Welcome
First Christian Church Library
Please take a few moments to browse through this site.
You will be blessed!
In this site look for:
Mission Statement
Purpose
Library Hours/ Location
Contact Person
Library Procedure
Donations
Volunteer Opportunities
What’s New in the Library
Book of the Month
Children’s Corner
Youth Update
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Mission Statement
Believing there is great value in reading, viewing and listening to Christian materials for the enhancement of our Christian walk, the library ministry provides educational and inspirational resources to enrich the spiritual growth, discipleship and worship of all who avail themselves to the First Christian Church library.
Purpose
To provide resources to help you and your family in your day to day walk, as you strive to become more of a reflection of Christ
Behold, you desire truth in the inward parts.
You teach me wisdom in the inmost place.
Psalms 51:6
Resources Available
The library at First Christian Church has over 1800 items for adult and youth reading including books on Bible History, Commentary, Prayer, Christian Living, Christian Education and Missions, as well as Christian Fiction and Biographies. Books on Church History, Church Administration and selected books on World History and Cultures are available. The selection of Audio-Visual materials is growing and includes DVD’s of uplifting family films, Documentaries on a variety of Christian subjects and Audio books. An extensive collection of Bible studies for personal and group use are housed in the library. A subject file holds pamphlets, maps and assorted clippings.
A growing Children’s Library currently houses nearly 300 books. Books in the Children’s Library include Bible Stories, as well as stories of God’s creation and God’s people around the world. Christmas and Easter selections are available as well as books about Prayer and Music. Fiction includes picture books and chapter books which show, by example, how to live a Christ centered life. Many books in the Children's Library may be of interest to youth and adults as well.
Library Hours and Location
Our library is a self-help library and is open whenever the church is open.
The main library is located in the hallway by the north parking lot entrance.
The children’s library is located downstairs between rooms 110 and 112.
Youth books are located in the main library and there is also a shelf in the youth lounge to house books for the youth’s reading convenience.
Contact Person
If you have questions or comments about the First Christian Church Library please e-mail Librarian Betty at
bjcharn@juno.com.
Library Procedure
Make your selection by browsing the shelves or looking up a book in the "Title, Author, Subject Notebook" located on the front counter of the library. Books are arranged on the shelves by subject, such as Bible History, Christian Living, Fiction, etc. Within each subject, the books are arranged using the Dewey Decimal System.
After making a selection, write your name on the card in the back of the book and place it in the card box found on the front counter of the library. If you are not a member, please include your telephone number.
Please remember to return books as soon as you are finished with them. A suggested length of time is three weeks. Place the books near the check out box or in the return book slot on the wall across from the library door.
If you have trouble finding a book, you may look in the blue "Title, Author, Subject Notebook" found on the front counter near the card box. Look up a book by title, author or subject and the call number will be listed for that book. The call number includes the subject such as Prayer, Christian Living (ChrLiv), Biography (Biog) etc. Then the Dewey Decimal Number is listed followed by the first three letters of the author's last name. So if you are looking for His Needs Her Needs by Willard Harley you would find the call number is ChrLiv306.8 HAR. To find the book you would go to the Christian Living section and follow the Dewey Numbers to 306.8 and then look for HAR.
Donations
The library staff welcomes donation of pre-owned materials. Donated items must meet the standards set by the library committee. Items which cannot be accepted will be given to the annual CWF Book Sale unless requested to be returned to the donor.
Money donations are always welcome for the purchase of new books and items needed for library maintenance. (If you wish to purchase a specific book for the library, please check with the librarian first to verify that it meets the standards of the library and that it is not already in our collection.)
Volunteer Opportunities
There are many opportunities for volunteer help in the library. Some of the jobs include:
Semi-annual Inventory and Weeding of the Books
Writing book reviews
Hosting a book club
Preparing bulletin boards and displays
Preparing promotional materials for the library
Assembling Book Bags for children’s special needs
Helping with this website
(For a complete list of jobs and job descriptions, contact Librarian Betty)
What's New in the Library
( Updated October 3, 2009)
Prayer
A Godward Life by John Piper Prayer242.2 PIP
When Children Pray by Cheri Fuller Prayer242 FUL
Christian Living
Finishing Strong by Steve Farrar ChrLiv248.83 FAR
Hope Rising by Kim Meeder ChrLiv362.7 MEE
O2 - Breathing New Life into Faith by Richard Dahlstrom ChrLiv248.4 DAH
The Passion Promise John Avant ChrLiv248.4 AVA
Racing To Win by Joe Gibbs ChrLiv248.83 GIBB
Set Apart - Discovering Personal Victory Through Holiness
by Bruce Wilkinson ChrLiv234 WIL
The Tender Commandments by Ron Mehl ChrLiv248.5 MEH
What's a Girl to Do? - While Waiting for Mr. Right
by Janet Folger ChrLiv248.84 FOL
Fiction
A Measure of Grace by Al and Joanna Lacy Fiction813 LAC
Secrets of the Heart by Al and Joanna Lacy Fiction813 LAC
So Little Time by Al and Joanna Lacy Fiction813 LAC
Steal Away by Linda Hall Fiction813 HAL
Youth
Road Trip by Melody Carlson Y Fiction813 CAR
Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson Y Mission379 MOR
Children’s Library
The Animal's Christmas Carol by Helen Ward C Holiday WAR
Ellis Island - Doorway to Freedom by Steven Kroll C Cultures KRO
God's Oak Tree by Allia Zobel Nolan C NatSci NOL
The Golden Rule by Ilene Cooper C ChrLiv COO
Maureen the Detective by Veda Boyd Jones C Fiction JON
The Tale of Three Trees by Angela Elwell – Editor C Holiday ELW
The Tiniest Acorn by Marsha T. Danzig C NatSci DAN
Show me your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths.
Guide me in your truth, and teach me.
Psalm 25:4-5
Book of the Month - December 2009
White Motherby Jessie “Veanie” Bennett Sams
“And the Lord’s servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.” 2 Timothy 2:24-26
As I read White Mother it was clear that this white woman, who befriended two small, destitute black girls and guided them gently to a better life, lived out the words of this scripture.
When 8 year old twins, Mingie and Veanie Bennett, first met Mrs. Lee, they were ragged, dirty and half starved. The time period was in the 1920’s, the place was in the south. It was an unlikely time and place for a white woman to be so kind to two black girls. Mrs. Lee, a gentle soul, provided work, love and care for the two girls as they grew up, giving them a sense of dignity and pride.
The first day Mingie came to Mrs. Lee, her appearance was dirty and ragged but Mrs. Lee showed no sign of contempt. She offered Mingie a clean dress and a bath. It was her manner of presenting that made Mrs. Lee so remarkable. As Mrs. Lee drew a bath for Mingie and while Mingie was amazed at having soap to use, Mrs. Lee said, “Here’s a cloth. Rub yourself real hard so you’ll be cool.” Veanie, the author, made this observation, “That was the way Mrs. Lee started speaking to us and it was the way she always spoke, instinctively choosing the right words. It would not have been the same if she had said: ‘So you’ll be clean.’”
As Mrs. Lee gently instructed these two young girls, they did grow in knowledge of truth, and they did come to their senses and escape the trap of the devil who was trying to take them captive. And the living words of 2 Timothy 2:24-26 changed the lives of two little black girls.
Look for White Mother by Jessie Bennett Sams in First Christian Church Library. You will find it in the Biography section under Call # Biog920 SAM. Do Check It Out!
Apply your heart to instruction,
and your ears to words of knowledge.
Proverbs 23:12
Children's Corner
Look for a new addition to the Children’s Library, God's Oak Tree by Allia Zobel Nolan. Learn about God’s design for a tiny acorn to become a mighty oak tree. After you read this book, unscramble the words below to remember five things that God did to care for the oak tree. Reread the book for clues.
God npnlaed _____________
God vage _____________
God eerovdc _____________
God epkt _____________
God ndtneedi _____________
Youth Update
"When Greg opened his eyes in the morning, he could barely breath. He struggled to free his hands from the blanket wrapped around him and clawed at his face. Ice had frozen over his mouth and nose like a mask. He tore the ice free and was able at last to take a deep, satisfying breath. He sat up and stretched. In the light before dawn, the mountain peaks were painted in sugary colors - pinks and purples and baby blues. The sky was clear, and there was no wind. Greg was still lost, still alone, and his hands were so stiff from the cold they were like claws."
Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson describes how he was lost in the mountains of Pakistan, how he was rescued by people in a small village and how, out of gratitude, he returned and started a small school so girls in Pakistan could gain some freedom through education. Becoming lost while trying to climb K2 turned into a life changing event for Greg Mortenson as he dedicated his life to building peace and literacy, one child at a time.
Read about Greg Mortenson's story in this Young Readers edition of Three Cups of Tea. This book will be found on the library shelf in the Youth Lounge for the month of October.
Train up a child in the way he should go;
and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
Proverbs 22:6