Spotlight on California: News from Sierra-Central Valley NCLA Chapter

CA Sierra-Central Valley NCLA Chapter met on Saturday, October 10, 2009 at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Sacramento. Morning activities included a free book exchange, devotions and a business meeting. Everyone was then invited to tour the sanctuary and library.

Prior to lunch, librarians gave book talks, recommending newly discovered titles (see list below) and spent time sharing their ideas and concerns with one another in an open forum.

After lunch the group was treated to a talk from humorist Rev. Norris Burkes. Burkes writes a nationally syndicated column and is a chaplain for the California Air National Guard, recently returning from a voluntary tour in Iraq. He also serves as a pediatric chaplain for Sutter Medical Center in Sacramento and has written a book, No Small Miracles: Heartwarming, humorous, and hopeful stories from a pediatric chaplain.

A popular book door prize drawing was held at the end of the meeting. Winners were able to select their prize, making sure the books they brought home were ones they could use in their libraries.


Books recommended at the fall Sierra-Central Valley NCLA Chapter meeting:
• Refiner’s Fire Series (Candle in the Darkness, Fire by Night, A Light to my Path) by Lynn Austin. Bethany House, 2004.
• All Through the Night by Davis Bunn. Bethany House, 2008.
• Faith Lessons: That the World May Know (7 DVD set). From the books by Ray Vander Lann.
• The Prayer of Jesus: Developing Intimacy with God through Christ’s Example, by Mike Nappa. Barbour, 2001.
• Dead Man Walking by Helen Prejean. Random House, 1993.
• Lost in the Woods: a Photgraphic Fantasy, Carl R. Sams II Photography, 2004.
• The Ultimate Gift by Jim Stovall. Daved C. Cook, 2007.