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Pop some popcorn and invite your friends.

Make a New Year’s Resolution to enjoy Faith & Film

COVER STORY—For a decade, Read The Spirit magazine has appeared every Monday with a popular Faith & Film section closing out our weekly issues. We’ve heard from readers around the world who enjoy Film Critic Edward McNulty’s thought-provoking reviews along with the connections he draws to religious wisdom. This week’s Cover Story looks at the monthly Visual Parables Journal that we co-publish with McNulty for the enjoyment of men and women who want to explore the many faith connections in popular films. The upcoming Holiday Season is a terrific time to subscribe to that Journal and make plans to enjoy some movies and conversation with friends.

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Thank a Caregiver with a gift of inspiration

Help families honor National Family Caregivers Month

MOST AMERICANS either have been caregivers—or know a caregiver currently currently serving as an unpaid lifeline for a loved one. That’s why Americans mark November, each year, as National Family Caregivers Month. Please, read our story, which includes information about this observance and suggestions of some great books that would make perfect gifts for those who serve.

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And also a milestone this week—remember Veteran’s Day

STEPHANIE FENTON writes about Veteran’s Day, this week, including ideas for reaching out to veterans among family, friends, neighbors and co-workers.

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WANT TO SEE ALL OF THE UPCOMING HOLIDAYS & FESTIVALS?—It’s easy to find our annual calendar of global observances. Just remember the web address: InterfaithHolidays.com

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From Suzy Farbman

A True Tale of Two Sisters—Whose Lives and Wisdom Intertwined

IN HER GOD SIGNS COLUMN, this week, Suzy Farbman introduces us to remarkable sisters: Shanda Sullivan and Penny James. While neither may be household names, Penny James’ image was all over magazines and advertisements in the ’60s and ’70s—until various challenges forced her to step away from the Jet Set. Although she began collecting her hard-earned wisdom in a memoir, Penny died before she finished. Now, Shanda has completed that inspiring project.

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Yes, we’re publishers—but we “do” video, too!

Howard Brown is on the air around the world

IN OUR FRONT EDGE PUBLISHING COLUMN, this week, we’re featuring the latest video by Howard Brown, author of Shining Brightly. Howard’s long career as a Silicon Valley entrepreneur and public speaker means he’s a veteran at inspiring crowds, so he has been keeping up a blistering pace of appearances on podcasts and videos.

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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.

Here are some of Ed’s most recent free reviews and columns:

• TICKET TO PARADISE—Ed writes: “The main reason for seeing it is to watch two pros, Julia Roberts and George Clooney, go through their paces in a story about as believable as anything from the Brothers Grimm.”
• THE SCHOOL FOR GOOD AND EVIL—(Streaming on Netflix) “Director Paul Feig’s long film is based on a young adult fantasy partially set in an 18th century village called Gavaldon.“
• THE PIANO LESSON—(Streaming on Amazon) “August Wilson’s wonderful play is currently in a Broadway revival, but there also is the excellent Hallmark TV version broadcast in 1995.”
• STARS AT NOON—(Streaming on Hulu and Amazon) “Director Claire Denis’ murky film, set in Nicaragua early in the Covid pandemic, might remind one of a Graham Greene novel.”
• THE STORIED LIFE OF AJ FIKRY—“Based on a New York Times best seller, the book’s author Gabrielle Zevin also wrote the screenplay.”
• TÁR—Director Todd Field’s latest film, acclaimed by many as “a masterpiece,” filled with a vast knowledge of classical music and those who compose and conduct it!
• BROS—(Streaming on Amazon) “Bros is the first gay romantic comedy from a major studio featuring an entirely LGBTQ principal cast to be released widely.”
• TILL—”The story of Emmett Till and his mother Mamie Till Bradley is still urgent because the hate-filled racism that poisoned his murderers is undergoing a resurgence in our nation today.”
• THEN, AS BACKGROUND—Ed also recommends that movie goers watch this 2003 documentary about his murder, which is streaming now on PBS.
• FANNIE LOU HAMER’S AMERICA—(Streaming on Amazon) “There have been numerous films on Fannie Lou Hamer, but what makes director Joy Elaine Davenport’s film different is that a major part of it is the civil rights icon telling her own story.”
• CATHERINE CALLED BIRDIE—(Streaming on Amazon) “Director-writer-producer Lena Dunham  adroitly captures the spirit of the Newberry-winning children’s novel by Karen Cushman.”

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