Reading Group

The Reading Group book for September 2022 is:-

“Remember the Sabbath Day (Is the Lord’s Day still relevant in the twenty first century?)” by Day one Publications

£6

Reading Group is held on the last Thursday of the month at 8:30pm.

New members very welcome.

Click here to read the review of “Remember the Sabbath Day (Is the Lord’s Day still relevant in the twenty first century?)” by Day one Publications

Reading Group – Operational Rules during Covid-19

On the Web Site of First Presbyterian Portadown there is a section under Ministries for the Reading Group – https://www.firstportadown.org/ministries/reading-group/
1. Members of the Reading Group would be given the opportunity to suggest Books by email on a rolling 3-month period. Reason for thinking 3 months ahead is below.
2. This book selection to be approved centrally (just to ensure no lemons are selected or something which is inappropriate).
3. When the Book is approved then for a given month the Book would be advertised on the Church Announcement Sheet providing Title and Author.
4. Additionally, on the Church Website the Book Cover showing Title, Author and Index of Contents would be posted.
5. At the end of the month (last Thursday) a Review of the Book would be posted or uploaded to the Church Web Site by the person who selected the Book or the person who volunteered to write a review of the book. Maximum review length (ideally) one A4 page. Perhaps each member of the Book Club would take a turn to write a Review of a Book. If there were six members in the Reading Group that would approximate to two reviews a year each. However, no one who is a member of the Reading Group would be obliged to write a Book Review.
6. No attribution would be given as to the name of the book reviewer (i.e. reviewer would be anonymous) to preclude comparison of the quality of the Reviews and align Review quality with particular people.
7. In respect of the three month rolling schedule for the books (next three books known only to Reading Group Members), this would enable say a member who will review a book in two months’ time to do preparatory work in respect of putting together a “Book Review”. It is preferable not to have too long a forward schedule as this would preclude reading “New Books” just issued.
8. Administrator/Point of Contact for “Reading Group” is Robert Dowey [robert.dowey@tiscali.co.uk]
New Members always welcome.

We are a small group of diverse people interested in exploring the Christian faith. We read a book every 5-6 weeks, and then meet together informally to talk about it. The Reading Group meets on the last Thursday of most months from September to June and if you are interested in any way, you will be most welcome. Some people have even been known to come along and enjoy the discussion without reading the book! So don’t be put off coming if you want to give it a try. It’s a great opportunity to meet with like-minded people (and not-so-like-minded people!) to tease out issues at a deeper level than is feasible at other more formal types of church gathering.

Since we first met in 2005, we have read a wide range of books covering topics such as the grace of God, personal faith and spiritual maturity, and the growth and development of God’s kingdom from the earliest martyrs until the present day. Whilst this may sound very theoretical, many of the books have been intensely practical and personally challenging.

We have grasped a few nettles too, such as the questions of marriage and divorce; spiritual abuse within the church; and whether God is really in control in a world where all around us we see pain, misery and injustice. We have had a visit from Adam Harbinson, who joined in our discussion of his book “Savage Shepherds.” Needless to say, we were all on our best behaviour!

Even if you can’t make it to the group, why not read some of the books at home? For a list of books we’ve read so far, click here.

Reading and discussing the books may stimulate our minds, but the ultimate challenge is – are we allowing God to change us through what we have read and discussed, or have we exercised our grey matter in vain?

Contact: To be confirmed.

View books we’ve read so far at the Reading Group …

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