Summer Book Club

Where faith and life intersect.

Pastor Abi has some books she’d love to share with you this Summer! You choose which book(s) you’d like to read, and you choose which book(s) you’d like to discuss with Pastor Abi and with others.

Twice this summer, Pastor Abi will hang out at one of the restaurants in our neighborhood and if you show up that night, you can join her for a discussion of the book and what it means for our faith and life.

The Schedule: 

  • July 30 (Big Buns), 6:30 PM – Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach
  • September 28, 11: AM – Trans Anthology Project:  Reflections of Self-Discovery and Acceptance | Chrissy Boylan & Heather H. Kirby, LCSW

Here Are the Books…

Stiff:  The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers

An oddly compelling, often hilarious exploration of the strange lives of our bodies postmortem. For two thousand years, cadavers (some willingly, some unwittingly) have been involved in science's boldest strides and weirdest undertakings. They've tested France's first guillotines, ridden the NASA Space Shuttle, been crucified in a Parisian laboratory to test the authenticity of the Shroud of Turin, and helped solve the mystery of TWA Flight 800. For every new surgical procedure, from heart transplants to gender reassignment surgery, cadavers have been there alongside surgeons, making history in their quiet way.    

In this fascinating, ennobling account, Mary Roach visits the good deeds of cadavers over the centuries. In her droll, inimitable voice, Roach tells the engrossing story of our bodies when we are no longer with them. Join Pastor Abi in our first of two-summer book club reads as she explores Roach’s primary question, “What should we do after we die?” The book is available on Amazon (as an audible book or to read.)

Trans Anthology Project:  Reflections of Self Discovery and Acceptance

Bringing together over 200 firsthand accounts, this part-guidebook, part-anthology amplifies the voices of trans and nonbinary youth alongside the parents striving to support them. From deeply personal reflections to candid explorations of identity, these stories offer hope, clarity, and connection in a world where understanding the reality and beauty of gender diversity has never been more urgent. 

Whether you're a young person exploring your identity, a parent seeking guidance, or an ally committed to learning more, The Trans Anthology Project offers a vital, heartfelt resource for anyone invested in creating a more informed, compassionate, and inclusive world.

"Understanding and supporting my trans daughter means listening to lots of stories and experiences because being trans is not a monolith. The Trans Anthology Project has added so many layers to my understanding of the trans experience, which means I can meet my daughter where she is rather than ask her to come to me. I am so grateful these stories are being told.” —Jessica Lahey, New York Times bestselling Author of The Gift of Failure and The Addiction Inoculation  

Trans Anthology Project is a powerful, compassionate collection grounded in the belief that stories can change—and even save—lives.