NOT JUST LITTLE HOUSES—
THESE ARE ‘TINY HOMES’
COVER STORY—If you visit our online magazine each week for good news about people of faith making the world a better place—then, this week, we’ve got an amazing story to share! And, stay tuned, because there’s also a full-color book coming about the brand-new community Detroiters are building at the 50th anniversary of one of America’s worst urban rebellions.
PBS News Hour just reported an in-depth story from this emerging neighborhood that we are describing as a “utopian community” in today’s story. In fact, you can watch that short PBS video as a part of our story. Earlier, a Facebook news feed posted its own video report—which already has been viewed by 34 million people! (And, we’ve got a link to that video, as well.)
In this deeply disturbing summer of conflict, please read this week’s story and share the news with friends. They’ll be glad you did! And simply by “talking up” what’s happening in Detroit you’ll be helping to make this visionary idea take shape in our world.
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ANOTHER DETROIT ORIGINAL!
‘HOPE FOR THE CITY’—Thanks to columnist Stephanie Fenton for spotting this news item from the Plymouth Library’s summer reading program! Because librarians across Michigan are recommending books that relate to the 50-year anniversary of Detroit’s rebellion—the main library in this historic, suburban city directed readers to Jack Kresnak’s Hope for the City. (That’s the cover of Jack’s book near the pinnacle of the library’s main bulletin board promoting the reading campaign, a photo sent to us by Stephanie.)
Jack’s biography of the late Father Cunningham—an urban pioneer in helping to empower poor people—covers a broad spectrum of Detroit history. However, the book includes dramatic scenes during and after the Detroit rebellion, which led to an occupation by the U.S. Army and National Guard and resulted in 43 deaths. Cunningham’s vision of giving poor people a pathway out of poverty was shaped by the destructive forces he witnessed in the summer of 1967.
Care to read more? This is another book from Detroit’s Cass Community Publishing, so please visit the Cass online catalog. The book also is available through Amazon and Barnes & Noble—but buying your copy via the Cass website directly contributes to this ongoing work in Detroit.
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BIG HAT,
BIG LIFE,
BIG WISDOM
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GAG, PEP & ICE—This week, GodSigns columnist Suzy Farbman brings us the remarkable story of Natalie Myerson who is approaching the century mark with wit and some wisdom well worth considering. She has acronyms for her core values: GAG, PEP & ICE. Enjoy!
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HOLIDAYS!
Want to see all the holidays? Remember www.InterfaithHolidays.org.
THE HAJJ—Muslim men and women around the world are about to perform the annual rites of the Hajj in Mecca. Stephanie Fenton has the whole story.
THE EID al—ADHA—One of two great feasts in the Islamic calendar, Eid al-Adha is a part of the centuries-old pilgrimage narrative. Stephanie has the latest news on the 2017 holiday from around the world.
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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 at VisualParables.org. Ed supports his work by selling the Visual Parables Journal, a monthly magazine packed with complete study 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 latest free movie reviews are:
- SHORT TERM 12—This is a terrific feature film, says Ed. (5 out of 5 stars)
- THE WOMEN’S BALCONY—You’ll have to look around to find this new film set in Jerusalem, but the search is worth the effort, says Ed, giving this movie 5 out of 5 stars.
- DETROIT—Ed joins many other critics praising the hard-to-watch drama based on the 1967 Detroit rebellion and the so-called Algiers Motel incident. (4.5 stars)
- THE BIG SICK—Delightful, says Ed. (4.5 stars)
- MAUDIE—Look around for this terrific film about the unusual life of the Nova Scotia folk artist Maud Lewis. (5 out of 5 stars)
- BEATRIZ AT DINNER—Ed writes, “The film’s fish-out-of-water story shines a spotlight on the darker side of American business practices.” He urges us not to miss it. (5 stars)
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