Group Life:
Book Clubs

Book clubs can be organized in many different ways. Everyone can read the same book (fiction or nonfiction) and discuss it together, or each person can share about a different book that she recently enjoyed. You might take turns selecting a book and leading discussion about it; this will expose all group members to books outside their normal range. Book clubs are also great ways for long distance friends to stay connected; choose a book to read, then share reflections about it over the phone, by e-mail, or in circle letters.

The MW Book Club page has many tips on organizing bookclubs as well as discussion questions for several contemporary novels.  One recommended book is She Has Done a Good Thing: Mennonite Women Leaders Tell Their Stories (Herald Press, 1999). It would be rewarding to use this book as a model for writing your own stories or for writing biographies of other women, especially mothers of group members. These could be shared with the group orally or in a program for the church. Stories could be taped on cassettes or videos.

Doing a little research ahead of time will greatly enhance your discussion. Ask a different person each meeting to provide some information about the author, the historical period, geographical setting, or perhaps other books by the same writer.

Is there a published author in your congregation or local community whom you might invite as a special guest?

Promote interest in your group by mounting quotations from the books and posting them throughout the church. List provocative quotes and discussion questions in bulletin announcements. Or distribute simple bookmarks listing the meeting dates and books you’ll be discussing.

    U.S. residents: Send checks for $8 U.S. (payable to Mennonite Women USA) to the MW USA office.  Use our order form.
    Canadian residents: Order directly from the Canadian Mennonite Resource Centre; you will be billed $10 Cdn. plus postage and GST.  E-mail your order or call toll free: (866) 888-6785.