Contacts:   Charlotte Poole, 269-424-3221,  cpoole@sisterlakescable.com
                      or Terri Moore, 269-782-6925, t2sewmoore@outlook.com

Sacred Heart of Mary Catholic Church
2021 Book/Movie Discussion Group
Second Wednesday of the Month
April thru October
2021  Schedule

April 14, 2021 – News of the World by Paulette Jiles – Movie staring Tom Hanks based on 2016 novel. The story follows a Civil War veteran who must return a young girl to her last remaining family.
May 12, 2021 – Honoring Our Foremothers, a panel discussion of books such as Hello Girls and Women Who Smashed Codes that cover overlooked contributions of women before, during, and even after Women’s Suffrage.
June 9, 2021 – The Real Beatrix Potter by Nadia Cohen A fascinating insight into one of the world’s best known and loved children’s author.
July 14, 2021 – Harvest of Plenty by Norris Arent A look at a local farmer’s family from immigrant great grand parents though his final years.
August 11, 2021 – Too Much for Human Endurance by Ron Kirkwood Local author writes about the George Spangler Farm Hospitals at the Battle of Gettysburg.
September 8, 2021 – Cass County Michigan in the Civil War and the Grand Army of the Republic by Keith Harrison Local author who had 22 members of his Cass County family participate during the war.
October 13, 2021 – To Be Determined
For more information:
Charlotte Poole 269-424-3221 cpoole@sisterlakescable.com
OR Terri Moore 269-782-6925 t2sewmoore@outlook.com
 

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Book/Movie Discussion Group

Wednesday, July 14, 2021

6:30 pm in the Parish Hall

 

“Harvest of Plenty” by Norris Arent

This book explores a local fruit farmer’s family from immigrant great grand parents to his current family.  Many immigrant families came from Europe and settled in various parts of the USA.  Southwest Michigan was blessed with many immigrants who settled the land and became successful farmers.  One such family was the Arent Family who became fruit famers in Northeast Berrien County, just northwest of the Sister Lakes area.  Norris Arent, with the help of family members and the North Berrien County Museum, decided in his senor years to write a history of his family and share their experiences over the years.  Norris unfortunately passed away in February 2021, but his family has sent a representative, Bev Mathos, Norris’s daughter, to help present his new book to our discussion group.

When Norris’ father died, he and his mother and seven siblings took over the farm. The Arent siblings faced greater hardships when their mother died. Norris became the guardian of his younger siblings and they were still able to keep the farm. Norris married Margaret Miller, and the couple continued work on the family homestead and raised three children. Throughout his life, his motto has been, “Always look forward and do the best with whatever life brings you.” This philosophy has allowed him to adapt to changes and persevere through challenging times. He has always put family first, and his life is an inspiring testament to all who know him.

The book discussion will be governed by meeting rules for non-religious small gatherings on Church property.  No food will be served, masks and social distancing are optional.

 For more information:

Charlotte Poole 269-424-3221 cpoole@sisterlakescable.com

OR Terri Moore 269-782-6925 t2sewmoore@outlook.com

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Sacred Heart of Mary Catholic Church
Book/Movie Discussion Group
Wednesday, June 9, 2021
6:30 pm in the Parish Hall
adia Cohen
“The Real Beatrix Potter” is a fascinating and revealing biography of one of the world's most cherished children's authors. Beatrix Potter's famous little white books have enchanted generations of young readers who adored the characters she created and of course her own distinctive illustrations. Born into a typically repressed Victorian family it was assumed that Beatrix would achieve little more than finding herself a rich husband, and so there was no point in bothering to educate her. But the Potters underestimated their daughter. Stifled by the lack of stimulation, she educated herself in art, science, and of course a great love of the natural world. The success of Peter Rabbit proved her to be a creative genius who could have become the toast of the London literary scene, but when her fiancé tragically died Beatrix retreated to the Lake District where she reinvented herself as a successful farmer, a canny businesswoman and an early environmental pioneer. Passionately campaigning to save the area from development she helped establish the National Trust, and despite her great wealth Beatrix lived out her days in humble anonymity.
Participants are encouraged to bring examples of Miss Potter’s books including stories of when they first read the stories.  Other Potter artifacts such as toys, videos, and art images are also encouraged.  
The book discussion will be governed by meeting rules for non-religious small gatherings on Church property.  No food will be served, masks and social distancing will be required.
 For more information:
Charlotte Poole 269-424-3221 cpoole@sisterlakescable.com
OR Terri Moore 269-782-6925 t2sewmoore@outlook.com

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Sacred Heart of Mary Catholic Church
Book/Movie Discussion Group
Wednesday, May 12, 2021
6:30 pm in the Parish Hall
 
Honoring Our Foremothers
This general discussion will focusing on recent books that celebrate the 100th anniversary of Women’s right to vote and the struggles they overcame to be treated equality.  In our 2020 book discussion list we selected the book “Hello Girls: America’s First Women Soldiers” by Elizabeth Cobbs.  The book documents the contributions made by female telephone operators who were recruited and trained by the US military to support the allied efforts during World War I in France and their efforts to be recognized for their efforts by the US Government after the war.  This year (2021) we have selected the “Women Who Smashed Codes” by Jason Fagone. The book documents the life of a research couple who were instrumental in keeping the US government up to speed solving secret messages being used in illegal trade activities and later were used to solve secret messages from both the German and Japanese governments during World War II.  Much of the story has been keep secret over the years because of national security reasons.  The husband and wife team each worked in unique branches of the US Government often not sharing with each other their code breaking work, while at the same time shared their findings across the US government including the FBI and British code breaking groups.  Discussion participants are encouraged to share other similar books/films on the topic of women’s suffrage.
June 9, 2021 – “The Real Beatrix Potter” by Nadia Cohen - A fascinating insight into one of the world’s best known and loved children’s author.
The book discussion will be governed by meeting rules for non-religious small gatherings on Church property.  No food will be served, masks and social distancing will be required.
 For more information:
Charlotte Poole 269-424-3221 cpoole@sisterlakescable.com
OR Terri Moore 269-782-6925 t2sewmoore@outlook.com


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Sacred Heart of Mary Catholic Church
Book/Movie Discussion Group
Wednesday, April 14, 2021
6:30 pm in the Parish Hall

NEWS OF THE WORLD
By Paulette Jiles

News of the World is a 2016 American Western novel by Paulette Jiles. The story follows a Civil War veteran who must return a young girl who was taken in by Native Americans to her last remaining family.
Civil War veteran Jefferson Kidd, played by Tom Hanks, drifts through Northern Texas performing live readings from newspapers to paying audiences. He agrees to deliver a young orphan to her family and begins a 400 mile odyssey through unsettled territory and unforgiving terrain wary of thieves, Comanche, Kiowa, and the federal army,
According to the Wall Street Journal, “What stands out amid the gun smoke and period detail is the moving friendship between a girl with no place to fit in and an old man who has outlived his usefulness.”  Booklist comments on Jiles’s lyrical style and minimal punctuation which “allow the reader to become immersed in the dusty Texan landscape, witnessing the anguish, fear compassion, and joy in the unlikely pair’s journey.”
Our discussion will cover both book and film, comparing present day news availability with that of the past era. We will also review the author’s techniques for presenting cultural aspects that resonate today.
Church Meeting Rules
The discussion will be governed by meeting rules for non-religious small group gatherings on Church property.  No food will be served, mask wearing and social distancing will be required.  Attendance will be limited to 25 unless the group decides to use the outdoor Church Pavilion.  Attendance will be on a first come, first serve basis.  RSVP replies are encouraged.

 For more information:
Charlotte Poole 269-424-3221 cpoole@sisterlakescable.com
OR Terri Moore 269-782-6925 t2sewmoore@outlook.com
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Safety Plan for Pandemic
Sacred Heart of Mary Catholic Church
2021 Book/Movie Discussion Group
has been approved by our pastor and is on file at the parish office and available upon request.

 

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