MEET THE REV. MARTHA SPONG & REVGALBLOGPALS
COVER STORY—Half of the Americans entering seminaries today are women. Not all churches ordain women, but clergywomen already are key community leaders nationwide. This week, the Rev. Martha Spong talks with us about the 52 women from 15 denominations who share their real-life stories in There’s a Woman in the Pulpit. This new book is inspiring and sometimes downright funny!
WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP—Raman Singh, a Sikh educator and peace activist, is the new president of one of the country’s most prominent regional interfaith networks. Raman writes this week about her hopes for National Day of Prayer. Holidays columnist Stephanie Fenton reports on the push and pull over this annual observance.
HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!
THE HOLIDAY—Did you know the holiday began with two devout church women who believed that women could help to build healthier communities? It’s true and Holidays columnist Stephanie Fenton has the story.
- MOTHERESE—Author and counselor Benjamin Pratt writes about the importance of the earliest communication with our children in “Do you speak Motherese? Could we learn Parentese?“
- A TASTE OF HOME—FeedTheSpirit columnist Bobbie Lewis tells us about her Mom, who was remarkable because of the values she instilled in her children. And, even though Mom wasn’t a great cook, she did make a delicious “My Mom’s Dynamite Spaghetti Sauce.” (Yes, Bobbie shares that recipe.)
- COURAGEOUS MOTHERS—Mothers around the world have been known to risk their lives for peace and justice in their communities. Here are three inspiring stories: Bolivian Women Hunger Strikers, the Comadres and Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo.
OUR VALUES
GETTING PAST DEADLOCK—Right vs. Wrong. Good vs. Evil. Millions of Americans are stuck on one side of a dispute—or the other. Deadlocked! Sociologist Dr. Wayne Baker explores another model for community—a “Third Way.”
- PART 1—Is a path possible between opposites?
- PART 2—Is respect the key?
- PART 3—Can a “little transcendence” reshape our world?
- PART 4—Can’t we just split the difference?
- PART 5—Four lessons.
HOLIDAYS & FESTIVALS
DON’T MISS ONE—Bookmark (and tell friends about) www.InterfaithHolidays.com
- LAG B’OMER—Jewish families recall ancient milestones and, in many parts of the world, enjoy bonfires.
- VESAK—Also known as Buddha Day, the Buddhist holiday is so important that many UN offices mark the holiday.
- CINDO de MAYO—This celebration of Mexican culture is more prominent, now, in the U.S. than in its homeland.
- MOTHER’S DAY—Plan ahead! Stephanie’s column is packed with helpful information.
- SPRING CELEBRATIONS—There’s something here for everyone, including National Family Week, National Park Week, National Physical Fitness and Sports Month—and many more.
- SPRING FLING—Photographer and author Rodney Curtis is loving the warm weather. Check out his photo, this week, and his fanciful tale.
FILM, FAITH
AND POPULAR CULTURE
1,200 MOVIES—www.VisualParables.org is a treasure trove of faith-and-film reviews by Edward McNulty.
- ‘AVENGERS’—Ed says it’s far more than a special-effects blockbuster. (4.5 out of 5 stars)
- ‘EX MACHINA’—There are similar thought-provoking themes in this science-fiction thriller. (4 stars)
- ‘HOME’—Looking for something for the whole family? Ed highly recommends this animated film. (4.5 stars)
- ‘KINGSMAN’—Based on a comic book, the movie tries to poke fun at the spy genre. (3 stars)
FAITH GOES POP—In “Running as Religion,” Ken Chitwood writes: “While to some, running is a form of release and to others it’s simply exercise—read: torture—for a growing minion, running is religion.”
INTERFAITH PEACEMAKERS
THE HEROES—Find more than 100 stories at www.InterfaithPeacemakers.com
- TURNING TO EUROPE—International peace activist Daniel Buttry turns to Europe, in May, for stories about courageous peacemakers. This week, you’ll meet British abolitionist Thomas Clarkson, the brilliant German-Jewish scholar Moses Mendelssohn, and British philanthropist Moses Montefiore.
STORIES THAT SHAPE OUR LIVES
“STORIES that shape your life” is a core theme at ReadTheSpirit. We’re inviting you to take part!
- THE CARDINAL—Kurt Kolka’s life has been shaped by his own comic superhero The Cardinal. In BullyingIsNoLaughingMatter, this week, we provide a free preview of that tale. And, we offer help for parents and teachers.
- EARLIER STORIES—Benjamin Pratt started this series with Bambi and The Wizard of Oz. Debra Darvick tells us how A Hole Is to Dig still shapes her life.
- OUR VALUES—Sociologist Wayne Baker wrote a whole series about helping our kids to fall in love with nature, including a column about stories that we love to share with kids.
- WHAT’S YOUR STORY? Come on! It’s your turn. Readers already are emailing us at [email protected] so, please: What’s your story?
DOING GOOD
IN THE WORLD
Good media builds healthy communities …
RABBI BOB ALPER—The author of Life Doesn’t Get Any Better Than This, continues to criss-cross the nation and will perform next at Congregation Ahavas Israel in Grand Rapids, MI, on May 17th.
SUZY FARBMAN—The author of GodSigns writes this week about “a middle-age workaholic” (Sound familiar to many of us?) whose life is transformed after emergency work on his heart.
THIRD-WAY NEWSLETTER
KEEP IN TOUCH—The www.ThirdWayNewsletter.com is part of the changing Christian landscape that is welcoming diverse men and women. This week, you’ll find new columns about Ken Wilson’s recent talk at City Church in San Francisco and about how one member of the new Blue Ocean movement finds a helpful and healing journey in “Third Way.”
DR. DAVID GUSHEE—The author of Changing Our Mind will participate with Matthew Vines in a Reformation Project Fundraiser on the evening of May 7 at the Mitchell Gold and Bob Williams showroom in Atlanta. For ticket information. Dr. Gushee also continues writing, including this helpful column about “Civility and Tolerance” in the Baptist Global News website.
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