The Angels Sing

Aired 2007-08. This program is not available for purchase The Angels Sing

Presented by National Council of Churches USA, produced by the Presbyterian Church USA

 

Based on the traditional "Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols" with a few contemporary twists, the service retells the Christmas story through scripture reading and music. A chamber choir, children, and soloists are accompanied by strings, woodwinds, pipe organ, acoustic guitars, harp, and piano. The congregation also participates in singing several Christmas carols.

Uganda: Ready to Forgive

Aired 2007-08. Uganda: Ready to Forgive Presented by National Council of Churches USA, produced by the Evangelical LutheranChurch in America

 

This was an African story of God's amazing grace. Through 20 years of war, the Acholi people of Northern Uganda endured rape, torture and child abduction. Thousands died, many were displaced in squalid camps. Others are still missing. Despite all of this, the Acholi are united in a belief that the only real solution is reconciliation and forgiveness. They are ready to forgive. Immaculée Ilibagiza, Rwandan genocide survivor and best-selling author, hosted the African story of grace.

 

Yearning to Belong

Aired 2007-08. Produced by Diva CommunicationsPresented by The New York Board of Rabbis

In a remote area of Uganda, five hours from Kampala, the Abayudaya tribe began practicing Judaism in 1919.  They did not see themselves as any “lost tribe.” Rather they saw themselves as newly connected believers. Almost 90 years later, in 2002, their desire to be accepted into the larger Jewish community was partially achieved when a group of rabbis flew to Uganda to conduct the formal conversion ceremony required to be recognized as a Jew. Partially achieved, because today, the Abayudaya have been embraced by the Conservative and Reform movements of Judaism, but not the Orthodox.  Interviews with New York Board of Rabbis’ Executive Vice President and Religion-on-the-Line Radio Host Rabbi Joseph Potasnik and Hebrew Union College President David Ellenson are included.

Diva Communications- 212 397-7259 To purchase a DVD copy

Building on Faith: Making Poverty Housing History

Aired 2006-07. Presented by the National Council of Churches USA  

Providing a safe and secure home is a basic necessity for building a just and functional society. Today, nearly two billion people in the USA and throughout the world are without a home that provides adequate security, space and access to basic sanitary facilities.  This documentary highlighted groups like Habitat for Humanity and the “Let Justice Roll” alliance formed by the National Council of Churches and the Center for Community Change and profiled families who have obtained decent housing that is permanent and affordable.  The program followed the biblical perspective – God created a good world and desires all to enjoy its goodness.

Celebrating Light and Hope

Aired 2006-07. A Christmas celebration brought to you by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The Catholic community of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee celebrates Christmas with a program that will include biblical readings anticipating and proclaiming Christ's birth as well as hymns and songs representing the city's many cultures. Most Rev. Timothy Dolan, archbishop of Milwaukee, will offer reflections on this day when the Light dispelled the Darkness. Celebrated in the Cathedral of St. John Evangelist. Produced by the U. S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in cooperation with the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.

Easter Mass from New Orleans

Aired 2006-07. Easter Mass from New Orleans Renovated, decorated and restored over and again, the Cathedral of St. Louis survived the devastation of Hurricane Katrina and stands as a symbol of the resilient faith of its people--both past and present. As Christians worldwide celebrate Easter's theme of life over death, New Orleans parishioners will gather to testify to hope amidst the unknown.  Choir members and jazz musicians will blend their voices and spirits to shout "Alleluia!" as the Resurrection light dispels the darkness. Produced by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in cooperation with the Archdiocese of New Orleans.

Hunger No More: Faces Behind the Facts

Aired 2006-07. 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 included interviews with Senator Elizabeth Dole and former Senator George McGovern. The program highlighted 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.”

Introducing Jesus of Nazareth

Aired 2006-07. 1-800-638-3522www.elca.org/introducingjesus

Presented by the National Council of Churches USA Produced by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Join gifted pastor, theologian and Grace Matters (www.gracematters.org) radio host Peter Marty as he travels through the Holy Land. Journey where Jesus walked, from Nazareth and Bethlehem to Capernaum, the Sea of Galilee, the Jordan Valley, the Mount of Transfiguration, and finally to Jerusalem. Introducing Jesus of Nazareth is a straightforward, concise retelling of the gospel story told against a backdrop of breathtaking scenes from the Holy Land.

Jesus Decoded

Aired 2006-07. Catholic belief versus modern fiction Produced by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

Was Jesus really married to Mary Magdalene? Did the Catholic Church suppress various secret Gospels that “tell the real truth” about Jesus and the early Church? These are questions that some readers of Dan Brown’s best-selling novel The Da Vinci Code ask. With the worldwide release of director Ron Howard’s film version May 19, many others are certain to be exposed to the sensational claims which call into question fundamental orthodox beliefs about Jesus and the Church. To help separate faith from fiction Jesus Decoded presented clear, accurate information on Christian and Catholic beliefs about the person of Jesus, his disciples, and the formation of the books included in the official canon of the Bible. Shot on location in Israel, Turkey, and Italy.

Personally Speaking 2006

Aired 2006-07. 202-541-3204 Presented by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

How do those who are in the public eye integrate spirituality into their lives?  You’ll hear several famous people expound on that topic when Msgr. Jim Lisante sits down with them for a heart-to-heart chat in an hour-long special, “Personally Speaking 2006.”

 

For more than 15 years, Msgr. Lisante has been interviewing prominent people in entertainment, sports, literature and other fields, and asking questions that most interviewers shy away from.  With his genial manner, "Msgr. Jim" approaches the celebrity interview from a different angle and his guests talk openly about how faith and family intersect with celebrity and careers.  Past guests have included comedian Dom DeLuise, singer Aaron Neville and best-selling author Mary Higgins Clark.  Guests for this year’s special will be announced soon.

The Music of Vespers from Bethlehem….the Christmas City

Aired 2006-07. The Music of Vespers from Bethlehem….the Christmas CityPresented by the National Council of Churches USA

Celebrate the sounds of the season from Moravian College in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania (theChristmas City) as the Moravian Choir and Women’s Chorus perform a repertoire of sacred and spiritual songs from a wide variety of cultures.

 

Troubled Waters

Aired 2006-07. 1-800-537-3394www.ucc.org

Presented by the National Council of Churches USA Produced by the United Church of Christ

For more information: http://www.troubledwatersdoc.com.

 

It's easy for some of us to take water for granted. It's always available from our faucet and we have a wide selection of brands of bottled water to choose from in stores.  But with continuing increases in the world's population, water resources are being strained as never before. It's a dwindling natural resource that is turning what should be a basic human right into a commodity to be bought and sold. These forces have threatened the well-being of poor communities across the globe.

Water pollution and water-related illnesses have also become world plagues. On average, more people die each year from water borne diseases than from being killed in wars. It's clear we are standing on the brink of a global water crisis.

This documentary will examine these issues through the eyes of people who are struggling with this crisis everyday in the United States and around the world. It will also take a look at the theological side of water. Christians, Jews and Muslims all use water as a central theological element. Water is an important element in the ritualistic life of communities around the globe, intimately tied to its place in God's plan for humankind. International religious leaders express their concerns about the water crisis and what role they will play in  preserving water, one of God's greatest gifts, for future generations.

Shadow Voices: Finding Hope in Mental Illness

Aired 2005-06 and 2011-12. Presented by the National Council of Churches USA; Produced by Third Way Media This program offered an inside look at what it is like to live with a mental illness and how individuals and their families find their way through medical, governmental, societal and spiritual issues.  Ten persons from across the U.S. and many sectors of the population with mental illness told their stories, plus experts and advocates in the field added perspectives and insights. Interviewees included former U.S. First Lady Rosalynn Carter and former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. David Satcher, along with Dr. William Anthony of Boston University, Dr. Joyce Burland, director of educational programs for NAMI, and Thomas Bornemann, director of the mental health center at the Carter Center.

An Easter Celebration

Aired 2005-06. An Easter Celebration (The Hope of Easter) Presented by the National Council of Churches USA; produced by The Crystal Cathedral

 

Through exciting musical performances – including The Gatlin Brothers, tenor Daniel Rodriguez, and pianist Roger Williams – and narration by legendary actor Charlton Heston, “An Easter Celebration” will invite viewers of all traditions to focus on the awe-inspiring significance of Christ’s resurrection.