Illustration generated by AI via DALL-E 2

Public Health Research Shows the Value of Congregations in our Health and Wellbeing

AN URGENT QUESTION IN CONGREGATIONS OF ALL FAITHS: “After more than two years of pandemic, how can we encourage people to join our congregation?” That single question pops up in nearly every conversation with religious leaders. And, as it turns out, there’s one terrific reason to join a congregation: It’s good for you! Becoming part of a congregation is a proven predictor of health and wellbeing across our communities around the world. In this Cover Story, we are sharing with all of you an entire chapter from our book, Now What? about the public health research into the benefits of being part of a congregation. You also can feel free to share this with others. It’s good news!

And Speaking of Health and Wellbeing—

Are you waiting for your copy of ‘Healing the World’? Meanwhile, you can see the movies.

LAST WEEK, we published the announcement of an upcoming biography of public health pioneer and peacemaker Dr. Gustavo Parajón, complete with glowing endorsements from former President Jimmy Carter and Sojourners founder Jim Wallis.

THIS WEEK, we have two short movies about the book—and about Parajón’s dramatic life. They’re both easy to share with friends if you are thinking about organizing a small-group discussion about the upcoming book.

Even More Healthy Inspiration—

Howard Brown’s ‘Shining Brightly’ is celebrated by the doctors who saved his life.

A SIMPLE CHECKUP JUST MIGHT SAVE YOUR LIFE, TOO—Author Howard Brown and our entire publishing house team thank Beaumont Hospital for heroically saving Howard’s life in his second battle with aggressive stage IV cancer. The hospital staff graciously organized a “media day” to share Howard’s story with others—encouraging anyone who hears, sees or reads Howard’s story to schedule regular checkups and appropriate early screenings. It was just such a regular visit to see his doctor that ultimately saved Howard’s life. Here’s the story that thousands of people are sharing with friends and loved ones to encourage that simple step: “Have you had a checkup lately?” Please, share this with others via social media and email.

Holidays & Festivals

Diwali—

Will you be displaying lights?

ON MONDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2022—Holidays columnist Stephanie Fenton reports on the biggest Indian festival of the year, which is celebrated by more than 1 billion people around the world.

Baha’is celebrate ‘Twin Holy Days’

THEN ON TUESDAY and WEDNESDAY this week are the “Twin Holy Birthdays,” as adherents of the Baha’i faith rejoice in the birth anniversaries of the two figures most central to their faith: Baha’u’llah and the Bab.

A ‘Trio of Halloween’

LOOKING AHEAD TO NEXT WEEK, Stephanie reports: “Deeply rooted in a centuries-old Gaelic and Irish seasonal festival known as Samhain, ‘Halloween’ is considered by many to be the only time of year that spirits can roam the earth. From Samhain to Mexico’s Day of the Dead, world cultures celebrate the belief that at this time of year, the veil between this world and the next is particularly thin and ancestors are held close.”

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

Click on this movie still from the movie Tár to read Edward McNulty’s review.

Click on this image to learn about the October 2022 issue of Ed McNulty’s Visual Parables Journal, which is packed with complete discussion guides to movies including Don’t Worry, Darling, The Railway Children, Fanny Lou Hamer’s America, Indignation, and Catherine Called Birdy.

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:

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!
TILL—”The story of Emmett Till and his mother Mamie Till Bradley, though it unfolded 67 years ago, is still urgent because the hate-filled racism that poisoned his murderers is undergoing a resurgence in our nation today.”
THEN, BACKGROUND—As context for seeing the new movie Till, which currently is only in theaters, Ed recommends that movie goers watch this 2003 documentary about his murder, which is streaming now on PBS. If you are interested in films about the Civil Rights movement, Ed also recommends you reach back to 1996 and watch Ghosts of Mississippi, which can be rented for streaming on Amazon.
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.”
BECOMING HARRIET BEECHER STOWE—”This is a welcome documentary on a woman who prior to the Civil War might be called the most famous female in America—Southerners would change that to infamous.”
RINGS OF POWER—(Streaming on Amazon) This week, Amazon posted the final part of its epic series The Rings of Power. Ed McNulty writes, “Patrick McKay and J.D. Payne have set out to perform a nearly impossible task—to sort out and stitch together a coherent story from Tolkien’s pre-Lord of the Rings era, and to please the die hard fans of Peter Jackson’s masterful adaptations.”
THE RAILWAY CHILDREN—(Streaming on Amazon) “Director Morgan Matthews’ remake of E. Nesbit’s 1905 classic children’s novel and the 1970 film based on it updates the plot from Edwardian times to 1944 when the Brits are evacuating their children from their cities to save them from Nazi bombing.”
AMSTERDAM—”Director-screenwriter David O. Russell combines murder, inter-racial romances, a little madcap comedy, and a possible coup attempt by Fascists to take over the American government in this period piece.”
THE WOMAN KING—”Set in 1823, the story is fictional, but the facts surrounding the women warriors are accurate. Nanisca (Viola Davis) is the general in charge of them and thus a major advisor to young King Ghezo (John Boyega).”
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.”