Food, Faith & Culture

Aired 2012-13. Food travels across our oceans, nations and cultures. Within our world religions food is sometimes a part of family’s religious rituals, celebrations and central to varied cultural events. Food may have meaning within the content of a recipe, or within the presentation. In some settings, food goes beyond being about taste and, and it becomes spiritual and expresses a part of the sacred.

HIV & AIDS: Awareness and Compassion

Aired 2012-13. Since AIDS appeared on the world’s health scene some decades ago various religions have been in the forefront of understanding and assisting those afflicted. We visited a few programs working to help those with AIDS to live life fully and to be respected, revealing some of the challenges this malady imposes on individuals and families. Read more about the program from the United Methodist Church

 

ONE CHRISTMAS STORY: People Rich in Spirit

Aired 2012-13. “One Christmas Story” Celebrates the Power of HopeProduced by Odyssey Networks

Like so many of America’s once bustling industrial centers, Reading, PA, has been on a downward spiral for decades. The city has lost factories, jobs and population. The latest economic recession amplified its burdens. Something that Reading has never lost, however, is hope—hope and an abiding belief in the power of community. ONE CHRISTMAS STORY: People Rich in Spirit, a production from Odyssey Networks, took viewers to the heart of this small American city for a celebration that reflects the true meaning of the holiday season—hope and caring. CBS aired the one-hour program, without commercials, on Christmas Eve.

What They Believe: Hindus, Zoroastrians, Bahais

Aired 2012-13. Our country is a nation of people from every continent and culture on earth. As immigrants, we brought with us both our customs and our religions. This broadcast visited with some of our lesser known faith communities - Hindu, Baha'i and Zoroastrians among them - that make up part of America’s varied cultures and our varied faith traditions.

Working for Religious Freedom

Aired 2012-13. Over the centuries, American citizens, formed by religion, have fought to construct a democracy respecting all religions. The law-makers sought to maintain a respect for religious freedom, allowing the free practice of our varied faiths.  Today, as in the past, groups are formed to rectify perceived infringements of religious freedom. We visited with some groups, and listened to their issues.

Christmas in Chelsea Square

Aired 2011-12. The Chapel of the Good Shepherd, a 194-year-old seminary in the heart of New York City’s historic Chelsea district, was the site for readings from Scripture, a variety of choral works and musical performances. The holiday special “CHRISTMAS IN CHELSEA SQUARE,” a service of Lessons and Carols from the General Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Church, was broadcasted on Saturday, Dec. 24 (11:35 PM-12:35 AM ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.

“CHRISTMAS IN CHELSEA SQUARE,” FROM THE HISTORIC GENERAL THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY IN NEW YORK,  BROADCAST DATE: SATURDAY, DEC. 24 2013, ON THE CBS TELEVISION NETWORK

 

The holiday special “CHRISTMAS IN CHELSEA SQUARE,” a service of Lessons and Carols from the General Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Church, was broadcasted on Saturday, Dec. 24 (11:35 PM-12:35 AM ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.

 

The Chapel of the Good Shepherd, a 194-year-old seminary in the heart of New York City’s historic Chelsea district, was the site for readings from Scripture, a variety of choral works and musical performances.

 

Bishop Catherine Roskam and the retiring Bishop Suffragan of the Dioceses of New York hosted the program, which was rich in liturgy and Christmas carols. The Dean of the Seminary, Rt. Rev. Peter James Lee, introduced the Seminary’s mission to the viewers.

 

Members of the seminary community offered readings from scripture interspersed with choral works, and other musical performances featuring a pipe organ, woodwinds and brass. Christmas carols were also played on chimes. The Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, Rt. Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori, delivered a brief homily.

 

The special ended in the Seminary Refectory with a warming hearth fire and a bright Christmas tree. It was here that “A Visit from St. Nicholas,” the beloved poem by Clement Clarke Moore, was read to a group of young children. This reading of the poem has become a Christmas tradition at the seminary over the years. Moore was a professor of biblical languages at the Seminary.

 

The producer for the Seminary Christmas Special was Bruce Parker; the executive producer for CBS is John P. Blessington.

Unemployment: How Faith Communities Reach Out to Help (wt)

Aired 2011-12. With so many people in America out of work it has become a personal and family crisis for many. To give practical, emotional and spiritual support many faith communities started local programs to assist job seekers. The free workshops we visited were run by local professionals or by imported talent - and they were inspiring. Watch online

A Christmas for Everybody from The Church of St Paul & St Andrew United Methodist

Aired 2011-12. The Church of St. Paul & St. Andrew United Methodist Church hosted  A Christmas Eve for Everybody. Located on the west side of Manhattan, the church has a multi -faceted ministry to and with the community. The program opened with the church pastor, the Rev. Dr. James “K” Karpen speaking about what A Christmas for Everybody means to the church and a video montage of the many gifts of ministry. A rabbi and imam who related to the church shared their thoughts and there was music with the choir and musicians, prayers and blessings.

Faith in Action: Young People Making a Difference

Aired 2011-12. Over recent decades various groups have worked to reduce tensions among various people in conflict. Programs have been developed to bring youth groups together to expose them to each other in ways that can increase common understanding and reduce hostility. Palestinians and Jewish youth and youngsters from Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic were among those programs we visited.

Haiti: Religion's Response to Disaster

Aired 2011-12. The world has seen what a major earthquake can do and the effect is all the greater when the victims are among the poorest. Haiti has a complex history, and people around the world know it, and turned their hands and hearts to help. The stories of heroic Haitians and of self-sacrificing outsiders were told, to remind us of the ongoing needs of our hurting neighbors.

Time to Say Goodbye

Aired 2011-12. As we are born, we know we will die. This program examined the thoughtful approaches used today to make the end of life less frightening, painful or isolating for patient and family. Hospice and other programs intertwined medical and psychological care with religion and spirituality to make this passage a time of reflection, reconciliation, and often of celebration for countless patients and their loved ones.