Tuesday, May 3, 2011

General Conference Book Club: Pennsylvania Chapter

I am afraid that in past posts where I've mentioned how small the Mormon population is in Pennsylvania that I've made it sound like I am "an island" out here making it completely on my own.  
GCBC Members:  Nici, Sarah, Gantrie (plus baby & two buns in ovens)
But I am here to set the record straight:  Members of the church in PA are few, but MIGHTY!!


And I am so fortunate to be surrounded by these incredible LDS women--good, humble, talented, spunky, thoughtful, spiritual, service-oriented women--who strengthen me with their example, their dedication to the gospel, and their concern for their fellow Relief Society sisters.


Brittany:  Waiting for her mission call!
Recently, I have been feeling a need to BE with these women more, in person, so we can feel of each other's spirit and grow in the gospel together.  So, I took a page out of the notebook of Stephanie of Diapers & Divinity and started my own Pennsylvania Chapter of her famed online General Conference Book Club.


Brittany, Jessica, Jacquie
To make the book club as easy as possible to participate in, I made the following changes:


1.  We meet in person.
2.  We meet on the same day, at the same time, at the same place, every week.  (We meet during the daytime to break up the day for us stay-home moms.)
3.  We begin our book club meetings by watching the talk of the week together, and then we discuss. (That way, even if you don't have time to study the talk, you can still participate.)
4.  When we are finished discussing the talk, we eat something together and feed our kids lunch. (The children bounce on our trampoline while we are discussing the talk.)


So far, it's been really uplifting and has renewed each of us who have participated!  Today we had a going away party for one of our members, and had a potluck lunch.  Fun!  We actually had 14 women (plus their kids), but some of them weren't too keen on me sticking a camera in their face!  (Imagine that!)


Cammie - my Visiting Teacher
Thank you, Stephanie, for sharing your book club idea.  It is a great strength to us!

17 comments:

  1. I miss all of you so much Hopefully one of these days my health will allow me to be there. We can gain so many strengths from each other.

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  2. That is a really amazing book club idea. I like that even if there wasn't time to read it, people can participate and that it is so uplifting. Plus, you get to discuss it! I learn so much from other people's comments in situations like that.

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  3. Would it be too much information to ask where in Pennsylvania you are located? Have just found myself very close to the Penn. border and wonder just how close I have managed to plant myself to a friend from blog land.
    Regardless of where in the world you are, that is a fabulous idea!

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  4. that is a cool idea! sounds so fun...and important to strengthen testimonies

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  5. Oh how I wish I lived closer to you...you have great ideas and you have great fun with your ward sisters...lovely.

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  6. What a great idea! A "book" club that talks about general conference talks instead.

    I think I might follow suit. I LIKE this.

    =)

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  7. I absolutely LOVE Stephanie's GCBC! What a cool idea to do it in person too! Maybe I should start one of these where I live... hmm... Thanks for the idea! (It's cool the way great ideas just trickle on through the world! :D)
    Corine :D

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  8. LOVE this idea. I can't believe you got 14 women there, too! That would be astounding here, and I live in Utah where Mormons abound :)

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  9. (Thanks for posting the cute picture of my cute preggo cousin!!)

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  10. LOVE this! I'm going to start this in my area! Thanks for sharing! Love ya girl!

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  11. that is a fantastic idea-I'm feeling inspired to start one where I live. thanks for sharing this!

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  12. I LOVE this idea! I live right in the heart of Utah and I want to start one of these GCBC right here!

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  13. I LOVE this idea! I live right in the heart of UTAH and I want to start this here! I have been thinking about something like this for a couple years now, but was never quite sure how to go about it! Thank you for the wonderful idea!

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    1. You'll have to tell me how it goes! I know you're going to love it! After doing this for two years, I know I am a much wiser person. Studying the words of the prophets has changed me. Have fun!

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  14. Jocelyn, thank you for your shining example! I began a General Conference Book Club modeled after yours in Provo and now that I've moved to Florida I've begun another. It's so wonderful to have (1) accountability for personal study, (2) the spiritual uplift gained from discussing the gospel with like-minded people, (3) the deepening of friendships that comes from sharing learning and trials, and (4) a weekly opportunity for socialization for myself and my toddler. It truly enriches my life! Thank you again for sharing your testimony & ideas for living the gospel.

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    1. Oh that's wonderful to hear!! You sum up the general conference book club perfectly! We've done this for 5 years now and then took a break when I had my baby in the spring. What a difference...without it something was really missing in my life. So we started back up again last week. It is a blessing. I am glad you're doing this in Florida too! Congrats and thanks for sharing that with me!

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