A Note From Our Librarian

​The titles below were added to our CGS Library over the past few months and are now available to all. Some were gifts to the library, some were requests, and some you may blame on me. They may be found on the new book shelf (top shelf of the book truck) or are already on the shelves. Please note that we use a modified form of the Dewey Decimal classification system, and the books are arranged on our shelves by that system. The numbers following each title (e.g. 277.3082 Alb) are the Dewey numbers you can use to locate the books on the shelves. If you have any questions (we have a library? Where is the library?, What is a book truck?, etc.), your friendly librarian (that’s me) will be happy to help you.
Recent Additions to the CGS Library – March-July 2024
Becker, Amy Julia.  To be made well : an invitation to wholeness, healing, and hope. Hereld Press, 2022.   248.4 Bec
  “Timely, practical, and full of hope, To Be Made Well is a beautiful offering for our weary, splintered, and hurting world. Amy Julia Becker skillfully addresses our personal and collective need for healing through examples from the Bible, from her own life, and from a diverse range of trusted leaders. These pages hold timeless lessons and helpful application. Highly recommend!” -- Vivian Mabuni, author of Open Hands, Willing Heart, and founder and podcast host of Someday Is Here for AAPI women leaders.
  “Amy Julia Becker has written a beautiful book, grounded in the person of Jesus and the healing he brings. This is not a book with a before-and-after story of miraculous healing; it is a book about how we live in a fractured world with bodies that bear on and in them the brokenness of living. It is a book about how we see Jesus, how he sees us, and how his love heals us just a little bit more each day.” -- Lore Ferguson Wilbert, author of A Curious Life: The Questions God Asks, and Handle with Care: How Jesus Redeems the Power of Touch in Life and Ministry
[Bible. English. NSRV. 2021] SBL Study Bible : including apocryphal / deterocanomical books. New Rev. Standard Version, updated ed. N.Y. : HarperOne, 2021.     220.5 NSRV 2021
  Supported by the largest and most respected academic association of Bible scholars, The Society of Biblical Literature, The SBL Study Bible is the landmark general reference Bible that offers the full text of the New Revised Standard Version.
Caldwell, Taylor. The Listener. N.Y. : Doubleday, 1960.   813.52 Cal
  Who was the mysterious listener? And what strange power did he offer to fifteen people on a desperate quest? John Godfrey, retired lawyer in a large midwestern city, erects a beautiful marble sanctum as a monument to his late wife. Inside, behind an electronic screen that hides him from each visitor, is the unknown one who sits. . .and listens.
Carter, Jimmy. Living faith. N.Y. : Times Books, 1996. 225.95 Car
  For President Carter, faith finds its deepest expression in a life of compassion, reconciliation, and service to others. Living Faith is filled with stories of people whose lives have touched his--some from the world stage, more from modest walks of life. We see how President Carter learned about other faiths from Prime Minister Menachim Begin and President Anwar Sadat; learned a lesson in forgiveness from a clash with commentator George Will; how he was inspired by the simple theology of preacher Ely Cruz, "Love God and the person in front of you"; and how the cheerful strength of family friend Annie Mae Rhodes taught him the meaning of "patient faith."
Carter, Warren. The Roman Empire and the New Testament : an essential guide. Nashville : Abingdon, 2006. 225.95 Car
  An indispensable introduction to Roman society, culture, law, politics, religion, and daily life as they relate to the study of the New Testament. The Roman Empire formed the central context in which the New Testament was written. Brief in presentation yet broad in scope, this book will introduce students to the information and ideas essential to coming to grips with the world in which early Christianity was born.
Erikson, Erik.  Young man Luther : a study in psychoanalysis and history. N.Y. : Norton, 1962, c1958.  268.2 Erik
  Full of wise observations not only about Luther but also about human life … -- W.H. Auden
  A very profound study … this book will be very rewarding – Reinhold Niebuhr.
 
Floyd, Wayne Whitson. The wisdom and witness of Dietrich Bonhoeffer : meditations by Wayne Whitson Floyd on texts from Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Minneapolis : Fortress Press, 2000. 267.55 Flo
Gecan, Michael. Effective organizing for congregational renewal. Acta, 2008.
  255.3 Gre
  “I highly recommend this to all my best friends” – Kris Rhude.
Jacobsen, Douglas. Global gospel : an introduction to Christianity on five continents. Grand Rapids : Baker Academic, 2015. 270 Jac
  "Douglas Jacobsen has provided a succinct, well-organized, and clearly written historical account of contemporary Christianity as a truly global religion. Broad coverage of geographical regions and theological traditions--including very helpful graphs, charts, and bibliography--underscores the book's emphasis on diversity. For a Christian world that is continuing to change with unprecedented speed, Global Gospel offers unusually perceptive guidance." -- Mark A. Noll, University of Notre Dame. 
Keller, Timothy. Hope in time of fear : the Resurrection and the meaning of Easter. N.Y. : Penguin, 2022.  232.927 Kel
  Hope in the Time of Fear is a book that unlocks the meaning of Jesus's resurrection. Easter is a time of spiritual rebirth and a time of celebrating the physical rebirth of Jesus after three days in the tomb. For his devoted followers, nothing could prepare them for the moment they met the resurrected Jesus. Each failed to recognize him. All of them physically saw him and yet did not spiritually truly see him. It was only when Jesus reached out and invited them to see who he truly was that their eyes were opened. Here the central message of the Christian faith is revealed in a way only Timothy Keller could do it--filled with unshakable belief, piercing insight, and a profound new way to look at a story you think you know.


Lagerkvist, Pär. Barabbas. N.Y. : Vintage Books, 1955, c1951. 837.7372 Lag
  Barabbas is the acquitted; the man whose life was exchanged for that of Jesus of Nazareth, crucified upon the hill of Golgotha. Barabbas is a man condemned to have no god. "Christos Iesus" is carved on the disk suspended from his neck, but he cannot affirm his faith. He cannot pray. He can only say, "I want to believe."
  Lagerkvist won the 1951 Nobel Prize for Literature
Mattes, Mark. The Augsburg Confession : a guide for the perplexed.  Irvine : 1517 Publishing, 2022. 265.5 Mat
  This booklet (26 p.) introduces readers to the Augsburg Confession, one of the most important charters of Christian liberty. From the time of its appearance in the sixteenth century to this day, the Augsburg Confession connects back to the first Christians and shows how the Bible can be read and Christian life can be lived today. You will see how the gospel enlivens all aspects of the life of faith and the mission of the church.
Nhat Hanh, Thich. Love in action : writings on nonviolent social change. Foreword by Daniel Barrigan. Berkeley : Parallax, 1993. 294.33 Nha
  This book, introduced by Daniel Berrigan, collects over twenty years of Nhat Hanh’s influential writings on nonviolence, peace, and reconciliation. He introduces the reader to methods of looking deeply to discover the roots of war in ourselves, in our destructive patterns of living, and in greed and deluded self-interest on a global scale.
Niebuhr,  H. Richard.  Christ and culture. N.Y. : Harper Torchbacks, 1975. 50th anniversary ed., with a new introd. by Martin Marty; a new preface by James Gustafson, and a new essay by the author. 261 Nie
        "This is without any doubt the one outstanding book in the field of basic Christian social ethics."--Paul Ramsey in the "Journal Of Religion" ; "A superb piece of analytical writing in tackling what is just about the toughest problem face by Christians. The problem: In what way, or degree, is Christ relevant to the situation in which the Christian must live....Mr. Niebuhr distinguishes five typical answers to the Christian's problem of setting the relation between the Christ he calls Lord and the culture which holds him as the sea holds its fish."--Paul Hutchinson in "The New York Times Book Review"  
Niebuhr, H. Richard.   Irony of American history. University of Chicago, 2008. With a new introd. by Andrew Basevich. 973.91 Nie
    “[Niebuhr] is one of my favorite philosophers. I take away [from his works] the compelling idea that there’s serious evil in the world, and hardship and pain. And we should be humble and modest in our belief we can eliminate those things. But we shouldn’t use that as an excuse for cynicism and inaction. I take away . . . the sense we have to make these efforts knowing they are hard.”—President Barack Obama



Roseberry, David H.  Psalm on the cross : a journey to the heart of Jesus through Psalm 22. Anglican Compass, 2021. 232.4 Ros
    As he hung dying on the cross at Calvary, Jesus spoke these haunting words from the opening verse of Psalm 22, a psalm written by King David over a thousand years prior. While the words depict the anguish of suffering, Jesus knew that the complete psalm was one of triumph and hope. The moment that began in darkness and despair eventually ends with a proclamation of confidence and victory.







Childrens’ Books

Carlson, Natalie. The family under the bridge. N.Y. : Harper Collins, 2019, c1993.   J [Fic] Car
  A Newberry Award Winner.
  Armand, an old man living on the streets of Paris, relishes his solitary life. Then one day just before Christmas, Armand returns to his favorite spot beneath the bridge to find three cold and hungry children. Although he has no interest in children, Armand soon finds himself caring for the small family. It does not take Armand very long to realize that he must do whatever it takes to get them a real home. Children will treasure this warm and funny adventure of family, freedom, and Santa Claus. Suitable for children 7-11.


Dee, Jodi.  Dirt girl. Jodi Dee Publishing, 2023.  J [Fic] Dee
  “This book really surprised me, I absolutely loved it! It's about a girl who goes to a new school and really doesn't fit in. She often had dirt on her clothes and flowers in her hair and liked to play with bugs. One day she invited people from school to her birthday party and they decided to go out of curiosity. They had to see how this weird girl lived and to their amazement, they discovered she lived very much in harmony with nature. Her house was so different from theirs and so wonderful. After that they never teased her again. One quote in the book I found really powerful and I really must share with you. ‘Many people are afraid of what is different than them, Zafera thought.
But hold true to who you are, and others will eventually see your light. Being different is what makes each of us special!’ " -- Children's Bookshelf, 5 Star. For children 4-8.

Henson, Taraji P. You can be a good friend (no matter what!). Zonderkidz, 2024.
  J [Fic] Hen
  From award-winning actress and mental-health advocate Taraji P. Henson, You Can Be a Good Friend (No Matter What!) shows kids the great things that can happen when we approach others and ourselves with empathy, patience, and love. This book is designed to help children ages 4-8 to overcome anxieties and embrace what makes them unique
.


Jean, Orion. Race to kindness.  Zonderkidz, 2024.  J 242.66 Jean
  Orion Jean was named TIME Magazine’s 2021 Kid of the Year. His amazing accomplishments include donating over half a million books to children, and collecting over 100,000 meals for the food insecure.
  From giving meaningful compliments to sharing your snack to donating used clothes, there are so many ways to be kind that it can be tough to know where to start!  Luckily, author and fellow kid Orion Jean has some simple steps we can all take to make the world a better place. For children ages 4-8.


Salati, Doug. Hot Dog. Knopf, 2022.  J [Fic] Sal
  2023 Caldecott Award Winner.
  NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY The Washington Post • Publishers Weekly • Kirkus Reviews • New York Public Library
“An utter joy from beginning to end!” — Sophie Blackall, two-time Caldecott Medal winner.
  This hot dog has had enough of summer in the city! Enough of sizzling sidewalks, enough of wailing sirens, enough of people's feet right in his face. When he plops down in the middle of a crosswalk, his owner endeavors to get him the breath of fresh air he needs. She hails a taxi, hops a train, and ferries out to the beach.
  
Williams, Vera B.   Chair for my mother. Greenwillow Books, 2007.   J [Fic] Wil
  A Caldecott Honor Award Winner (A Reading Rainbow book)
  "A tender knockout. It's rare to find much vitality, spontaneity, and depth of feeling in such a simple, young book."--Kirkus Reviews