For the week of August 2, let Auburn help you strengthen your message to trouble the waters and heal the world. More than 1 billion Muslims around the world will soon be observing Ramadan, one of the holiest months in the Islamic calendar and a time for spiritual purification achieved through fasting, self-sacrifice and prayers. Here are Auburn Web site resources to help you learn more about Ramadan for your community of faith.

Auburn's Religious Voice of the Week Muslim author and activistIrshad Manji urges for tolerance and understanding in this recent interview on CNN.  Click here to listen.  Click here to learn more about Irshad Manji and her voice for Muslim freedom and understanding through the documentary Faith Without Fear. Documentary Resources  Looking for a teaching tool to help your community grow in their understanding about Muslims?  Auburn recommends ChangeTheStory.net as an excellent resource in Muslim understanding.  Click here to watch this great music video that tells a powerful story.  Click here to learn more about Islam.  Both these resources are available at ChangeTheStory.net and click here to learn more.  Auburn also recommends the documentary New Muslim Cool to learn more about Muslim voices called to bridge build across religious traditions.  Click here for more.

Looking Ahead Auburn is looking ahead to World Humanitarian Day.  How can this holiday inspire your message for the week?  Look for resources in the upcoming week here at the Auburn Web site.

Using the Auburn Web site for sermon and worship preparation Are you looking to use the Auburn Web site to create your sermon message? Here’s how these resources helped me in my sermon and worship preparation. To preach on the U.S. celebration of Juneteenth and the continued need to speak openly about racial justice and equality in all areas of life, I resourced Auburn’s Facebook and Twitter postings. This alerted me to the news of the week and how current events touch at a religious life of faith. I watched Auburn’s recommended documentary clips on civil rights and heard personal stories that touched and inspired me. I’m still thinking about this new documentary about how the global church ended South African apartheid. I podcasted the StoryCorps story on segregation and reflected on how our faith calls us to risk, even in moments when we doubt that we are ready to create lasting change. I followed the links that Auburn recommended to outstanding Web sites that provided rich research into the history and mission of Juneteenth. All of these resource tools enriched my prayerful devotion of Luke’s Gospel text. I created a sermon message and worship service that challenged the congregation to find their voice in their communities, offices and classrooms and let their faith guide them to respond to God more deeply and turn to their neighbor with love and mercy.

Auburn welcomes your feedback on how these resources help you trouble the waters and heal the world in your community.  Email the Rev. Kellie Anderson-Picallo with any questions you may have or ways that Auburn can better serve you.