By JEANNE SHANIN
Contributing Writer
Pages of Life Bookstore, located at the United Methodist Church of Sun City Center, is the only Christian bookstore and gift shop between Brandon and Bradenton, yet it remains one of Sun City Center’s best-kept secrets, filled with an array of religious and gift items.
Started in 2007 by Linda Graham and a group of church members, Pages of Life began as a small, one-room shop that carried cards, Bibles and Sunday school materials. The following year it expanded to include a book and jewelry section. Soon it overflowed into two former Sunday school classrooms. It’s a one-stop shop that carries a wide selection of Christian and Jewish Bibles, carefully selected children’s books, women’s scarves and jewelry, military ties, golf towels, socks, and wallets for the men, and much more. Special orders may be placed and usually arrive within a week.
“The majority of our customers live in town, but most locals don’t even know we’re here,” says Doris Graham, volunteer manager. The Bookstore is located through a separate entrance on the W. Del Webb Boulevard side of the United Methodist Church.
The store is run by a crew of 15 volunteers who do everything from ordering merchandise and creating the signs to bookkeeping and filing. All of them love the personal connection that is made with the patrons. Welcoming and enthusiastic, the volunteers eagerly help guide them to just the right book, Bible, resource or gift, paying careful attention to their customers’ needs. They love making a difference in customers’ lives, even if it is just to cheer someone up.
One day a man wandered into the bookstore to browse. A volunteer approached him and asked how he was doing. “Could be better,” he said. After some deeper probing, the volunteer found out that his wife had just been diagnosed with a life-threatening illness. She was able to comfort him in addition to finding him the perfect gift for her.
“It’s the most wonderful place to shop,” says Judy Greene of Sun City Center. She was there to look for a few gifts. “It’s a convenient happy place, and the prices are wonderful,” she added. “It’s a phenomenal place, a blessing to the community of Sun City Center as well as the church. People come in just to chat. You always feel welcome here.” Greene says she does much of her holiday shopping there.
Customers not only get a personalized shopping experience, their purchases also benefit the community. In addition to tithing to the church, the Bookstore donates quarterly to the Sun City Center Emergency Squad and Security Patrol, the Salvation Army, Metropolitan Ministries, the Samaritan Mission in Balm, as well as the church’s mission team.
Call Pages of Life Bookstore, at 813-633-8595.
If you go …
Pages of Life Bookstore is located at the United Methodist Church of Sun City Center, 1210 W. Del Webb Blvd. Coming from S.R. 674/Sun City Center Blvd., take the second driveway on the left; the bookstore is straight ahead. Hours are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.