Postponing the Library Start for one week

The response in contributions for our library has been great! So great, in fact, that I will need one more week to have things ready to circulate.

Instead of April 3, we will hope to start displaying and circulating materials in our new Lending Library on Sunday, April 10.

C U Then!

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Another milestone

Too many books to count!

Today's contributions came in boxes and bags and included hardbacks, paperbacks, audio cassette albums and Bible reading guides. The quantity made moot any attempt to continue counting, but the growing collection in our Trinity Lending Library is exciting!

The listing of books found on the right sidebar will not be updated until next week, probably. I will be busy working to "process" the new books into our collection, and then I'll keep a running list of books available.

Next blog post: just what is involved in this "processing?" Keep those prayers, contributions and donations coming. And check the earlier post on "Questions and answers for the new process" (link in the Archive list to the right.)

Target beginning date: April 3!

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

After 10 days: over 40 books!

The Lord is building His library for us!

A word here, and a conversation there, and we continue to see top quality materials coming in for the church family's growth. Click on the link in the right side-bar, "Listing of materials in our library collection," to see the updated list of what we will have to read!

A recent Covenant Seminary graduate donated many of these new titles, and individuals and family contributions are making an impact as well. We continue to solicit your input and donations.

We have not yet begun collecting materials for children, but that will hopefully be a significant part of our offerings in the future.

Can't wait to see what it all looks like when we begin circulation on April 3!

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

We have our first books!

Today we received Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis and Bryan Chapell's Praying Backwards.

May all our materials be as strong for building the Kingdom through our reading!

We'll keep a current list of all titles we now own in the "Listing of materials in our library collection" page, linked in the sidebar to the right.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Questions and answers for the new process

The announcement about the new library was shared before the worship time this morning, and folks had some great questions that I thought I would share.

• Do we want Christian fiction books?
  YES, we welcome high quality fiction and non-fiction that glorify the Lord and edify the reader. "The thread of antithesis (good on one side, evil on the other) runs through all creation," and so we welcome books and recordings where we see God's glory, not just the expected theological non-fiction.
  

• Should we put our name on the materials so we can get them back?
  GREAT question, and NO. Materials we are seeking for the library will not be returned. We will either access (add) what is donated into our library collection, or we will pass on donated materials to local Christian and family-supporting charities.

• What if my books have markings in them?
  Highlighting and marking are not uncommon in the books being donated. These may be the most helpful books! So, YES: bring them too.
  
  If a marked up book turns out to be popular, we hope to eventually invest in a new, clean copy. But right now, we're happy to include high quality books regardless of scholarly or personal focus background =)

Space is a critical issue right now, so please understand that some materials which would be EXCELLENT for a church library may not be accessed right away. We will need to display, circulate and store the very best of our collection. If you don't see your donated materials right away, it may be because of the shortage of space currently available.

Boxes to receive your donated materials will continue to be available on Sunday mornings around the side information table. Donation acknowledgment statements for tax purposes can be provided -- contact Janie.

Thanks to all for your enthusiasm and support! This will be a great adventure.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Starting to gather materials

We will be adding materials through contributions and purchases. These are some of the beginning authors and works we would like to make available. (Click on the title or author to be directed to Shelfari or Amazon information.)

Author / speaker	Suggested works
James M. Boice
John Calvin
Thomas Chalmers
Jonathan Edwards
Tim Keller	Reason for God, Counterfeit Gods
C. S. Lewis
Keith Mathison	Given for You
John Murray	Redemption Accomplished and Applied
John Owen
J. I. Packer
John Piper
Francis Schaeffer	his 5-volume collected works
R. C. Sproul
Philip Yancey	What's So Amazing about Grace?

Our Mission

Colossians 1:28 "that we may present everyone mature in Christ"

We're starting a lending library!

Despite our borrowed gathering place and the too-small closet area for storing our goods during the week, we are venturing forth to include a library among our ministries to the Trinity family. It's an exciting step forward.

The news was announced to our church family this past week by email and in the Sunday worship program. Click here to view that announcement.

Stay posted for updates on materials we are seeking, materials we now own, and links to info on those materials at Shelfari.

Grace and peace from our Father!
~ Janie