On these evenings, some of us enjoyed potlucks together and then these films:
June 25, “Celtic Pilgrimage with John O’Donohue”
“In the Irish psyche, landscape has a unique presence. One of the wonderful insights of the Celtic imagination is that landscape is alive.”
In Celebration of the Summer Solstice we’ll being our summer documentary series with this gorgeous film. With A Celtic Pilgrimage, you have the opportunity to walk with Irish poet and philosopher John O’Donohue through the breathtaking landscape of western Ireland. Weaving ancient wisdom with personal history and stunning imagery, this
documentary reveals the Ireland that gave rise to the spiritual wisdom of the Celts—and inspired John O’Donohue throughout his remarkable life.
“A pilgrim travels differently,” observes O’Donohue. “Always in a pilgrimage, there is a change of mind and a change of heart.” With mischievous humor, keen awareness, and a poet’s gift for the truth, O’Donohue invites you to see the landscape of Ireland through his eyes—as a living source of wisdom, beauty, and transformative spiritual power. A
discussion will follow led by Rev. M’ellen Kennedy.
July 9, “Inside Islam: What a Billion Muslims Really Think”
This documentary presents the fascinating an surprising results of official Gallup Poll interviews conducted with Muslims world-wide after 9/11. It “explores the expertly gathered opinions of Muslims around the globe. Researchers began by asking the questions on every American’s mind. Why is there so much anti-Americanism in the Muslim world? Who are the extremists and how do Muslims feel about them? What do Muslims like and dislike about the West? What do Muslim women really want?
Focused on the issues of Gender Justice, Terrorism, and Democracy -the film presents this remarkable data deftly, showing how it challenges the popular notion that Muslims and the West are on a collision course. Like the research, the film highlights a shared relationship that is based on facts – not fear. A discussion will follow led by Laelia
Tawnamaia. Film begins at 6:00 pm.
July 30, “El Sistema”
“El Sistema is a network of children’s and youth orchestras, music centres and workshops in Venezuela, in which more than 250,000 children and young people are currently learning to play an instrument. It was set up over thirty years ago by José Antonio Abreu, who was driven by the utopian vision of a better future. The story, which has all the makings of a fairy tale, is the extraordinary account of a vision that has become reality. Several of El Sistema’s young graduates now rank amongst the most coveted young talent in Europe – the most prominent being the conductor Gustavo Dudamel. This documentary, El Sistema, shows how Abreu’s astonishing ideas have led the way
out of the vicious circle of poverty and how the power of music has been able to change the lives of hundreds of thousands of young people. The film shows the gripping way El Sistema functions on a daily basis in a typical nucléo: the La Rinconada nucléo is located adjoining the barrio of the same name. The area around the nucléo is considered one of the most dangerous and poorest areas in Caracas. Up to 300 children find their daily destination here.” A discussion will follow led by Rev. M’ellen Kennedy.
August 20, “Mystic Iran: The Unseen World”
This is a beautiful and intriguing film that is sure to make You think. The first known written declaration of freedom of faith was discovered on a stone scroll dating back to the time of Cyrus the Great, King of ancient Babylon. Persian filmmaker Aryana Farshad recently journeyed through Iran, which borders the ancient lands of Cyrus the Great, to film the great variety of ancient religious rituals still practiced deep within her native country. Over a period of nine months, Farshad filmed spiritual rites hidden for centuries from the outside world and in 2002 she completed the documentary Mystical Iran: The Unseen World. Farshad’s camera crew traveled into women’s chambers in the great mosques, captured a spontaneous fire ritual in a cave occupied by followers of Zarathustra, and filmed dervishes in the Kurdistan mountains performing sacred dances to pulsating
drumbeats. From the narrow alleyways of Qom to the stunning interior of the great mosque, Mystic Iran: The Unseen World takes the viewer on a breathtakingly beautiful spiritual journey. A discussion will follow led by Rev. M’ellen Kennedy.
