The Library Book Club will meet on Monday, May 11th, at 10:00 a.m. in room F 145, located on the 1st floor of the Sheldon Family Life Center,  to discuss The Book Club for Troublesome Women by Marie Bostwick. The Book Club for Troublesome Women is a historical fiction novel about four suburban housewives in 1960s Virginia who form a secret book club, inspired by Betty Friedan’s The Feminine Mystique, to discuss their dissatisfaction with the “American dream” and find empowerment through friendship and shared experiences.

Nicknamed “The Bettys,” the women—Margaret, Charlotte, Viv, and Bitsy—navigate personal crises and societal expectations, discovering their own strength and the power of sisterhood during a pivotal year. (Source: www.google.com)

Beginning on April 7th, our Tuesday morning Simply Something study group will begin a five to six-week session study of the book of Esther. The Book of Esther, notable for being one of the two books in the Bible named after a woman (the other being Ruth), emphasizes the importance of standing up for one’s community and faith, It is celebrated in Jewish tradition during Purim, which involves feasting and reading the book aloud.

No extra book is required, just your Bible. We will also be using the additional books of Esther found in the Apocrypha. Simply Something meets in room F147 (located on the 1st floor of the Sheldon Family Life Center), at 10:00 a.m. on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of each month. Everyone is welcome to join us.

Please let Rev. Dr. C. Kay Fuino know if you will attend so you can receive the class schedule of readings. For questions or to register please contact C. Kay by e-mail at ckfuino@duluthumc.org.

Join us for a new small group class opportunity that will discuss the first five hundred years of Christianity.  This class meets twice each week for 20 weeks and participants may attend either class. Classes are held on:

• Tuesdays from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m.
• Wednesdays from 5:45 to 7:15 p.m.
  

The subject matter will be based on Ancient Christianities: The First Five Hundred Years, a series of 20 lectures by Paula Fredriksen, Professor of Scripture Emerita at Boston University and Professor Emerita of Comparative Religion at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.  Dr. Fredriksen, and author of numerous books and a widely sought-after speaker, is a worldwide recognized scholar of early Christianity.  A former Catholic, Fredriksen converted to Judaism several years ago.

The class, led by Pete Fleming, will consist of 20 fifty-minute lectures by Dr. Fredriksen which will follow her latest book. Participants are not required to purchase the book, but they may wish to. Classes will be augmented with weekly summaries of the material plus optional additional readings and bibliographies.

If you would like to participate in this new study or have questions, please contact Pete Fleming by e-mail at lfleming3832@att.net or Rev. Dr. AnnaKate Rawles by e-mail at arawles@duluthumc.org. Please let them know which day of the week you will most likely be attending the class so that classroom space can be planned for.

The Thursday morning Bible study group of Women Studying Together are currently studying the book of Ecclesiastes. The author, who calls himself Teacher, has examined everything 'under the sun' in a search for the meaning of life. We experience his frustration as he explains his quest in an often skeptical, disillusioned rhetoric. Along the way he examines many modern attempts to find life's meaning and offers a conclusion worthy of our exploration.

There is no book to buy, just bring your Bible and join us. We meet from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. in room F145, located on the 1st floor of the Sheldon Family Life Center. Discussion is led by Jenny Masterson. As we study, we ask questions, search for answers, share our stories, laugh and pray together. We welcome all women.

If you would like additional information, please contact Jenny Masterson by e-mail at

jennybobm@comcast.net or call 678-591-0800.