Cover Stories: Carrie Newcomer, peacemakers, holidays, films and more

CARRIE NEWCOMER SINGS A NEW TUNE

COVER STORY You’ll be singing these songs, too, when you discover the brilliant breadth of this new album in our featured interview this week with Hoosier-Quaker singer songwriter Carrie Newcomer.
INTERFAITH PEACEMAKERS Carrie also is front and center in this week’s new trio of profiles (with videos!!) in Interfaith Peacemakers. Along with an unforgettable video from Carrie, we’re also featuring two one-named musical peacemakers: Sting and Matisyahu.
THE ORGAN RECITAL How often are you caught in an “Organ Recital”? In WeAreCAregivers, Benjamin Pratt suggests a new tune—and salutes Carrie Newcomer as well.

CELEBRATING CIVIL RIGHTS This week marks the post-Civil War celebration of Juneteenth and don’t miss a superb PBS documentary on the 1964 “Freedom Summer.“
THE COURAGEOUS GRIMKES Debra Darvick recommends the new Sue Monk Kidd novel about the courageous abolitionist sisters.
HUNGER IN AMERICA Jane Wells reminds us that hunger doesn’t take a summer vacation—and she points readers to a fascinating interactive map.
OUR VALUES New nationwide research by Pew shows that Americans are more deeply polarized than ever—at least in terms of political parties.
- PART 1: Are you a threat to the nation’s wellbeing?
- PART 2: Do you prefer more room—or a walkable community?
- PART 3: Should Republicans and Democrats intermarry?
- PART 4: Where are you headed? San Mateo or Fort Worth?
- PART 5: Does anyone still value compromise?

VISUAL PARABLES Faith-and-film writer Edward McNulty is urging viewers to go see the 5-star movie, Ida, which takes viewers on a haunting journey into Communist Poland—and ghosts from the Holocaust.
MORE MOVIES …
- HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON 2 Ed McNulty gives this family film 4 stars!
- COLD IN JULY This 3-star film noir is thought-provoking but way too violent, Ed says.
MORE HOLIDAYS …
- THE CALENDAR Our master list is at www.InterfaithHolidays.com
- JUNETEENTH As noted above, this is a memorable summer to recall American civil rights.
- NEW CHURCH DAY Celebrate Emmanuel Swedenborg.
- CORPUS CHRISTI Parades hit the streets in many traditional Catholic communities.
- SOLSTICE People have celebrated the sun for thousands of years.
FEED THE SPIRIT Got a summer picnic coming? Need a recipe for July 4? Check out this classic “hotdish” that’s a slice right out of Prairie Home Companion.
SUZY FARBMAN Whether you call them heirlooms—or “prayerlooms”—small objects carry a heartfelt legacy.