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 Sunday service. Here is their list for the upcoming service featuring Rev. Christopher Wulff on Sunday, June 22, 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 Celebration of Life, by Norman Cousins, 1974, 128.5 COU [The Julian Fears Library. From Penguin Random House: “Lucid and lyric, informational and inspirational – a lasting testament to the human spirit and its indefatigable instinct for lasting meaning in a temporal world … is a compelling conversational survey of modern science, philosophy, religion, physics, politics, ecology, and the biology of the human spirit that supports his view that our one hope for the future – and our own immortality – rests in the recognition of our common humanity.”].
2. Chicken Soup for the Unsinkable Soul: 101 Stories, by Jack Canfield, 1999, 158.2 CAN [Gift of Hal Logan. From LibraryThing: “Presents over one hundred inspirational stories that offer encouragement to individuals who are facing challenging times.”].
3. This I Believe: The Personal Philosophies of Remarkable Men and Women, by Jay Allison, 2006, 170.44 ALL [From LibraryThing: “… features eighty essayists … a well-known list of contributors – including Isabel Allende, Colin Powell, Gloria Steinem, William F. Buckley Jr., Penn Jillette, Bill Gates, and John Updike – the collection also contains essays by a Brooklyn lawyer; a part-time hospital clerk from Rehoboth, Massachusetts; a woman who sells Yellow Pages advertising in Fort Worth, Texas; and a man who serves on the state of Rhode Island’s parole board. The result is a stirring and provocative trip inside the minds and hearts of a diverse group of people whose beliefs – and the incredibly varied ways in which they choose to express them – reveal the American spirit at its best.”].
4. Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort of Joy, by Sarah Ban Breathnach, 1995, 158.12 BAN [From LibraryThing: “… responsible for introducing two hugely popular concepts – the “Gratitude Journal” and the term “Authentic Self.” … powerful messages are needed now more than ever, as we navigate the discord and stress instigated by a constant stream of “breaking news” cycles, and our 24/7 social media culture. Sarah Ban Breathnach has refreshed … celebrates quiet joys, simple pleasures, and well-spent moments and reminds us how to find the beauty in the everyday.”].
5. The Re-Enchantment of Everyday Life: International Edition, by Thomas Moore, 1996, 158.2 MOO [Gift of Sheila Feary. From LibraryThing: “Starting from the premise that we can no longer afford to live in a disenchanted world, Moore 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. …”].
6. The Courage to Laugh: Humor, Hope, and Healing in the Face of Death and Dying, by Allen Klein, 1998, 291.4 KLE [From LibraryThing: “… Illustrating the inherent importance of the ability to laugh, Klein gives readers the power to face the end of life with dignity and compassion. Based on the author’s years of giving speeches and leading workshops for patients and their caregivers and families, The Courage to Laugh will be the first book to: * show how patients use humor to cope when life is threatened * offer hope and encouragement to readers dealing with loss * give readers permission to laugh when they feel like crying * explain how popular culture can ease death-related fears * provide uplifting quotes and jokes With poignant wisdom from children, parents, doctors, and nurses, combined with the spirited writing of the author, …”].
7. Blessings: Prayers and Declarations for a Heartful Life, by Julia Cameron, 1998, 291.432 CAM [From LibraryThing: “… reveals the keys she uses to reconnect herself with the source of her creative spirit. Focusing on gratitude and recognizing the power to change one’s surrounding world by changing one’s thinking, Cameron explains how she surrenders to the “deeper flow of life rather than willfully forcing artificial solutions.” By acknowledging the beauty, harmony, and synergy of life, readers learn through Cameron’s inspiring prose how to cherish the gifts they have been given and use them to their fullest. Those who read and follow Cameron’s advice and prayers and listen to Tim Wheater’s healing music in the audiobook will realize how to achieve harmony in their lives and embrace the notion that they are part of a larger whole that holds them in a benevolent and protective view. With Blessings, readers will understand the secrets of a life that is rich, beautiful, intricate, and valuable.”].
8. Life Prayers From Around the World: 365 Prayers, Blessings, and Affirmations to Celebrate the Human Journey, by Elizabeth Roberts, 1996, 242.2 ROB [From LibraryThing: “An eloquent anthology honoring the wonders and challenges of life on earth and celebrating the seasons of our lives. The mysteries and delights of life on earth are illuminated in this richly eclectic collection of poetry, wisdom, prayers, and blessings from thinkers and writers around the world. Here you will find the poetry of Hildgard of Bingen and Gary Snyder; the political wisdom of Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King, Jr.; a treasury of women’s prayers, classical verse from China and Japan; and beautiful chants and prayers by Native Americans. A joyous affirmation of the human journey in all its forms, in all its struggles and glories.”].
9. 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. … choosing special passages that show us how to cultivate our humanity. But this is not merely a sourcebook or anthology; it’s a manual for living from the heart. 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. …”].
10. We Sing of Life; Songs for Children, Young People, Adults, by Vincent B. Silliman, 1955, 784 SIL [From LibraryThing, the introduction: “… religious without being sectarian: they sing of the realities of man’s experience and vitalizing purpose. The express the feeling of at-homeness in the world and the human values of truth, beauty and goodness. They give voice to the feeling of oneness with nature – a feeling for the continuity of all living organisms and the evolution of higher forms of life. They celebrate the worth of the individual and the glories of human freedom, equality, and comradeship. They focus upon man’s spiritual insights and interpret his aspirations toward a better world,”].
11. In Stillness, Renewal: Meditations, by Jacob Trapp, 1983, 242 TRA [Gift of Petrt Aaloe and Ann Rieger. From Vintage Book Shoppe: “A well-loved guide to spiritual renewal through mindfulness and contemplation, … Blending monastic tradition with Eastern philosophies, Trapp offers accessible wisdom for seekers of inner peace. Published amid renewed Western interest in mindfulness, this work invites readers to explore the profound insights of stillness and meditation through the lens of Christian mysticism.”].
12. Happiness in a Storm: Facing Illness and Embracing Life as a Healthy Survivor, by Wendy Schlessel Harpham, 2005, 155.9 HAR [From LibraryThing: “”A guide to the meaning of joy and satisfaction, and the many routes to them.”–Jane Brody, New York Times … getting good care and finding happiness when you are sick. Having coined the term “Healthy Survivor” while dealing with her own chronic lymphoma, Harpham encourages people dealing with cancer, heart disease, diabetes, or any prolonged illness to simultaneously do all they can to overcome disease and live life to the fullest. Harpham opens our eyes to the opportunities for happiness in life despite medical problems and even because of illness.”].