Our Library




  • THE CHURCH LIBRARY NEEDS YOU ~ We are looking for some members that would enjoy working on the COS Library Committee. We meet eight times during the year on the first Monday of the month. There is always much to do in the ordering of new books, processing new books and the general running of a library. Each of us takes a turn being “librarian” on Sundays to help our readers with any questions they may have. Don’t say no until you check us out. We have fun as well and would love to have you join us. Stop into the library on any Sunday morning and talk with our librarian on duty to see what you are missing by not being a “librarian” for COS. You might even find a book to sign out for your own pleasure.


  • COS Library patrons reminder: Kids backpacks for your visiting young people. Are you traveling to the grandchildren? You may take a backpack with you just let us know how long you need it. Also new books in the library window and inside the library. Please tell us what you think of them by completing a Book Review, see form on the clipboard on the library desk. You could assist us in recommending a book, series, DVD, or author that you think our library patrons would enjoy. Thank you!



The Library Committee invites you to peruse room 104 in the CMC for 

1. Nonfiction books such as

  • books about Christ’s life
  • books by favorite Christian authors such as Lucado and Yancy
  • Bible commentaries
  • books about various religions in addition to Christianity
  • books to supplement the Sunday morning Lutheranism 102 class
  • other topics

2. Reference books

3. Study materials (SM);

  • creationism compared to the theory of evolution
  • the Holy Spirit
  • Bible study

4. Fiction

  • Amish, Amana Colonies, Mennonite, and Quaker fiction books.

All may be taken to the main library room to be checked out.



A note from the library committee about "Patron Recommended Reading"

Would you like to recommend to others a book or other item from the library that you have enjoyed? Help others know by filling out a "Patron Recommended Reading" form that can be found on the library desk. Just fill out one of the forms, place it in the book return box on the library table, and the library committee will let others know. Thank you.

 


NEW COS WOMEN'S BOOK CLUB: Are you interested in joining a Book Club but have hesitated because you are not sure of the "character" or "quality" of the choices of books you might have to read? Are you excited to talk and share with friends the great book you are reading? If there are enough ladies who would like to be part of a COS Book Club, please sign up in the church library or speak with a Library Team member.


Prayer: Does It Make Any Difference? by Philip Yancey is an excellent read
if you are interested in your prayer life. The author, trained as a journalist,
explores such questions as:
    * Is God listening?
    * Why should God care about me?
    * Why do so many prayers go unanswered?
    * Why does God let the world go on as it does and not intervene?
    * Does prayer really help with physical healing?
    * Why does God seem sometimes close and sometimes far away?
    * Does prayer change God or change me?
    * How can I make prayer more satisfying?


Do you have an active prayer life? Are your prayers long or short? Can you comfortably voice your prayer concerns to God. The Apostle Paul tells us in Ephesians 6:18 "And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests." Our heavenly Father wants to hear from us. He wants to be in relationship with us. In the authors words, "if prayer stands as the
place where God and human beings meet, then I must learn about prayer."


I highly recommend this book. It was well written and thought provoking as well as an encouragement to converse regularly and constantly with my Creator.


Library Corner

The Bible as an Autobiography

By Walter Roessler


The definition of Biography -- a partial or full–life history compiled by a historian. The historian enumerates the accomplishments of the subject. but always with bias!!! The accomplishments are meant to record some lesson to the reader which the historian expects the reader to emulate or appreci-ate or use in a mind-changing experience.


An Autobiography is a biography which the subject provides about their own life with multiple possible purposes.


The Bible is an autobiography by Jesus Christ about Jesus Christ!!! It is a prime example of how God has kept His promises and His desire to restore Eden to mankind. Consider the history of these writings and how through the ages God has first given the details to His chosen writer, but then also lovingly maintained it through centuries of turmoil and unbelief, and even language changes!!!


The Septuagint (Jews translating the OT to Greek) because Greek had become the language of commerce. And then Jerome and others translating to Latin, (Vulgate) as it became a standard of the Roman Church. And then He used other faithful students to translate it to local languages, e.g., Wycliffe and Hus, Luther and Tyndale, and the well-known King James work. Even in this last century as the restudying of the newly found words of the original texts were discovered by Archeologists, and combined with continual changes to the modern American English, there was a need for newer and newer versions available in our lifetimes!!


God continues to assure that His autobiography is constantly available for people to read and study and understand His purposes in each and every life.


Perhaps you will consider a new Bible as a Christmas gift to children or grandchildren or a neighbor or a friend! If this person has a native language, Bibles are available in multiple languages. How about a foreign language copy plus an English one - the person may be able to learn English this way. A few decades ago Judy and I volunteered with a Lutheran Braille group, and learned that English Braille Bibles were very popular outside of the USA, as blind people used them to learn English.


PS: Hymnals although not as old; also go through updating for new hymns and language. In a recent news article on a graduation at the Seminary of Sao Leopoldo, Brazil: the ceremony was at the end of a week–long Symposium which included the release of a new Spanish Lan-guage Hymnal. Attendees included Lutheran leaders from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, Uruguay and Venezuela.