Our library in Hewett Centre is open every Sunday after service during Coffee Hour in Hewett Centre, and our Library Team offers related reading lists based on the topic of the Sunday service. Here is their list for the upcoming service featuring Rev. Shawn Gauthier on Sunday, January 18, 2026 at 11 a.m. All are welcome in Hewett Centre after the Sunday service to check out some books, and to have coffee and conversation.

VanU library books related to this Sunday’s sermon:

1. The Greatest Show on Earth: The Evidence for Evolution, by Richard Dawkins, 2009, 576.8 DAW [From LibraryThing: “… stunning counterattack on advocates of “Intelligent Design,” explaining the evidence for evolution while exposing the absurdities of the creationist “argument.””].

2. Evolution and Natural Selection, by Charles Darwin, 1959, 575 DA [Published by Beacon Press].

3. The Marriage of Sense and Soul: Integrating Science and Religion, by Ken Wilber, 1998, 215 WIL [Gift of Hal Logan. From LibraryThing: “… one of today’s most important philosophers articulates how we might begin to think about science and religion in ways that allow for their reconciliation and union, on terms that will be acceptable to both camps. Wilber clearly and succinctly explores the schism between science and religion, and the impact of this “philosophical Cold War” on the fate of humanity. He systematically reviews previous attempts at integration, explaining why romantic, idealistic, and postmodern theories failed. And he demonstrates how science is compatible with certain deep features common to all of the world’s major religious traditions. …”].

4. The Future of Man, by P. Teilhard De Chardin, 1964, 113 TEI [The Julian Fears Library. From LibraryThing: “… introduction to the thoughts and writings of Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, one of the few figures in the history of the Catholic Church to achieve renown as both a scientist and a theologian. Trained as a paleontologist and ordained as a Jesuit priest, Teilhard de Chardin devoted himself to establishing the intimate, interdependent connection between science–particularly the theory of evolution–and the basic tenets of the Christian faith. At the center of his philosophy was the belief that the human species is evolving spiritually, progressing from a simple faith to higher and higher forms of consciousness, including a consciousness of God, and culminating in the ultimate understanding of humankind’s place and purpose in the universe. The Church, which would not condone his philosophical writings, refused to allow their publication during his lifetime. Written over a period of thirty years and presented here in chronological order, the essays cover the wide-ranging interests and inquiries that engaged Teilhard de Chardin throughout his life: intellectual and social evolution; the coming of ultra-humanity; the integral place of faith in God in the advancement of science; and the impact of scientific discoveries on traditional religious dogma. …”].

5. Here On Earth: A Natural History Of The Planet, by Tim Flannery, 2012, 304.2 FLA [Gift of Lars Anderson. From LibraryThing: “An explorer and environmentalist offers a natural history of the Earth as well as a biography of the human species.”].

6. The Way of the Earth: Encounters With Nature in Ancient and Contemporary Thought, by T. C. McLuhan, 1994, 113.09 McL [From LibraryThing, the book jacket: “… draws upon both ancient and contemporary sources to examine the significance of the earth from the perspective of six different cultures and how these spiritual traditions have valued, perceived, and understood the earth. At first glance the peoples of aboriginal Australia, Japan, Greece, Africa, South America, and Native North America couldn’t be more different. But by taking a closer look, the author shows that there are many more similarities than differences- all revere mountains as a source of inspiration and holiness, all feel a spiritual connection to the soil itself, all create art and literature to celebrate their connection to the land, and all see themselves as inextricable from the land they call home. … It demonstrates that no matter where on the planet we exist, and no matter what time period we live, we all have a profound connection to the earth.”].

7. Gaia: A New Look at Life on Earth, by J. E. Lovelock, 1987, 113 LOV [From LibraryThing: “… puts forward his idea that life on earth functions as a single organism. Written for non-scientists, Gaia is a journey through time and space in search of evidence with which to support a new and radically different model of our planet. In contrast to conventional belief that living matter is passive in the face of threats to its existence, the book explores the hypothesis that the earth’s living matter air, ocean, and land surfaces forms a complex system that has the capacity to keep the Earth a fit place for life. Since Gaia was first published, many of Jim Lovelock’s predictions have come true and his theory has become a hotly argued topic in scientific circles. …”].

8. This Sacred Earth, by Roger S. Gottlieb, 2004, 304.2 [From LibraryThing: “Updated with nearly forty new selections to reflect the tremendous growth and transformation of scholarly, theological, and activist religious environmentalism, the second edition of This Sacred Earth is an unparalleled resource for the study of religion’s complex relationship to the environment.”].

9. The Mind of God: The Scientific Basis for a Rational World, by Paul Davies, 1992, 215 DAV [The Julian Fears Library. From LibraryThing: “Throughout history, humans have dreamed of knowing the reason for the existence of the universe. … In his quest for an ultimate explanation, Davies reexamines the great questions that have preoccupied humankind for millennia, and in the process explores, among other topics, the origin and evolution of the cosmos, the nature of life and consciousness, and the claim that our universe is a kind of gigantic computer. … theories of such scientists as Newton, Einstein, and more recently Stephen Hawking and Richard Feynman have altered our conception of the physical universe. Davies puts these scientists’ discoveries into context with the writings of philosophers such as Plato. Descartes, Hume, and Kant. His startling conclusion is that the universe is “no minor byproduct of mindless, purposeless forces. We are truly meant to be here.” By the means of science, we can truly see into the mind of God.”].

10. Walden and Other Writings, by Henry David Thoreau, 1993, 818.3 THO [From LibraryThing: “From July 4, 1845 to September 6, 1847, Henry David Thoreau lived alone in the cabin he built on the shores of Walden Pond, near Concord, Massachusetts. Walden is the classic account of his stay–his experiment in essential living. This book is framed as a narrative of the cycle of one year, beginning with summer. Thoreau uses the changes of the day, the seasons, and the year to symbolize the quiet revolution that is going on inside him. His specific observations of the natural life outside himself cause him to look inward and reflect upon the lives of quiet desperation most men lead; the erroneous economic thinking which leads them to accept their shackles; the liberating effects of nature and self-examination; and finally those “higher laws” which can only be glimpsed on those rare occasions when true living unites with true reflection. …”].

11. Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants, by Robin Wall Kimmerer, 2015, 305 KIM [From LibraryThing: “… As a botanist and professor of plant ecology, Robin Wall Kimmerer has spent a career learning how to ask questions of nature using the tools of science. As a Potawatomi woman, she learned from elders, family, and history that the Potawatomi, as well as a majority of other cultures indigenous to this land, consider plants and animals to be our oldest teachers. In Braiding Sweetgrass, Kimmerer brings these two lenses of knowing together to reveal what it means to see humans as “the younger brothers of creation.” As she explores these themes, she circles toward a central argument: The awakening of a wider ecological consciousness requires the acknowledgement and celebration of our reciprocal relationship with the world. Once we begin to listen for the languages of other beings, we can begin to understand the innumerable life-giving gifts the world provides us and learn to offer our thanks, our care, and our own gifts in return”].

Our library in Hewett Centre is open every Sunday after service during Coffee Hour in Hewett Centre, and our Library Team offers related reading lists based on the topic of the Sunday service. Here is their list for the upcoming service featuring Rev. Shawn Gauthier and Janet Pivnick on Sunday, January 11, 2026 at 11 a.m. All are welcome in Hewett Centre after the Sunday service to check out some books, and to have coffee and conversation.

VanU library books related to this Sunday’s sermon:

1. Widening Circles: A Memoir, by Joanna Macy, 2000, 921 MAC [From LibraryThing: “… , well-known eco-philosopher, Buddhist scholar, and deep ecology activist/teacher Joanna Macy recounts her adventures of mind and spirit in the key social movements of our era. From involvement with the CIA and the Cold War, through experiences in Africa, India and Tibet, to her encounter with the Dalai Lama and Buddhism which led to her life-long embrace of the religion and a deep commitment to the peace and environmental movements, … as she reflects on how her marriage and family life enriched her service to the world. …”].

2. Active Hope: How to Face the Mess We’re in with Unexpected Resilience and Creative Power, by Joanna Macy and Chris Johnstone, 2022, 303 MAC [From LibraryThing: “This revised edition of “Active hope” shows us how to strengthen our capacity to face crises so that we can respond with unexpected resilience and creative power.”].

3. The Book of Hope: A Survival Guide for Trying Times, by Jane Goodall, Douglas Adams and Gail Hudson, 2021, 304 GOO [Donated by Elizabeth Murdoch. From LibraryThing: “… Jane Goodall, the world’s most famous living naturalist, and Douglas Abrams, the internationally bestselling co-author of The Book of Joy, explore through intimate and thought-provoking dialogue one of the most sought after and least understood elements of human nature: hope. In The Book of Hope, Jane focuses on her “Four Reasons for Hope”: The Amazing Human Intellect, The Resilience of Nature, The Power of Young People, and The Indomitable Human Spirit. Drawing on decades of work that has helped expand our understanding of what it means to be human and what we all need to do to help build a better world, The Book of Hope touches on vital questions, including: How do we stay hopeful when everything seems hopeless? How do we cultivate hope in our children? What is the relationship between hope and action? …”].

4. Active hope: how to face the mess we’re in without going crazy, by Joanna Macy and Chris Johnstone, 2012, 303.4 [From LibraryThing: “The challenges we face can be difficult even to think about. … shows us how to strengthen our capacity to face this crisis so that we can respond with unexpected resilience and creative power. Drawing on decades of teaching an empowerment approach known as the Work That Reconnects, the authors guide us through a transformational process informed by mythic journeys, modern psychology, spirituality, and holistic science. …”].

5. Hope for Animals and Their World: How Endangered Species Are Being Rescued from the Brink, by Jane Goodall, 2009, 578 GOO [From LibraryThing, the publisher description: “… Goodall–along with Cincinnati Zoo Director Thane Maynard–shares fascinating survival stories about the American crocodile, the California condor, the black-footed ferret and more–all formerly endangered species and species once on the verge of extinction whose populations are now being regenerated. Interweaving her own first-hand experiences with the research of premier scientists, Goodall illuminates the heroic efforts of dedicated environmentalists and the truly critical need to protect the habitats of these beloved species. …”].

6. A Call to Action: Women, Religion, Violence, and Power, by Jimmy Carter, 2014, 323.34 CAR [From LibraryThing: “The world’s discrimination and violence against women and girls is the most serious, pervasive, and ignored violation of basic human rights: This is President Jimmy Carter’s call to action. President Carter was encouraged to write this book by a wide coalition of leaders of all faiths. His urgent report covers a system of discrimination that extends to every nation. Women are deprived of equal opportunity in wealthier nations and “owned” by men in others, forced to suffer servitude, child marriage, and genital cutting. The most vulnerable, along with their children, are trapped in war and violence. A Call to Action addresses the suffering inflicted upon women by a false interpretation of carefully selected religious texts and a growing tolerance of violence and warfare. Key verses are often omitted or quoted out of context by male religious leaders to exalt the status of men and exclude women. And in nations that accept or even glorify violence, this perceived inequality becomes the basis for abuse. President Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, have visited 145 countries, and The Carter Center has had active projects in more than half of them. Around the world, they have seen inequality rising rapidly with each passing decade. This is true in both rich and poor countries, and among the citizens within them. Carter draws upon his own experiences and the testimony of courageous women from all regions and all major religions to demonstrate that women around the world, more than half of all human beings, are being denied equal rights. This is an informed and passionate charge about a devastating effect on economic prosperity and unconscionable human suffering. It affects us all”].

7. We Can Have Peace in the Holy Land: A Plan That Will Work, by Jimmy Carter, 2009, 956.05 CAR [From LibraryThing: “Nobel Peace Laureate Jimmy Carter argues that the present moment is a unique time for achieving peace in the Middle East–and he offers a bold and comprehensive plan. For the last three decades, as President of the United States and as founder of The Carter Center, Carter has studied the complex and interrelated issues of the region’s conflicts and has been actively involved in reconciling them. He knows the leaders of all factions who will need to play key roles, and he sees encouraging signs. Carter describes the history of previous peace efforts and why they fell short. He argues persuasively that the road to a peace agreement is now open and that it has broad international and regional support. Most of all, since there will be no progress without courageous and sustained U.S. leadership, he says the time for progress is now, ….”].

8. How to Write and Deliver a Loving Eulogy, by Leo Seguin, 1998, 155.9 SEG [From LibraryThing: “When asked by family or friends to deliver a eulogy, there is usually very little time for planning. This book is designed as a guide to help you build and deliver a loving eulogy. It will provide, in a concise form, a vehicle of expression produced with empathy and compassion. The prose will be constructed from your own personal thoughts, your generous emotions, your caring hands, hands imbued with loyalty and worthy purpose (using our tools) you are a child of God. …”].

Our library in Hewett Centre is open every Sunday after service during Coffee Hour in Hewett Centre, and our Library Team offers related reading lists based on the topic of the Sunday service. Here is their list for the upcoming service featuring Kiersten Moore, Janet Pivnick, and Rev. Shawn Gauthier on Sunday, January 4, 2026 at 11 a.m. All are welcome in Hewett Centre after the Sunday service to check out some books, and to have coffee and conversation.

VanU library books related to this Sunday’s sermon:

1. Active Hope: How to Face the Mess We’re in with Unexpected Resilience and Creative Power, by Joanna Macy and Chris Johnstone, 2022, 303 MAC [From LibraryThing: “This revised edition of “Active hope” shows us how to strengthen our capacity to face crises so that we can respond with unexpected resilience and creative power.”].

2. The Book of Hope: A Survival Guide for Trying Times, by Jane Goodall, Douglas Adams and Gail Hudson, 2021, 304 GOO [Donated by Elizabeth Murdoch. From LibraryThing: “… Jane Goodall, the world’s most famous living naturalist, and Douglas Abrams, the internationally bestselling co-author of The Book of Joy, explore through intimate and thought-provoking dialogue one of the most sought after and least understood elements of human nature: hope. In The Book of Hope, Jane focuses on her “Four Reasons for Hope”: The Amazing Human Intellect, The Resilience of Nature, The Power of Young People, and The Indomitable Human Spirit. Drawing on decades of work that has helped expand our understanding of what it means to be human and what we all need to do to help build a better world, The Book of Hope touches on vital questions, including: How do we stay hopeful when everything seems hopeless? How do we cultivate hope in our children? What is the relationship between hope and action? …”].

3. Humankind: A Hopeful History, by Rutger Bregman, translators Erica Moore and Elizabeth Manton, 2021, 128 BRE [From LibraryThing: “It’s a belief that unites the left and right, psychologists and philosophers, writers and historians. It drives the headlines that surround us and the laws that touch our lives. From Machiavelli to Hobbes, Freud to Dawkins, the roots of this belief have sunk deep into Western thought. Human beings, we’re taught, are by nature selfish and governed by self-interest. Humankind makes a new argument: that it is realistic, as well as revolutionary, to assume that people are good. The instinct to cooperate rather than compete, trust rather than distrust, has an evolutionary basis going right back to the beginning of Homo sapiens. By thinking the worst of others, we bring out the worst in our politics and economics too. In this major book, internationally bestselling author Rutger Bregman takes some of the world’s most famous studies and events and reframes them, providing a new perspective on the last 200,000 years of human history. …”].

4. Thoreau as Spiritual Guide: A Companion to Walden for Personal Reflection and Discussion, by Barry M. Andrews, 2000, 200 AND [From LibraryThing: “Walden, one of America’s classic works on non-fiction, gets a fresh examination from a faith-based, and meditative perspective. Thoreau and the Trancendentalists tried to achieve a balance in their lives between work and leisure, nature and civilization, society and solitude, spiritual aspirations and moral behavior. This guide helps one “walk” through Walden again and find its soul while expanding your own.”].

5. Good Grief Rituals : Tools for Healing, by Elaine Childs-Gowell, 1992, 155.937 [From LibraryThing: “In this comforting and deeply thoughtful book, the author offers a series of simple grief rituals, among them the venting of feelings, letter writing, affirmations, exercises to act out negative emotions as well as forgiveness, fantasies, meditations, and more. …”].

6. From Beginning to End: The Rituals of Our Lives, by Robert Fulghum, 1995, 128 FUL [From the author in the paperback edition, as stated on LibraryThing: “… Rituals do not always involve words, occasions, officials, or an audience. Rituals are often silent, solitary, and self-contained. The most powerful rites of passage are reflective–when you look back on your life again and again, paying attention to the rivers you have crossed and the gates you have opened and walked on through, the thresholds you have passed over. I see ritual when people sit together silently by an open fire. Remembering. As human beings have remembered for thousands and thousands of years.”].

7. A New Earth Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose, by Tolle Eckhart, 2008, 204.4 TOL [The publisher description, from LibraryThing: “Tolle presents readers with an honest look at the current state of humanity: he implores us to see and accept that this state, which is based on an erroneous identification with the egoic mind, is one of dangerous insanity. However, there is an alternative to this potentially dire situation. Humanity now, perhaps more than in any previous time, has an opportunity to create a new, saner, more loving world. This will involve a radical inner leap from the current egoic consciousness to an entirely new one. In illuminating the nature of this shift, Tolle describes in detail how our current ego-based state of consciousness operates. Then gently, and in very practical terms, he leads us into this new consciousness. We will come to experience who we truly are–which is something infinitely greater than anything we currently think we are.”].

Our library in Hewett Centre is open every Sunday after service during Coffee Hour in Hewett Centre, and our Library Team offers related reading lists based on the topic of the Sunday service. Here is their list for the upcoming service featuring Laureen Stokes on Sunday, December 28, 2025 at 11 a.m. All are welcome in Hewett Centre after the Sunday service to check out some books, and to have coffee and conversation.

VanU library books related to this Sunday’s sermon:

1. Evening Tide: Meditations, by Elizabeth Tarbox, 1998, 242 TAR [This is a gift. Published by Skinner House Books. From LibraryThing: “Whether in the bleakest moment of bidding goodbye to her dying father or in the pain she hears as she counsels gay youth, Tarbox’s ears and eyes are attuned to the hopes and the solace that she finds in nature — in the gentle sounds in a stand of pines, in the intensive chore of splitting wood. These meditations will comfort and inspire. Part of the UUA Meditation Manual series.”].

2. Peace Begins With Me, by Ted Kuntz, 2005, 150 KUN [Gift of Barbara Taylor. From Amazon: “When his son Joshua acquired an uncontrolled seizure disorder at five months of age, Ted Kuntz entered one of the darkest periods of his life. After years of anger, despair and fear, Ted Kuntz had a life-transforming encounter with his son. This encounter changed the way he saw both his son and himself. Kuntz began an intensive journey of self inquiry to discover what pointed him in the direction of peace, joy and happiness, and what pointed him in the direction of anger, sadness and despair. Peace Begins With Me is an inspiring summary of the wisdom Kuntz acquired on this journey. Kuntz reminds us we can experience peace, joy and happiness through the practice of simple, yet powerful practices. Kuntz takes the wisdom of ancient masters and incorporates this wisdom into day-to-day language and action. You will discover: • Six ways of thinking that feed your negativity • Twelve strategies to increase your peace, joy and happiness • The difference between stress and distress • How to create Peace within.”].

3. In Stillness, Renewal: Meditations, by Jacob Trapp, 1983, 242 TRA [Gift of Petrt Aaloe and Ann Rieger].

4. Falling into the Sky: A Meditation Anthology, edited by Abhi Janamanchi and Abhimanyu Janamanchi, 2013, 242 JAN [Published by Skinner House Books. From GoodReads: “The 2013 UUA Meditation Manual is full of open spaces and possibility. Comprised of forty remarkable writings from Unitarian Universalist ministers, leaders, and lay people, these meditations are full of vivid vistas of imagination and reflection.”].

5. Voices from the Margins: An Anthology of Meditations, by Jacqui James and Mark D. Morrison-Reed, 2012, 242.23 JAM [Published by Skinner House Books. From Amazon: “… Jacqui James and Mark D. Morrison-Reed have compiled a multicultural collection of reflections and meditations from Unitarian Universalist ministers. These writings remind us of both what we miss when we don’t listen to marginalized voices and the amazing insights we stand to gain when we do. …”].

6. In the Holy Quiet of This Hour: A Meditation Manual, by Richard S. Gilbert, 1995, 291.4 GIL, [From Skinner House Books. LibraryThing says “These gentle prayers remind us that we can find the sacred and profound in every day by taking the time to stop and absorb the holy quiet”].

7. The Gift of the Ordinary: A Meditation Manual for 1985, edited by Charles S. Stephen Jr., 1985, 288 STE [A 50 pages book from the Unitarian Universalist Association].

8. The Miracle of Mindfulness: A Manual on Meditation, by Thich Nhat Hanh, 1987, 294 HAN [Translated by Mobi Ho, illustrated by Vo-Dihn Mai, and published by Beacon Press. From LibraryThing: “In this beautiful and lucid guide, Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh offers gentle anecdotes and practical exercises as a means of learning the skills of mindfulness-being awake and fully aware. From washing the dishes to answering the phone to peeling an orange, he reminds us that each moment holds within it an opportunity to work toward greater self-understanding and peacefulness”].

9. Voices Out Of Silence: The Testimony Of Our Mystics, by James R. Roberts, 248.2 ROB [Autographed by the author].

10. Musicophilia: Tales of Music and the Brain, by Oliver Sacks, 2008, 781.11 SAC [From the publisher description, stated on LibraryThing: “Music can move us to the heights or depths of emotion. It can persuade us to buy something, or remind us of our first date. It can lift us out of depression when nothing else can. It can get us dancing to its beat. But the power of music goes much, much further. Indeed, music occupies more areas of our brain than language does–humans are a musical species. Oliver Sacks’s compassionate, compelling tales of people struggling to adapt to different neurological conditions have fundamentally changed the way we think of our own brains, and of the human experience. Here, he examines the powers of music through the individual experiences of patients, musicians, and everyday people. Music is irresistible, haunting, and unforgettable, and Oliver Sacks tells us why.”].

Our library in Hewett Centre is open every Sunday after service during Coffee Hour in Hewett Centre, and our Library Team offers related reading lists based on the topic of the Sunday service. Here is their list for the upcoming service featuring the children and youth of our congregation, Kiersten Moore and Rev. Shawn Gauthier on Sunday, December 21, 2025 at 11 a.m. All are welcome in Hewett Centre after the Sunday service to check out some books, and to have coffee and conversation.

VanU library books related to this Sunday’s sermon:

1. Owls in the Family, by Farley Mowat, 1989, JFIC MOW [From LibraryThing: “… what happens when your pet is an owl, and your owl is terrorizing the neighbourhood? … a young boy’s pet menagerie-which includes crows, magpies, gophers and a dog – grows out of control with the addition of two cantankerous pet owls. The story of how Wol and Weeps turn the whole town upside down s warm, funny, and bursting with adventure and suspense. …”].

2. Jingle, the Christmas Clown, by Tomie De Paola, 1993, J+ deP [From LibraryThing: “Staying behind when their circus moves on, a young clown and a troupe of baby animals put on a special Christmas Eve show for an Italian village too poor to celebrate the holiday.”].

3. Season and Solstice: A Unitarian Interpretation of the Midwinter Festival, by Phillip Hewett, 394 HEW.

4. Night Tree, by Eve Bunting, 1991, J+ BUN [From LibraryThing: “A family makes its annual pilgrimage to decorate an evergreen tree with food for the forest animals at Christmastime.”].

5. An Anishinaabe Christmas, by Wab Kinew, 2024, J KIN [Donated by Donna Brown. From LibraryThing: “Picture book about an Anishinaabe family heading to the reservation to visit the baby’s grandparents for Christmas. A story about combining Western and Indigenous celebrations, this book is shared in the hopes of bringing people together to understand and feel good about the Anishinaabe way, however you choose to live it.”].

6. The Return of the Light: Twelve Tales from Around the World for the Winter Solstice, by Carolyn McVickar Edwards, 2005, 398.33 EDW [From LibraryThing: “… Celebrations honoring the winter solstice as a moment of transition and renewal date back thousands of years and occur among many peoples on every continent. “The Return of the Light” makes an ideal companion for everyone who carries on this tradition, no matter what their faith. Storyteller Carolyn McVickar Edwards retells twelve traditional tales — from North America, China, Scandinavia, India, Africa, South America, Europe, and Polynesia — that honor this magical moment. These are stories that will renew our wonder of the miracle of rebirth and the power of transition from darkness into light.”].

7. Emerson’s Angle of Vision; Man and Nature in American Experience, by Sherman Paul, 1952, 921 EM [Gift of Christine Peirce Douglas in memory of her son Lionel Peirce Douglas].

8. Gaia: A New Look at Life on Earth, by J. E. Lovelock, 1987, 113 LOV [From LibraryThing: “… puts forward his idea that life on earth functions as a single organism. Written for non-scientists, Gaia is a journey through time and space in search of evidence with which to support a new and radically different model of our planet. In contrast to conventional belief that living matter is passive in the face of threats to its existence, the book explores the hypothesis that the earth’s living matter air, ocean, and land surfaces forms a complex system that has the capacity to keep the Earth a fit place for life. Since Gaia was first published, many of Jim Lovelock’s predictions have come true and his theory has become a hotly argued topic in scientific circles. …”].

9. The Way of the Earth: Encounters With Nature in Ancient and Contemporary Thought, by T. C. McLuhan, 1994, 113.09 McL [From LibraryThing, about what’s on the book jacket: “This book draws upon both ancient and contemporary sources to examine the significance of the earth from the perspective of six different cultures and how these spiritual traditions have valued, perceived, and understood the earth. At first glance the peoples of aboriginal Australia, Japan, Greece, Africa, South America, and Native North America couldn’t be more different. But by taking a closer look, the author shows that there are many more similarities than differences- all revere mountains as a source of inspiration and holiness, all feel a spiritual connection to the soil itself, all create art and literature to celebrate their connection to the land, and all see themselves as inextricable from the land they call home. This unique volume explores how human beings across the planet and across time have felt about the earth and nature, and how they have understood it, related to it, and celebrated it in their literature, mythology, religion, and art. It demonstrates that no matter where on the planet we exist, and no matter what time period we live, we all have a profound connection to the earth.”].

10. Sacred Nature: Restoring Our Ancient Bond with the Natural World, by Karen Armstrong, 2023, 202 ARM [From LibraryThing: “A profound exploration of the spiritual power of nature–and an urgent call to reclaim that power in everyday life. Since the beginning of time, humankind has looked upon nature and seen the divine. In the writings of the great thinkers across religions, the natural world inspires everything from fear, to awe, to tranquil contemplation; God, or however one defined the sublime, was present in everything. … In this short but deeply powerful book, the best-selling historian of religion Karen Armstrong re-sacralizes nature for modern times.”].

Our library in Hewett Centre is open every Sunday after service during Coffee Hour in Hewett Centre, and our Library Team offers related reading lists based on the topic of the Sunday service. Here is their list for the upcoming service featuring Janet Pivnick on Sunday, December 14, 2025 at 11 a.m. All are welcome in Hewett Centre after the Sunday service to check out some books, and to have coffee and conversation.

VanU library books related to this Sunday’s sermon:

1. Authentic Selves: Celebrating Trans and Nonbinary People and Their Families, by Peggy Gillespie, 2023, 306 GIL [From LibraryThing: “… celebrates trans and nonbinary people and their families in stunning photographs and their own words. … So often trans and nonbinary people’s stories are told only through the lens of their struggles and challenges, including their political battles for legal rights, but trans and nonbinary people live rich and fulfilling lives full of joy and community too. … is a sweeping compilation of life stories and portraits of trans and nonbinary people, as well as their partners, parents, children, siblings, and chosen family members. The compelling stories in Authentic Selves provide a glimpse into the real lives, both the challenges and the triumphs, of these remarkable people and their families-people like Senator Sarah McBride, disability justice advocate Parker Glick, drag entertainer TAYLOR ALXNDR, September 11th first responder Jozeppi Angelo Morelli, model Lana Patel, youth activist Elliott Bertrand, and so many others-all of whom are working to create a more just, diverse, and compassionate world. …”].

2. The Addiction Ministry Handbook: A Guide for Faith Communities, by Denis G. Meacham, 2004, 259.42 MEA [From LibraryThing, a review by uufnn: “… quoting from the book’s back cover, “Denis Meacham is affiliate minister at First Parish Brewster (Cape Cod, MA) and director of its Center for Addictions Ministry. Meacham also maintains a private addictions therapy practice. A trained psychotherapist and licensed drug and alcohol counselor, … ” About the book: Rev. Patricia Hoertdoerfer, Children, Family and Intergenerational Programs Director, UUA said of this book, “Faith communities can and do make a difference in the lives of families struggling with addiction problems! Meacham’s ‘Addiction Ministry Handbook’ is an excellent resource for Unitarian Universalist congregations and their lay leaders–for the knowledge found on every page, the inclusive attention to our broad spiritual foundations and the practical tools it provides for caregivers and addiction ministry committees.” …”].

3. The Art of Loving, by Erich Fromm and Ruth Nanda Ashen, 1989, 157 FRO [Gift of the Unitarian Family Life Centre. From LibraryThing: “… powerful insight: “Love is the only sane and satisfactory answer to the problem of human existence.” The Art of Loving is a rich and detailed guide to love-an achievement reached through maturity, practice, concentration, and courage. … Erich Fromm, a celebrated psychoanalyst and social psychologist, clearly and sincerely encourages the development of our capacity for and understanding of love in all of its facets. He discusses the familiar yet misunderstood romantic love, the all-encompassing brotherly love, spiritual love, and many more. A challenge to traditional Western notions of love, The Art of Loving is a modern classic about taking care of ourselves through relationships with others. …”].

4. Loving an Addict, Loving Yourself, by Candace Plattor, edited by Arlene Prunkl, designed by Bobbie Cann, 2009, 362.29 PLA [Gift of the author. From LibraryThing: “Are you feeling exasperated and helpless about your family member’s addiction? Are you at your wit’s end, having tried everything you can think of to make them stop? If someone you love is engaging in addictive behaviors such as alcohol and drug misuse, eating disorders, smoking, gambling, Internet addiction, sex addiction, compulsive overspending, or relationship addiction, you are undoubtedly experiencing unpredictability in your relationship. Some of the most common emotions you will experience include: Guilt and shame; Anger and anxiety; Confusion and powerlessness. Whether the addict in your life is your spouse, partner, parent, child, friend, or colleague, the key to changing this reality for yourself lies in shifting your focus from your loved one’s addiction to you own self-care. This book presents a dramatically fresh approach to help you get off the roller-coaster chaos of addiction, maintain your own sanity and serenity, and live your best life.”].

5. In Sickness and In Health: How to Cope When Your Loved One is Ill, by Earl A. Grollman, 1987, 155.9 GRO [Gift of Sheilah Thompson. From a Google AI Overview: “… coping involves practical self-care (rest, hydration, asking for help), emotional support (listening, reassuring words, finding joy), managing changing family roles, seeking professional help, and creating comfort for the sick loved one, focusing on shared strength and acceptance. Key strategies include learning about the illness, establishing routines, accepting help, making time for joy, and being present with soothing words like “I’m here for you””].

6. A Complicated Kindness, by Miriam Toews, 2005, FIC TOE [From LibraryThing: “… world according to the unforgettable Nomi, a bewildered and wry sixteen-year-old trapped in a town governed by fundamentalist religion and in the shattered remains of a family it destroyed. … we’re told the story of an eccentric, loving family that falls apart as each member lands on a collision course with the only community any of them have ever known. A work of fierce humor and tragedy .., this searing, tender, comic testament to family love will break your heart. …”].

7. Fall On Your Knees, by Ann-Marie MacDonald, 1997, FIC MAC [From LibraryThing: “The Piper family is steeped in secrets, lies, and unspoken truths. At the eye of the storm is one secret that threatens to shake their lives–even to destroy them. Set on stormy Cape Breton Island off Nova Scotia, … chronicles the lives of four unforgettable sisters. Theirs is a world filled with driving ambition, inescapable family bonds, and forbidden love. …”].

8. Sacred Dying: Creating Rituals for Embracing the End of Life, by Megory Anderson, 2003, 155.9 AND [From LibraryThing: “Explores difficult questions surrounding the act of dying and attendant care, offering thoughtful rituals and prayers to support the needs of the dying while comforting the living.”].

9. I Don’t Know What to Say, by Robert Buckman, 1988, 155.9 BUC [Gift of Suzanne Spencer. From LibraryThing: “When people we love are dying, we all too often are unable to help them – or even talk to them – or face our own conflicting feelings about the impending loss. … demystifies the dying process and offers practical advice for the friends and families of the terminally ill. … Dr. Robert Buckman, a distinguished oncologist who was himself once diagnosed as having a fatal illness, confronts these questions: – What should a patient be told about his or her illness? – How can the patient’s supporters cope with demands that may seem angry and irrational? – What are the crucial differences between caring for a dying parent, spouse, or child? – How can you help someone dying from AIDS, cancer, or a dementing illness?”].

10. Dying Well: Peace and Possibilities at the End of Life, by Ira Byock MD, 1998, 306.88 G [From LibraryThing: “… longtime director of a hospice in his hometown, and a prominent spokesperson for the hospice movement, Dr. Byock believes that the day is at hand when no pain among the dying will be considered unmanageable. Through the true stories of patients, he shows us that much important emotional work can be accomplished in the final months, weeks, and even days of life. Dying Well brings us to the homes and bedsides of families with whom Dr. Byock has worked, telling stories of love and reconciliation in the face of tragedy, pain, and conflict. It provides a blueprint for families, showing them how to deal with doctors, how to talk to friends and relatives, and how to make the end of life as meaningful and precious as the beginning.”].

11. Love and Salt Water, by Ethel Wilson, 1990, FIC WIL [From LibraryThing: “Ellen Guppy is the reluctant heroine …. Saddened by a painful childhood, Ellen has adopted a skeptical independence and learned too well to hold her heart in reserve. But, as the novel unfolds, Ellen undergoes something of a sea-change, learning to accept love along with the sorrow that is rarely far from love. … a mature and, at times, disturbing synthesis of Ethel Wilson’s major themes: the independence of human lives, the strange alchemy of chance, and the healing illumination of love.”].

12. Twelve Weeks in Spring: The Inspiring Story of Margaret and Her Team, by June Callwood, 1986, 362.1 CAL [Gift of Ann Foster. From LibraryThing: “… inspiring story of a group of people who came together to help a friend battling cancer, and thereby discovered their own unexpected strength and humanity. In February 1985, 68-year-old Margaret Frazer was told by her doctor she had terminal cancer. A retired, single woman, whose family was far away, she faced a situation all too familiar in our society – a lonely death in a sterile hospital. Margaret’s lifetime of giving to others was repaid, however, when many of the people she had touched made a remarkable choice. Most of these people were strangers to each other, and sometimes even to Margaret. The Friends of Margaret developed into a smoothly functioning hospice team that cared for Margaret in the comfort of her own home. …”].

13. When Your Loved One Is Dying, by Earl A. Grollman, 1980, 155 GRO [Published by Beacon Press. From LibraryThing: “A professional counselor on death, dying, and bereavement, Grollman offers reassurance and emotional support for people dealing with the knowledge that a loved one is dying, providing practical advice on putting crucial personal matters in order.”].

14. Fear and Other Uninvited Guests: Tackling the Anxiety, Fear, and Shame That Keep Us from Optimal Living and Loving, by Harriet Lerner, 2004, 152.46 LER [Gift of Dawn Stewart. From LibraryThing: “… Often unrecognised, fear and shame drive our choices and attitudes in ways that most of us never figure out. As Lerner explains, fear is not an amorphous unknown to be transcended or overcome but an emotion to be recognized, explored, decoded and embraced. Once we befriend fear, it can actually help us achieve calm, clarity and fundamental peace. Lerner teaches us the best ways to deal with fear: to expect, allow, and accept its presence in our lives, to mindfully observe and attend to how it feels in our bodies and, ultimately to own it. We can become experts on our personal triggers of anxiety, learning when fear signals real danger and when it’s best to plough through it because it comes with the territory of making necessary changes. The very worst thing we can do in the face of fear is to run from it or try to avoid it. Fear is not something to be conquered or eliminated–or even tackled, for that matter. Instead, we need to pay close attention to the message it is trying to convey. Using her wonderfully rich and inviting therapeutic voice along with personal memories and examples drawn from her practice, Lerner gives fear its due. We needn’t let anxiety, fear, and shame silence our authentic voice, close our hearts to the different voices of others, or stop us from acting with dignity, integrity and brio. We need to harness fear and put it in service to our best selves.”].

15. Families Apart: Migrant Mothers and the Conflicts of Labor and Love, by Geraldine Pratt, 2012, 331.4 PRA [From LibraryThing: “In a developing nation like the Philippines, many mothers provide for their families by traveling to a foreign country to care for someone else’s. Families Apart focuses on Filipino overseas workers in Canada to reveal what such arrangements mean for families on both sides of the global divide. The outcome of Geraldine Pratt’s collaboration with the Philippine Women Centre of British Columbia, this study documents the difficulties of family separation and the problems that children have when they reunite with their mothers in Vancouver. …”].

Our library in Hewett Centre is open every Sunday after service during Coffee Hour in Hewett Centre, and our Library Team offers related reading lists based on the topic of the Sunday service. Here is their list for the upcoming service featuring Diane Brown, Rev. Shawn Gauthier and Kiersten Moore on Sunday, December 7, 2025 at 11 a.m. All are welcome in Hewett Centre after the Sunday service to check out some books, and to have coffee and conversation.

VanU library books related to this Sunday’s sermon:

1. Gifts From the Heart – 450 Simple Ways to Make Your Family’s Christmas More Meaningful, by Virginia Brucker, 2000, 394.2 BRU [From LibraryThing: “… contains hundreds of simple ideas that will help you create a warmer, more loving celebration focused on sharing and giving. … is filled with: Time-saving tips for busy families; delightful kid-tested craft projects, heartwarming ideas for family traditions and capturing memories; fun-filled activities that help grandparents connect with their grandchildren, terrific suggestions for gifts that develop imagination, creativity, and literacy; practical ideas for helping our planet and our animal friends; delicious tried-and-true recipes for cooks of all ages; presentation tips and fabulous recipes for gifts from the kitchen; party and potluck tips and recipes; easy-to-do volunteer activities that make a difference to others during the holidays; tips for divorced parents and blended families; meaningful ways to help friends and family struggling with illness or loss at Christmas. …”].

2. What Christmas Means to Unitarians, Phillip Hewett, 394 HEW.

3. How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, by Dr. Seuss, 1957, J+ SEU [From LibraryThing: “The Grinch tries to stop Christmas from arriving by stealing all the presents and food from the village, but much to his surprise it comes anyway.”].

4. The Story of Your Life: Writing a Spiritual Autobiography, by Dan Wakefield, 1990, 808.2 WAK [Beacon Press Publication. From LibraryThing: “… how to write about and share our most meaningful life experiences and in so doing to see our lives in a new light. …”].

5. Writing in the Sand: Jesus and the Soul of the Gospels, by Thomas Moore, 2009, 232 MOO [From LibraryThing: “… rich stories and imagery of the Gospels, recasting Jesus not as a teacher of morals and beliefs but as a spiritual visionary with a radical vision for humanity. … It presents Jesus not as the founder of a religion but as a world reformer offering a spiritual path to everyone, from every background. It offers a personal spirituality fit for the twenty-first century, where the individual bears responsibility for meaning and for a creative, convivial way of life. In his examination of the original Greek texts, Moore dismisses the cautionary voice of tradition and explores the deeper significance of language, stressing the origins of words and the many levels of meaning in stories and imagery. Through his study, Moore shows that the teachings of Jesus are challenging in a far different way than the moralism often associated with them. Based on being open to life, deepening your understanding, and giving up all defensiveness around your convictions, the Gospels can be the source of a new kind of certainty and stability that cannot be codified and enshrined in a list of rules. …”].

6. Night Tree, by Eve Bunting, 1991, J+ BUN [From LibraryThing: “A family makes its annual pilgrimage to decorate an evergreen tree with food for the forest animals at Christmastime.”].

7, Jingle, the Christmas Clown, by Tomie De Paola, 1993, J+ deP [From LibraryThing: “Staying behind when their circus moves on, a young clown and a troupe of baby animals put on a special Christmas Eve show for an Italian village too poor to celebrate the holiday.”].

8. Some of the Stories, by Wanda Justice, 2005, 921 JUS.

Our library in Hewett Centre is open every Sunday after service during Coffee Hour in Hewett Centre, and our Library Team offers related reading lists based on the topic of the Sunday service. Here is their list for the upcoming service featuring the IPA Team on Sunday, November 30, 2025 at 11 a.m. All are welcome in Hewett Centre after the Sunday service to check out some books, and to have coffee and conversation.

VanU library books related to this Sunday’s sermon:

1. Freedom Moves West: A History of the Western Unitarian Conference, 1852-1952, by Charles H. Lyttle, 2006, 288 LYT [From GoodReads: “… tells the story of the growth and development of a distinctive Western variety of American Unitarianism. As religiously liberal pioneers moved from the long-established East to the newly settled territories of the West, they embraced ever more challenging theological positions, constantly expanding the definition of what it means to be Unitarian.”].

2. You Can’t be Neutral on a Moving Train: A Personal History of Our Times, by Howard Zinn, 1994, 973.07 ZIN [Gift of Evelyn M. Riley. Published by Beacon Press. From LibraryThing: “… tells his personal stories about more than thirty years of fighting for social change, from teaching at Spelman College to recent protests against war. A former bombardier in World War II, Zinn emerged in the civil rights movement as a powerful voice for justice. Although he’s a fierce critic, he gives us reason to hope that by learning from history and engaging politically, we can make a difference in the world.”].

3. Slow Dance: A Story of Stroke, Love and Disability, by Bonnie Klein, 1997, 362.1 KLE [Gift of Gayle Morton. From LibraryThing: “The author talks about her struggles and inspirations as she deals with her disability after a stroke.”].

4. On the Move: A Life, by Oliver Sacks, 2015, 921 SAC [From LibraryThing: “… When Oliver Sacks was twelve years old, a perceptive schoolmaster wrote in his report: “Sacks will go far, if he does not go too far.” It is now abundantly clear that Sacks has never stopped going. From its opening pages on his youthful obsession with motorcycles and speed, On the Move is infused with his restless energy. As he recounts his experiences as a young neurologist in the early 1960s, first in California, where he struggled with drug addiction, and then in New York, where he discovered a long-forgotten illness in the back wards of a chronic hospital, we see how his engagement with patients comes to define his life. With unbridled honesty and humor, Sacks shows us that the same energy that drives his physical passions – weight lifting and swimming – also drives his cerebral passions. …”].

5. Islam and the Future of Tolerance: A Dialogue, by Sam Harris, 2015, 297 HAR [From LibraryThing: “… invite you to join an urgently needed conversation: Is Islam a religion of peace or war? Is it amenable to reform? Why do so many Muslims seem drawn to extremism? What do words like Islamism, jihadism, and fundamentalism mean in today’s world? Remarkable for the breadth and depth of its analysis, this dialogue between a famous atheist and a former radical is all the more startling for its decorum. Harris and Nawaz have produced something genuinely new: they engage one of the most polarizing issues of our time — fearlessly and fully — and actually make progress. … published with the explicit goal of inspiring a wider public discussion by way of example. In a world riven by misunderstanding and violence, Harris and Nawaz demonstrate how two people with very different views can find common ground.”].

6. The Inner Reaches of Outer Space, by Joseph Campbell, 1988, 291.13 CAM [The Julian Fears Library. From LibraryThing: “… posits that the newly discovered laws of outer space are actually at work within human beings as well and that a new mythology is implicit in this realization. He examines the new mythology and other questions in these essays which he described as “a broadly shared spiritual adventure.””].

7. Call to Selma: Eighteen Days of Witness, by Richard D. Leonard, 2002, 323.1 LEO [Published by Skinner House Books publication. From Amazon: “In 1965 Rev. Martin Luther King appealed to clergy across the nation to come to Selma, Alabama, and join protestors in their struggle for voting rights. In all, more than 200 Unitarian Universalists responded, including about one-fifth of all Unitarian Universalist ministers. Reverend Richard Leonard, age 37, was Minister of education at the Community Church of New York at the time he answered Dr. King’s call. Leonard’s journal, along with the recollections of others who shared the journey, presents Selma as a pivotal point in the advancement of civil rights, and a defining moment for Unitarian Universalism. …”].

8. Our Unitarian Heritage: An Introduction to the History of the Unitarian Movement, by Earl Morse Wilbur, 1925, 288 WIL.

9. You Are Here: Around the World in 92 Minutes: Photographs from the International Space Station, by Chris Hadfield, 2014, 778 HAD [Gift of Jean Desmond. From LibraryThing: “Photographs from the International Space Station punctuated with fun, fascinating commentary on life in zero gravity.”].

10. The Baha’I Faith: The Emerging Global Religion, by William S. Hatcher, 1997, 297.8 HAT [The Julian Fears Library. From the book’s jacket, on LibraryThing: “Explore the history, teachings, structure, and community life of the worldwide Baha’i community — what may well be the most diverse organized body of people on earth — through this revised and updated comprehensive introduction The Baha’i Faith covers the most recent developments in a faith that, in just over 150 years, has grown to become the second most widespread of the independent world religions.”].

11. Let the Mountains Talk, Let the Rivers Run: A Call to Those Who Would Save the Earth, by David Brower, 2000, 574.09 BRO [From LibraryThing: “As a climber, David Brower scaled many previously “insurmountable” mountains. As a conservationist, Brower has brought a mountaineer’s determination and reverence for nature to his efforts to protect the Earth and educate its human inhabitants. He has kept dams out of the Grand Canyon and loggers out of Olympic National Park, established the National Wilderness Preservation System, added seven new regions to the National Park System, and helped to foster a mind-set that questions careless growth. … offers a tough, witty, and impassioned game plan “for those who would save the Earth.” … Brower issues visionary yet practical CPR – Conservation, Preservation, Restoration – for the future. With these wittily formulated “operating instructions” for our planet, he imagines an International Green Cross and an Earth Corps, and he describes healthy cities with boundaries and wildlife havens; the importance of wildness, redwoods, rain forests, and wood substitutes; “green” businesses and the “Misfortune 500.” While offering strong criticism for those who would harm the Earth, he advises environmental organizations on how they might more effectively work to restore both the natural world and the hope of its peoples.”].

12. A Brief History of Time: From the Big Bang to Black Holes, by Stephen W. Hawking, 1988, 523.1 HAW [From LibraryThing: “… explores such profound questions as: How did the universe begin, and what made its start possible? Does time always flow forward? Is the universe unending, or are there boundaries? Are there other dimensions in space? What will happen when it all ends? … plunges into the exotic realms of black holes and quarks, of antimatter and arrows of time, of the big bang and a bigger God – where the possibilities are wondrous and unexpected. …”].

Our library in Hewett Centre is open every Sunday after service during Coffee Hour in Hewett Centre, and our Library Team offers related reading lists based on the topic of the Sunday service. Here is their list for the upcoming service featuring Rev. Shawn Gauthier on Sunday, November 23, 2025 at 11 a.m. All are welcome in Hewett Centre after the Sunday service to check out some books, and to have coffee and conversation.

VanU library books related to this Sunday’s sermon:

1. The Heart of Buddha’s Teaching: Transforming Suffering into Peace, Joy & Liberation, by Thich Nhat Hanh, 1999, 294 NHA [From Amazon: “With poetry and clarity, Thich Nhat Hanh imparts comforting wisdom about the nature of suffering and its role in creating compassion, love, and joy – all qualities of enlightenment.”].

2. Don’t Label Me: How to Do Diversity Without Inflaming the Culture Wars, by Irshad Manji, 2020, 306.44 [Gift of Mary Bennett. From LibraryThing: “… shows that America’s founding genius is diversity of thought. Which is why social justice activists won’t win by labeling those who disagree with them. At a time when minorities are fast becoming the majority, a truly new America requires a new way to tribe out.”].

3. Man’s Search for Meaning: An Introduction to Logotherapy, by Viktor E. Frankl, 1984, 150.19 FRA [The Julian Fears Library. From LibraryThing: “… Between 1942 and 1945 Frankl labored in four different camps, including Auschwitz, while his parents, brother, and pregnant wife perished. Based on his own experience and the experiences of others he treated later in his practice, Frankl argues that we cannot avoid suffering but we can choose how to cope with it, find meaning in it, and move forward with renewed purpose. Frankl’s theory – known as logotherapy, from the Greek word logos (“meaning”) – holds that our primary drive in life is not pleasure, as Freud maintained, but the discovery and pursuit of what we personally find meaningful. …”].

4. Nonviolence: The History of a Dangerous Idea, by Mark Kurlansky, 2008, 303.61 KUR [From LibraryThing: “… discusses nonviolence as a distinct entity, a course of action, rather than a mere state of mind. Nonviolence can and should be a technique for overcoming social injustice and ending wars, he asserts, which is why it is the preferred method of those who speak truth to power. Nonviolence is a sweeping yet concise history that moves from ancient Hindu times to present-day conflicts raging in the Middle East and elsewhere. Kurlansky also brings into focus just why nonviolence is a “dangerous” idea, and asks such provocative questions as: Is there such a thing as a “just war”? Could nonviolence have worked against even the most evil regimes in history? Kurlansky draws from history twenty-five provocative lessons on the subject that we can use to effect change today. He shows how, time and again, violence is used to suppress nonviolence and its practitioners-Gandhi and Martin Luther King, for example; that the stated deterrence value of standing national armies and huge weapons arsenals is, at best, negligible; and, encouragingly, that much of the hard work necessary to begin a movement to end war is already complete. It simply needs to be embraced and accelerated. …”].

5. Rites of Spring: The Great War And The Birth Of The Modern Age, by Modris Eksteins, 2002, 909.82 EKS [From LibraryThing: “… probes the origins, impact, and aftermath of World War I, from the premiere of Stravinsky’s ballet The Rite of Spring in 1913 to the death of Hitler in 1945. “The Great War,” as Modris Eksteins writes, “was the psychological turning point . . . for modernism as a whole. The urge to create and the urge to destroy had changed places. “Eksteins goes on to chart the seismic shifts in human consciousness brought about by this great cataclysm through the lives and words of ordinary people, works of literature, and such events as Lindbergh’s transatlantic flight and the publication of the first modern bestseller, All Quiet on the Western Front. …”].

6. None is Too Many: Canada and the Jews of Europe, 1933-1948, by Irving M Abella, 1982, 940.53 ABE [Gift of Barbara Taylor. From LibraryThing: “… between the years 1933 and 1948, when the Jews of Europe were looking for a place of refuge from Nazi persecution, Canada refused to offer aid, let alone sanctuary, to those in fear for their lives. … trace the origins and results of Canadian immigration policies towards Jews and conclusively demonstrate that the forces against admitting them were pervasive and rooted in antisemitism. … fortieth anniversary edition celebrates the book’s ongoing impact on public discourse, generating debate on ethics and morality in government, the workings of Canadian immigration and refugee policy, the responsibility of bystanders, righting historical wrongs, and the historian as witness. Above all, the reader is asked: “What kind of Canada do we want to be?” …”].

7. Gandhi’s Truth, by Erik H. Erikson, 1969, 921 GAN [From LibraryThing: “… psychoanalyst Erik H. Erikson explores how Gandhi succeeded in mobilizing the Indian people both spiritually and politically as he became the revolutionary innovator of militant non-violence and India became the motherland of large-scale civil disobedience.”].

8. The Warrior’s Honour, by Michael Ignatieff, 1998, 174.44 IGN [Gift of Harold Douglas Brown. From LibraryThing: “… charts the rise of the new moral interventionists – the aid workers, reporters, peacekeepers, Red Cross delegates, and diplomats – who believe that other people’s misery, no matter how far away, is of concern to us all. He brings us face to face with the new ethnic warriors-the warlords, gunmen, and paramilitaries-who have escalated post-modern war to an unprecedented level of savagery. And he draws, from the encounter of these two groups, dramatic and startling realisations about the ambiguous ethics of engagement, the limited force of moral justice in a world of war, and the inevitable clash between those who defend tribal and national loyalties and those who speak the universalist language of human rights. …”].

9. Rescuers: Portraits of Moral Courage in the Holocaust, by Malka Drucker and Gay Block, 1992, 940.53 BLO [From LibraryThing: “… visiting 105 rescuers from ten countries. … inviting us to look at these men and women as they are today, people whose faces resemble our own. Would we act as they did? In their own words, forty-nine of the rescuers present a vivid picture of their lives before, during, and after the war as they grapple with the question of why they acted with humanity in a time of barbarism and whether they would do it again. Their stories – infused with the deep memory that engages a terrible past – are unforgettable. Louisa Steenstra relives the Nazis’ murder of her husband and of the Jews they were hiding in their attic in the Netherlands; Antonin Kalina of Czechoslovakia relates how he deceived the SS to save 1,300 children in Buchenwald. Others recall how they smuggled Jews out of the ghettos; worked in resistance movements; forged passports and baptismal certificates; hid Jews in cellars, barns, and behind false walls; shared their meager food rations; secretly disposed of waste; and raised Jewish children as their own. … a vital contribution to our understanding of the Holocaust, of the complex factors that made some people refuse the role of passive bystander, and of the profound psychological and ethical issues that still perplex us. When asked about the prospects for acts of moral courage today, rescuer Liliane Gaffney told the authors: “It’s very difficult for a generation raised looking out for Number One to understand it. This is something totally unknown here. But there, if you didn’t live for others as well as yourself it wasn’t worth living.” For Jan Karski, however, the legacy of the rescuers is one of affirmation: “Do not lose hope in humanity.” … perhaps most striking about the rescuers is their modesty and simple humanness; yet, as Cynthia Ozick concludes in the Prologue, “It is from these undeniably heroic and principled few that we can learn the full resonance of civilization.””].

10. The Power of Nonviolence: Writings by Advocates of Peace, by Howard Zinn, 2002, 327.17 WEI [Beacon Press publication. From LibraryThing, the book jacket: “… first anthology of alternatives to war with a historical perspective – with an introduction by Howard Zinn about September 11 and the U.S. response to the terrorist attacks – presents the most salient and persuasive arguments for peace in the last 2,500 years of human history. Arranged chronologically, covering the major conflagrations in the world. … a compelling step forward in the study of pacifism, a timely anthology that fills a void for people looking for responses to crisis that are not based on guns or bombs.”].

11. The Ursula Franklin Reader: Pacifism as a Map, by Ursula Franklin, 2006, 303.66 FRA [From LibraryThing: “… demonstrates subtle, yet critical, linkages across a range of subjects: the pursuit of peace and social justice, theology, feminism, environmental protection, education, government, and citizen activism. This thoughtful collection, drawn from more than four decades of research and teaching, brings readers into an intimate discussion with Franklin, and makes a passionate case for how to build a society centered around peace.”].

12. The Better Angels of Our Nature: Why Violence Has Declined, by Steven Pinker, 2012, 303.609 PIN [From LibraryThing, the publisher description: “We’ve all asked, “… cognitive scientist Steven Pinker shows that the past was much worse. Evidence of a bloody history has always been around us: genocides in the Old Testament, gory mutilations in Shakespeare and Grimm, monarchs who beheaded their relatives, and American founders who dueled with their rivals. The murder rate in medieval Europe was more than thirty times what it is today. Slavery, sadistic punishments, and frivolous executions were common features of life for millennia, then were suddenly abolished. How could this have happened, if human nature has not changed? Pinker argues that thanks to the spread of government, literacy, trade, and cosmopolitanism, we increasingly control our impulses, empathize with others, debunk toxic ideologies, and deploy our powers of reason to reduce the temptations of violence.”].

Our library in Hewett Centre is open every Sunday after service during Coffee Hour in Hewett Centre, and our Library Team offers related reading lists based on the topic of the Sunday service. Here is their list for the upcoming service featuring Rev. Shawn Gauthier on Sunday, November 16, 2025 at 11 a.m. All are welcome in Hewett Centre after the Sunday service to check out some books, and to have coffee and conversation.

VanU library books related to this Sunday’s sermon:

1. To Re-Enchant the World: A Philosophy of Unitarian Universalism, by Richard Grigg, 2004, 288 GRI [Written by a Unitarian Society of New Haven member. From LibraryThing: “Since the seventeenth century, Western culture has been undergoing what historians and sociologists call secularization, the process via which religious institutions lose more and more of their power in society. … One visible aspect of the process of secularization is the weakening, and perhaps eventual withering away, of traditional religious institutions. … Secularization threatens to “disenchant” the world (Max Weber), to cut us off from the sense of the sacred and of Mystery. … there is a difficulty with New Age sorts of spiritualities when compared with the old-time religion: these new spiritualities tend to be very individualistic, if not idiosyncratic. … But individualistic New Age pieties seem to have no such social reinforcement underpinning them. Hence the central argument of To Re-Enchant the World: the Unitarian Universalist community accomplishes the unique task of re-enchanting the world by bringing a host of individual spiritualities into a single community where all of them are affirmed and thus granted social plausibility. The U.U. community, then, is a particularly powerful site for the re-enchantment of the world: it puts us back in touch with the sacred and with what the book labels the Mysterious Depth of reality. While Unitarian Universalists can bring many different spiritual ways into the U.U. community, five are analyzed in depth in the book, namely, humanism, a focus on nature, engagement with the arts, commitment to social justice, and devotion to a Source/Creative Abyss of the universe. The book also considers rituals common to the U.U. community and the experience of sacred space, sacred time, and sacred word in that community. Finally, To Re-Enchant the World makes some predictions about the future of Unitarian Universalism and even touches on the delicate issue of U.U. proselytizing. …”].

2. The Education of the Heart: Readings and Sources for Care of the Soul, Soul Mates, and the Re-Enchantment of Everyday Life, edited by Thomas Moore, 1997, 158 MOO [From LibraryThing: “In an era of information technology we tend to neglect education in the emotions, the imagination, and civility. … he presents many of the sources that influenced and inspired Care of the Soul, Soul Mates, and The Re-Enchantment of Everyday Life, choosing special passages that show us how to cultivate our humanity. … Here we read the great teachers and writers of the past and present, not as representatives of historical periods but as vivid teachers who show us the way towards a richer, more spiritful and soul-filled life. …”].

3. The Re-Enchantment of Everyday Life: International Edition, by Thomas Moore, 1996, 158.2 MOO [Gift of Sheila Feary. From LibraryThing: “… shows that a profound, enchanted engagement with life is not a childish thing to be put away with adulthood, but a necessity for one’s personal and collective survival. With his lens focused on specific aspects of daily life such as clothing, food, furniture, architecture, ecology, language, and politics, Moore describes the renaissance these can undergo when there is a genuine engagement with beauty, craft, nature, and art in both private and public life. …”].

4. Universal Questions: Exploring the Mysteries of Existence, by Harold Rosen, 1997 [Written by a Unitarian minister.].

5. Ordinary Magic: Everyday Life as Spiritual Path, edited by John Welwood, 1992, 291.4 WEL [From LibraryThing: “… reveals how the simple practice of mindfulness can be a magical and transformative part of anyone’s daily life. Thirty-five wide-ranging essays written by well-known spiritual teachers, therapists, and creative artists show how learning to focus awareness can bring a new richness to ordinary activities; how mindfulness can heighten creative pursuits such as painting, journal writing, or playing music; how contemplative awareness enhances both physical and psychological well-being; and how meditation can contribute to better relationships with family, community, and the world at large.”].

6. A Brief History of Time: From the Big Bang to Black Holes, by Stephen W. Hawking, 1988, 523.1 HAW [From LibraryThing: “… explores such profound questions as: How did the universe begin, and what made its start possible? Does time always flow forward? Is the universe unending, or are there boundaries? Are there other dimensions in space? What will happen when it all ends? … plunges into the exotic realms of black holes and quarks, of antimatter and arrows of time, of the big bang and a bigger God – where the possibilities are wondrous and unexpected. …”].

7. How It Began: A Time-Traveler’s Guide to the Universe, by Chris Impey, 2013, 523.1 IMP [From LibraryThing: “In this vibrant, eye-opening tour of milestones in the history of our universe, Chris Impey guides us through space and time, leading us from the familiar sights of the night sky to the dazzlingly strange aftermath of the Big Bang”].

8. The Sacred Depths of Nature, by Ursula Goodenough, 1998, 574.01 GOO [From LibraryThing: “For many of us, the great scientific discoveries of the modern age – the Big Bang, evolution, quantum physics, relativity – point to an existence that is bleak, devoid of meaning, pointless. … shows us that the scientific world view need not be a source of despair. Indeed, it can be a wellspring of solace and hope. … Looking at topics such as evolution, emotions, sexuality, and death, Goodenough writes … about the workings of nature in general and of living creatures in particular. Her luminous clarity makes it possible for even non scientists to appreciate that the origins of life and the universe are no less meaningful because of our increasingly scientific understanding of them. At the end of each chapter, Goodenough’s spiritual reflections respond to the complexity of nature with vibrant emotional intensity and a sense of reverent wonder. …”].

9. Gaia: A New Look at Life on Earth, by J. E. Lovelock, 1987, 113 LOV [From LibraryThing: “… puts forward his idea that life on earth functions as a single organism. Written for non-scientists, Gaia is a journey through time and space in search of evidence with which to support a new and radically different model of our planet. In contrast to conventional belief that living matter is passive in the face of threats to its existence, the book explores the hypothesis that the earth’s living matter air, ocean, and land surfaces forms a complex system that has the capacity to keep the Earth a fit place for life. Since Gaia was first published, many of Jim Lovelock’s predictions have come true and his theory has become a hotly argued topic in scientific circles. …”].

10. Walden and Other Writings, by Henry David Thoreau, 1993, 818.3 THO [From LibraryThing: “From July 4, 1845 to September 6, 1847, Henry David Thoreau lived alone in the cabin he built on the shores of Walden Pond, near Concord, Massachusetts. Walden is the classic account of his stay–his experiment in essential living. This book is framed as a narrative of the cycle of one year, beginning with summer. Thoreau uses the changes of the day, the seasons, and the year to symbolize the quiet revolution that is going on inside him. His specific observations of the natural life outside himself cause him to look inward and reflect upon the lives of quiet desperation most men lead; the erroneous economic thinking which leads them to accept their shackles; the liberating effects of nature and self-examination; and finally those “higher laws” which can only be glimpsed on those rare occasions when true living unites with true reflection. …”].

Our library in Hewett Centre is open every Sunday after service during Coffee Hour in Hewett Centre, and our Library Team offers related reading lists based on the topic of the Sunday service. Here is their list for the upcoming service featuring Rev. Shawn Gauthier on Sunday, November 9, 2025 at 11 a.m. All are welcome in Hewett Centre after the Sunday service to check out some books, and to have coffee and conversation.

VanU library books related to this Sunday’s sermon:

1. Trusting Change: Finding Our Way Through Personal and Global Transformation, by Karen Hering, 2022, 248 HER [From LibraryThing: “… offers pastoral support and spiritual skills building for individuals on the cusp of personal change within the collective context of a world that is reshaping itself at a faster pace than ever. The book’s ten thresholding skills give readers practical tools for living on the threshold and through change, but this is not a typical “how-to” guide and its beautifully written and evocative language will connect readers with their own deeper consciousness. … Hering does not pretend that change is easy but notes its inevitability and some of the ways readers can participate in it, allowing them to trust it more in the future. Sharing wisdom found in nature and in metaphors, the reflections include evocative questions and creative, often embodied exercises that invite the reader into a larger story of change. …”].

2. As Gods: A Moral History of the Genetic Age, by Matthew Cobb, 2022, 660 COB [From LibraryThing: “… In 2018, scientists manipulated the DNA of human babies for the first time. As biologist and historian Matthew Cobb shows in As Gods, this achievement was one many scientists have feared from the start of the genetic age. Four times in the last fifty years, geneticists, frightened by their own technology, have called a temporary halt to their experiments. They ought to be frightened: Now we have powers that can target the extinction of pests, change our own genes, or create dangerous new versions of diseases in an attempt to prevent future pandemics. Both awe-inspiring and chilling, As Gods traces the history of genetic engineering, showing that this revolutionary technology is far too important to be left to the scientists. …”].

3. AI 2041: Ten Visions for Our Future, by Kai-Fu Lee and Quifan Chen, 2021, 006 LEE [From LibraryThing: “… the former president of Google China and a leading writer of speculative fiction join forces to answer an urgent question: How will artificial intelligence change our world over the next twenty years? AI will be the defining issue of the twenty-first century, but many people know little about it apart from visions of dystopian robots or flying cars. Though the term has been around for half a century, it is only now, Kai-Fu Lee argues, that AI is poised to upend our society, just as the arrival of technologies like electricity and smart phones did before it. In the past five years, AI has shown it can learn games like chess in mere hours-and beat humans every time. AI has surpassed humans in speech and object recognition, even outperforming radiologists in diagnosing lung cancer. AI is at a tipping point. What comes next? Within two decades, aspects of daily life may be unrecognizable. Humankind needs to wake up to AI, both its pathways and perils. … In ten gripping short stories that crisscross the globe, coupled with incisive analysis, Lee and Chen explore AI’s challenges and its potential”].

4. Active Hope: How to Face the Mess We’re in with Unexpected Resilience and Creative Power, by Joanna Macy and Chris Johnstone, 2022, 303 MAC [From Scorpio Books: “The challenges we face can be difficult even to think about. Climate change, war, political polarization, economic upheaval, and the dying back of nature together create a planetary emergency of overwhelming proportions. This revised, tenth anniversary edition of Active Hope shows us how to strengthen our capacity to face these crises so that we can respond with unexpected resilience and creative power. Drawing on decades of teaching an empowerment approach known as the Work That Reconnects, the authors guide us through a transformational process informed by mythic journeys, modern psychology, spirituality, and holistic science. This process equips us with tools to face the mess we’re in and play our role in the collective transition, or Great Turning, to a life-sustaining society.”].

5. Belonging: Remembering Ourselves Home, by Toko-pa Turner, 2017, 155 TUR [From the Vancouver Public Library: “We live in one of the most connected times on earth but never before have we been so lonely, so alienated from each other, from ourselves, and from the natural world. Whether this manifests as having difficulty finding community, feeling anxiety about your worthiness and place in the world, or simply feeling disconnected, the absence of belonging is the great silent wound of our times… In Belonging, Toko-pa explores the origins of our estrangement, how that alienation affects the choices we make as individuals, and as a culture, and what are those skills to which we can apprentice ourselves, to restore a sense of belonging in our lives, and in our world.”].

6. Rehearsals for Living, by Robyn Maynard and Leanne Betasamosake Simpson, 306 MAY [From Quill & Quire: “A balm for despair, Rehearsals for Living is an epistolary dialogue between Robyn Maynard and Leanne Betasamosake Simpson that takes stock of our collapsing society and imagines what we might build from the wreckage. Over a year of correspondence, the authors share daily observations, ideas, and memories; these are interwoven with the words and thoughts of other activists, writers, and artists to create a polyphonic work of critical scholarship that radically reframes the concept of survival to map a feminist, abolitionist, and anti-racist path to the future.”].

7. A Brief History of Artificial Intelligence: What It Is, Where We Are, and Where We Are Going, by Michael Wooldridge, 2021, 006 WOO [From LibraryThing: “From Oxford’s leading AI researcher … The somewhat ill-defined long-term aim of AI is to build machines that are conscious, self-aware, and sentient; machines capable of the kind of intelligent autonomous action that currently only people are capable of. As an AI researcher with 25 years of experience, professor Mike Wooldridge has learned to be obsessively cautious about such claims, while still promoting an intense optimism about the future of the field. There have been genuine scientific breakthroughs that have made AI systems possible in the past decade that the founders of the field would have hailed as miraculous. Driverless cars and automated translation tools are just two examples of AI technologies that have become a practical, everyday reality in the past few years, and which will have a huge impact on our world. While the dream of conscious machines remains, Professor Wooldridge believes, a distant prospect, the floodgates for AI have opened. …”].

8. The Future We Choose: The Stubborn Optimist’s Guide to the Climate Crisis, by Christiana Figueres and Tom Rivett-Carnac, 2021, 363 FIG [Donated by John Boyle. From LibraryThing: “In this cautionary but optimistic book, Figueres and Rivett-Carnac–the architects of the 2015 Paris Climate Change Agreement–tackle arguably the most urgent and consequential challenge humankind has ever faced: the world’s changing climate and the fate of humanity. … the authors outline two possible scenarios for the planet. In one, they describe what life on Earth will be like by 2050 if we fail to meet the Paris targets for carbon dioxide emission reduction. In the other, they describe what it will take to create and live in a carbon neutral, regenerative world. They argue for confronting the climate crisis head on, with determination and optimism. How we all of us address the climate crisis in the next thirty years will determine not only the world we will live in but also the world we will bequeath to our children and theirs. The Future We Choose presents our options and tells us, in no uncertain terms, what governments, corporations, and each of us can and must do to fend off disaster”].

9. All We Can Save: Truth, Courage, and Solutions for the Climate Crisis, by Ayana Elizabeth Johnson and Katharine K. Wilkinson, 2021, 363.7 [From LibraryThing: “… There is a renaissance blooming in the climate movement: leadership that is more characteristically feminine and more faithfully feminist, rooted in compassion, connection, creativity, and collaboration. While it’s clear that women and girls are vital voices and agents of change for this planet, they are too often missing from the proverbial table. More than a problem of bias, it’s a dynamic that sets us up for failure. To change everything, we need everyone. All We Can Save illuminates the expertise and insights of dozens of diverse women leading on climate in the United States – scientists, journalists, farmers, lawyers, teachers, activists, innovators, wonks, and designers, across generations, geographies, and race – and aims to advance a more representative, nuanced, and solution-oriented public conversation on the climate crisis. These women offer a spectrum of ideas and insights for how we can rapidly, radically reshape society. …”].

10. American Exodus: Climate Change and the Coming Flight for Survival, by Giles Slade, 2013, 304.8 SLA [Written by a UCV member. From Amazon: “… Giles Slade argues that we are entering a long period of global desperation which will be characterized by human migration on an unprecedented scale. American Exodus is a frighteningly believable survey of our immediate future, but it ends on a note of hope: we may yet survive the coming century of climatic change if we act now to safeguard our shelter of last resort. …”].

11. Just Cool It!: The Climate Crisis and What We Can Do – A Post-Paris Agreement Game Plan, by David Suzuki and Ian Hanington, 2017, 363.738 [Gift of Mei Jia Lam. From LibraryThing: “A resounding post-Paris Agreement wake-up call about the urgency of the climate crisis that offers a range of practical solutions-and above all, hope. Climate change is the most important crisis humanity has faced, but we still confront huge barriers to resolving it. So, what do we do, and is there hope for humanity? The problem itself is complex, and there’s no single solution. But by understanding the barriers to resolving global warming and by employing a wide range of solutions-from shifting to clean energy to planting trees to reforming agricultural practices-we can get the world back on track. … offers a comprehensive look at the current state of climate science and knowledge and the many ways to resolve the climate crisis, imploring us to do what’s necessary to live in a better, cleaner future. When enough people demand action, change starts happening-and this time, it could be monumental.”].

12. Time to Change: Essays, by David Suzuki, 1995, 333.7 SUZ [From LibraryThing: “… a time when we must change. The signs are everywhere; … first calls our attention to the signs and then considers the realms of science, politics and economics to find the source of our problems and also the ground on which we can – and cannot – place our hope for the future”].

13. The Big Disconnect: The Story of Technology and Loneliness, by Giles Slade, 2012, 303.48 SLA [Written by a VanU member. From LibraryThing: “… the author offers a bracing look at an America where intimacy with machines is increasingly replacing mutual human intimacy. In a sweeping overview that ranges from the late nineteenth century to the present, he reveals how consumer technologies changed from analgesic devices that ameliorated the loneliness of a newly urban generation in the Gilded Age to prosthetic machines that act as substitutes for companionship in contemporary America. Mining insights from neuroscience, the author delves deeply into the history of this transformation, showing why Americans use certain technologies to mediate their connections with other human beings instead of seeking out face-to-face contacts. In a final investigative section, he describes ways in which some people are bucking the trend by consciously including interpersonal strategies that build empathy, community, and mutual acceptance. …”].

Our library in Hewett Centre is open every Sunday after service during Coffee Hour in Hewett Centre, and our Library Team offers related reading lists based on the topic of the Sunday service. Here is their list for the upcoming service featuring Rev. Shawn Gauthier, Kiersten Moore and Janet Pivnick on Sunday, November 2, 2025 at 11 a.m. All are welcome in Hewett Centre after the Sunday service to check out some books, and to have coffee and conversation.

VanU library books related to this Sunday’s sermon:

1. These Live Tomorrow: Twenty Unitarian Universalist Biographies, by Clinton Lee Scott, 1964, 289.1 SCO [Published by Beacon Press. From AbeBooks: “… Brief biographies of those important to the history of the Unitarian – Universalist Church, … . Included are George de Benneville (1703-1793), John Murray (1741-1851, the founder of the Universalist Church in America), Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Rush, Hosea Ballou, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Mary A. Livermore, Susan B. Anthony, Thomas Starr King, Clara Barton and others, arranged chronologically. …”].

2. A Faith People Make: Illustrated Unitarian Universalist Lives, by Stephen Kendrick, 1988, 288 KEN [From LibraryThing: “… This work contains brief sketches of the lives of twenty Unitarians and Universalist. The profile of each person is proceeded by a page describing key events in his or her life. Included are such people as Joseph Priestley, discoverer or oxygen and other gases. Priestley was also a Unitarian minister. One of the most contemporary people profiled was Sophia Lyon Fahs. Fahs began her career with the Unitarian Universalist Association in 1937 when she developed a curriculum called the “New Beacon Series.” Fahs was ordained a Unitarian minister at the age of 82 and lived to be 102. …”].

3. Lotta and the Unitarian Service Committee Story, by Clyde Sanger, 1986, 921 HIT [From CM Archive: “… Lotta’s secure life in Prague was shattered by the war that left her homeless, and ultimately an orphan. In 1942 she arrived in Canada, and almost immediately started trying to alert Canadians to problems of European war victims. The USC, which she organized in Canada, started with European relief work and expanded to relief and rehabilitation programs in Korea, India, the Gaza strip, and Vietnam. Details of the successes and frustrations of Lotta’s efforts reveal a remarkably capable, persistent, and brave individual. … describing the recent shift in emphasis from small projects, with close personal contact, to larger integrated community development schemes. …”].

4. Call to Selma: Eighteen Days of Witness, by Richard D. Leonard, 2002, 323.1 LEO [Published by Skinner House Books publication. From Amazon: “In 1965 Rev. Martin Luther King appealed to clergy across the nation to come to Selma, Alabama, and join protestors in their struggle for voting rights. In all, more than 200 Unitarian Universalists responded, including about one-fifth of all Unitarian Universalist ministers. Reverend Richard Leonard, age 37, was Minister of education at the Community Church of New York at the time he answered Dr. King’s call. Leonard’s journal, along with the recollections of others who shared the journey, presents Selma as a pivotal point in the advancement of civil rights, and a defining moment for Unitarian Universalism. …”].

5. The BC Almanac Book of Greatest British Columbians, by Mark Forsythe and Greg Dickson, 2005, 920.0711 FOR [Gift of Arthur Hughes. Signed by the authors. From LibraryThing: “… Divided into such categories as Crusaders and Reformers, Scientists and Innovators and Rogues and Rascals, the book throws new light on such well-established names as David Suzuki, Emily Carr and Terry Fox. Equally intriguing are the “wildcard candidates,” including such little-known gems as the indomitable overlander Catherine Schubert and Fightin’ Joe Martin, one of BC’s shortest-lived premiers. Other highlights include Percy Williams, unlikely hero of the 1928 Olympics and pretender to the title of BC’s greatest athlete; gold rush jack-of-all-trades C.D. Hoy, who overcame racism to leave a photographic legacy; Joseph Leopold Coyle of Aldermere, inventor of the egg carton; and Lucille Johnstone, the secretary who rose to CEO in the testosterone-laden towboat industry.”].

6. The Greatest Generation Speaks: Letters and Reflections, by Tom Brokaw, 1999, 940.548 BRO [Large print book, in memory of Marguerite (Dee) Kelsey. The book pays affecting tribute to those who gave the world so much, and who left an enduring legacy of courage and conviction, with it collecting the vast outpouring of letters Brokaw received from men and women eager to share their intensely personal stories of a momentous time in America’s history. If we are to heed the past to prepare for the future, we should listen to these quiet voices of a generation that speaks to us of duty and honor, sacrifice and accomplishment].

7. How to Write and Deliver a Loving Eulogy, by Leo Seguin, 1998, 155.9 SEG [From LibraryThing: “When asked by family or friends to deliver a eulogy, there is usually very little time for planning. This book is designed as a guide to help you build and deliver a loving eulogy. It will provide, in a concise form, a vehicle of expression produced with empathy and compassion. The prose will be constructed from your own personal thoughts, your generous emotions, your caring hands, hands imbued with loyalty and worthy purpose (using our tools) you are a child of God. …”].

8. The Book of Hope, A Survival Guide for Trying Times, by Jane Goodall, 2021, 304 GOO [Jane Goodall, one of the world’s most famous naturalists, died on October 1, 2025. In this urgent book, Goodall and Douglas Abrams, the internationally bestselling co-author of The Book of Joy, explore through intimate and thought-provoking dialogue one of the most sought after and least understood elements of human nature: hope. In The Book of Hope, Jane focuses on her “Four Reasons for Hope”: The Amazing Human Intellect, The Resilience of Nature, The Power of Young People, and The Indomitable Human Spirit.]

9. Hiroshima: Memories of a Survivor, by Sachi Komura Rummel, 2018, 940 RUM [In 1945, the Japanese-born author Sachi Komura Rummel was 3.5 kilometres away from ground zero when the atomic bomb hit Hiroshima and killed much of the population and members of her family. As a survivor and now a Canadian citizen living in Squamish, 79-year-old Rummel describes her experience, one that lives on in the family histories and memories of Japanese people to this day. She writes to tell of the dangers of nuclear radiation, how terrible it is and how difficult it is to live after exposure, and to advocate for a world without nuclear weapons and nuclear war].

10. Invisible Influence: Claiming Canadian Unitarian and Universalist Women’s History, by Jean Pfleiderer et al, eds., 2011, 281.9 PFL [This book, resulting from an initiative by Kingston minister Rev. Kathy Sage, gathers essays on six hitherto “invisible” women who made important contributions to the development of the Unitarian and Universalist movement in Canada].

11. A World of Ideas: Conversations With Thoughtful Men and Women About American Life Today and the Ideas Shaping Our Future, by Bill Moyers, 1989, 973.92 MOY [From the Julian Fears Library. Bill Moyers, an acclaimed journalist and award-winning host of several PBS programs, died on June 26, 2025. This book offers the chance to look back at the controversies of 1989 through his interviews, which gather the voices of prominent and prophetic figures in American life, mostly also now departed: Interviews include Chinua Achebe, Isaac Asimov, Mary Catherine Bateson, Robert Bellah, Peter Berger, …, Noam Chomsky, F. Forrester Church, Henry Steele Commager, E.L. Doctorow, Peter F. Drucker, …, Northrop Frye, …, Elaine Pagels, …, Steven Weinberg, …, August Wilson, William Julius Wilson, Tom Wolfe, …, C.N. Yang].