Best this month Selma
This is a stirring movie about civil rights
leader Martin Luther King Jr. and his cru- sade for equality. In 1964 the South is still in the grip of racial hatred. Four African- American girls are killed in a church bombing in Birmingham, Ala. Black citi- zens, like hospice nurse Annie Lee Coo- per, are repeatedly intimidated and turned away in their attempts to register to vote. King and his associates in the Southern Christian Leadership Conference decide to stage a large-scale demonstration in Selma, Ala. Their goal is to convince President Lyndon Johnson to get behind voting rights legislation. The best thing about Selma is its convincing portrayal of
how nonviolent action can effect social change. It’s an inspir- ing moment when the Selma community is joined by priests, nuns, ministers and rabbis on the march (photo above) to Montgomery, Ala., united in a pursuit of freedom, equality
Lullaby This is the first children’s book based on the music
of Debbie Friedman, the late singer/songwriter who was called “the Joan Baez of Jewish song.” Her music is loved by people of all traditions and is regularly used in syna- gogues, churches, schools, and homes for worship and commu- nity building. Lovely watercolor illustra-
tions by Lorraine Bubar capture the heartfelt lyrics: “So many things to feel about before you go to sleep. God will take care of the ones you love and keep you safe throughout the night.” An accompanying CD
Author bio:
The Brussats publish the website www.SpiritualityandPractice. com where you can find more information about the items reviewed in this column.
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www.thelutheran.org
features Friedman’s rendi- tion of the lullaby (Jewish Lights,
www.jewishlights. com).
By Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
and justice. Here we see the important roles of prayer, Scrip- ture, hymns and community solidarity. In these times, when violence seems to be the response to perceived enemies and to settle grievances, we look back at the civil rights move- ment with the utmost respect and admiration (Paramount Pictures, PG-13—disturbing thematic material including vio- lence, a suggestive moment, brief strong language).
A Book of Uncommon Prayer: 100 Celebrations of the Miracle & Muddle of the Ordinary
Brian Doyle is a talented Roman Catholic writer
who has great enthusiasm for life. This collection of 100 prayers grows out of his fertile imagination and spurs us to think about how we can spice up our informal prayers to keep both ourselves and the holy one from dozing off. Doyle mines both the miracle and the muddle when he writes prayers about suntan lotion, portable toilets, decent shoes, proofreaders and the Girl Scouts of America. He offers a “Prayer on Seeing Yet Another Egregious Parade of Muddy Paw Prints on the Floor,” celebrating a dog as a “companion of endless eager cheer and amiability.” One of our favorites is a paean of praise to nurses. He calls them
the “clan of the calm and tribe of the tender.” We’re going to take this prayer with us the next time we visit a hospi- tal (Sorin Books,
www.avemariapress.com).
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