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• Gibson to preach to the choir | Leery of the press and stung by criticism that his film will kindle anti-Semitism, Mel Gibson is taking his controversial movie, The Passion of the Christ, directly to churchgoers (USA Today)
  
  
• Area Christians, Jews await 'Passion' | Churches, synagogues try to rent theaters for private showings of Gibson's Crucifixion film (Akron Beacon Journal, Oh.)
  
  
• Religion writers caught up in 'Passion' film controversy | Despite the fact that Gibson and the film's distributor have provided screenings to thousands of clergy and church-members, few reporters have been allowed to see it, sparking frustration from those on the religion beat and prompting the Religion Newswriters Association to call for the establishment of press previews (Editor & Publisher)
  
  
• 'Passion' is in play for Christian jewelry maker | A Santa Ana company is putting its faith in Mel Gibson's new movie about Jesus (Orange County Register)
  
  
• Mel Gibson mum on controversial 'Passion' scene | Actor-director Mel Gibson is keeping mum about whether he intends to cut or keep one of the most controversial scenes in his upcoming film about Christ's final hours -- that of a Jewish high priest declaring a blood curse on Jews for the death of Jesus (Reuters)
  
  
• Some Christians see 'Passion' as evangelism tool | Christians nationwide are busy preparing to use Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ," a graphic portrayal of the crucifixion of Jesus, in an immense evangelistic campaign (The New York Times)
  
  
• Pastors prepare way for movie release | In an effort to address the issues that may be generated by the movie, "The Passion of the Christ," more than 50 area pastors and church members gathered at the Athens First Baptist Church Wednesday afternoon to discuss how to prepare for the film (Tyler Morning Telegraph, Tex.)
  
  
• Churches flock to see controversial film on Jesus | Three weeks before it appears in theaters, Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ" has won a host of disciples, who are busy moving heaven and earth to make sure the movie opens big (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
  
  
• Church to offer a preview of Gibson film to non-churchgoers | The Harvest Pointe Christian Church in Milford plans a private screening of the film on Feb. 23 at AMC Newport on the Levee, two days before it hits screens all over the country (The Cincinnati Post)
  
  

Film:

• Film puts 'Faith' in Hartford | Writer, producer sees city as the Hollywood for Christian movies (The Hartford Courant, Conn.)
  
  
• Controversial film must be a personal experience, too | Talk of controversy offers only self-fulfilling rhetoric that fails to attend to the decidedly more significant questions that this film raises for our personal reflection (The Morning Call, Allentown, Pa.)
  
  
• Your spiritual guide … Bill Murray? | Groundhog Day recently kicked off "The Hidden God: Film and Faith," the current exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. It turns out, curators say, that religious scholars from many different traditions have used the movie for years to teach fundamental spiritual themes. (The Oregonian)
  
  

Music:

• Christian singer's tribulations are a life lesson for everyone | Amy Grant's career is so closely linked to the rise and crossover appeal of Christian pop music that people continue to hold strong opinions about her work (David Crumm, Detroit Free Press)
  
  
• Singing the Word, spreading the news | It's kind of the Lord-a-polloza tour (Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel)
  
  
• Church organists behaving badly | A touch of irreverence is creeping into the Sunday service with snatches of secular tunes tucked into the gospels (BBC, video)
  
  

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February (Web-only) 2004, Vol. 48