An Invitation to Connect and Help Others

LAUNCHING ‘HEALING A SHATTERED SOUL’ WITH MINDY CORPORON

COVER STORY—In 2021, we are launching books that not only inspire readers—but also invite them quite literally to become part of new communities of hope and kindness. That’s the theme of Mindy Coroporon’s upcoming memoir, Healing a Shattered Soul. Her book now is available for pre-order and will ship from Amazon (and other online retailers) in a couple of weeks. However, right now—this week!—Mindy is inviting all of us, across the nation, to join in some inspiring virtual events. So, please read our Cover Story this week—which includes a short video from Mindy and links to register for the free programs she is offering. And, please, share this Cover Story with friends. You’ll have a lot more fun with Mindy if you bring along some folks you know and love.

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We Are Caregivers

3 STORIES WITH 2 INVITATIONS

THE NEWS THIS WEEK IN ‘We Are Caregivers’ circles the globe. First, we are featuring Zaman International-founder Najah Bazzy with tips for a healthy Ramadan. Then, we share news from the Vatican, which includes an invitation to download a new teaching document about caregiving during the pandemic. Finally, we have author Bill Tammeus’s invitation to sign up for a free online workshop he’s leading about ‘Writing Your Spiritual Will.’ Lots to share with friends, this week, in We Are Caregivers!

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Holidays & Festivals

AND SPEAKING OF RAMADAN …

… LET’S LEARN ABOUT OUR MUSLIM NEIGHBORS

OUR BOOKS ARE DOORWAYS—As the fasting month of Ramadan approaches, the world’s nearly 2 billion Muslims are preparing to focus, once again, on the Quran. This worldwide faith truly is focused on reading, scholarship and sharing stories. Please, read this Front Edge Publishing column that introduces some of our books that are open doorways, inviting us to meet our Muslim neighbors.

THEN, STEPHANIE FENTON has the story about the world’s Muslim communities approaching their second fasting month of Ramadan under pandemic restrictions. Among the reassuring news reports: A British study indicates that last year’s Ramadan, which unfolded at the start of the pandemic, did not lead to an increase in COVID. Also, Muslim authorities are reassuring faithful families that continuing to receive vaccinations—even if an appointment falls during Ramadan—will not violate the strict fasting rules. This is a great column to share with friends and co-workers.

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AND COMING NEXT WEEK …

OUR BAHA’I AND HINDU FRIENDS have major festivals both starting in the second half of April. The most holy Baha’i festival worldwide is the 12-day period known as Ridvan. Named “Ridvan” for “paradise,” this sacred festival commemorates Baha’u’llah’s time in the Najibiyyih Garden—after he was exiled by the Ottoman Empire—and the first announcement of his prophethood. Then, starting a few days after that in Hindu communities: The story of Lord Rama has been read, recited, and reviewed by Hindus worldwide, during a period known as Ramayana Week—all leading up to the climactic festival of Rama Navami.
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From Our Authors—

Suzy Farbman:
Understanding what Americans want—next!

THAT’s THE KEY to the nationwide success of marketing consultant Barbara Loren-Snyder, whose remarkable career sprang from a lonely childhood in a struggling immigrant family. As columnist Suzy Farbman writes this week, Barbara was determined from a very young age to carve out a unique career. And she did! Among her many successes? Barbara is the visionary who spotted Martha Stewart as the next big thing—and made it happen. In Part 1 of this story, Suzy Farbman reaches back to Barbara’s roots, including one of her first big successes in the 1960s. Anyone remember the Wendy Ward charm schools?

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Ken Whitt:
Inviting us to ‘A Global Creation Care Conversation’

MARK EARTH DAY on April 22, this year, by Zooming with a worldwide circle of Christian climate activists coordinated by our author Ken Whitt. “This series of climate-change conversations began within our American Baptist Churches, but the conversations now are spreading around the world,” Ken said this week in extending this free invitation. “We welcome anyone who is interested in these issues to join us on April 22.” Here are details about this free program—and how to request a Zoom link to attend.

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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. UNCLE FRANK—Ed writes, “Writer/director Alan Ball’s semi-autobiographical story of family conflict and love moves between Creekville, South Carolina, and Manhattan. It is told by the teenaged Betty beginning in the summer of 1969 when her Uncle Frank returns from Manhattan where he is a college professor to join the family celebration of his father’s birthday.”
2. SPIRITUAL AUDACITY: The Abraham Joshua Heschel Story—”Thanks to Martin Doblmeir’s PBS documentary, Jewish theologian Abraham Joshua Heschel will become a better known figure to millions of viewers. Now available on DVD, this is a worthy addition to his other filmed biographies of great thinkers and movers—Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Dorothy Day, Reinhold Niebuhr, all brave thinkers who have had a deep impact upon the modern world.”
3. CHARLOTTE FORTEN’S MISSION: Experiment in Freedom—”Although virtually everyone knows of Harriett Tubman, especially since the release of the 2019 film Harriet, I suspect far fewer are familiar with Tubman’s contemporary, Black activist Charlotte Forten.” Ed highlights this 1985 PBS film and provides a link to watch it online.
4. AMERICAN EXPERIENCE: The Voice of Freedom—“This episode of American Experience, directed by Rob Rapely and aired on PBS in February 2021, centers on the great singer Marian Anderson, but is just as much about the grip that Jim Crow had on America in 1939.” AND NOTE: This film and the Charlotte Forten documentary are just two of the films featured with complete discussion guides in the April issue of Visual Parables Journal.
5. CRIP CAMP—Ed writes, “Directors Nicole Newnham and Jim LeBrecht have given us an inspiring stand up and cheer film about outsiders knocking and kicking at the door of society until at last it is opened.”
6. THE SOUND OF METAL—”Deserving of its Best Picture Oscar nomination, this is an immersive film centering on a musician going deaf.”
7. DOLLY PARTON: HERE I AM—”You don’t have to be a Dolly Parton fan to appreciate Francis Whately’s heart-felt documentary about the singer/song writer. The music alone should make it enjoyable, and the comments of a stage full of friends and admirers will add to your knowledge of the singer.” Related to this documentary film, which is streaming on Netflix right now, Ed also recommends a book about Dolly Parton. Here is his review of Unlikely Angel by Lydia Hamesseley.
8. THE DIG—“Director Simon Stone and writer Moira Buffini’s adaptation of John Preston’s fact-based novel deals with classism as well as archaeological excavation, friendship, and romance. Beautifully photographed, it could serve well as family entertainment in that one of the characters is a winsome boy eager to explore the world and who finds a substitute father in the main male character.”
9. MANGROVE—”Americans have Aaron Sorkin’s social justice film The Trial of the Chicago 7 and now our British cousins have Steve McQueen’s masterful Mangrove, the true story of The Mangrove Nine. Just as Selma led to the passage of major voting legislation by exposing the depth and violence of racism, so the trial of West African-Brits brought about similar exposure and passage of anti-racist legislation in the UK.” The film is streaming now for free on Amazon Prime in the Small Axe series of films.
10. VIA AMAZON: SEE THE ENTIRE ‘SMALL AXE’ SERIES—Ed also reviews and recommends other films in Steve McQueen’s series of films, which are clustered under the series title Small Axe on Amazon Prime. After Mangrove, Ed’s other Small Axe reviews are Lovers Rock, Red, White and Blue, Alex Wheatle and Education.

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