Spring Brunch For Ladies With Carol Barnier, Saturday

SHERMAN — The annual Sherman Congregational Church Spring Ladies’ Brunch will take place Saturday, March 31, at 10 am, at the church, 6 Church Road.

There is no charge, but freewill donations will be gratefully accepted from those who are able to make a donation. Child care will be provided.

Carol Barnier of New Fairfield, a national conference speaker and author, will speak on “Aren’t You Just Precious... and Other Veiled Insults.” Copies of her books will also be available to purchase.

Ms Barnier’s speaking engagements often include Christian humor, leadership for women, teaching and/or possessing the highly distractible mind (owning one herself she prefers to call this condition “gloriously unregimented”), advice and inspiration for parents of prodigals, and Christian thought — for which she makes every attempt to be inspiring but occasionally simply borders on provoking

She has been a guest commentator on Focus on the Family’s Weekend Magazine radio program more than 30 times (so far… and counting) where she has spoken on a variety of humorous topics ranging from not being ready to be a Titus woman (“Titus,” as she reminds her audiences, rhymes with phlebitis and thus should be approached with caution) to why angels need a new public relations manager (after she heard a little girl in Christmas play loudly proclaim that boys can’t be cast as angels).

She has either written for or been written about in many magazines, including Proverbs 31, Clubhouse Magazine, Parents Magazine, The Old Schoolhouse, Crosswalk, Thriving Family, Just Between Us, ADDitude Magazine, and HomeLife.

Her latest book deals with the serious topic of her journey away from God and into 13 long years as an atheist. In this book, Engaging Today’s Prodigal: Clear Thinking, New Approaches, Reasons for Hope, the reader is given intimate access inside the mind and thoughts of a prodigal who left the faith of her pastor father, became an active atheist, and eventually discovered truth in a relationship with Jesus. It also shares many strategies and suggestions based on her experience that give parents proactive things they can do to better connect with their own prodigal.

She is also a blogger. Examples of her writing, and much more information, is available online at www.opengifts.org.

Reservations for Saturday’s program are appreciated. Call the church office at 860-354-6114 or e-mail to TheShermanChurch@aol.com. For more details, call 860-354-7557.