What’s cozy about a cozy?

Discovering ‘that feeling of home’

The island is home.

Those four words capture the feeling of the new cozy mystery series Laura Elizabeth is launching about the people who live on a little island in the Atlantic. The adventures begin with Book 1: All Is Now Lost, which now is available for pre-order from Amazon.

In this week’s cover story, we tell you all about this new novel, how to pre-order your copy, and we even share a special tip about getting the delicious recipe for the Toll House Cookie Pie that is featured in the novel. Plus, we share valuable links about vacation planning if you care to visit the real island on which this cozy series is based—and explain how to get in touch with Laura if your book club wants to discuss her novel.

Please, when you finish reading the article, share it with friends on social media and via email. They’ll be glad you shared this good news.

Holidays & Milestones

‘It’s an Honor to be a Dad.’

THAT’S WHAT HOWARD BROWN SAYS as he starts a podcast tribute to fathers this week. Howard reminds us of how much we may have learned from our grandparents, our parents and then talks about the high hopes we share for our own children. In Howard’s case, that’s the “Miracle Girl” you see in the photo above. He explains why Emily truly is a miracle. In honor of Father’s Day, then, please enjoy this heart-warming reflection on lessons and values that, at our best, we can hope to pass along through our families.

And what happened to that little ‘Miracle Girl’?

EMILY BROWN GREW UP to become a journalist, including an internship writing for our ReadTheSpirit online magazine as she was learning her craft. Now, she reports for KPAX Channel 8 in western Montana where Emily is carrying on her family values—described by her father in his podcast (above) as including tikkun olam, trying to help heal our broken world. In June 2023, Emily is reporting for KPAX on the legacy of Mika Westwolf, a Native American woman who was hit and killed by a driver who fled the scene. Because of Emily’s reporting and a growing awareness of Mika’s case across that region of Montana, part of Mika’s legacy now is public activism to increase awareness of the plight of missing and murdered Native Americans and their families. Through this link, you will visit the KPAX website. Emily’s 3-minute report plays on that page (after a brief ad) and the text of her story also appears on that page.

Then, Emily covered a Native American-led walk in Mika’s memory, intended to raise awareness of her death and the ongoing problem of unresolved missing and murdered Native Americans.

Here is a link to Emily’s coverage of the march, including text, photos and a 3-minute video.
Then, here is a link to a KPAX photo gallery of the march.

And more about Father’s Day

ABOUT THE HOLIDAY: Stephanie Fenton’s column is helpful reading! Her column tells the fascinating story of how long it took to reach a national consensus on this holiday. Plus, Stephanie offers some links to some fun Father’s Day activities as well as great recipes for this special day.

Observing Juneteenth

HOLIDAYS & FESTIVALS COLUMNIST STEPHANIE FENTON reports on the ever-expanding awareness of our national holiday Juneteenth in 2023. As usual, she’s got links to fascinating resources, including some great recipes.

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

From Our Writers—

Larry Buxton

‘Travel is a Spiritual Act’

ARE YOU MOVING AROUND OUR WORLD THIS SUMMER? In his latest Leading with Spirit column, Larry reminds us to consider the spiritual dimensions of our movement. “These rhythms of security, trust, adventure, crisis, grace and friendship carry us throughout our lives.” Please enjoy Larry’s column and you may find its wisdom quite quotable this week—so consider sharing it with friends.

Bill Tammeus
and George Mason

‘Can mediocre preaching be improved? Maybe.’

AWARD-WINNING JOURNALIST BILL TAMMEUS has chronicled religious life in America for many decades, so he carries a great deal of authority in his judgment that George A. Mason’s new book, The Word Made Fresh, is “an occasion for celebration.” Here’s a link to Bill’s review of George’s book, which we hope will move you order a copy of The Word Made Fresh for yourself and perhaps a copy for friends in your congregation.

Interested in going right to Amazon for a copy? Here’s a direct link to the Amazon paperback page for The Word Made Fresh. This new book also is available in hardcover and a very reasonably priced Kindle edition. Like all of our books, it also is available from Barnes & Noble and bookstores around the world.

Interested in Bill’s book that includes a section on “unplugging extremism,” which is a timely concern shared both by Bill and George? Here’s a direct link to Bill’s book, Love, Loss and Endurance.

Click this movie poster to read Ed McNulty’s review of “Mending the Line.”

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:

MENDING THE LINE—Ed McNulty writes: “Director Joshua Caldwell and scriptwriter Stephen Camelio tell a familiar story—that of a wounded veteran needing more than just physical healing—but with a different twist.”
POTATO DREAMS OF AMERICA—”Writer/director Wes Hurley’s autobiographical dark comedy is about a young boy growing up during the last days of the USSR.”
OTHER PEOPLE’S CHILDREN—”French writer director Rebecca Zlotowski puts a different spin on this rom-com tale of a woman falling in love with a divorced man who is co-parenting a little daughter.”
MAID—”This 10-episode series about an abused wife and mother has more heart and insights than a hundred super hero epics. The series is based on the memoir by Stephanie Land Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother’s Will to Survive.”
TED LASSO, Season 3—Ed loves this popular TV series and now offers his own faith-and-film reflections on the series.
SABBATH—Ed McNulty offers his review of Martin Doblmeier’s documentary Sabbath, starting with a detailed look at the first part of the national broadcast. For more on this inspiring documentary, you also may want to read our Cover Story interview with Martin, which is headlined: “Do you know it’s healthy to observe ‘Sabbath’?“
ARE YOU THERE GOD? IT’S ME, MARGARET—”The film, directed and written by Kelly Fremon Craig, follows the novel very faithfully, with every member of the excellent cast contributing to the humor and insights, so that I think fans of the iconic book—it sold 90 million copies!—will agree that the long wait has been well worth it.”