‘Isn’t there anyone who knows?’

Fifty-five years ago, during a problem-plagued Christmas pageant, Charlie Brown shouted in exasperation: “Isn’t there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?” Today, A Charlie Brown Christmas is recognized as an innovative masterpiece. That’s despite the fact that, today, America is more secular than ever. An ever-growing number of Americans—it’s now about 1 in 4 of us—say they have no religious affiliation.

So, where do we find meaning in this global celebration of Christmas? Our Cover Story this week was written by author, journalist and contributing columnist Martin Davis, who specializes in reporting stories about the millions of spiritual-but-not-religious people. In this Cover Story, he introduces us to a group of friends who revive Luke’s classic story each December because of the deep truths anyone can find in this ancient story. Please, enjoy this story and share it with friends.

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What’s Christmas all about?
Stephanie Fenton knows, too.

HOLIDAYS & FESTIVALS EXPERT STEPHANIE FENTON has the story about Christmas 2020, including drive-up Christmas services and a heart-felt echo of a Judy Garland classic. There’s a lot of news—and some helpful links here—so please share this with friends.

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And, finally: ‘A Christmas Carol’ with Abe Lincoln

LINCOLN SCHOLAR DUNCAN NEWCOMER wraps up a year of columns on the spirituality of Abraham Lincoln with a fanciful flight into Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. The lives of these two men, Lincoln and Dickens, overlapped and, even though they never met, there was a deep connection between their visions of the world’s most needy—and the call to redemptive justice. Please, enjoy this column and you’ll also find an audio link, this week, to listen to a radio version of this column, if you prefer.

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More Holidays & Festivals

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Yule, Solstice

MONDAY, DECEMBER 21—Since ancient times, the solstices have been marked as auspicious turning points in the calendar. For our Northern readers, this is the winter solstice! Often termed Yuletide or Yulefest, the days surrounding winter solstice have long been marked with cold-weather festivals and warm feasts. Stephanie Fenton has the story—including links to great recipes and other festive ideas.

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Kwanzaa

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 26—Gather in the name of unity and learn the seven principles of Kwanzaa. Each year, Kwanzaa founder Dr. Maulana Karenga publishes an annual message. Now in his late 70s, these messages are heart-felt appeals to rediscovering and reclaiming African values that can contribute to the wellbeing of the whole world. Stephanie Fenton’s column quotes last year’s message—and has the link where you can find Karenga’s 2020 message, when it is published.

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Books Make Great Holiday Gifts

More of Us Are Reading Right Now

IN OUR FRONT EDGE PUBLISHING COLUMN, Susan Stitt explains why 2020 has been very busy despite the pandemic. Our books are our way of making the world a little better place. Susan Stitt looks at this year’s colorful array of books—which make perfect holiday gifts.

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Care to see all of our Holidays & Festivals columns? It’s easy to find our annual calendar of global observances. Just remember the address InterfaithHolidays.com

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FAITH & FILM 

ED McNULTY, for decades, has published reviews, magazine articles and books exploring connections between faith and film. Most of his work is freely published. Ed supports his work by selling the Visual Parables Journal, a monthly magazine packed with discussion guides to films. This resource is used coast-to-coast by individuals who love the movies and by educators, clergy and small-group leaders.

Among Ed’s free reviews and columns:

1. THE LAST CHAMPION—Ed writes, “The Last Champion is truly a family film at both ends, from inception to viewing. Families will enjoy its coming of age aspect, sports thrills, and redemptive arc.“
2. NEWS OF THE WORLD—Ed writes, “Like Unforgiven, Paul Greengrass’ News of the World is an unconventional Western. Oh, there is are sections of violent gun play, but these are secondary to other themes, such as human relationships, the need for belonging, and the importance of “news” for connection to a world larger than our own narrow existence. Adapted by director and Luke Davies from the 2016 novel by Paulette Jiles, the film provides Tom Hanks with a great opportunity to display his acting ability, an opportunity of which he takes full advantage! It also introduces many of us to a delightful young German actress Helena Zengel.”
3. BEYOND THE WALL—“Directed by the late Jenny Phillips and telecast in 2018, this documentary was part of the PBS series America Reframed. This series of well over 100 independent films for several years invited us each week to look at many overlooked aspects of our nation. This episode from the series reveals many of the difficulties that confront newly released prisoners, especially those (a majority) wresting with drug addiction.”
4. THE MAN WITHOUT GRAVITY—”The Man Without Gravity is an Italian magical-realist tale from first-time narrative filmmaker Marco Bonfanti. In the film, he whimsically tells the story of Oscar (Elio Germano) from his incredible birth, through childhood, and ultimate reunion with his childhood sweetheart Agata. This delightful escapist film about an outsider has plenty of flaws but none that ought to spoil your enjoyment.”
5. THE CROODS: A NEW AGE—”Director Joel Crawford’s film, the second in the series about a Stone Age family, is an amusing tale of culture clash and the need for solidarity. Just as I loved the first film almost seven years ago, The Croods, I recommend this one too. It provides both escapist fare for the whole family and, like the first film, teaches some worthy life lessons.”
6. HILLBILLY ELEGY—“The film is flawed but not as badly as the critics would have us believe. If for no other reason, you should tune in to Netflix because of the Oscar talk that is already building up around Glenn Close’s portrayal of Vance’s stern but warm-hearted grandmother, whom everyone calls Mamaw.”
7. THE BREAD WINNER—”Irish director Nora Twomey, who co-directed the exquisitely beautiful The Secret of Kells, launches out on her own with the gorgeously animated film set in Kabul in 2001 on the cusp of America’s invasion in retaliation for the attack on the Twin Towers. With its theme of the Taliban’s oppression of women, the film will remind some of another similarly themed film, though set in Iran, Persepolis.”
8. FISHING WITH DYNAMITE—Ed writes, “In this documentary, director Paul Wagner clarifies for those of us who are economic dummies the murky subject of capitalism. His film explores the contentious history of American corporate culture. It explores the arguments of two influential theories—stakeholder vs shareholder capitalism. And it does so in an amusing and entertaining way.”
9. THE 12th MAN—Norway, 1943: After a failed anti-Nazi sabotage mission leaves his eleven comrades dead, Norwegian resistance fighter Jan Baalsrud (Thomas Gullestad) finds himself on the run from the Gestapo through the snowbound Arctic reaches of Scandinavia.
10. THE LIFE AHEAD—”Even were it only half as good, this remake of the Romain Gary novel that became the Oscar-winning 1977 French drama, Madame Rosa, would be noteworthy because of its star and director: Sophie Loren and her son Edoardo Ponti.”
11. FUNAN—Cambodia, April 1975. Chou is a young woman whose everyday world is suddenly upended by the arrival of the Khmer Rouge regime. During the chaos of the forced exile from their home, Chou and her husband are separated from their 4-year-old son, who has been sent to an unknown location.

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