Welcome to the 2026 Digging Deeper Book Discussion
Where Faith Is Found and Explored Together
Welcome to a brand new year of reading, reflection, and community conversation. As we begin our journey through the Where Faith Is Found devotional, we are also stepping into a year of storytelling, questions, and shared discovery through the Digging Deeper Book Discussion.
Each month in 2026, we will read one book that connects to the devotional theme of that month. Some books are spiritual classics, some are contemporary reflections, some are novels filled with beauty and truth, and others invite us to look more closely at creation, culture, and community. Together, they form a rich tapestry that will guide our conversations throughout the year.
Whether you read every page, skim when you can, or simply join to listen, you are welcome here. This group is designed for busy people, curious people, deep thinkers, hesitant readers, and everyone in between.
What We Are Reading and When We Are Meeting
Here is our 2026 lineup, with the Zoom discussion date listed for each book.
January 27
Upstream: Selected Essays by Mary Oliver
Poet Mary Oliver invites us into the beauty of paying attention, following creativity upstream, and rediscovering awe.
February 24
The Seven Storey Mountain by Thomas Merton
A timeless spiritual memoir of transformation, surrender, and a deepening call toward God.
March 24
For the Time Being by Annie Dillard
A stunning exploration of existence, suffering, and meaning told through vivid images and profound questions.
April 28
Refugia Faith: Seeking Hidden Shelters, Ordinary Wonders and the Healing of the Earth by Debra Rienstra
Using the ecological idea of “refugia” small places where life survives and begins again in times of crisis Debra Rienstra explores how Christians can become people who protect and nurture these shelters of hope.
May 26
A Pilgrimage to Eternity: From Canterbury to Rome in Search of a Faith by Timothy Egan
A modern journey along the ancient road from Canterbury to Rome, full of history, doubt, and hope.
June 26
Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer
Robin Wall Kimmerer blends scientific insight and Indigenous wisdom, inviting us to see the earth as gift and teacher, and to imagine a way of life shaped by gratitude and mutual care.
July 28
Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl
A powerful reflection on suffering, purpose, and the human will to find meaning even in the hardest circumstances.
August 25
Playground by Richard Powers
Set in the world’s oceans, this novel explores technology, humanity, and the more than human world with wonder and depth.
September 22
Deacon King Kong by James McBride
A lively, funny, and moving novel about community, change, and the ties that hold people together in a Brooklyn housing project.
October 27
Jayber Crow by Wendell Berry
A gentle, profound story of vocation, belonging, and life in a small rural community seen through the eyes of a town barber.
November 24
Scripture, Culture and Agriculture: An Agrarian Reading of the Bible by Ellen F. Davis
A fresh reading of biblical texts through the lens of land, food, justice, and faithful stewardship.
December 22
The Brothers K by David James Duncan
A sweeping novel about family, faith, baseball, war, and the complicated grace that binds us together.
When We Meet
Our book discussions take place once a month on Zoom, from 6:00 to 6:50 PM.
Use the same link each month:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83145004506
Each meeting includes
• Group reflections on the book
• Connections to the month’s prayer calendar
• A brief preview of next month’s reading
You are welcome to join, whether you have finished the book or are simply curious about the conversation.
Let Us Begin the Journey
Thank you for being part of this community. May this year’s reading open new doors, spark meaningful questions, and help us notice the places where God’s presence meets us in creation, in story, in doubt, in joy, and in each other.
Here is to a year of digging deeper, together.