And so being ordered to read something, and have to take a test on it when I returned in the fall, turned one of my favorite activities into one of drudgery and obligation. And so I remember reading things like All the King’s Men and For Whom the Bell Tolls and Animal Farm not with a sense of curiosity and joy, but with scowling resignation instead.

So: I have decided that, in July and August, I will read at least two books a month. Each month, one of those books will be intentionally related to ministry, and one of those books will be intentionally unrelated to ministry! So for July, I will be reading The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams, a novel recommended by several friends that tells the story of a woman whose father worked on creating the original Oxford English Dictionary.

She discovers that, in the selection process for what gets an entry, words that pertain particularly to the experiences of women often get left out. She begins collecting these words in order to create her own dictionary, the Dictionary of Lost Words, and in the process becomes aware of a much bigger world than she had experienced in her sheltered life in Oxford. If you’ve listened to more than just a few of my sermons, you will not be surprised that a book about the significance and beauty of language and words is appealing!

For my ministry book, I will be reading a new book that’s getting a lot of attention called MetaChurch: How to Use Digital Ministry to Reach People and Make Disciples by Dave Adamson. Like so many churches, our digital ministry expanded in the pandemic out of necessity, but the real question is how we can expand and improve our digital ministry both in its own right and to accompany and enhance our in-person ministry. That is what this book is all about.

If July is an opportunity to indulge my love of words, then August will be a chance to indulge my love of history. Specifically, I plan to read Democracy: A Life, by Paul Cartlidge. This book by a renowned Cambridge historian traces the origins and forms of democracy in ancient Greece, its decline and eventual abandonment by the Romans, and its subsequent revivals and transformations in the modern age. With an election cycle looming and many questions and controversies about the nature of democracy in the air, this seemed like a timely read.

And finally, I will be reading Whole-Hearted Faith by Rachel Held Evans with Jeff Chu. At the time of her shocking death at age 37 from a medical procedure gone awry, Rachel Held Evans was one of the finest and most important Christian voices in the United States, charting a vision for an inclusive and dynamic faith in Christ for herself and so many others after being wounded in conservative evangelical churches. I commend this book to all of you, in particular, because I think it speaks not only to that problem, but to our congregation’s core values of how to be Christ-centered, welcoming to all, with an active and inquiring faith.

With summertime upon us, our popular “Lemonade on the Lawn” social time will be offered after our 10 a.m. Summer Worship service. Stop by the front lawn for a cool drink, snack, and fellowship. We’ll head into the North Link in case of bad weather.

For more information

To sign up (you do not have to sign up to attend)

First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem, 2344 Center Street, Bethlehem, PA 18017 610-867-5865 | info@fpc-bethlehem.org

The Rev. J.C. Austin, Pastor/Head of Staff: ext. 213, JAustin@fpc-bethlehem.org

The Rev. Lindsey Altvater Clifton, Associate Pastor of Formation and Justice; LClifton@fpc-bethlehem.org

David Macbeth, Director of Music Ministries: ext. 202; DMacbeth@fpc-bethlehem.org

Kevin Konczyk, Facilities Maintenance Manager; KKonczyk@fpc-bethlehem.org

Oscar Mendoza, Director of Business Administration: ext. 210; OMendoza@fpc-bethlehem.org

Pam Marth, Administrative Coordinator: ext. 228; email: PMarth@fpc-bethlehem.org

Carol Burns, Communications Manager: ext. 238; CBurns@fpc-bethlehem.org

Laura Hawk, Preschool Director; phone: 610-867-2956; LHawk@fpc-bethlehem.org

Website:  www.fpc-bethlehem.org