Common Read Project

May 13, 2012: A discussion of Acts of Faith was led by Marty Patton, second from right.

Our Common Read Project is a popular congregational activity which starts with book lovers nominating books they think will be of interest to a large portion of the congregation. One book is chosen by the congregation each year, and all church members and friends are encouraged to read the selected book.

For 2011-12, the Common Read book selected by the congregation in voting which closed on November 13, 2011 is Acts of Faith: The Story of an American Muslim, the Struggle for The Soul of a Generation by Eboo Patel. The book is described as "... a remarkable account of growing up Muslim in America and coming to believe in religious pluralism." Patel, Ph.D., is founder and Executive Director of the Interfaith Youth Core, an international nonprofit building the interfaith youth movement. This book also is the UUA Common Read selection for all UUs.

A close second in the voting was Twelve Steps To a Compassionate Life by Karen Armstrong (keynote speaker at the 2011 General Assembly). Karen Armstrong is one of the foremost 21st century theologians and has written this "impassioned and practical book that can help us make the world a more compassionate place." She suggests twelve steps to enhance our compassion and put it into practice in our everyday lives.

The third candidate was A House for Hope: The Promise of Progressive Religion for the Twenty-First Century by John A Buehrens and Rebecca Ann Parker (prominent UU ministers and leaders).

Following are the covers of all three books.

Copies of Acts of Faith are available at the Book Table. Acts of Faith also is available as an e-book from the UUA Bookstore. Please sign up at the Book Table for the following Common Read activities relating to Acts of Faith:

• Saturday, May 12, 2012 at 10:30 a.m. – Workshop at church on "Spiritual Family Trees" in which participants will explore their own spiritual and religious roots as did Patel. Fran Reynolds will be the facilitator.

• Sunday, May 13, 2012, after worship – Brown-bag lunch at which Marty Patton will lead a discussion about the book.

The Common Read Committee also suggests forming a book discussion group around Karen Armstrong's book, Twelve Steps to a Compassionate Life. Copies of this book also will be available at the Book Table.

Other books chosen in recent years for the Common Read (formerly One Read) project include:

• Transforming Liberal Congregations by Roy D. Phillips;

• The Faith Club by Ranya Idliby, Suzanne Oliver, and Priscilla Warner;

• Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson

• Here If You Need Me by Kate Braestrup

• The Death of Josseline: Immigration Stories from the Arizona Borderlands by Margaret Regan

Fran Reynolds is the 2011-12 chair of the Common Read Project. Other committee members are Alan Arnold, Tom Bridewell, Ene-Kaja Chippendale, Kakie Love, Marty Patton and Barbara Rupp.