August 2nd, 2026
In our summer series, God’s Abundant Gifts, we have been practicing paying attention to the abundance that God provides for us and the whole of creation. We have studied scripture and by reflecting on the wisdom in the book “The Serviceberry” by Robin Wall Kimmerer, to explore how abundance is shared in creation and the ways in which we are invited to participate in sharing and gifting which helps all to flourish.
On the weeks when there is not a group gathering, we share a resource here on the website, featuring different organizations which are participating in God’s gift economy.
This week we are highlighting something from our own backyard, or more accurately, around the street corner – Little Free Libraries.
Little Free Libraries have taken off in the last decade. In some neighbourhoods, you can find one every few blocks: a small, often brightly coloured, bookshelf, with the instructions to “take a book – leave a book.” This grassroots initiative became increasingly popular during the pandemic, when libraries were shut down, and the demand for reading materials went up.
In The Serviceberry, Robin Wall Kimmerer repeatedly holds up Little Free Libraries as an example of the gift economy. It is a low-stakes, easy way to share our abundance, and practice participating in the gift economy. By adding a book to the shelf we are offering a gift into the community, with no obligation or set price. For Wall Kimmerer, Little Free Libraries are a gift at all levels, from the library box offering its beauty to passerbys, to those filling the shelf, and those experiencing the joy of reading.
Next week at our Not-So-Small Church gathering, we will be looking in Leviticus to help us explore Sharing God’s Abundant Gifts. In Leviticus, particularly in chapter 19, there are instructions from God for how Israel is to redistribute and share abundance among the community.
Leviticus 19:9-10 says: “When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. You shall not strip your vineyard bare or gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the poor and the alien: I am the Lord your God.”
Now, here on the North Shore, we might not have fields where we can leave the margins for others to glean, and we might not have vineyards to leave grapes behind for others, however, there are many ways in which we can participate in sharing God’s abundant gifts, and using a Little Free Library is one of those ways.
Since the pandemic, Little Free Libraries have expanded beyond offering books. Little free boxes now are places for people to share food, art supplies, or gardening seeds. There are even a few which offer sticks for dogs to pick up on their walks.
You might remember back in the spring, in our newsletter we shared an article from the Vancouver Sun about Brendan Olson (son of Capper’s Rob and Tamara) who has started a free little pantry. Located on the corner of Cortell and 22nd Street, this little shelf offers books and food. In the beginning, Brendan initially stocked it with pantry staples, but it is now resupplied by community members. The gift economy is what keeps this little pantry going.
For the coming week, you are invited to participate in sharing God’s abundant gifts by finding a Little Free Library and sharing a book or two. Or perhaps sharing seeds, art supplies, or food. You can use this map to find the different “Free Littles” across the North Shore.
North Vancouver Little Free Libraries Map
To learn more about little libraries in our community, check out the North Shore Little Libraries Instagram.
