All of these books, and more, can be obtained on the Amazon.com website. Anything purchased from Amazon via the text links in the titles below will benefit St. Matthew's; we will receive a small percentage of every purchase made through these links.

Just click on the title and deposit the book in your Shopping Cart directly from the resulting window. (Note: To order more than one title through us by referral, please return to this window for each title and collect them in the same Amazon shopping cart.)

The Rev. Terence Elsberry, Rector

• Jesus in America, by Richard W. Fox.*
• The Island at the Center of the World, by Russell Shorto.
• From Dawn To Decadence; 500 Years of Western Cultural Life,  by Jacques Barzun
• I'm a Stranger Here Myself, by Bill Bryson (humor).
• The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Bible, publ. by Alpha, a Pearson Education Company.

* This book provided much of the information for Terry's fall class on this topic.

The Rev. Robert Flanagan, Associate Rector 

American Gospel: God, the Founding Fathers, and the Making of a Nation, by Jon Meacham.  If you're looking for a book that combines American history and God then this is the book for you.

The Jesus I Never Knew, by Philip Yancey.   This is a heart-felt look at the life of our Lord and Savior

The Purpose-Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For?, by Rick Warren. If you haven't read it yet, do so.  It is a faith journey of discovery.

Soul Searching: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of American Teenagers, by Christian Smith and Melinda Lundquist Denton. Want to know what makes teens tick? Then this is the book.  It is a bit academic, but the research findings will blow you away.  This is a very important book.

The Healing Power of Prayer: The Surprising Connection between Prayer and Your Health, by Chester L. Tolson and Harold G. Koenig.  Carefully researched and very well written, Dr. Koenig's book on prayer will change your thinking about the importance of praying everyday.                                                          

The Rev. Susan Wyper, Assistant Minister

• The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini - A familiar book by now to book-group junkies, this is a heart-rending look at Afghanistan.
• How Elizabeth Barrett Browning Saved My Life, by Mameve Medwed - A great romp of a read about life, friendship and hidden treasures.
• Thirst, by Mary Oliver - The poet's most recent volume which includes poems ripe with her burgeoning faith and full appreciation of the natural world.
• Listening to Your Life, by Frederick Buechner - Daily meditations by my favorite preacher and essayist.  If you're not one for daily devotionals, try any of his more than 20 other works, including "Now and Then" an "Telling Secrets."

Rev. Deacon Broaddus "Speed" Johnson

• Franklin and Winston: An Intimate Portrait of an Epic Friendship, by Jon Meacham.
• The Plot Against America: A Novel, by Philip Roth.