In this episode, Rachel leads Sarah, Erin, and Bri in a recap discussion of the Lutheran Ladies’ Book Club Anniversary Read selection, I Don’t Want to Have the Prayer: A Messy Pastor’s Kid Does Her Memory Work.

The show opens with a special guest appearance by author Karen Kuhlmann Averitt, who answers reader questions about the book submitted via Facebook, then continues with a conversation covering key questions raised by the book.

How do the expectations placed on pastors’ families sometimes make their lives harder and more complicated than they need to be? How does God use the tough, lonely seasons in life to shape His children (including PKs) into compassionate, mature Christians? Just what is it about the Lutheran faith that keeps people coming back, even after a time of wandering?

At the end of the episode, Rachel announces plans for the next book club pick — a “Ladies’ Choice” selection to be chosen from among the following titles:

• The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin (submitted by Bri)
• The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver (submitted by Erin)
• Dangerous Alliance: An Austentacious Romance by Jennieke Cohen (submitted by Sarah)
• The Bird in the Tree by Elizabeth Goudge (submitted by Rachel)

Click to learn more about Karen Kuhlmann Averitt’s I Don’t Want to Have the Prayer or to browse a complete list of books by Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge authors.

Cast your vote for our next book club read in The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and follow Sarah (@mrsbaseballpants), Rachel (@rachbomberger), Erin (@erin.alter), and Bri (@grrrzevske) on Instagram.