WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE HOPEFUL QUOTE?

COVER STORY—To kick off 2020, Martin Davis and David Crumm collaborated on a spiritual adventure that wound its way through our lives—and literature, as well. Together, from Washington D.C. and Michigan, Martin and David traded favorite quotes that trigger fond memories, great expectations and reminders about navigating this turbulent world. We had fun! We hope you’ll have fun following our adventure. Please, read this week’s Cover Story; then, please share it with friends; and, finally, send us your favorite quotes and we will plan another column embracing your suggestions.

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What’s More Important than Family?

GodSigns—Over the years, Suzy Farbman has introduced us to men and women who are making the world a little better each day. Running through their lives are what Suzy calls “GodSigns,” spiritual connections that remind us all of our better selves. Suzy is inviting all of us to start 2020 with the inspirational story of Michelle Brault. It’s quite a yarn and will stretch over three parts this month. Please, enjoy Part 1 and share this story with friends.

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Holidays & Festivals 2020

OUR NEW 2020 INTERFAITH CALENDAR debuts today, thanks to Holidays & Festivals columnist Stephanie Fenton. Please, take a quick look at these listings, which give you a spiritual shape of our New Year from many perspectives around the world. If you spot any we missed—or any mistakes—please let us know at [email protected]

THINK CHRISTMAS IS OVER? Think again! Christian traditions have branched into a complex array of calendars and customs. As this week begins, millions of Christians are marking Epiphany, and Stephanie has the story for us—plus, some Orthodox churches won’t mark Nativity (their term for Christmas) until January 7. If you haven’t taken down your Christmas tree and decorations already, you can make an excellent case for keeping them up another week! If anyone asks, just say, “I’m celebrating an ecumenical Christmas this year.”

IT’S TIME TO … LEARN MORE ABOUT POLICE—Thursday, January 9, is Law Enforcement Appreciation Day (L.E.A.D), a good opportunity to take a moment and learn more about the police serve our communities everyday. We’ve got a great way to do that with a copy of 100 Questions and Answers about Police Officers.

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Care to see all the holidays? 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 are:

• LITTLE WOMEN—Ed urges all of us to see this Greta Gerwig version of the classic story before it leaves theaters, giving the film 5 out of 5 stars.
• UNCUT GEMS—Ed writes, “The pace of the film, the use of closeups with a handheld camera, the dialogue—probably 90% of which is at the level of shouting—leaves the viewer exhausted. The main character’s life is such a wreck, and yet so compelling, that it is like a highway accident for which everyone slows down in order to gawk at the carnage.” (4 stars)
• AMERICAN SON—”In this Kenny Leon-directed adaptation of Christopher Demos-Brown’s Broadway play race is the main “dividing wall” of hostility, but not the only one.” (4 stars)
• BOMBSHELL—”This is not a film to enjoy, but it is a fascinating one, filled with so many real-life characters that viewers could play the game Name that Celebrity as it unfolds.” (4 stars)
• THE TWO POPES—”Brazilian director Fernando Merilles (City of God and The Constant Gardener) makes theological discourse exciting in this speculative film about the encounters between Argentinian Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio (Jonathan Pryce) and Pope Benedict XVI (Anthony Hopkins).” (4.5 stars)
• RICHARD JEWELL—”The story of security guard Richard Jewell could be the prime example for that cynical adage: No good deed goes unpunished. Director Clint Eastwood brings us the dramatic story of a hero suddenly under FBI scrutiny and media attack as a villain guilty of a heinous crime.” (4 stars)
• A HIDDEN LIFE—Ed writes, “Terrence Malick, after his three montage-type films (Knight of Cups; To the Wonder: and The Tree of Life), returns to a simpler narrative form in this biography of Austrian WWII conscientious objector Franz Jägerstätter. He effectively juxtaposes the Eden-like tranquility and beauty of the Austrian mountain village of St. Radegund with the destructive evil of Nazis ruining Europe at the time.” (5 stars)
• A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD—The new film is touching and terrific—even better than Ed had expected, he writes. (5 stars)

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