While Ann is on sabbatical, members of the parish will be able to take their own journey of faith by reading books that she and her committee have chosen especially to reflect the themes of her time apart. There is a range of books for different ages and preferences. Upon Ann’s return in the fall, the parish will gather for lively book club-style discussions!
FOR YOUNG CHILDREN
Lion by Suzi Ezterhas
Ann is going to study lions in Africa and so we found a stunning picture book about lions for our youngest parishioners. The book tells the story of a lion from birth to adulthood, photographed on location in the wild by an award-winning American photographer, who specializes in work with newborn animals. The text shows all the aspects of the animal’s life in the wild, accompanied by close-up pictures of the family group in its natural habitat. A spread at the back of the book gives further conservation information, including useful websites.
CHILDREN’S CHAPTER BOOK
The Magician’s Nephew by CS Lewis (part of the Narnia series)
Our parish loves Narnia, and this first book in the Narnia series tells the story of the creation of Narnia. It is also a story of a famous lion, which ties in to Ann’s trip to Africa to study lions. On a daring quest to save a life, two friends are hurled into another world, where an evil sorceress seeks to enslave them. But then the lion Aslan’s song weaves itself into the fabric of a new land, a land that will be known as Narnia. And in Narnia, all things are possible.
ADULTS
Sabbath in the Suburbs by Maryann McKibben Dana
Ann’s sabbatical provides her with an extended period of Sabbath time. We could all use some Sabbath time in our lives. It may feel impossible to do, but this book is the story of a family in Northern Virginia who did just that—took a Sabbath day each week for a year.
“Life felt like a 500-piece jigsaw puzzle with 600 pieces.” So writes MaryAnn McKibben Dana in the introduction of her book. As she considered her family’s frenetic suburban existence–a relentless list of work, errands, carpool, dishes, email, bills, yardwork–she knew something had to change.
Dana documents the Sabbath experiment as a guide for families of all shapes and sizes. Each chapter includes tips to help you claim Sabbath moments–to see time not as an enemy to subdue, but as a friend to savor.
Sabbath: Finding Rest, Renewal and Delight in our Busy Lives by Wayne Muller
While Sabbath in the Suburbs is geared toward families with children, Wayne Muller’s book is written for any of us who wish to find some Sabbath time in our life. In today’s world, with its relentless emphasis on success and productivity, we have lost the necessary rhythm of life, the balance between work and rest.
In this book that can heal our harried lives, Wayne Muller shows us how to create a special time of rest, delight, and renewal–a refuge for our souls. With wonderful stories, poems, and suggestions for practice, Muller teaches us how we can use this time of sacred rest to refresh our bodies and minds, restore our creativity, and regain our birthright of inner happiness.
Chasing the Divine in the Holy Land by Ruth Everhart
Ann is going on pilgrimage in the Holy Land through St George’s College, an Anglican seminary in Jerusalem. This book is written by a Presbyterian pastor who took the same course Ann will take. Read along with her journey and imagine Ann there.
When Ruth Everhart was given the opportunity to travel to the Holy Land as one of several ministers taking part in a documentary about pilgrimage, she jumped at the opportunity. Little did she know just how demanding — yet ultimately rewarding — her transformation from Presbyterian minister, wife, and mom to pilgrim would be. Candid, down-to-earth, and delightful, Ruth recounts her experiences in Chasing the Divine in the Holy Land, inviting readers to journey alongside her on an unforgettable Holy Land pilgrimage.
The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry: A Novel by Rachel Joyce
Pilgrimage is a different kind of travel and we all can do it. We don’t have to go to the Holy Land or to Africa; pilgrimage can take place close to home. For those of you who enjoy novels, meet Harold Fry, recently retired. He lives in a small English village with his wife, Maureen, who seems irritated by almost everything he does. Little differentiates one day from the next. Then one morning a letter arrives, addressed to Harold in a shaky scrawl, from a woman he hasn’t heard from in twenty years. Queenie Hennessy is in hospice and is writing to say goodbye. But before Harold mails off a quick reply, a chance encounter convinces him that he absolutely must deliver his message to Queenie in person. In his yachting shoes and light coat, Harold Fry embarks on an urgent quest. Determined to walk six hundred miles to the hospice, Harold believes that as long as he walks, Queenie will live. This is a novel of charm, humor, and profound insight into the thoughts and feelings we all bury deep within our hearts.
Looking Out Seeing Within 