Tammy Brown wants to share their library event at First Baptist Church Center Star in Killen, Alabama.

We have a small 16x20 room that we have maximized the space for books.

 

We started in June having the children age preschool - 12th grade bring into the library their LEGO models whether a kit or their on creation. We had the church family vote on their favorites for the 4 age groups from July 15th to 26th.

 

We will announce the winners at our back to school bash on July 29th and give cash prizes. 

The kids and adults have enjoyed the display. It has brought a lot of traffic to the library and some new patrons.

 

I’ll share a mom's story about her daughter:

“She had been so excited while putting together the model that she got off tract and realized that something wasn’t working or looking right. She had to stop (repent) and disassemble some pieces then actually “read” the instructions to put it together to be successful.”  

I just saw this as the greatest example for Christians when we have to stop, repent, and read the Bible thats our instructions. 

I just loved this experience for this family.  

Take a look at what the kids did by clicking here.                   

 

Just wanted to share with you a promotion on the closing of our VBS and how we kept our kids involved in the library for the summer.

Tammy Brown 

We are grateful for a new CLN member, Laurie Barnes, who serves with Open Door Libraries. Click here to view the Barnes' website and read about their ministry. Their library which serves as an outreach to unbelievers as well as supporting the local church is located in the Czech Republic.

Let's pray for God's continued leading  through the conversations that they have with those visiting the library (families, students, business people etc) -- plus all that they do  with the various activities happening at the library including children's programs. Also prayer for additional help including short-term volunteers.

I had a very unexpected experience yesterday. One of the families that use our church library the most had a worship type funeral yesterday for the celebration of an infant son who lived 45 days. During the worship service, his mother shared their family experience with "a book they found in the library". Before Griffin's birth she read this book with all 8 of their children. When Griffin was born she read it to him often while she stayed with him in the hospital for many days. They ended up buying their own copy the day Griffin was born.

During her faith story during the funeral, she read the entire book to us. As she read I praised God for how He used the library to connect this precious family with this book which He used and continues to use this book with this family and now all of us gathered to worship God for His love and blessings through this short life.

The book: Found: Psalm 23 by Sally Lloyd-Jones.

So I just looked up the history of our copy of this book in the library. This family checked this book out on February 2 while they were awaiting Griffin's birth. They returned it on June 7 after Griffin's death on June 2. Their church family not only actively met their needs through their Sunday School class and the preschool and children's ministries but in an unexpected way through their church's library.

As requested by Michelle Bradshaw, Susan Glynn Mule is going to add additional examples of secular story books using Biblical Themes. If you are interested in these examples, click follow. 

Perhaps this should have been done in previous winters. Strange how severe winter weather seems to take place in different parts of countries each year. I searched the CLN to see if we ever made space for sharing our winter stories. I found a hurricane story and request so I am inserting this post above that story.

So let’s start a new tradition. Would you share your winter experiences for this year? 

Are any of you dealing with damage to your church/parish/synagogue building including the library?

I wonder how many of us have or are reading this recently released book? I heard about it from my sister who discovered the audio books in her area had 900+ people waiting for it. Suddenly people in our reading groups were talking about it. The self-published edition released in 2023. The mass market edition released in October 2025.

Another first time author has made a HUGE hit. You will find several interviews with Allen Levi to watch on the internet. Not surprised he was able to get one of the most famous book agaents to market his book.

God is truly using this story to connect with those who do not believe in God. This story easily connects with all four parts of my church's mission: love, grow, serve, go.

Your thoughts and experience with this book?

We had a great story time yesterday! Our theme was winter and snow even though middle Tennessee is not really experiencing a normal winter this year. We had 3 Moms and 6 preschoolers who all seemed to have a great time. Do you have preschool story time experiences to share with words and/or photos?

What are you reading during the holidays? I just finished reading Caroline Stowe's debut book. Hard to believe this book is her first! Thorougly enjoyed this story about a military romance. I highly recommend it!

The wait is finally over! Diane recently released the 5th book of The War Series. This book continues the story in to the 60s. Once again she has done a great job with historical fiction. Where were you during the 60s?

We all have stories to share in regard to our library ministries. What is a recent experience that you would like to share with us? Let's imagine we are sitting in a circle around a firepit during a Fall evening.

God is speaking to me as I read this story by Cathy Gohlke. Sharing what I read each week with our reading groups has resulted in interesting discussions.I highly recommend it.

A few of us participated in this excellent webinar last Thursday (April 17, 2025). Let’s share highlights of what we learned during this webinar through the comments. 

Thank you, Jo Monohan, moderator of this webinar, for inviting us to participate. I took 3 pages of notes. You will find the link to the flyer which provides the outline of questions addressed by Dr. Mike Truong.

FOCLISv2_AI and Librarianship Flyer (1).pdf

A few of us participated in this excellent webinar last Thursday. Let’s share highlights of what we learned during this webinar.

Yesterday was the annual Youth Ministers Preaching Day across the world according our youth minister, David Reed, who preached a great sermon! He made a great point that made me think about our new year ahead for libraries. The title of his sermon was "New Year New You." His focal passage was 2 Corinthians 5:14-17. In verses 16-17 we find a change in perspective. That caught my attention in regard to our library. 

First, we need to consider the perspective(s) we follow in and through our libraries. Is our perspective aligned to the perspective(s) of our churches and synagogues. My church is focused on growing in our faith this next year. What role can our library play during the year?

Second, I realized that changing faith perspectives may be a challenge for believers. What if reading Christian fiction helps people engage in stories where the characters change their perspectives to become a new creation? What if our non-fiction choices for the new year leads people to understand new perspectives for their lives? What about biographies that bring genuine changes to life perspectives?

Even though David did not mention the Enrichment Center in his sermon, he did suggest reading. I want to step up this week with a list of books in our collection that could be featured next Sunday when our pastor leads us in GROW Sunday. We will place these books in the display windows. And I will put the list of books in the staff inboxes next week.

What about your thoughts about "New Year New Library"?

Even though we are all busy right now with holiday preparations, parties, and special occasions, let's share what we are choosing to read in the gap times? Our Women's Ministry had Jodie Berndt speak at our annual women's Christmas gathering. We added all of her books to the Enrichment Center collection. Since I have an adult son, I am reading her book Praying the Scriptures for Your Adult Children: Trusting God with the Ones You Love. Love the way she uses real life stories to help her readers connect with what is happening in our families in light of prayer needs. 

Please share with us what you are reading.

Shauna Moon asked me to post the following information about the book that will be presented during the November 22 meeting of the Pacific Northwest Association of Church Libraries Metro-Portland Chapter. 

Brave, is the first book in a series about King David's wives.  Mesu weaves Biblical truth into this fictional book to bring the Old Testament alive.  The Story of Ahinoam, by the Biblical fiction queen Mesu Andrews, is a remarkable novel that sews together Scripture and “what might have been.” The narrator alternates between Ahinoam and David, enough so I believe both men and women could enjoy this saga of David and his followers in the desert. Much strategy, some conflicts in the camp and without, action aplenty, and a good look at the land of Israel all make this a compelling read.

From the back cover:           
In the tumultuous world of ancient Israel, Ahinoam--a dagger-wielding Kenite woman--flees her family farm with her unconventional father to join the ragtag band of misfits led by the shepherd-turned-warrior David ben Jesse. As King Saul's treasonous accusations echo through the land, Ahinoam's conviction that David's anointing makes him Yahweh's chosen king propels her on a perilous journey to Moab and back into Judah's unforgiving wilderness, only to encounter more hardship and betrayal.

Amid the challenges, Ahinoam forges an unexpected bond with David's sister and gains respect among David's army through her knowledge of Kenite metalworking. Though some offer friendship, Ahinoam, scarred by past relationships, isolates to avoid more pain and refuses to acknowledge her growing feelings for the renegade king. As Ahinoam's heart grapples for footing, King Saul's army closes in, and Ahinoam must confront the true meaning of love, loyalty, and courage. Is she brave enough to trust new friends and love Israel's next king?

MESU ANDREWS is a Christy Award-winning, best-selling author of biblical novels and devotional studies whose deep understanding of and love for God’s Word brings the Bible alive for readers.  Her heritage as a “spiritual mutt” has given her a deep yearning to both understand and communicate biblical truths in powerful stories that touch the heart, challenge the mind, and transform lives.  Mesu lives in Indiana with her husband Roy, where she stays connected with her readers through informative emails, blog posts, and the social media we all love to hate.  For more information, visit MesuAndrews.com.

Many of us are in churches that are focusing on making disciples. I just finished a book that has remarkably deepened my relationship with Jesus Christ. I will be purchasing a personal copy to experience a second time. Author Charles Martin wrote the Prologue which is excellent.The author of this book has a unique writing style which is intriguing. His church is all about the disciple making movement. I am also sharing this book with our new believers group.

Runover by the Grace Train by Joby Martin

 What are you reading right now?

The second book in this series is now available by one of our Church Librarians Network members. Hardback is coming soon!

Well done, Karin!

 amazon.com/Bronze-Door-Cyrenian-Trilogy/dp/B0D663LTQL/ref=sr_1_2?crid=2K0OO9LU7Z2F8&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.gCxD5yMdsw0euLIHcLox2AFISROy6wyq2hv-TddABdM.zjHGH2uJVidMBg05aFBLBvfWPlIZUOB1IbTacrbj9No&dib_tag=se&keywords=the+bronze+door+by+karin+ciholas&qid=1724691750&sprefix=The+Bronze+Door+by+Ciholas%2Caps%2C114&sr=8-2

Book 1

 amazon.com/Lighthouse-Karin-Ciholas/dp/1639885935/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1HL85OX5Q7KOK&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.dXR8IoCZ6v89z67m46UjBXh6-XGbod76GK-YX2hSl87GjHj071QN20LucGBJIEps.zok-jhMpIMy0jD8HN7goTO5qDeYyHP6G2bncE4b5bAc&dib_tag=se&keywords=karin+ciholas+the+lighthouse&qid=1724693258&sprefix=karin+ciholas%2Caps%2C101&sr=8-1

Ruthe Turner sent this email to their friends over the weekend. She let us include us in her Friends. Interesting to read how they are handling their difficult situation.

Dear Friends,

We wanted to let you know that your library items have been renewed until Sunday, September 8^th.  However, you can return them anytime before then in the book-return box located on the first floor of Horner. That box is located near the windows and says in big letters “Truett Library Book Return.”

We are currently adding a lot of new titles on our ebook site.  If you do not have access but would like to, just reply to this email.  We will send you your account number and pin number as well as instructions.

Park Cities Baptist Church has graciously offered memberships for Truett Library members.  Their Summer hours are Wednesday mornings and Sunday mornings.  Several of us visited it last week and then went to lunch.  We are going to repeat that again this week, Tuesday August 20^th, 10am.

We will not have an update on the condition of the library until the fire department deems it safe to go into the basement, and until they finish their investigation.  In the meantime, please pray for the ministry of Truett Library during this difficult time.

Blessings,

Ruthe Turner, Director

Summer is now complete with the heat in most of our areas. So take a few minutes to share what you are reading during these hot summer days? Fiction? Non-Fiction?

I am just about finished reading the book Appalachian Song by Michelle Shocklee. I've read most of her books. Thoroughly experienced reading these as parables for our day.