Sunday, February 8, 2009

The Book Club

A group of Seguin ladies formed a book club (called The Book Club) more than twenty years ago; some of these ladies have been in the club since its inception. I've only been a member for probably three or four years. There have been some exceptional books on our Book List. This year:
The Madonnas of Lenningrad by Debra Dean; The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahire; The Night Journey by Elizabeth Cook; A Fine Balance by Robinson Mistry; The Same Kind of Different as Me by Ron Hall and Denver Moore; Loving Frank by Nancy Horan (this is the April selection).

On Sunday, February 1, our minister, Pastor Steve Purdy used an illustration from our club's February book (Same Kind of Different as Me) in his sermon to emphasize our responsibility for one another - "becoming teammates" is how Reverend Purdy said it.
Several months ago I saw an interview on the Biography Channel with Ron Hall and Denver Moore; it was most touching.
At the close of Rev. Purdy's sermon, he quoted the prayer given by the Reverend Joseph Lowery on Inauguration Day: "And now, Lord, in the complex area of human relations, help us to make choices on the side of love, not hate; on the side of inclusion, not exclusion; tolerance, not intolerance. And as we leave this mountaintop, help us to hold onto the spirit of fellowship and the oneness of our family..."
A good lesson there. And a good Book Club!