AFRAID, The Gospel of Mark coming to CT

BLOOMFIELD — In February Old St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church of Bloomfield and South Congregational Church of Granby will be presenting “AFRAID The Gospel of Mark”, a one man play by Frank Runyeon. This is a spellbinding performance set in the catacombs of Rome, enlivened by flashes of humor and ending with a deeply moving passion, according to a press release. Acclaimed by critics and scholars for over 20 years.

Runyeon is known for his many roles on television. He has also done work in the film industry, stage and radio. He has won national acclaim for his work as a translator and performer of Biblical texts over the past 20 years..

Where: South Congregation Church
242 Salmon Brook Street
Granby

Date: Feb. 4

Time: 7:30 p.m.

Special Information: A dessert reception will follow the performance and there will be a chance to visit with the star.

Price: $18.00 (paid at the door)
$15.00 (paid in advance)
$12.00 (student tickets)

Tickets are available in advance or at the door. Advance tickets can be obtained by calling David Russell at 860-653-7441, or by email at osatickets@gmail.com.

Book shows struggles of American Muslims

By Tracy Simmons
For many Americans, Islam didn’t enter the spotlight until after Sept. 11.

However, in Yvonne Yazbeck Haddad’s new book “Becoming American? The Forging of Arab and Muslim Identity in Pluralist America,” we are reminded of the overlooked struggles that Muslims have had to overcome to make a home here.

Haddad is a distinguished historian and a professor at Georgetown University. Her writing, though, isn’t overly academic. She presents her case clearly and captivatingly. Her argument is this: American Muslims are just as American as anyone else in this country.

Many Muslims immigrated here, just like my ancestors emigrated from Ireland years and years ago. And Muslims have a right to be here, just like the rest of us do.

But Haddad goes beyond simply sharing her opinion with us. Her book is filled with facts about Islam in America. For instance, she reports that about 80 percent of American Muslims are unmosqued.  And she presents us with a timeline where she explains, for instance, that in the 1980s Muslim Americans stopped questioning whether they could live in the U.S. or not, and began redefining what Muslim life in America actually meant. Since then new organizations came into existence, like the North American Association of Muslim Professionals and Scholars (in 1993).

The author also gives us an important reminder that Sept. 11 hasn’t been the only time Muslims have had to fight to show to their loyalty to the U.S. The Arab-Israeli conflict, the Salman Rushdie Affair and the Iranian Revolution were also instances that forced American Muslims to prove themselves.

“The goal of these reflections is not only to prove that Muslims living in the West are loyal citizens, but more importantly, that they share American values and are not associated with the teachings of those targeted in America’s declared war on terrorism, who have been variously labeled as extremist, fundamentalist, jihadist, terrorist, and proponents of an Islamo-fascist Islam,” Haddad writes.

It hasn’t just been everyday citizens that have given American Muslims a hard time. Haddad points out that the government hasn’t exactly been a cheerleader for Islam. The Bush Administration, she notes, once announced its intention to celebrate Eid-ul Adha with the Muslim community. Then the event was postponed. Then canceled. A statement was never made. Other acts by the administration made the country seem anti-Muslim, not anti-terrorism, Haddad writes.

Over the decades we have made progress, but in Hadad’s honesty she says that we still have a long way to go. Anyone interested in helping pave the way to a more understanding, intelligent, pluralistic and accepting nation can start by reading this book.

Bijou Theater presents screening of “Everyday Sunshine”

“Everyday Sunshine: The Story of Fishbone” – documentary trailer from Tilapia Film on Vimeo.

BRIDGEPORT – From the shifting fault lines of Hollywood  fantasies and the economic and racial tensions of Reagan’s America, Laurence Fishbone rose to become one of the most original bands of the last 25 years. With a blistering
combination of punk and funk they demolished the walls of genre and
challenged the racial stereotypes and political order of the music
industry and the nation. Everyday Sunshine is a story about music,
history, fear, courage and funking on the one.

At the heart of Fishbone’s story is lead singer Angelo Moore and
bassist Norwood Fisher who show how they keep the band rolling, out of
pride, desperation and love for their art. To overcome money woes,
family strife, and the strain of being aging Punk rockers on the road,
Norwood and Angelo are challenged to re-invent themselves in the face
of dysfunction and ghosts from a painful past.

Laurence Fishbone narrates Everyday Sunshine, an entertaining
cinematic journey into the personal lives of this unique Black rock
band, an untold story of fiercely individual artists in their quest to
reclaim their musical legacy while debunking the myths of young Black
men from urban America.  Highlighting the parallel journeys of a band
and their city, Everyday Sunshine explores the personal and cultural
forces that gave rise to California’s legendary Black punk sons that
continue to defy categories and expectations.

Nov. 15 at pm
Post Screening Q & A with the filmmaker, Chris Metzler

General Admission Ticket Price: $10

The Bijou Theatre, 275 Fairfield Ave., Bridgeport

Who killed Jesus?

The death of Jesus of Nazareth remains controversial, even after almost 2000 years. Pope Benedict XVI revisits the debate in his new book, Jesus of Nazareth: Holy Week, the second volume of his work on the figure of Jesus.

Some interpreters have identified the Jewish people as a whole as responsible for Jesus' death—a position often used to justify the persecution of Jews. Some modern scholars argue that the Roman authorities are to blame. Others claim that a group within the Jewish Temple establishment worked with the Roman authority to execute Jesus for insurrection, which is what the Gospel writers maintain.
Benedict XVI directly confronts the arguments and the evidence.

"Many readers will find this section of the book particularly interesting as the Pope reviews the historical positions taken about this," said Fr. Joseph Fessio, founder and publisher of Ignatius Press. "He discusses some very controversial claims that have been made, and draws on some contemporary scholarly resources to reach a conclusion that I am certain will generate a lot of discussion."

Jesus of Nazareth: Holy Week—From the Entrance Into Jerusalem to the Resurrection became available March 10 from Ignatius Press. It is the follow-up to the Pope's best-selling first volume, Jesus of Nazareth: From the Baptism in the Jordan to the Transfiguration.

In Part Two, the Pope tackles many of history's most volatile questions about the final week of Jesus' earthly life :

Was Jesus a political revolutionary?
Was he the Messiah, the Son of God?
What did Jesus teach about the end of the world?
Did Jesus establish a community of disciples—the Church—to continue his work?
How did Jesus interpret his death?
What does the evidence tell us about Jesus' ultimate fate? Did he really rise from the dead?
Did the early Christians believe Jesus would return immediately?

Benedict answers those questions and more. The figure of Jesus that emerges from this study is of someone who is both divine and human; God's self-disclosure in his Son, who tells us about God but also about ourselves. "It's clear that what interests the Holy Father is helping people to know and love someone whom he knows and loves," Fr. Fessio said. "But he does this as a scholar. "This book," he added, "is a bright star in the constellation of books about Jesus."

Band promotes ethical living through music, recipes

SIMSBURY – Connecticut gypsie reggae band, HannaH’s Field, is sending good pulsations into the world with their third album, Music Magic Medicine.

The record is coupled with a vegetarian, gluten-free cookbook, which features 14 ethical eating recipes.

“We’ve been searching for a long time for a way to bring food and music together, because that is everything we’re about basically,” said HannaH, the band’s vocalist.

HannaH’s Field is a husband-wife duo from Simsbury. HannaH has performed in rock bands across Connecticut and Oregon and has been nominated as best female vocalist in the Hartford Advocate multiple times.

Music Producer John Bolduc described HannaH as, “The little girl that sings big; with a blues man’s warmth, a bad girl’s passion, and Buddha’s enlightenment.”

HannaH’s husband Andy, the group’s percussionist, is a trained pastry chef and a nutritional healer. The Hartford Courant described his food as “flavors ready to dance the night away.”

The couple formed the band four years ago and perfected their Earth beats sound while living in Oregon. They returned to Connecticut two years ago and have been busy performing across the state.

Music Magic Medicine is available online until the album is officially released in the spring. The 15-track CD is for anyone who wants to be uplifted “spiritually, mentally and physically,” HannaH said.

“Everything you take into your body food-wise creates who you are,” HannaH said. “When you eat meat, you carry the vibration of the animals being slaughtered. It’s the same with the music you listen to, the movies you see, the readings you’re taking in. We wanted to create a good, all-around for philosophy for people.”

Some of the songs on the album are coupled with recipes. Monkey Song, for instance, is paired with Chef Andy’s banana ice cream recipe. Recipes, which are mostly vegan, also include sunflower seed cookies, wheat free pizza, hummus and HannaH’s favorite, Coconut Squash Soup.

“We feel like (this album) isn’t just music, it’s almost a roadmap for living,” she said.

HannaH’s Field will be at Passiflora Tea in New Hartford on Feb. 20. For tour dates visit here.

Music Magic Medicineis available for $14 here.

Listen to a sample of HannaH's Field here.

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Film about shark attack victim tells story of faith

On April 8 Soul Surfer will bring to the screen Bethany Hamilton's thrilling, true story of losing an arm to a tiger shark attack and, with her faith, determination, and family support, returning to champion-level surfing.

The film, rated PG, offers something for every audience member: stunning shots of competitive surfing, touching moments of faith from a family facing tragedy, and inspiring scenes of Hamilton learning that God can use her circumstances to help others.

It features an all-star cast, including AnnaSophia Robb and Helen Hunt, with Carrie Underwood in her film debut, and Dennis Quaid. Quaid, who had recently faced his own near tragedy with his infant twins, joined the project after hearing Hamilton tell her story on a national morning television show.

Behind-the-camera, veteran director Sean McNamara has 15 feature films to his credit, including extensive experience working with young actors including Shia LaBeouf and Hilary Duff. Soul Surfer is based on the book by Hamilton, Sheryl Berk and Rick Bundschuh. 

Rich Peluso, vice president of AFFIRM Films, a division of Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions, worked with the writers, producers, and the Hamilton family to integrate the family's real story and faith into the film. AFFIRM Films will oversee marketing to the faith audience.

"It's been an absolute honor and thrill to get to know and work with Bethany, the Hamilton family, and our amazing group of producers," said Rich Peluso, vice president of AFFIRM Films. "Everyone's worked hard to faithfully tell this story in a way that is both completely accessible and entertaining to a wide mainstream audience, and also conveys in a natural way the love for God that pours out of the family."

"Through conversations with pastors and other leaders in the faith community, we know our audience today wants quality films with high production values, well-known talent, and a biblical worldview," Peluso said. "Soul Surfer delivers on all points. It is the story of a Christian family facing sudden tragedy . . . and triumphing through faith. The Hamiltons rely on God in forming their response to Bethany's new circumstance."

SOUL SURFER's Impact

It was in 2003, only weeks after Hamilton and her mom, Cheri (portrayed by Helen Hunt in the film), prayed for God to reveal His purpose for Bethany's life, that the young surfing champion lost her arm in the shark attack. Prayer sustained her against the odds, and she found strength in her Christian faith, her family, and her church. In less than a month, she was back in the water and on the path to return to championship form.

"It was hard at first; I think that was a natural feeling," said Noah Hamilton, Bethany's oldest brother. "And there was definitely some questioning: 'God, why Bethany, she had such an amazing future, why?' But in the hospital, when we saw that joy of the Lord in Bethany, with no self pity and grateful to be alive, that really pulled me out of despair."

And it affected others the same way. Mail began to pour into the Hamilton's house, letters of encouragement and prayer from thousands of people worldwide. Without knowing it at first, Bethany had also become their encourager. Many of those who wrote began by telling of a seemingly insurmountable circumstance, but after hearing Bethany's story, they found renewed hope and courage to face it head on.

"We never know what life brings," Hamilton said. "Maybe there are some rough times for you now or in the future. I think that if you seek God first and focus on Him, you'll be able to endure those struggles and hardships."

To learn more, visit: SoulSurferWave.com

Jefferts Schori addresses finding God in the midst of global hardships

Tall, straight-faced, powerful – Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church Katharine Jefferts Schori’s stoical demeanor can be intimidating.

I first met her in April, 2009 at the ordination of Bishop Ian T. Douglas in Hartford. Trying to appear composed and professional in front of the other reporters, I threw out the first question.

“Bishop Schori…,” I began.

She corrected me.

“Jefferts Schori.”

I’ve come to learn that her terse responses aren’t intended to be frosty. Jefferts Schori is all business, and reporters, like myself, need to recognize that.

However, after reading her new book, The Heartbeat of God: Finding the Sacred in the Middle of Everything (Skylight Paths, $21.99),I feel like I’ve come to know a softer side of the bishop.

She writes about the things that we push out of our minds because it’s too thorny to deal with – homelessness, the ordination of women, immigration, homosexuality, broken churches, broken relationships, ecology, health care. She packs a lot into the 210-page book.

She doesn’t just point out the problems plaguing the world – like HIV and AIDS, Jefferts Schori also provides guidance and asks questions that make readers examine their hearts.

“How will you provoke love in this world?,” she asks.

“Bishop Jefferts Schori wrestles – sincerely and fearlessly – with the call of the gospel and with every kind of impediment we have to a vibrant response to that call. Her exploration of the core teachings of Christian texts will challenge and illuminate people far beyond the Episcopal world,” said Connecticut Rabbi Andrea Cohen-Kiener, author of Claiming Earth as Common Ground: The Ecological Crisis through the Lens of Faith.

And Cohen-Kiener is right. Although The Heartbeat of God is geared toward Episcopalians, the book is germane to people of all faiths.  Walking with the poor and ending hunger is everyone’s mandate.

“The work of alleviating physical hunger must be addressed to all of us, and by all of us, beginning with attention to how, why, and what we eat,” Jefferts Schori writes. “If our congregations, or communities, or organizations want to work on hunger, we can start by looking at our own relationships to food.”

Later, when addressing the 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, she writes, “…harm to one part of the sacred circle of life harms the whole.”

Everything is connected and it’s the entire world’s responsibility to be aware of that connectedness and “find the heartbeat of God” in all that we do. Not an easy task, but perhaps with Jefferts Schori’s words ringing in our ears, we can be cognitive of that union and think twice about how our actions impact other human beings as well as the planet.

Jefferts Schori doesn’t seem so phlegmatic anymore.  She’s saddened by the world just as we are, but her book discloses her patience and endurance and encourages us that together we can overcome adversity.

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Book helps examine church's culture codes

We churchy types keep hearing that church leaders need to lead in a new way in order to effectively share the Gospel. And while we may agree that we need new skills for new challenges, the fresh vision we seek can be encumbered by our memory of how the church worked 40 years ago. Even if we are too young to actually remember, the structure of church remembers for us.  In my own denomination (Episcopalian),  we joke that “we have always done it this way!” We know that our devotion to steady habits is not the same as faith, but we also wonder how to accomplish this change.  Where do we begin?

In Samuel Chand's new book Cracking Your Church’s Culture Code: Seven Keys to Unleashing Vision and Inspiration (Jossey-Bass) he affirms what most ministers know: church culture, often unarticulated but still powerful, influences the success of leadership. Church programs and structures do not change church culture so much as they reflect it. After 30 years as a pastor, educator and leadership consultant,  Chand recommends that church leaders assess the culture of the parish and take steps to transform the culture in order to bring about the change we need.

This book is not a panacea and does not offer a simplistic recipe for success.  It does provide a coherent method of assessing the culture of a parish and strategies for moving toward a new and exciting way of being church. Chand outlines the characteristics of healthy (and unhealthy) church cultures, and offers practical skills for focused leadership in an environment that is changing. He is honest about the cost of change in a system (it is painful and feels chaotic), the cost of refusing to change, and the cost of genuine leadership. (You didn’t think this would be easy, did you?) Still this is a hopeful and encouraging book, which can be adapted within different denominational contexts.

The best tools Chand offers are the online culture assessment survey, the reflection questions within each chapter,  and the outlines and illustrations of the concepts he uses. Somewhat useful (although not to my taste) is his tendency to use acronyms to expand a concept. He is especially articulate in his analysis of change as rooted in an individual’s personal commitment to insight within their own context. But he is realistic: a leader sets the tone,  but commitment to any real change is sustained and deepened by others.

I will be re-reading this book and using it in parish life.

Book review written by Rev. Amy D. Welin, priest in charge at Christ Episcopal Church in Ansonia.

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Author teaches what's right with Islam

There’s no denying that too many Westerners view Muslims with uncertainty and distrust. That’s why Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf’s re-released book, What’s Right with Islam: A New Vision for Muslims and the West (HarperOne, $14.95) is so important.

Islamic culture, Rauf notes, has a lot to offer the U.S – cross-cultural dialogue, enhanced pluralism, and new ideas. Afterall, he writes, human dignity is at the core of all Americans.

Christians, Jews and Muslims (which make up the Abrahamic faiths) have the same values and Rauf quotes the Quran, the Torah and the Bible to illustrate this.

“A harmonious pluralistic society requires us to know ourselves and the others in our midst,” he writes. “No Christian can claim to be following the precedent of Christ unless she or he accepts the presence of other intelligent, compassionate, educated people who are deeply spiritual Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists or atheists.”

The same principle applies to other religions, the author notes, including Islam.

And all of us share the same duty – to heal the relationship between “America and the Muslim world.”

“We all must remember that at bottom, we’re all just people: people with similar dreams, similar aspirations, similar frustrations, and similar needs. And as in human relationships, it’s about what each side wants from the other and how to structure a working arrangement that gives each party what it wants,” Rauf writes.

In What’s Right with Islam (284 pages), Rauf reminds us that Declaration of Independence states that we are all equal. That, he said, is the American religion.

His book, which was originally published in 2004 as What’s Right With Islam Is What’s Right With America, thoroughly explains the religion of Islam, crushes misconceptions about the faith and makes a strong case as to why Westerns should embrace their Muslim neighbors.

Anyone who cares about pluralism should have this book.

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Judy Dworin performance worth your time

HARTFORD — It begins with a story about a place where wayward women go to learn how to live properly. In the beginning, the number was trivial. But today 1,400 women are incarcerated at York Correctional Institute. Time In by the Judy Dworin Performance Project, tells their stories in an emotive, potent way. And for now, tonight (Saturday) is the last night to see this creative, stirring performance.

Through dance, spoken word, sign language and amazing harmonies by the Women of the Cross trio, the performance tells the tails of incarcerated women overlooked by society. It shows how in prison, time stops. Gone are the days of  taking the kids to practice, getting them to school on time, and going to work. Now the second hand barely ticks. The calendar, it seems, never changes months.

Why did this happen? After the performance, through a discussion with four female ex-convicts, we learned that imprisoned women are just that. They’re women, moms, daughters, spouses, friends, siblings. But most of them never got a chance to “live properly” in society. The courts convicted them for their crimes, but never stopped to hear their circumstances.  Maybe the courts should go to tonight’s performance and hear about the abuse too many of them endured. Fathers, husbands, uncles, friends, mom’s lovers – they raped them. They molested them. They dragged them by their hair and scorched them with cigarettes. The women of York made bad choices because of fear, anger, confusion.

The performance doesn’t shy away from their tragic, hard-to-hear stories. The audience learns how so many of them turned to drugs and alcohol to numb the pain. But ultimately, their addictions landed them in prison. Now, 1,440 minutes at a time (or one year) they’re wondering what they’re missing. They’re learning a new language, “check in, check out, don’t touch the glass, don’t shout.” But they don’t know how to surf the Web, use a cell phone, play a DVD. And worse, although time stops inside the prison, outside their children are growing. They’re driving. They’re dating. They’re having sex. They’re graduating. Mom’s not there to help them through these milestones.

The performance, although heavy, isn’t all doom and gloom.  It’s a message of hope. It’s a message that although 1,400 women are behind bars at York, they can be free. They can dance. They can sing. They can write. They can paint. For now, that’s their freedom.

See it for yourself tonight at 7:30 p.m. at Charter Oak Cultural Center, 21 Charter Oak Ave. in Hartford. Tickets $20, or $10 for seniors and GHAC Let’s Go! members, and $5 for students.

To learn more about Time In click here.

Creedible’s success depends on you! Please help support us by placing an ad on our site or by making a donation to us! Donations can be made through paypal at advertising@creedible.com, or call (203) 278-4214 for details.

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