Welcome to the First Baptist Greenville Summer One Reads!
Are you looking for something to read over the summer? Look no further. We have chosen three books for a First Baptist Summer One-Read. Feel free to read one or explore them all. The idea is for everyone to read at their own pace over the summer and then join the conversations about them in the fall. The books will hopefully be thought-provoking, encourage spiritual growth, and foster fruitful discussion. You can order the books independently or purchase a copy at the church.

In the insightful book Seculosity: How Career, Parenting, Technology, Food, Politics, and Romance Became Our New Religion and What to Do about It, minister and podcaster David Zahl writes about our desire or yearning to be counted or recognized as “enough” by society. To be “enough,” one must be successful in career achievements, financial compensation, and recognition. To be enough, we must adopt the latest technological gizmos designed to make our lives shine above all others. Being enough also requires subscribing to the correct political movement or thought. And, of course, one needs the right romantic partner or spouse to cap off one’s “enoughness.” Zahl’s dominant message in Seculosity is that, though by and large, people no longer flock to church en masse, we are inevitably drawn to and yearn for grace (enoughness); we are trying to find it through various secular activities. But they are never going to give us what we need.

As a congregation, we are committed to nurturing children’s faith, recognizing it as a vital aspect of our calling. In Woven: Nurturing a Faith Your Kid Doesn’t Have to Heal From, pastor and parent Meredith Miller provides a fresh perspective on fulfilling this commitment, offering invaluable insights for guiding children toward a resilient and enduring faith. Rejecting a rigid, rule-based approach, Woven invites us to embark on a journey of exploration, where faith is nurtured strand by strand, akin to the delicate intricacy of a spider’s web. Through engaging with scripture and embracing activities that foster genuine connection, we can equip children with a faith that can withstand life’s challenges, doubts and uncertainties. Woven serves as a guidebook for those seeking to go beyond mere religious doctrine, instilling in children a faith grounded in love and trust in God. Also, we are thrilled Miller will be our featured speaker/preacher at First Baptist Greenville on September 14-15 as part of our Parent Education Initiative!

In our busy and anxious culture, the book Sacred Self-Care: Daily Practices for Nurturing Our Whole Selves by Chanequa Walker-Barnes is a gift that dives into the crucial topic of self-care, explored through the lenses of clinical psychology and Christian spirituality. Authored by a seasoned professor of clinical psychology and informed by her experience as a Black woman clergy member, this book offers a seven-week program aimed at reclaiming wellness and balance. Each week is dedicated to essential aspects of self-care, from understanding and loving oneself to setting boundaries, nurturing emotional well-being, and integrating self-care into daily life. This transformative journey emphasizes the importance of caring for our bodies, minds and spirits with daily readings, practice suggestions, reflections, prayers and hymns.

—Carol

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