ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, January 4, 1997 TAG: 9701060022
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-7 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
COLUMN: in religion
SOURCE: MARY LOU BRUTON
Mary Nolan echoes the latest news about worldwide spiritual resurgence when she talks about books.
As assistant manager of Waldenbooks in the New River Valley Mall, Nolan's job is to figure out which books will sell the best in our area. When it comes to the inspirational/religious category, she says that authors now are "not afraid to admit their belief."
"They're telling us it's OK to have faith and believe in spiritual things," Nolan says.
The list of spiritual books she recommends reflects her statement and includes something for all interests, from traditional Christian to New Age:
n"How Good Do We Have to Be?" by Harold Kushner. By the author of "When Bad Things Happen to Good People," this self-help book explores putting feelings of guilt and inadequacy into perspective.
"Living Faith" by Jimmy Carter. The former president offers lessons for life from the Bible, his personal experience and the examples of friends and family who inspired him.
"Simple Abundance" by Sarah Ban Breathnach. These 366 essays for women examine how daily life can be an expression of self and spirit.
"The Soul's Code: In Search of Character and Calling" by James Hillman. The book examines what is innate in human nature and how an individual's destiny may be connected to a particular image.
"Genesis" by Bill Moyers. News journalist Moyers leads four dozen writers, theologians, artists and thinkers in a discussion of the many meanings of the stories in the first book of the Bible.
"Daily Guideposts 1997." Daily inspirational meditations from Guideposts magazine, which was founded by Norman Vincent Peale. The theme for 1997 is "The Wonder of God's Love."
"Unto the Hills" by Billy Graham. Graham's latest collection of 365 Scripture-based meditations are focused on searching for God.
"The Celestine Prophecy" by James Redfield. This modern parable is about the nine insights the human race is expected to grasp as an era of spiritual awareness begins.
"The Tenth Insight: Holding the Vision" by James Redfield. In the sequel to "The Celestine Prophecy," the expansion of human spirituality is hindered by the fear of the future.
"Gift and Mystery" by Pope John Paul II. The pope writes about his personal journey to his ordination as a priest and his peaceful relationship with God.
The angel trend in literature that began about two years ago is still evident and has spread into all areas of writing and for all ages. There are new books about angels and spirituality even on the children's literature shelf. The books listed above are popular now in this area, but lots of other new titles that will interest you are on the shelves at your local bookshop and public library.
The Rev. Vickie Lynn Houk will be installed Jan. 12 at a 4:30 p.m. service at Christ Episcopal Church in Pulaski. Houk has come from Alliance, Ohio, where she had been interim rector of Trinity Episcopal Church for eight months. As rector of the Episcopal parish Houk will succeed the Rev. Stephen Weston, who left two years ago for a Texas congregation. The installation service will be led by Bishop F. Neff Powell of the Episcopal Diocese of Southwestern Virginia.
Two adult Christian education classes sponsored by the Bishop Russell Institute of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Richmond are open for registration for those in the New River Valley. Both will be held at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Wytheville.
"Christian Parenting in Today's World" will be led by Tim and Mary Grothaus. Sessions will begin Jan. 28 and will continue through Feb. 18 on Tuesday nights. "Update on Catholic Teachings" will be offered on Monday nights from Feb. 10 through March 10 with the Rev. Charles Brickner the leader. Call 228-3322 for more information.
The emergency needs program of Holy Family Catholic Church in Pearisburg is one of several parish outreach ministries to benefit from The Bishop's Appeal, an annual financial drive of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Richmond. It was one of 67 church groups and human service agencies to share in the $68,000 raised for the poor. The money goes for heat and food.
For the first time in 20 years, the annual meeting of the Episcopal Diocese of Southwestern Virginia will not be held at Virginia Tech's Donaldson Brown Hotel and Conference Center in Blacksburg.
The convention, which covers about 50 congregations in Western Virginia and attracts about 300 clergy, lay delegates and visitors, is moving to The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center for the 1997 three-day event and probably will be there also in 1998, according to Alan N. Boyce, administrative assistant for the diocese. The meeting is Jan. 24-26.
Delegates are expected to hear of plans for a $3 million Building for Christ campaign to develop an endowment for future ministries and to improve facilities at the Phoebe Needles Retreat Center in Franklin County and at diocesan headquarters in Roanoke.
LENGTH: Long : 104 linesby CNB