Book Club with Heavenly Rewards
BY IVAN MOORE
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Seven years ago, an experience with a serious illness prompted Donna Moses to turn to her faith, and focus on the important things in life. In response, she founded the Sistahs in Conversation Christian Book Club, a reading group of African-American women who shared a love of God, the Bible, and literature.
The club quickly grew in size, prompting Moses to begin a second club called Sistahs in Harmony. From the beginning, the clubs were an arena for women to explore new ideas and perspectives within the realm of their faith.
“We have women from all different denominations, and some that don’t have a denomination at all,” says Moses. “We might disagree sometimes, but we do it with respect.”
What began as a reading group quickly grew into a support group and friendship network. But equally as important as the relationships within the club are the connections they’ve made outside the club.
Moses says it was important to her and other members of the group that the clubs reach out into the community. To this end, the clubs perform a variety of community services, including hosting writer’s workshops, adopting a family for Christmas, and contributing to after-school programs. The club’s flagship is their annual Scholarship Luncheon.
Since their first year of existence, the Sistahs clubs have organized and hosted this event, which honors local students while providing a forum for panel discussions by local and nationally-known authors. In recent years, the events have drawn audiences of nearly 300 people.
This year’s Scholarship Luncheon will be held September 12 at the Stockton Golf and Country Club from 2 to 5 pm. Authors Philip Wilhite, Paulette Harper, and Victoria Christopher Murray will participate in a panel discussion and book signings.
A $40 ticket to the event also includes lunch, live musical entertainment, author meet-and-greets and a ceremony for this year’s scholarship recipients, Aries Moses, Marcellus Cayton, and Phylicia Thomas. Tickets are available from Donna Moses, who can be reached at (209) 957-8448.
The club quickly grew in size, prompting Moses to begin a second club called Sistahs in Harmony. From the beginning, the clubs were an arena for women to explore new ideas and perspectives within the realm of their faith.
“We have women from all different denominations, and some that don’t have a denomination at all,” says Moses. “We might disagree sometimes, but we do it with respect.”
What began as a reading group quickly grew into a support group and friendship network. But equally as important as the relationships within the club are the connections they’ve made outside the club.
Moses says it was important to her and other members of the group that the clubs reach out into the community. To this end, the clubs perform a variety of community services, including hosting writer’s workshops, adopting a family for Christmas, and contributing to after-school programs. The club’s flagship is their annual Scholarship Luncheon.
Since their first year of existence, the Sistahs clubs have organized and hosted this event, which honors local students while providing a forum for panel discussions by local and nationally-known authors. In recent years, the events have drawn audiences of nearly 300 people.
This year’s Scholarship Luncheon will be held September 12 at the Stockton Golf and Country Club from 2 to 5 pm. Authors Philip Wilhite, Paulette Harper, and Victoria Christopher Murray will participate in a panel discussion and book signings.
A $40 ticket to the event also includes lunch, live musical entertainment, author meet-and-greets and a ceremony for this year’s scholarship recipients, Aries Moses, Marcellus Cayton, and Phylicia Thomas. Tickets are available from Donna Moses, who can be reached at (209) 957-8448.