Need a Good Book? Or Two?
The church staff has pulled some resources from our Church Library and put them on a table in the Fellowship Hall. Come by (8-3:30 Mon-Fri), choose something(s) you would like, write your name on the card along with the date, and return it within 3 weeks. It’s a great time to READ!
Here are some new books added to our collection to help us learn and grow:
Reconstructing The Gospel: Finding Freedom from Slaveholder Religion by Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove
Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove grew up in the South as a faithful church-going Christian. But he gradually came to realize that the message his Church proclaimed was not good news for everybody. The same Church that sang “Amazing Grace” also perpetuated racial injustice and white supremacy in the name of Jesus. Reconstructing the gospel requires facing the pain of the past and present, from racial blindness to systemic abuses of power. When the gospel is reconstructed, freedom rings for both individuals and society to heal our land.
The Cross and the Lynching Tree by James H. Cone
The cross and the lynching tree are the two most emotionally charged symbols in the history of the African-American community. Theologian James H. Cone explores these symbols and their interconnection in the history and souls of black folk. Both the cross and the lynching tree represent the worst in human beings and at the same time a thirst for life that refuses to let the worst determine our final meaning. While the lynching tree symbolized white power and black death, the cross symbolizes divine power and black life God overcoming the power of sin and death.
Stand Your Ground: Black Bodies and the Justice of God by Kelly Brown Douglas
On the Sunday morning after the acquittal of Trayvon Martin’s killer, black preachers across America addressed the questions his death raised for their communities: “Where is the justice of God? What are we to hope for?” Kelly Brown Douglas examines the myths and narratives underlying a “stand-your-ground” culture, taking seriously the social as well as the theological questions raised by this and similar events, from Ferguson to New York. As a mother, she writes: “There has been no story in the news that has troubled me more than that of Trayvon Martin’s slaying [because my son] looks like Trayvon.”
Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson
From one of the most brilliant and influential lawyers of our time comes an unforgettable true story about the redeeming potential of mercy. Bryan Stevenson was a young attorney when he founded the Equal Justice Initiative, a legal practice dedicated to defending the poor, the wrongly condemned, and those trapped in the furthest reaches of our criminal justice system. One of his first cases was that of Walter McMillian, a young man sentenced to die for a notorious murder he didn’t commit. It transformed his understanding of mercy and justice forever.
Just Mercy: A True Story of the Fight for Justice by Bryan Stevenson (Adapted for young adults)
This is the young adult adaptation of the #1 bestseller; which the New York Times calls “as compelling as To Kill a Mockingbird, and in some ways more so.” This powerful testament to how one person can make a difference focuses on the redeeming potential of mercy.
Rethinking Incarceration: Advocating For Justice That Restores by Dominique DuBois Gilliard
The United States has more people locked up in jails, prisons, and detention centers than any other country in the history of the world. Mass incarceration has become a lucrative industry, and the criminal justice system is plagued with bias and unjust practices. Dominique Gilliard explores the history and foundation of mass incarceration, examining Christianity’s role in its evolution and expansion. Discover how you can bring authentic rehabilitation, lasting transformation, and healthy reintegration to this broken system.