“The Weekend Wanderer” is a weekly curated selection of news, stories, resources, and media on the intersection of faith and culture for you to explore through your weekend. Wander through these links however you like and in any order you like. Disclaimer: I do not necessarily agree with all the views expressed within these articles but have found them thought-provoking.
“Let Your Anger Teach You” – Henri Nouwen from The Genesee Diary in Daily Riches: “This afternoon I had a long talk with John Eudes (the abbot of the monastery). He was very open, personal, warm, and made it easy to talk freely. I talked mostly about my anger: my inclination to become angry and irritated with people, ideas, or events. …I realised that my anger created restlessness, brooding, inner disputes, and made prayer nearly impossible. But the most disturbing anger was the anger at myself for not responding properly, for not knowing how to express my disagreement, for external obedience while remaining rebellious from within, and for letting small and seemingly insignificant events have so much power over my emotional life. In summary: passive aggressive behaviour. We talked about this on many levels and in many ways. Most important for me at this point seem the following … suggestions”
“The Hymns Still Rise in Rwanda, but They Do So Quietly Now” – Al Johnson in Christianity Today: “On a sun-warmed ridge at the edge of Kigali, Rwanda, where the paved road gives way to red clay and goats roam between kitchen gardens, pastor Kamanzi folds his hands beside a chipped water tank and listens. From the living room, ten voices in low unison sing “Yesu Ni Wanjye,” barely louder than the creaking of banana leaves in the wind. No drums thump. No amplifiers hum. There are just whispers, because anything louder invites trouble. Kamanzi’s house is solid but plain: glazed brick, iron windows, tiled floors swept clean that morning. I have also swept clean this story for pastors’ safety. Due to the autocratic political environment in Rwanda and personal risk to church leaders involved in advocacy, I have at times withheld or changed names, such as Kamanzi’s, and identifying details, such as church locations. I cross-verified all reported statements and facts with publicly accessible documentation and human rights organizations.”
“As Africa prepares for COP30, its Catholic bishops urge African solutions on climate” – Fredrick Nzwili at Religion News Service: “Africa must be an architect of its own ecological future, said the continent’s Catholic bishops as they took part in the Second Africa Climate Summit, which ended Wednesday (Sept. 10) in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa. Forty-five heads of state and government representatives attended the three-day summit hosted by the African Union Commission and the Ethiopian government, joining 25,000 climate activists, business executives and heads of organizations as well as faith leaders. The summit, first held in Nairobi last September, will help shape African leaders’ positions on climate change ahead of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Brazil Nov. 10-21.”
“The Pleasures of Reading” – Alan Jacobs responds on his blog, The Homebound Symphony, to Jancee Dunn’s request for answers to some questions about reading: “Jancee, I think I’ll start with the “reading challenges” and keeping track of your reading on Goodreads or elsewhere. I’m not saying that that can’t be a good: it can help build self-discipline, for one thing, and you can prove to yourself that you’re able to resist the temptation to flick through TikTok or play another round of Candy Crush. But I don’t think it has a lot to do with reading as such. I often hear people who do these self-challenges talk about how many books they have “gotten through” in a month or a year, and that just makes my reading-loving heart ache. Books are not to be ‘gotten through’! Books are to be delighted in!! (Books you’re reading by choice, anyway.) This is related to the question of when you should read.”
“The oldest pipe organ in the Christian world sounds after 800 years of silence” – Julia Frankel in AP News: “After 800 years of silence, a pipe organ that researchers say is the oldest in the Christian world roared back to life Tuesday, its ancient sound echoing through a monastery in Jerusalem’s Old City. Composed of original pipes from the 11th century, the instrument emitted a full, hearty sound as musician David Catalunya played a liturgical chant called Benedicamus Domino Flos Filius. The swell of music inside Saint Saviour’s Monastery mingled with church bells tolling in the distance. Before unveiling the instrument Monday, Catalunya told a news conference that attendees were witnessing a grand development in the history of music. ‘This organ was buried with the hope that one day it would play again,’ he said. ‘And the day has arrived, nearly eight centuries later.'”
“Jon Guerra’s ‘Jesus’ Music Revolution” – Brett McCracken interviews Jon Guerra at The Gospel Coalition in April: “In recent years, Jon Guerra has emerged as one of the most formidable talents making distinctly Christian music today. He first grabbed my attention with the 2020 release of Keeper of Days, which I called ‘one of the best Christian records I’ve heard in years.’ I praised his 2023 album, Ordinary Ways, as a ‘God-centered masterpiece.’ In the intervening years, Guerra has released an array of stellar singles, EPs, and collaborations (including one of the winning songs in The Gospel Coalition’s recent gospel song contest). But today, Guerra releases an album—simply titled Jesus—that exceeds the high bar he’s already established. The album’s 12 songs are soul-nourishing and faith-enriching. It won’t top the Christian music charts, but it should. This is Christian music that deserves the largest possible audience. Give the album a full, focused listen. Then check out our Q&A below, in which Guerra offers insight into the album’s title and themes, the background of some songs, and how being a father has influenced his art. Here’s an edited portion of our interview.”
Music: Jon Guerra, “In the Beginning Was Love,” from Jesus
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Matthew Erickson 
Thanks for this, Matt.