A listing of books, resources and reviews of interest.
A book from Rev.
Holly Whitcomb entitled Practicing Your Path: A book of retreats for an intentional
life. Click here for details.
Check out
excellent books from the United Church of Christ! Click here
for more details.
Worship
Stewardship
Evangelism
Arts
Social Concerns
Spirituality
Novels
Videos
Computer Software
Ordering books
Adding your review
Arts
Journey of the Soul
Doris Klein, CSA
Shed and Ward Publishers 2000
With deep appreciation for our uniqueness and the universality of the human condition, Journey
of the Soul is an invitational work encouraging readers to trust and explore their own
experience of the Sacred in their lives. Featuring the best of Doris Klein's
portfolio in watercolor, she offers art and expression as a doorway into the
presence of God.
Praising God Through the Lively Arts
Linda Goons
Abingdon Press 1999
This spirited author provides theological work and creative and practical ideas for
bringing God's story to life in congregational settings.
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Social Concerns
Nickel and Dimed
Barbara Ehrenreich
Metropolitan Books 2001
Ehrenreich goes "undercover" as a minimum wage earner to
experience life as one of the working poor in America. She documents the drug tests,
personality screening, hazing, substandard housing, low wages, mistrust, and desperation
that become the daily life of so many of our brothers and sisters. While not written
from a Christian perspective, it becomes obvious the role churches can play in seeking
justice.
A Country of Strangers
David Shipler
Random House 1997
A fascinating look at race relations from the perspective
young African Americans in the United States. What does it mean to be
"black" in a "white culture?" What does it mean to be
"black" in the African American culture? Why is it so difficult to bridge
the cultures? Good stories to illustrate sobering information.
A Framework for Understanding Poverty
Ruby K. Payne, Ph.D.
RFT Publishing 1998
We so often attribute poverty solely to financial status but there are
several other ways by which people become and stay poor: health, education, support
networks, mental capacity, etc. all layer together on together with financial status to
create both generational and situational poverty. Written primarily for educators
and administrators, this book gives basic information and examples to help us understand
poverty.
Counting Coup: A True Story of Basketball and Honor on the
Little Big Horn
Larry Colton
Warner Books 2000
The author tells the story of a promising high school girl and the odds
she faces in graduating from high school. Inside the story are insights about
cultural differences, poverty, and resources.
Gifts of the Jews
How the Irish Saved Civilization
The World Before and After Jesus: Desire of the Everlasting Hills
Thomas Cahill
Anchor Books, Random House
Thomas Cahill is writing a series of books (four more are planned)
using historical facts, cultural relevance and stories of people. They are engaging,
informative and very readable.
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Worship
Blended Worship, Achieving Substance and Relevance in
Worship
Robert E. Webber
Peabody, Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers. 1994
Planning Blended Worship: The Creative Mixture of Old & New. Nashville
Robert E. Webber
Abingdon Press. 1998
"Robert Webber has carefully negotiated a compromise in the current
"worship wars." -James F. White, Professor of Liturgical Studies, Notre Dame
Beyond the Worship Wars: Building Vital and Faithful
Worship
Thomas G. Long
Alban Institute, 2001
Thomas Long discusses the nine characteristics of vital and faithful worship practiced
by a
wide range of "third-way" congregations. Experiencing mystery, practicing
hospitality, recovering a sense of drama, emphasizing excellent and eclectic music,
creatively adapting the worship space, connecting worship and local mission, encouraging
worshipers to develop a repertoire of worship responses, moving toward a joyous festival
as worship draws to a close and employing strong, charismatic pastors.
Oratio: A Book of Prayers for
the Church Year and for Special Occasions
Frederick R. Trost
Minneapolis: Kirk House. 2000.Publishers,
PO Box 390759
,
Minneapolis
,
MN
55439
. publisher@kirkhouse.com
Composed by pastors/teachers
of the Wisconsin Conference. The book includes invocations,
prayers of confession, pastoral prayers and prayers for special occasions such
as the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday, Ascension Day, Labor Day, Reformation
Day and All Saints, Human Rights Day, prayers in times of bereavement,
prayers in gratitude for artists, poets, novelists and other writers etc.)
199 pages.
Holy People: A Liturgical Ecclesiology
Gordon W. Lathrop
Minneapolis: Fortress Press. 1999
Explores what Christian community looks
like when liturgy is taken seriously. Deeply informed by history and theology, Lathrop's
vision grounds a notion of church that is personal yet communal, universal but not
triumphalistic.
Worship Come to Its Senses
Don E. Saliers
Nashville: Abingdon. 1996.
Don Saliers teaches us to listen for the music of the
spheres while we are slogging through the swamp...he alerts us to the transcendent
dimensions our worship so often misses-awe, delight, hope and truth born of honesty about
sin and death... -Gail Ramshaw, Professor of Religion, LaSalle University
The Singing Thing: A case for congregational song
John L. Bell
Chicago: GIA Publications. 2000
The first of two books addressing the "whys" and
"hows" of congregational singing. Unapologetic ally anecdotal, it deals not with
musical theories but with the reasons why people sing and how to enable them to do so.
John L. Bell is a fellow of the Royal School of Church Music and a member of the Wild
Goose Resource and Worship Groups, whose purpose is the creative renewal of public worship
and song.
White Soul, Country Music, the Church and Working Americans
Tex Sample
Nashville: Abingdon. 1996
"Of all of the books I have read this is the one I
wish I had written." -Will D. Campbell
Out on the Edge: A Wake -Up Call For Church Leaders On The
Edge Of The Media Reformation
Michael Slaughter
Nashville: Abingdon Press. 1998
"No pastor I know understands the postmodern, post-literate, and
post-Christian world better than Mike Slaughter." -Tex Sample
"A wow of a book." -William Easum
Blessings for the Fast Paced and Cyberspaced
William John Fitzgerald
Leavensworth, Kansas: Forest of Peace Publishing. 2000
...filled with treasures, wise insights and blessings
galore! -Joyce Rupp, author, Out of the Ordinary
Praying By Heart, Prayers for Personal Devotion and Public
Worship
Kay Bessler Northcutt
Cleveland: United Church Press. 1998
-Forward by Martin Marty
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Stewardship
Cherish The Gift: A Congregational Guide to Earth
Stewardship
Cindy Ubben Causey
Valley Forge: Judson Press. 1996
-opens the doors to churches interested in beginning
a deliberate program of environmental stewardship. A hands-on guide with practical ideas
as well as facts and figures that detail environmental woes that plague our earth.
Simpler Living, Compassionate Life, A Christian Perspective
Michael Schut, Editor
Denver: Living the Good News (a division of the Morehouse Group). 1999
In a society where "I shop, therefore I am,"
results in a deep spiritual poverty, (this book) provides a gospel-based antidote. This
wonderful collection of essays on money, time, environment, community and related topics
offer a compelling alternative vision of a healthy, whole and balanced life. Used by
individuals or groups, it will stimulate honest reflection and discussion about how much
is enough. -Jim Wallis, Editor-in-Chief, Sojourners
More Than Money, Portraits of Transformative Stewardship
Patrick H. McNamara
An Alban Institute Publication. 1999
More than Money is a wondrous journey to 11 congregations across the United
States that have been transformed by living out stewardship that is more than
fundraising....-Dr. Ronald E. Vallet, Stewardship consultant
Any mainline pastor or church leader who wants to see how stewardship is actually done,
and done well, should read this book. -Dr. C. Kirk Hadaway, Minister for
Research/Development
At Ease: discussing money and values in small groups
John and Sylvia Ronsvalle An Alban
Institute Publication. 1998
Relying on the superb work of Robert Wuthnow, At Ease, lays out a practical
approach that can be used in a variety of small group settings.... -Dr. Eileen
Lindner, Editor, Yearbook of American and Canadian Churches
Why do Christians have such a difficult time talking
about the relationship between faith and money? Jesus talked about money all of the time
in his parables and his preaching, but somehow this topic makes us very
uncomfortable?...the authors succeed in their primary objective-to put us at ease even as
we talk about some unsettling things." -Daniel Conway, Director of Stewardship,
Archdiocese of Chicago
Joyful Giving: Sermons on Stewardship
Dan Moseley
St Louis: Chalice Press. 1997
A rich collection of sermons, commissioned by the Church Finance Council of
the Christian Church. A variety of Disciples voices offer new and effective ways to
inspire congregations to generous giving.
Life Abundant: Rethinking Theology and Economy for a Planet
in Peril
Sallie Mc Fague
Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 2001
"...makes the case for developing a personal theology
that really matters...this book is truly one of the best books I've read addressing the
intersection of spirituality and money..." Jan Sullivan Dockter, Ministry of Money
The Abingdon Guide to Funding Ministry: An Innovative
Sourcebook for Pastors and Church Leaders
Joiner, Donald W. and Wimberly, Norma, editors
Nashville: Abingdon Press
Volume One, 1995. "This book is a must." -Lyle
Schaller
Volume Two, 1996. "worth its weight in gold." -Eugene Grimm
Volume Three, 1997. "filled with great ideas." -Lyle
Schaller
Stepping Stones of the Steward
Ronald E. Vallet
Grand Rapids: Eerdmans. 1989.
Congregations at the Crossroads: Remembering to Be
Households of God
Grand Rapids: Eerdmans. 1998
"presents a coherent, comprehensive statement of a theology of
stewardship that is geared to the real life and practice of the church." -Walter
Brueggemann
Generous People: How To Encourage Vital
Stewardship
Eugene Grimm
Nashville: Abingdon. 1992
The Overspent American: Upscaling, Downscaling and the New
Consumer
Juliet B. Schor
Basic Books. 1998
Giving and Stewardship in an Effective Church
Kennon L. Callahan
San Francisco: Jossey-Bass: 1992
Stewardship and Development: A Resource Manual
Ad Hoc Committee on Stewardship, National Conference of Catholic Bishops. .
The United States Catholic Conference, Inc., Washington, D.C. 1996
Prepared as a practical companion to the pastoral letter, Stewardship: A
Disciple's Response.
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Evangelism
Virtual Faith: The Irreverent Spiritual Quest of Generation
X
T. Beaudoin
San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 1998
A groundbreaking spiritual interpretation of Generation X
popular culture and a celebration of irreverence.
Evangelism's Open Secrets
Herb Miller
St. Louis, Missouri: CBP Press, 1977
This is in its fourth printing (1989) and is still a
valuable resource. Based on a study of nearly 500 churches.
Fishing On The Asphalt: Effective Evangelism In Mainline
Denominations
Herb Miller
St. Louis, Missouri: CBP Press, 1983
The Vital Church: Teaching, Worship, Community, Service
Williamson, Clark and Allen, Ronald St.
Louis, Missouri: Chalice Press. 1998
Revitalization, say the authors, can only take place when
congregations reach back to basic core values and base their mission on the gospel of
Jesus. (The book ends with thumbnail sketches of six churches that are thriving amid
change and challenge)
Reclaiming Evangelism: A Practical Guide For Mainline
Churches
Jan G. Linn
St. Louis, Missouri: Chalice Press. 1998.
The Dynamic Congregation: A Manual for Energizing Your
Church
Robert H.Ramey Jr.
St. Louis, Missouri, Chalice Press. 1999
Robert Ramey Jr. is a retired Presbyterian minister who
taught pastoral ministry at Columbia Theological Seminar (Decatur, Georgia). He is the
author of 52 Devotions for Church Leaders from Chalice Press.
The Gift of Hospitality: In Church, In the Home, In All of
Life.
Delia Halverson
St. Louis, Missouri: Chalice Press. 1999
Explores biblical models of hospitality.
Rerouting the Protestant Mainstream: Sources of Growth and
Opportunities for Change
C. Kirk Hadaway and David A. Roozen Nashville: Abingdon Press.
1995
Roozen and Hadaway demonstrate that congregations grow
when they "affirm and experience the presence of God in worship."
Traveling Mercies: Some Thought On Faith
Anne Lamott
New York: Pantheon Books. 1999
With an exuberant mix of passion, insight and humor, Anne
Lamott takes us on a journey through her often troubled past to illuminate her devout but
quirky walk of faith. Lamott tells how, against all odds, she came to believe in God and
then, miraculously, in herself.
Congregation: The Journey Back Home
Gary Dorsey, Gary
New York: Viking. 1995
They should put copies of Gary Dorsey's book in the pews next to the
hymnals. It will help outsiders understand the church, but it will help insiders
more--help them understand the fragility, the mystery, and the great love to be found
against all odds within the institution of organized religion." -Bill McKibben,
author of The End of Nature
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Spirituality
Practicing Your Path: A
Book of Retreats for an Intentional Life
Holly Whitcomb
Innisfree Press, Inc., Philadelphia 2001
With today's fast-paced life styles, the popularity of "going on
retreat" is soaring. For many, however, the luxury of going away for a weekend
to a retreat center is neither practical nor possible. Practicing Your Path offers a
user-friendly alternative. Holly Whitcomb has created 7 provocative retreat
structures that can be followed in the privacy of one's home. Each retreat explores
one pivotal component of classical Christian spirituality. Whitcomb offers substance
and support for all who choose to walk an intentional spiritual path.
Learning to Fall: The Blessings of an
Imperfect Life
Philip Simmons
2002
Philip Simmon's life has changed dramatically in the eight years since he
was diagnosed with ALS. Having to leave his position as professor of English, he
moved his family to New Hampshire, his home state. Never morose or depressing,
Simmons offers a series of essays on living well in the midst of dying where all of
us actually live. The first chapter for which is the book is named can be downloaded
on his web site at www.learningtofall.com
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Wisconsin
Conference UCC
Theology and Corporate
Conscience: Essays in Honor of Frederick Herzog
edited by Jurgen Moltmann,
Available from Kirk House
Publishers,
PO Box 390759
,
Minneapolis
,
MN
55439
.
Frederick Herzog, 1925 -
1995, was a [Mission House was
located on the campus of what today is
Lakeland
College
,
Plymouth
,
Wisconsin
]
In Essentials Unity:
Reflections on the Nature and Purpose of the Church
(a festschrift in honor of
Frederick
R. Trost, edited by M.
Douglas Meeks and Robert D. Mutton). 2001 Kirk House
This book contains essays,
sermons and prayers by more than 100 academic and pastoral
theologians from around the world including Douglas John
We Know Only in Part:
Reflections on a Journey in Faith
Frederick R. Trost.
2004 Kirk House Publishers,
publisher@kirkhouse.com
With a Preface
and Introduction by Gabriel Fackre and David S. Moyer. The book
contains essays and speeches, mostly given between 1981 and 2001 by our
retired Conference Minister, who served in
Wisconsin
during those years. The book is
divided into five parts: "The Vocation of the Church,"
"Together in Faith," "In Gratitude for All the Saints,"
"Realities Along the Way," and "Fragments" (a collection
of 23 brief homilies). Among the essays
included are: "A Theology of Mission," "Call: The
Nature of Ministry," "Has 'Full Communion' a Future?,"
"Taking the Bible Seriously," "Stitching Together the
Torn Garment of Christ, "Listening to our Reformation
Heritage," "The School of the Americas," "Just
Peace," and "On the Eve of War Against Iraq." 204 pp.
Behold I Do A New Thing: Transforming
Communities of Faith
By C. Kirk Hadaway
We've all read a few church growth and revitalization books but most of
them have come from other denominations. This book comes from the United Church of
Christ with theological foundations, information, suggestions and models for leadership. Rather than simply focusing on increasing the number of bodies sitting in pews,
Hadaway invites church leaders to embrace transformation, renewal, and revitalization.
You can order a copy ($15.00) from The Pilgrim Press by calling 1-800-537-3394.
Or visit their web site at http://thepilgrimpress.com/
Novels
The Red Tent
Anita Daimant
The story of Jacob's family is told through the feminine lens of Dinah,
the youngest daughter born to Jacob and his first wife, Leah. All the pieces of
scriptural story are told in a way that gives flesh and blood to this vibrant family of
God. Culture is presented as the women talk about customs and rites of how they
learn to be women and wives in a patriarchal family. Daimant doesn't dwell on their
relationship with the covenantal God who is so different from the other gods being
worshipped, but it obviously marks the family in a unique way.
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Video Resources
The Wisconsin Conference has several videos for loan.
Click here
for a list of videos and reviews available from the
Conference.
As a member of the Wisconsin Conference, you also have access, for a small fee, to
hundreds of excellent videos for use in your congregational setting through the United
Christian Resource Center.
Click here (www.ucrcenter.org) to access the United Christian Resource
Center catalog.
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The Christian Education Commission has purchased several CD software sets
from Sunday Software Ministries. Click here to view which ones can be reviewed.
Reviews
Wisconsin
Conference UCC
4459 Gray Rd.