Hunger No More: Faces Behind the Facts

Aired 2004-05. DVD copies of the 60-minute program are available for purchase, with study guide for $24.95. Call 1 (800) 999-3534 to order; or go to www.mennomedia.org/resources/ Presented by the National Council of Churches Tremendous progress has been made in addressing the crisis of world hunger in the last 25 years. The world community has the knowledge, technology and resources to end malnutrition. The faces of hunger can be reduced in number as faith groups work together in creative initiatives through local, regional and international programs. Hunger No More: Faces Behind the Facts includes interviews with Senator Elizabeth Dole and former Senator George McGovern. The program highlights community economic development; advocacy with state and federal governments to change systems that allow poor people to escape the cycle of poverty and hunger; and positive choices individuals have made to eradicate chronic hunger in our lifetime. The faces are more than facts when people work together to create a world where, as the disciple John envisioned, there is “hunger no more.”

Hunger No More: Faces Behind the Facts is now airing on ABC owned and affiliated stations through Sunday, December 19, 2004. Check your local ABC station for local air date and time.

 

DVD/VHS copies of the 60-minute program are available for purchase, with study guide for $19.95 VHS/$24.95 DVD. Call 1 (800) 999-3534 to order; or go towww.mennomedia.org/resources/

Overlord: A Mighty Host

Aired 2004-05. DVD copies of the 60-minute program are available for purchase: $19.95 plus $4.95 shipping & handling. Call 1 (800) 637-4011 to order. Presented by the Southern Baptist Broadcast Communications Group On June 6, 1944, the greatest military operation in the history of the world succeeded in landing over 150,000 Allied troops on the beaches of northern France. Before the battle of Normandy was won in late August, these troops endured some of the most costly fighting of World War II.Overlord: A Mighty Host looks back sixty years on this awesome military event from the point of view of soldiers, sailors, and paratroopers who were involved in the invasion. The documentary examines the role of faith in the lives of these men — on that day in 1944 and today.

Overlord: A Mighty Host begins airing on ABC owned and affiliated stations December 5, 2004.

Check your local ABC station for local air date and time.

 

DVD copies of the 60-minute program are available for purchase: $19.95 plus $4.95 shipping & handling. Call 1 (800) 637-4011 to order.

Service from the Cathedral of St. Phillip, Atlanta, Georgia

Aired 2004-05. 1 (404) 815-0640 The National Council of Churches presents “Christmas Eve at the Cathedral of St. Philip” inAtlanta, Georgia. Episcopal Bishop of Atlanta, J. Neil Alexander and the Very Rev. Samuel G. Candler will lead the service. The Cathedral Choir will perform classical Christmas anthems under the direction of Bruce Neswick. Hymns will include a variety of traditional Christmas carols. This program is produced by the Episcopal Media Center.

The Changing Face of Worship

Aired 2004-05. Presented by the Southern Baptist Broadcast Communications Group Today, postmodernism is largely defined as the denial of personal objectivity, the uncertainty of knowledge as well as the denial of the inherent goodness of knowledge, and the rejection of progress. These philosophical values have been widely transferred into our mainstream culture. Throughout North America, a rapidly growing movement known as "alternative worship" is helping people find absolute truth in a postmodern world in which all principles are questioned, all beliefs proclaimed equally valid, and everything is relative. The Changing Face of Worship explored some ways modern-day worship is changing using visual arts, edgy music, or even a chat room online to offer experiences that are both culturally relevant and theologically sound.

Voices of Peace

Aired 2004-05. In our time, especially since the decline and fall of Communism, religious violence has become a growth industry. Long suppressed religious rivalries and hatreds have coupled with political turmoil to create an evil stew of murder, torture and even genocide. In Afghanistan, Sudan, Bosnia, Punjab, West Africa, Indonesia and many other places the developed world has been forced to take note of desperate people reacting to their harsh life conditions with violence. In the United States, the 9/11/01 terrorist suicide bombings brought the new reality home to Americans. A growing number of people, both in the developed world and elsewhere, count themselves as “peace-builders” with a lifelong mission of learning what causes people to kill, even in the name of God, and, through formal learning, understanding and patient dialogue to help opposing sides resolve their disputes without war.

Personally Speaking

Aired 2004-05. Presented by United States Conference of Catholic Bishops   Does spirituality come into play in the lives of the rich and famous? Msgr. Jim Lisante knows that it does. For over twenty years, he’s been interviewing prominent people from the worlds of entertainment, sports, literature and other fields, asking questions that most interviewers avoid. With his affable manner, “Msgr. Jim” brought a fresh approach to the celebrity interview by encouraging his guests to talk about how faith and family intersect with celebrity and careers. Guests included “Meet the Press” managing editor and moderator Tim Russert and singer Aaron Neville.

A Sacred Noise: The New Jewish Music

Aired 2003-04. Produced by Diva Communications

Under the heading "World Music," or squeezed between the mezzuzot and kiddush cups in Judaica shops, recordings of Jewish music have entered mainstream American culture having been rediscovered and reintroduced by a new generation of Jewish minstrels. The documentary A Sacred Noise gives viewers a glimpse of the perspective of today's Jewish musicians. Appearing in venues as divergent as cozy Upper West Side clubs to capacity-filled college arenas, these musicians are embracing their rich musical heritage and forging new connections to the ancestral melodies and their messages. The result is an authentic and invigorating new genre for communicating the contemporary Jewish experience. A Sacred Noise was shot on location around New York City, epicenter for the new Jewish music scene. The program features a variety of talented artists and groups including Frank London, Debbie Friedman, Peri Smilow, the Klezmatics, Pharaoh's Daughter and several others, performing their original compositions and refurbished songs. The toe-tapping soundtrack is interlaced with commentary as the musicians describe their unique connections to Judaism and how music acts as a conduit to spiritual awareness.

To purchase a copy of the film call 212 397-7259

A World to Share: Religious Perspectives on Saving the Environment

Aired 2003-04. We share this universe with a wide variety of animals, plants and other forms of life, and if we are not careful, we may cause harm to the world by degrading the environment. Today we are faced with learning anew to respect nature and to see the spiritual kinship we have with the entire universe. A World to Share presented voices that are now being raised about our natural world and man's role in protecting it. The Bible suggests we subdue the earth and have dominion over all living things, while our Constitution gives rights to the human animal but is silent about all other forms of life. A World to Share visited scholars and activists who understood the effect of the Bible and our Constitution upon our thinking about nature. Featured were: Thomas Berry, noted ecologist and theologian, who called for a spiritual awareness of the interrelatedness of humans with all other forms of life; Dan Misleh with the US Conference of Catholic Bishops who believed we will awaken when a new virus makes us aware of the dangers of disrespecting nature; Mary Evelyn Tucker, Professor of Religion, at Bucknell, who saw our love of conveniences damaging our natural world; Former Congressman, Bob Edgar, now General Secretary of the National Council of Churches, who saw the population explosion and the suffering of the poor as warning signs we must not ignore. Other insights are presented by Arianna Silverman, of the Sierra Club; the Rev. Dr. Jim Ball (a Southern Baptist) of the Evangelical Environmental Network; and Dr. John Grim, Professor of Religion and Co-director with Dr. Tucker, of the Forum on Religion and Ecology; Catherine Duck and Juli Van Wyck, who worked with the Indiana faith-based climate and energy campaign; Larry Stammer of the LA Times.

Faith and Creative Aging

Aired 2003-04. When Social Security was created the average life expectancy in the United States was in the 60s. Nowadays more people live into their 80s and 90s. The question becomes - what do we do with perhaps decades of "leftover life?" The Gift of Years: Aging Creatively in America explored this idea with a variety of vital elders: Robbins and Meg Barstow, in their 80s, lived in the same house in Wethersfield, Connecticut for half a century. Robbins belongs to a men's discussion group called, the Royal Order of Old Fogies in which the members, retired managers in their 70s and 80s, present papers they've written and invite comment. Meg belongs to a book club and to a senior women's exercise group. We heard from Nancy Spears, the executive director of Pennswood Village, a Quaker-run retirement community in Newtown, and several residents, not all Quakers. Residents were encouraged to do volunteer work and participate in decision-making at the community. They interacted with young people at nearby Quaker schools. Lydia Wein, 88, a widow in Linden, New Jersey, was studying for her Bat Mitzvah. She lived alone, drove at night, and was very active with friends and acquaintances at her synagogue. At a public library branch in the south Bronx, we watched as storytellers (Pearls of Wisdom) mesmerized youngsters with true tales of city life in days gone by. Joyce C Duncan, Amatullah Saleem and Thelma Thomas talk about the role of elders. Rabbi Zaiman Schacter-Shalmi, 78, founder of the Spiritual Eldering Institute in Boulder, Colorado, taught that elders embody wisdom, and enduring values and they can live joyfully and fearlessly until the end. CBS network air date: Sunday, April 13, 2003.

Legacy of Our Ancestors: 350th Anniversary Celebration of Jewish Colonial America

Aired 2003-04. Produced by Diva Communications

This documentary explores the foundations of Jewish America which began 350 years ago in New Amsterdam. The period between 1650 and 1820 was a fertile time in Jewish history as freedom of religious expression was taking root in a land of budding economic opportunity. Early American Sephardic Jews established an extraordinary presence along the Eastern Coast from Savannah to Newport with New Amsterdam (later to be named New York) at the epicenter. This program paints a picture of life as an early American Jew, illuminating the challenges they faced balancing a religious life in a secular world; challenges that American Jews continue to grapple with today. "Legacy of our Ancestors" features renowned historians Eli Faber, Jonathan Sarna, Hasia Diner and many others, along with testimonials from direct descendants of original colonists who personalize the history and make it relevant to today.

Diva Communications- 212-397-7259

To purchase a DVD copy

Never Far From God

Aired 2004-04. Purchasing Contact Name: EcuFILMPurchasing Contact Phone: 800-251-4091 Purchasing Website: http://www.ecufilm.org/

Never Far From God profiles two individuals who have entered the lives of people in need, people separated from family, people experiencing difficult situations.

Through these two stories, viewers can come to see how chaplains are the quiet but powerful presence of God's healing love for many experiencing pain, separation, or emotional distress.

Oh Davey

Aired 2003-04. “Oh Davey: History of the Davey & Goliath Television Series" began the ABC Vision & Values documentary series 2003-2004. The program featured "Davey and Goliath," a value-based children's program that aired on commercial television networks from 1960 through the mid-1980s. The original "Davey and Goliath" television series, created and owned by the former Lutheran Church in America (LCA), reached an estimated 1.7 million children and was aired in seven languages in 19 countries around the world. "Oh Davey" was hosted by Clifton Davis, from the television sitcom "Amen," and Mary McDonough, best known for her role as Erin on the television series "The Waltons." Set in a 3-D virtual environment, "Oh Davey" moved through the history of "Davey and Goliath", beginning with its inception in 1958 and continuing through the decades to the program's current productions. Created by both Art and Ruth Clokey, the original series was made through a technique known as stop-motion animation, a process where puppets are staged and moved little by little in each frame of film to give the illusion of movement when shown at broadcast speed. "Oh Davey" aired on ABC stations beginning September 14, 2003.  

For more information about "Oh Davey" log on to: www.daveyandgoliath.org

Peacemakers

Aired 2003-04. “Peacemakers" was a well-illustrated broadcast which presented insights and hope about an urgent human issue. There has been much discussion about war and peace in many places around the world. As of late, a debate has developed about whether the war in Iraq is a just war. For some people, however, the central issue is how to prevent wars and how to work to bring peace, and forgiveness where there has been war. The broadcast presented some of the world's peacemakers and their programs. John Paul Lederach, professor of peacebuilding at the University of Notre Dame, is a Mennonite, and has worked in West Africa, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Northern Ireland and elsewhere. He works to bring people together and he finds courageous people working in difficult circumstances for peace. Rev. Patricia Ackerman, an Episcopal priest, is part of the Fellowship of Reconciliation's Iraq working group. Through this group, Ackerman worked to empower and protect the women of Iraq. Dr. William Vendley, Secretary General, World Conference of Religions for Peace, assisted religious communities around the world to work together to bring an end to violence. He also worked to promote the role of women within various religious organizations. Lastly, we heard from Masanko Banda, Vice President, Pathways To Peace, who worked for peace around the world using drums, music and dance. He has taken his drums to Sierra Leone and to Croatia's refugee camps to rehabilitate young people traumatized by violence. Whether it be tribes, clans, nations, or religions fighting each other, there are people at war and people hurting. The peacemakers showed up to prevent conflicts and to help heal the wounds of conflicts. The program presented just a few of the world's peacemakers, their organizations, programs and insights. CBS network air date: Sunday, October 12, 2003.  

The Changing Face of Worship

Aired 2003-04. Copies of this program are no longer available for purchase. We apologize for the inconvenience.  

After centuries of establishing a place for itself on the often uncomfortable terrain of reason, progress, and scientific proof that characterized the Age of Modernism, Christianity now finds itself facing the more challenging task of shaping a theological presence in the emerging postmodern context, introducing itself to a generation heretofore unacquainted with it. This documentary examines the challenge of attracting the MTV generation to the Church in the twenty-first century and introduces the viewer to a number of congregations that are flourishing in this postmodern era—highly non-traditional churches that are succeeding where mainline religious institutions have previously failed. They offer this new generation a "come as you are" invitation to the Christian experience, incorporating rock music, dance, film, poetry, painting and sculpture into the ritual of corporate worship. Featured are: Leonard Sweet, a professor of theology at Drew University in Madison, New Jersey, who has published several books on this topic, including "The Dawn Mistaken for Dusk, Carpe Mañana, and Soul Tsunami, which is widely regarded as the postmodern "bible." Darrel Guder, who holds the Henry Winters Luce Chair of Missional and Ecumenical Theology at Princeton Theological Seminary and is author of "Missional Church: A Vision for the Sending of the Church in North America." The documentary also features several emerging churches, including: Mars Hill Fellowship in Seattle, Washington, which began in 1996 with about 100 members and now averages 1600 on Sundays. The congregation—largely young and single—meets in a building that was once a 40,000-square-foot furniture store. Rock music plays an integral part in worship at Mars Hill. Mosaic in Los Angeles, California, known for its spiritual creativity and cosmopolitan diversity, is a large urban congregation whose membership is 85% single. The median age of the 1500 who attend weekly is twenty-three. Erwin McManus, who serves as Lead Pastor and Cultural Architect of Mosaic, is interviewed. McManus is the celebrated author of An Unstoppable Force and Seizing Your Divine Moment. The Changing Face of Worship will air on ABC stations & affiliates beginning December 7. Check with the local ABC affiliate for broadcast times.

Youth Making a Difference

Aired 2003-04. Every generation worries about their teenagers and young people. However, today's teens are signing up in record numbers to feed the poor, help the elderly, build homes for the needy and assist youngsters both here and in foreign lands. Youth Making A Difference visited Muslim teenagers helping at Elijah's Promise-Soup Kitchen. These youngsters belonged to the Islamic Society of Central New Jersey, led by Imam Hamad Ahmad Chebli, the religious director. The Rev. Lisanne Finston, a Presbyterian, was executive director of Elijah's Promise. At Iona, a small Catholic college in the New York City suburb of New Rochelle, there were more than 300 volunteers coordinated in their efforts by Katie Byrnes. Students worked side-by-side with alumni, faculty families and community members to help improve the lives of those in substandard housing or with other local needs. High school and college students at the Bedford Presbyterian Church, directed by Rev. Paul Acorn, went to Hurley, VA, to relieve some of Appalachia's poverty and also work with Bridges to Community, led by Rev. Carter Via, the executive director, to bring volunteers to bear on poverty in many towns in Nicaragua. Jewish high school students in New Jersey spent six weeks one summer working with emotionally, physically and mentally challenged children at a day camp. They also worked with inner-city children and adults in a soup kitchen and went to Washington to lobby congressman about their concerns. In addition to profiling the students, Youth Making A Difference also highlighted the efforts of Rabbi Randi Musnitsky, regional director, and Amy Nissim, director of youth activities for Urban Mitzvah Corps, part of the Garden Empire Region of the North American Federation of Temple Youth (UAHC). The broadcast showed how these and many of our youngsters learn and grow in service to others and return as college students and young adults to continue their service and giving back to others. No gesture is too small, as was shown by Blake Bartko, a 10-year-old Mt. Kisco boy who decided to throw birthday parties and give gifts to poor children who are often deprived of such common important celebrations of life. CBS network air date: Sunday, December 14, 2003.