Book List available!

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So our next session of our Reading Roundabout starts in October.  

This year we will have 16 ladies taking part and so believe it or not it will run through until January 2010 – if we are spared.

 Does that not seem like forever away?

This is the largest number ever, which made for the largest number of books to be found.

Thanks to all those who helped out in the comments of this post, as you will see from the list your suggestions really were helpful.  If I haven’t used your suggestion this session don’t worry we’re hoping to continue with our Reading Roundabout and will therefore be glad of all recommendations in the future.

On to the business.

 

Books marked with  * are the ones I purchased with the RR funds this year.

 

 

The first two books are commentaries and could easily be used for devotions,

1.  String of Pearls by Richard Brooks.

2.  Shining in the Darkness by Michael Bentley.

 

The next few books fall into a history/biography category,

3.  Ladies of the Reformation by  J.H. Alexander  Review

4.  The Nine Day Queen of England, Lady Jane Grey by Faith Cook  Review

5.  Give me this Mountain by Dr Helen Roseveare *   Review

6.  Evidence not Seen by Darlene Diebler Rose *  Review

7.  Stepping into the Shadows by Rosemary Sookhedo *   Review

Practical Christianity

8.  Instruments in the Redeemers Hands by Paul Tripp *  Review

9.  Humility: True Greatness  by C.J. Mahaney  Review

10. Growing up Christian by Karl Graustein *   Review

11. Respectable Sins by Jerry Bridges   Review

12. Shopping for Time by the Mahaney’s  Review

13.  Overcoming the World by Joel Beeke  Review

 

others,

14.  A Path through Suffering by Elisabeth Elliot.  Review

15.  How to get the most from God’s Word by John McArthur   Review

Fiction

16.  In the grip of the Druids by Beth Combe Harris

 

I’ll shuffle the books so we don’t get similar themes coming for months in a row.

God willing we’ll have a ladies night about the 3rd week of September to give the books out.

If you are interested in reading reviews on these books I have included some links just click on the word review beside the listing.

If any of the links aren’t working just let me know.

Happy clicking and reading.

Reading Roundabout.

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First can I just say a great big thankyou to all who took the time to comment on my request for help with next years reading roundabout books.  I really didn’t expect to get so many good recommendations and now I have more than enough ideas for the next few years

If you would like to recommend any further books it may be best if you leave your details at the original post, it keeps all things together in one place for me.   Thanks. 

I will be sure to post a list of all the books here as soon as I have finalised the list and also purchased the new books.  

Ladies from church any of these you like the sound of just let me know asap, before I go ahead and buy!  Be sure to check the comments section as the majority are listed there.

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Some of you have asked exactly how the reading roundabout works and so I thought I would try to make it clear in this post.

How to set up a Reading Roundabout/Reading Group in your church.

Work out how many are going to be involved. Our first year we had 12 ladies, which made for 12 books in 12 months.  That keeps it simple. 

Whatever number of readers you have, you need the same number of books, this is the most work, thinking out the various books.  I try to stick to 4 broad categories  Biography, Practical Christianity, Theology and Devotional.

Once the books have been chosen, pile the books in an order which doesn’t have books from the same category together.  

Make a Bookmark for each book listing the Months of the year on one side and the ladies names on the other.  So if you start in January just list Jan – Dec on one side but on the other move the ladies names down one on each bookmark so each lady has a different book each month.

We simply attach a plastic corner pocket into the inside cover of each book and insert the relevant bookmark in each.

The books are given out along with a list of guidelines.

Here are the guidelines we use    

For the reading roundabout to be a success please keep to the following guidelines:

Pass  your book on to the next reader on the list as close to the end of the month as possible. 

Keep the bookmark with the book at all times.  

The books all belong to either our church library or church members – please look after the books. If you finish a book  in good time – pass it on early to give the next reader some extra time with the book.

Remember if you fail to pass a book on in time it will effect everyone not just the next person on the list. 

Please be faithful to others even if you haven’t finished the book.  (Especially during holiday periods).

If you have already read the book , see it as an opportunity to review, it could only be edifying to read any of these books twice!!

Go on  treat yourself to a new notebook, after reading each book consider and take notes on the following:

Note what you found helpful about this book 

Note anything you found controversial within the book 

Note any challenges you received while reading this book  Note any other thoughts that may be helpful for future discussion 

Interact with others regarding the reading roundabout – use it as a tool for edifying conversation.

Remember it’s not a test but a means of learning more together. 

Please pray to this end.

At the end of the roundabout please return all books to Elaine.      

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We don’t put any pressure on our ladies to show that they have read the books.  Not every lady reads every book but they do receive one each month and generally all are read.  The Roundabout is a tool to help others not only to read but to read a wider range of books than they may choose to read themselves.  We discuss the book during private conversation and also informally during our ladies nights at church.  It would be possible to have more formal discussions about the books but we are happy with a relaxed approach.    

Each year we ask for £2.00 for each reader towards buying new books, these along with our church library and our personal collections make up the chosen books.  The new books we buy are dontated to the church library after that session of reading is over.

I hope these simple guidelines are helpful, let me know if you decide to host a reading roundabout in your church or group.

All credit for the Reading Roundabout idea goes to a dear sister and Pastors wife in the  Reformed Baptist Church in Grand Rapids Michigan.  (Titus 2:3).

Elaine

 

 

Reading Roundabout….help!!!

** This posted has been up-dated due to more recommendations coming in and there are many more suggestions in the comments – Thanks – Keep them coming!! **

 

I’ve blogged plenty about our church’s Reading Roundabout.

The concept is a number of ladies, a number of months and a number of books.

The books we are reading in the current year are listed here.

It appears I’m going to have more ladies involved for the next years reading and so I’m going to need 15 books.

I’m trying to come up with some books for the next year which although doesn’t start until October, will no doubt be upon me quickly.  

I was wondering if any of you could advise me on your top few books which come into the Reformed Christian category.

This is only our third year of the Reading Roundabout and while I do use the church library and our own books we also buy a few copies each year.

The list so far which is open to change is something like this,

 

Respectable Sins by Jerry Bridges.

Overcoming the World by Joel Beeke.

The Nine Day Queen of England Lady Jane Grey by Faith Cook

Is God past his sell-by date?  by John Blanchard

A path through suffering by Elisabeth Elliot

Shopping for Time by Carolyn Mahanney

 

other possibilities which I won’t buy all off,  are…..

Stepping into the Shadows by Rosemary Sookhdeo  (I’m not familiar with this book but it was recommended by one of our deacons, you can read about it here).

Heaven at Home by Ginger Plowman

A Chance to die The Life and Legacy of Amy Carmichael  by Elisabeth Elliot

In my Father’s House by Corrie Ten Boom

Faithful Women and their Extraordinary God by Noel Piper

 

So can you offer any suggestions?  I normally like a variety of Theology, Biography, Practical Christianity.   

I’d appreciate any help you can give.

 

 

(Note to our own ladies:  If you have any suggestions or own any of these books please let me know.  It really would be a pity to use our funds to buy books which are sitting on shelves  Thanks)

 

** updated to add **  A few suggestions came via private e-mail, I’m adding them here to keep them together.  Mrs B in Sacramento recommended Humility by CJ Mahanney.  Mrs J in GR recommended Lost in the Middle by Paul D Tripp, Free Grace and Dying love by Susannah Spurgeon and Too wise to be mistaken, too Good to be Unkind by Cathy Steere.

**updated 30th May to add,

Humility by Andrew Murray, The rare Jewel of Christian Contentment by J Burroughs (good one) and War of Worlds by Paul David Tripp were all suggested by contacts on facebook.

Mrs J in the Grand Rapids church who incidentally started the Reading Roundabout concept has suggested a few more, she has just finished Love your Muselim Neighbour by Edward Challen and also suggests God Knows My Size by Silvia Tarniceriu and also The Peacemaker books by Ken Sande.**

Any more?

 

Elaine

 

From a big pile of laundry to a big pile of books…

And so the new books for our Reading Roundabout were give out on Thursday night.You can read more about our Reading Roundabout here, and here.

This is our second year of reading and now that the books are in circulation I thought I would list the books on here so you can see what I and the ladies at church will be reading over the next year.

Remember it’s 12 ladies, 12 books and 12 months.

The Afternoon of Life by Elyse Fitzpatrick.

Hudson Taylor & Maria by John Pollock

Age of Opportunity by Paul D Tripp

The Martyr of the Catacombs

Following the Shepherd by Peter Jeffrey

Singing in the Fire by Faith Cook

Sickness and Death in the Christian Family by Peter Jeffery

Let’s Roll by Lisa Beamer

A song for all Seasons by Wilma Sullivan

First Love by John MacArthur

Learning to be Happy by Jeremiah Burroughs

The Glad Surrender by Elisabeth Elliott.

Have you read any of them? Please let me/us know.

I have read only 3 of them so I’m looking forward to getting into the rest over the coming year. Please understand the idea of our Roundabout is mostly to encourage reading and then to encourage reading good books.

I know a couple of the books only just fall into the “Christian Faith” category.This works for us, it may work for you in your church too. Since we started this I have also heard of another church starting one for their teens.

Great idea to keep the younger folks reading. I personally think the men in our church should start one but hey I’m not trying to start a riot here!

If you would like any information about commencing a Reading Roundabout in your church or group feel free to leave a comment and I’ll get back to you with the hints and tips we have learned on the way.

Don’t leave them sitting on the shelf

Mummymac.

Covenants

My post the other day triggered some more thoughts about the Covenants.

I learned most of what I know of the Covenants from this man, when he taught a series on them in our church a few years ago. I remember how his teaching seemed to give the Bible more meaning as a whole as he explained the essence of a covenant and the implication of the covenants to our lives today.

I have been considering how that covenants aren’t so popular to-day – people don’t want to commit to an oath bound promise. It seems that even within marriage it is more common to break the promise to “love, honour and obey” than it is to strive with God’s help to keep it.

When I became a member of our church I read the church’s covenant and committed to it. I have often failed in my service but it’s good to have a standard to adhere to. I believe I need to have it before me more often.

I have added our Church Covenant to the links at the top under “Our Church” or you can access it by clicking here.

It’s a struggle every day to keep this covenant but:

God is my strong Salvation;

What foe have I to fear?

In darkness and temptation

My Light, my Help is near.

Though hosts encamp around me,

Firm to the fight I stand;

What terror can confound me,

With God at my right hand?

Place on the Lord reliance,

My soul, with courage wait;

His truth be thine affiance,

When faint and desolate.

His might they heart shall strengthen,

His love thy joy increase;

Mercy they days shall lengthen;

The Lord will give thee peace.

(James Montgomery 1822)

 

Mummymac.

Just sitting on the shelf….

The ladies at our church have been trying out a reading schedule this year. We call it the reading roundabout and the idea came from a Godly Pastor’s wife of a sister congregation in USA.

The idea is we have 13 ladies, 13 books and 13 months in which to read them. We each have 1 book for 1 month and swap at the end of each month.We started this at the beginning of September and will be finished our first year at the end of September this year. We hope to get together to discuss the books at some stage. I can hardly believe we have completed so many books already.

I have found the reading schedule has helped me to stick to a reading list as I just slot the reading roundabout books into my own reading list. When I get my new book I read it first as there is always the time pressure as at the end of the month someone will be waiting on it.

Anyway – Why am I telling you all this? Enough of the ladies in our church have told me this has been an encouragement to them as they wouldn’t consider themselves readers. This is a great way to get people to read books they would never normally lift off the shelves. The book I have this month is one my husband has had on his shelf for years and I just “never have got round to reading it” I mean books look nice on shelves but isn’t it so much nicer when we can say “Yea I’ve read it”!

Mummymac.