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Tears of Things – Richard Rohr (starting July 8 at 7 p.m.)

Open Book: Kin-dom Conversations
Book Club Returns to Oak Lawn UMC

Pull up a chair and join the conversation! Open Book: Kin-dom Conversations is a welcoming book club where we explore faith, justice, spirituality, and the world around us through thoughtful reading and honest discussion. Whether you’re a lifelong reader or just looking for meaningful conversation, there’s a place for you.

We’ll kick off our first gathering with The Tears of Things by Richard Rohr, a powerful invitation to discover hope, compassion, and transformation through life’s wounds and the wisdom of contemplative faith.

đź“– First Book: The Tears of Things by Richard Rohr
đź“… Begins: Wednesday, July 8
đź•– Time: 7:00 p.m.

Come with your questions, your curiosity, and an open heart. Together, we’ll read deeply, listen well, and imagine what God’s kin-dom looks like in our lives and our world.

Register Here

Reading Plan – Tears of Things:

  • July 8 – Introduction + Chapter 1: The Tears of Things
  • July 15 – Chapter 2: Amos: Messenger to the Collective
  • July 22 – Chapter 3: A Critical Mass: The Secret of the Remnant
  • July 29 – Chapter 4: Welcoming Holy Disorder
  • August 5 – Chapter 5: Jeremiah: The Patterns That Carry Us Across
  • August 12 – Chapter 6: Unfinished Prophets: Elijah, Jonah, and John the Baptizer
  • August 19 – Chapter 7: The Alchemy of Tears
  • August 26 – Chapter 8: The Three Isaiahs
  • September 2 – Chapter 9: Ezekiel: Redemption and the Grace of God
  • September 9 – Chapter 10: It All Comes Down to Love
  • September 16 Reflection, favorite passages, discussion of the book’s themes, and preview of the next Open Book: Kin-dom Conversations selection.

Reading as a Spiritual Practice

Books have the power to open hearts, expand minds, and draw us closer to one another. Open Book: Kin-dom Conversations is more than a book club—it’s a community of curious readers committed to listening well, asking good questions, and growing together.

Throughout the year, we’ll read authors from a wide range of cultures, identities, and lived experiences—including BIPOC, LGBTQ+, immigrant, and global voices. Some books will challenge us, some will comfort us, and many will do both. Together, we’ll explore stories and ideas that help us discover hope where it’s needed most, remain grounded in God’s love during noisy and uncertain times, and imagine what it means to build God’s kin-dom together.

Our conversations aren’t about having all the right answers. They’re about making room for one another, listening with compassion, and allowing God to shape us through Scripture, story, and honest dialogue.

As a community that seeks to amplify God’s love through radical hospitality, serving our neighbors, and standing up for justice, we believe reading can be a spiritual practice—one that helps us see the world through another’s eyes and hear the Spirit speaking in unexpected places.

Check out the other books we have planned!

Resist: How a Century of Young Black Activists Shaped America — Rita Omokha

What does courageous hope look like across generations? Journalist Rita Omokha introduces us to young Black activists whose faith, resilience, and determination have helped shape America’s ongoing pursuit of justice. Together, we’ll explore how ordinary people can create extraordinary change—and what faithful resistance looks like in our own time.Here’s a preview of what your website’s text will look like by default. You can also adjust the typography of most elements separately. Note that the Font Size setting affects all the sizes defined in “rem” units, that is, almost all areas of your site.

When We See You Again — Rachel Goldberg-Polin & Jon Polin

Written in the wake of unimaginable loss, this deeply moving memoir invites readers into a story of love, grief, resilience, and hope. As we journey alongside Rachel and Jon, we’ll reflect on how compassion, community, and faith can sustain us through life’s most difficult moments while reminding us of our shared humanity.

A Black Queer History of the United States — C. Riley Snorton

History is richer when more voices are heard. C. Riley Snorton uncovers the often-overlooked stories of Black LGBTQ+ people whose lives have shaped American history and culture. Together, we’ll discover how listening to diverse stories deepens our understanding of justice, belonging, and the beautiful diversity of God’s beloved community.

We amplify God’s love through radical hospitality, serving our neighbors and standing up for justice.

3014 Oak Lawn Avenue | Dallas, Texas 75219 | 214-521-5197

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