Enjoy These Stories of Resilience, Now

And Meet the Author in September

AUTHOR LUCILLE SIDER already has inspired readers nationwide with Light Shines in the Darkness, her memoir about spiritual resilience in the aftermath of life-shattering trauma. Now, she is debuting a series of columns about the many ways men and women find themselves confronting trauma, every week in neighborhoods everywhere. These new columns focus on finding the spiritual strength to keep living in a meaningful and hopeful way. The series will run through September, when Lucille is organizing an online opportunity to gather readers for a virtual conversation. Please, read this Cover Story, which is Lucille’s first column in this series—a true story focused on overcoming the wake of flood waters—and share this news with friends. This is a valuable opportunity to connect with a wise spiritual guide whose hard-earned wisdom has helped so many, already.

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As We Approach 9/11

Check in with Journalist Bill Tammeus

MAJOR MEDIA PROJECTS are coming our way as we approach the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. For example, on Sunday, August 29, The National Geographic Channel will roll out a six-part documentary series, 9/11: One Day in America, which will feature interviews with many of the people involved on that momentous day. Our publishing house also recommends that you check in with journalist Bill Tammeus, who lost a loved one in those attacks, which you can do through Bill’s inspiring book and his insightful online columns. A veteran religion writer, the goal in many of Bill’s columns is to provide religious and cultural context and balance to the weekly news. Here is a look at what you will find in Bill’s writings.

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We Are Caregivers

Parenting: Pushing back on the pressures from youth sports

In our We Are Caregiving section, we publish a wide array of stories that are helpful to America’s millions of caregivers, including parents. This week we are recommending a story for parents by journalist Martin Davis, who specializes in covering the deeper personal dynamics of sports.

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Holidays & Festivals

Paryushan Parva

JAIN families around the world renew the core tenets of their tradition in this annual period of religious reflection and fasting. This might be a good opportunity to talk with a friend, neighbor or colleague who is Jain, wishing them well and asking them about this special time of year. Stephanie Fenton has the story.

Krishna Janmashtami

KRISHNA is one of the most popular and revered of Indian deities, so the festival honoring his birth sometimes last a full week, depending on community customs. When this annual milestone rolls around, observances vary widely around the world—including the visually spectacular human towers of young people vying to reach a suspended pot of buttermilk. Stephanie Fenton has the story for us.

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WANT TO SEE ALL THE UPCOMING HOLIDAYS & FESTIVALS?—It’s easy to find our annual calendar of global observances. Just visit  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:

1. THE GOSPEL OF LUKE—Ed McNulty writes, “This Lumo Project film is the last of the four filmed gospels directed by the prolific director/producer David Batty. It is a wonderful addition to any pastor or educator’s video library, bringing to life the words either of the KJV or the NIV translations of the Bible—viewer’s choice. British actor Richard E. Grant reads the NIV text; Sir Derek Jacobi the KJV.”
2. VIVO—”Move over Pixar and make room for this toe-tapping musical from Sony Pictures Animation studio. The fact that Hamilton’s Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote the songs and voices the main character ought to attract a large audience.”
3. OPHELIA—”Australian director Claire McCarthy gives us love story based on Shakespeare’s Hamlet. We need to add that the script by Semi Chellas is based on Lisa Klein’s 2006 young adult novel of the same title.”
4. MINARI—Ed also writes, this week, about the Oscar-winning drama about an immigrant family carving out a new life in rural America.
5. PRAY AWAY—Ed reviews Kristine Stolakis’ documentary film about evangelical “conversion therapy.”
6. LUPIN—”The French writer George Kay has created a truly thrilling escapist adventure series with more than a touch of social commentary. He has taken a classic series of French novels revolving around Arsène Lupin as a “Gentleman Thief” and transferred them to a modern day outsider.”
7. EROICA—Ed McNulty reaches back to 2003 for a wonderful film about the arts, Eroica. In short, it’s a carefully reconstructed drama about Beethoven debuting the piece that people at the time considered a milestone in music history—a unique delight in moviemaking.
8. AN AMERICAN RHAPSODY—“Written and directed by Eva Gardos, this film is based on the filmmaker’s own experience as a young immigrant Hungary.”
9. STREET FLOW—”Writer/co-director/star Kery James’ film is set in France, the story of three brothers of African descent who live in one of the huge projects just outside of Paris.”
10. JOE BELL—Ed recommends this film, “based on a true story,” written by the same team that contributed to the 2005 film, Brokeback Mountain, a writing partnership that included the late novelist Larry McMurtry.

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