress Resources for Preaching series, Preaching without Contempt examines five major areas where anti-Judaism is most prevalent. These include the Gospels, the idea of supersessionism, who the Pharisees were, and the passion narrative. Her chapters are informative, well documented, and include illustrations from her own sermons. Both clergy and lay preachers would benefit from this book. It is recommended for all Christian congregational libraries, as it is vitally important in the current religious and political climate that dominates our world.
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Call number: BT93 .S25 2006
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UMC.org Community

As we are committed to bringing you news about all types of information, here is another e-mail announcement the church library received from UMC.org:

One of the most exciting features of the redesigned UMC.org, the Web site of the people of The United Methodist Church, is the new Community section—the first large-scale social networking site developed by a mainline denomination. Hundreds of people have already signed up to participate in a global dialogue on topics of faith and service.

UMC.org is not only a great way for you to connect with other people of faith from around the world, but it’s also an opportunity to further enhance your own congregation’s community. By forming an online village for your church on UMC.org, you can help members keep in touch between services, get updates if they miss a service or event, and find local volunteer opportunities, just to name a few possibilities.

UMC.org Community is also a great way for to reach the young members of your church who are familiar with other popular social networks such as MySpace and Facebook. The difference at UMC.org community is the commitment to online safety and mutual respect.

The online community, developed by Brick River Technologies, has filters that edit out offensive language, a minimum age requirement of 13 years old, security technology review by senior professionals, manual review of photo and video content, and a self-monitoring approach that allows users to flag the content of inappropriate posts for review by an administrator.

Setting up a village on the UMC.org Community is simple:

At www.UMC.org, click on “Connect” to create a Community profile.
From your Dashboard home, select “Create a Village” from the menu on the left.
Complete the easy online form by choosing a name for your village and selecting settings to make the group either private or open to the public.
Invite members of your church to join your village and become part of your online community.

The UMC.org Community is an innovative new way to stay connected with the church, and United Methodist Communications encourages you be among the first to join the online dialogue. Please create a profile at www.UMC.org today.

We hope that you will join the UMC.org Community and share this information with members of your church. To download a UMC.org Community bulletin insert and sample service announcement, visit www.UMC.org/Launch.

E-Mail Announcement from UM NeXus

The Progressive Christian, Author Collaborate to Publish Online Book

The Progressive Christian magazine is cooperating with Dr. Delwin Brown to publish a short online book entitled Progressive Christian Beliefs.

The book by Dr. Brown is an "introduction" to a progressive Christian perspective "for liberals who are searching, conservatives who are open, and others who are curious." For a preview of the book's Preface, click here.

Beginning Monday, February 19, a chapter of Progressive Christian Beliefs will be posted biweekly at http://progressivetheology.word.com. Comments and readers' discussion of the issues raised by each of the eight chapters are encouraged.

A link to this blog publication will also appear on the home page of The Progressive Christian as well as the websites of other progressive religious groups. The new TPC web site will be launched on Saturday, Feb. 17.

The Progressive Christian is a magazine for people of faith seeking the common good through reflection, dialogue and responsible action. Dr. Brown, dean emeritus at Pacific School of Religion, served as the director of "The Progressive Christian Witness."

The Sense of the Call by Marva J. Dawn

Announcing a new arrival: Marva J. Dawn's The Sense of the Call: A Sabbath Way of Life for Those Who Serve God, the Church, and the World

The following review was written by Myka Kennedy Stephens for Congregational Libraries Today, the bimonthly publication of the Church & Synagogue Library Association. Used with permission. Copyright 2007 by the Church and Synagogue Library Association (www.cslainfo.org).

Pastors, ministers, and church workers will appreciate Marva Dawn’s call to Sabbath-keeping in her most recent work. Strongly rooted in Biblical interpretation and conversant with other writings on the topic, Dawn encourages those who have dedicated their lives to Christ to make the additional dedication to a day of resting, ceasing, fasting and embracing. In sincerity, she admits to her own difficulties with Sabbath-keeping, yet she draws strength from them to encourage and enable her readers to join her in improving this Christian practice.

While this book is intended for those who work in and for the Church, the concepts could be easily adapted for any faithful Christians who seek to improve their Sabbath practices. It includes an extensive reading list organized by topic to aid the reader in finding additional resources on Sabbath-keeping.
***
Call number: BV4400 .D38 2006
Request this book now!

The Unwanted Gift of Grief by Tim P. VanDuivendyk

Announcing a new arrival: Tim P. VanDuivendyk's The Unwanted Gift of Grief: A Ministry Approach.

The following review was written by Myka Kennedy Stephens for Congregational Libraries Today, the bimonthly publication of the Church & Synagogue Library Association. Used with permission. Copyright 2007 by the Church and Synagogue Library Association (www.cslainfo.org).

This highly accessible and easy-to-read guide through the grieving process provides comfort to the griever and support for the friend of the griever. The author’s personal experiences with grief and his ministry as a chaplain allow him to write with clarity of tone that will reach any reader. At the root of his approach is an understanding of grief as an expression of gratitude for that which is no longer present. The grieving process is likened to a journey through a wilderness, and this book is there to guide the way for griever and sojourner, the one who accompanies the griever.

This book will have a broad appeal to those who are suffering and those who wish to help the suffering. It is a practical guide with anecdotes, insights, and a depth that is not weighted down with technical terms or concepts. Important points are drawn out of the text and placed in italics, making the book easy to follow or skim. Congregational libraries would do their users well in acquiring this book.
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Call number: BV4905.3 .V38 2006
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New look for UMC.org

Everyone should take a look at our denominational website: http://www.umc.org. It has recently undergone a major redesign by United Methodist Communications. Here is a quote from UMCom about it:
"United Methodist Communications designed UMC.org to meet the needs of a large global audience and to make people feel welcome, as if walking into a church. The redesigned site achieves this with a single entranceway that provides access to church resources and offers visitors a close look at who we are as a faith community. Whether you are a clergy member, church member, seeker, educator, parent, or youth, UMC.org offers a range of functions that are relevant to your daily life."
Feedback on the site can be sent to umc@umc.org

New UM Blog available

We received the following e-mail announcement from UM NeXus, an online United Methodist publication whose most recent issues can be found in print form in the church library:

In honor of UM NeXus' first anniversary, a new blog, "Thursday's Children," starts this week on the UM NeXus Blog site, along with a blogroll highlighting other interesting sites by United Methodists. http://www.umnexus.org/blog/

UM NeXus Editor Cynthia B. Astle writes "Thursday's Children", whose title is based on the old nursery rhyme ("Thursday's child has far to go"). Each week she'll post news that can't wait for the weekly UM NeXus deadline,
and also take readers behind the scenes of NeXus' editorial philosophy and workings. Readers can post comments as well.

The new NeXus Blogroll begins with "Howe About," an insightful column by the Rev. Leroy Howe, retired professor from Perkins School of Theology. This issue links to Dr. Howe's insights about the proposed George W. Bush Presidential Library at Southern Methodist University, where Perkins is located. Readers are invited to submit links to their favorite blogs by emailing editor@umnexus.org with "Blogroll" in the subject line.

Published by the Boston Wesleyan Association, UM NeXus remains committed to its editorial mission: To serve as a forum for news, context and commentary, open to all United Methodists concerned with issues and events facing the church. Join the conversation!

Book Marks - February 2007

Requesting books is easy! Church and Sunday school book studies are quite popular right now. Don’t forget to tell the library which books you are reading in advance! We will acquire a copy for people to check-out if they are unable to purchase a copy for themselves. Let’s be good stewards of the economy and the environment and share our resources as a community.

Requests can also be made for materials that the library owns but either cannot be found or are checked-out. A request of this nature will create a waiting list and help facilitate circulation of materials.

There are two easy ways to make requests. For those who prefer to do it in person, fill out a request form available in the church library and leave it in the library drop-box. For the electronically minded, send an e-mail request to library@druidhillsumc.org.

Don’t forget to read the DHUMC Library Blog: http://dhumclibrary.blogspot.com. We’re posting new additions to the collection along with reviews and other interesting information. If you see an item on the blog that you’d like to request, please feel free to click the “Request” link on the post. We’ll let you know as soon as it is available! Using the church library has never been more easy and convenient. Hope to be seeing you this year!

All Out of Faith: Southern Women on Spirituality

Announcing a new arrival: Wendy Reed and Jennifer Horne's edited volume: All Out of Faith: Southern Women on Spirituality. This is a great book, and highly recommended to women of all ages at Druid Hills UMC.

The following review was written by Myka Kennedy Stephens for Congregational Libraries Today, the bimonthly publication of the Church & Synagogue Library Association. Used with permission. Copyright 2007 by the Church and Synagogue Library Association (www.cslainfo.org).

The American South has long been distinguished as a region of fervent religious conviction. This cultural milieu, primarily male dominated, directly affects the way in which women experience religion and spirituality. All Out of Faith chronicles the spiritual experiences of sixteen Southern women. In their essays, these women of faith write about the love and hate, pleasure and pain of living in the “Bible Belt.” Christian and non-Christian alike, these women share their stories and perspectives on Southern religiousness. A significant work, All Out of Faith explores what it means to be both a Southern woman and a spiritual woman.

This book would be a gem in any congregational library collection, but especially those located in the American South. The essays of noted authors such as Sue Monk Kidd and Barbara Kingsolver add to the appeal of this volume. Women’s groups might especially enjoy discussing the stories collected in All Out of Faith. The variety of religious experiences explored in this book makes it a desirable addition for any Southern congregational library.
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Call number: BL625.7 .A45 2006
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