Ladies' Night Out

Ladies Night Out is back again but with a new and easier way for you to join at your convenience! No commitment is necessary!! Once a month, we will gather at 6:30 pm in the Fireside Room to discuss a great book. The selections will be posted below, so you can pick and choose the months you would like to participate. Very casual and very relaxed. Hopefully, the readings will make you think, inspire, or encourage you on your walk with Jesus.

We will meet on Monday, September 29 at 6:30pm. September’s book is "The Shack" by William P. Young. It has been receiving a great deal of press and deals with the timeless question "Where is God in a world so filled with unspeakable pain?" One author, Wayne Jacobsen, reviewed "The Shack" by saying "If there’s a better book out there capturing God’s engaging nature and his ability to crawl into our darkest nightmare with his love, light and healing, I’ve not seen it. For the most ardent believer or newest spiritual seeker, the shack is a must-read."

Monday, October 20th - Take This Bread by Sara Miles
This novel came highly recommended by our very own Father Jamie.  Hopefully, I can sweet talk him into joining us this night for the discussion!  "Raised as an atheist, Sara Miles lived an enthusiastically secular life as a restaurant cook and writer. Then early one morning, for no earthly reason, she wandered into a church. 'I was certainly not interested in becoming a Christian, she writes. Or, as I thought of it rather less politely, a religious nut.' But she ate a piece of bread, took a sip of wine, and found herself radically transformed."

Monday, November 10th - 90 Minutes in Heaven by Don Piper
I don't know about you but I have seen this book at Hornbachers, Wal-Mart, the airport...everywhere!  Let's see what makes this such a popular read.  "After a terrible car crash, Baptist minister Don Piper is pronounced dead at the scene. This inspiring story tells of his experiences during the next 90 minutes spent in heaven. Through prayer, he is suddenly brought back to physical life and eventually makes a full recovery. This book records his memories of heaven. Have you lost a loved one? Don Piper's words will comfort you and bring hope. Have you lost your zeal? This book will refuel your passion for life as well as your longing for heaven."

Monday, December 8th - I'm Dreaming of Some White Chocolate by Rhonda Rhea
Ahhh, the wonders of Christmas....bah, humbug.  This book sounds like just the ticket to start us off on the right foot of the true reason for the season.  "Hours of ulcer-inducing shopping crammed between meetings, parties, and plays; a 72-hour wrapping frenzy; in-laws running rampant in the house--where's the sleep in heavenly peace? During the busy holiday season, it's easy to overindulge in the temporary and starve ourselves of the eternal. I'm Dreaming of Some White Chocolate will revive readers' true Christmas spirit. Filled with outrageous humor and poignant insight from Scripture, this book offers practical solutions for making the season less stressful and more enjoyable."

Monday, January 26th - Enjoying Where You Are On the Way to Where You Are Going: Learning How to Live a Joyful, Spirit-Led Life by Joyce Meyer
Have you ever watched Joyce Meyer on the Fox Channel?  I get a kick out her practical approach to Christianity but have never read one of her numerous books.  Let's check this one out together.  "In this book, Joyce Meyer combines biblical principles with personal experiences for a powerful teaching on how to enjoy every day on your journey through life. By applying the principles outlined in this book you will learn: -How to make the decision to enjoy life. -How to rid yourself of regret and dread. -How to experience the simplicity of life. -How to find joy during times of waiting. -How to finish your course with joy. -Plus much more! Enjoying life is not based on enjoyable circumstances. It is an attitude of your heart. So learn how to enjoy where you are on the way to where you are going today!"

Monday, February 23rd - Purse-Onality with Anita Renfroe
Let's take a break from reading this month to watch a comedy video!  According to the reviews, it is "filled with hilarious and touching insights into the lives of modern women.  She riffs on family life, church life, fake tans, caffeine, eBay addiction, even mammograms and underwires, in an outstanding comedy event that is cheeky, high-energy and ultimately life-affirming."  Sound good to you?  Lets pop the corn and settle in for a night of giggles together. 

Monday, March 23rd - A Chance to Die: The Life and Legacy of Amy Carmichael by Elisabeth Elliot
This book sounded intriguing to me and I hope it does to you.  "A Chance to Die is a vibrant portrayal of Amy Carmichael, an Irish missionary and writer who spent fifty-three years in south India without furlough. There she became known as "Amma," or "mother," as she founded the Dohnavur Fellowship, a refuge for underprivileged children. Amy's life of obedience and courage stands as a model for all who claim the name of Christ. She was a woman with desires and dreams, faults and fears, who gave her life unconditionally to serve her Master. Bringing Amma to life through inspiring photos and compelling biographical narrative, Elisabeth Elliot urges readers to examine the depths of their own commitment to Christ."

Monday, April 20th - The Too Busy Book:  Slowing Down to Catch Up With Life by Linda Andersen
Do you feel powerless to stop the never-ending treadmill of duties and responsibilities of life and would like to step back and evaluate your life?  From a Christian perspective, brief chapters address the need for a Sabbath, the difficulty of saying no and setting limits and understanding when you have enough, among other topics. Each chapter is followed by a prayer, questions for reflection, and journaling exercises that are designed to help women slow down and carefully weigh the choices they make with their time.   "Andersen says that because she is a cancer survivor, time has never been so precious to her, and that the three-year illness taught her how to think and pray. She learned the difference between busyness, which is full-speed motion to meet the demands of self and others, and fruitfulness, which is a serene way of being "a branch [of God] and not a self-sustaining vine."

Monday, May 11th - This it truly "Ladies Night Out". 
We will eat (without guilt and with dessert), drink (only blessed wine, of course), and be merry (that means to laugh until we wet our.....well, you know).  Time and place to be determined closer to the date so even if you haven't been able to join in for the rest of the year, try to fit this one in. 
 

***To get a cheaper deal, go to Barnes & Noble's web site  or Amazon's web site and buy a used copy of any of these books.  You should be able to get most of them  for under $5 including shipping.  Remember, all meetings are at 6:30 pm in the Fireside Room.  See you at Ladies' Night! 

The Rev. Ann Anderson