Like a lot of things in our world, the more we learn about the history and origins of Thanksgiving, the more complicated the holiday becomes. What many of us grew up with — cheerful stories, friendly feasts, simple narratives — doesn’t tell the whole truth.

Every month, the church remembers men and women whose lives remind us what love, courage, and faithfulness can look like in the real world. November gives us three remarkable witnesses: a young French mystic whose suffering deepened her joy, a Peruvian healer who turned everyday tasks into prayer, and an early church leader who carried the apostles’ teachings into the next generation.

As October comes to a close, many of us prepare for costumes, candy, and the glow of Halloween night. But in much of Latin America—and increasingly around the world—these same days hold a deeper, more sacred rhythm: Día de los Muertos, or The Day of the Dead.

Each month, the church calendar invites us to pause and remember men and women whose lives bear witness to faith in extraordinary ways.

In October, we remember three saints whose stories remind us that holiness is possible in every era—whether you’re a modern teenager with a laptop, a reformer reshaping the church from within, or a first-century disciple walking the road to martyrdom.

October 10 is World Mental Health Day, a moment that feels especially close to home for many of us. Whether you personally struggle with your own mental health, or someone you love—your partner, your parent, or your child—does, this day serves as a reminder that emotional wellness touches every family.

Each year, from September 15 to October 15, the United States celebrates National Hispanic Heritage Month—a time to honor the histories, cultures, and contributions of Hispanic and Latino/a communities. For the church, this season is also an invitation to explore the rich theological traditions that have emerged from these communities.

Each month, the church calendar invites us to pause and remember men and women whose lives bore witness to God in extraordinary ways. In September, we honor a visionary polymath whose music and theology continue to inspire, and two brothers whose generosity and courage spread the gospel in the face of persecution.

For many of us, especially those raised in certain religious traditions, shame and sex have been tangled together for as long as we can remember. That makes it even more challenging to talk about sexuality with our kids. If sex is a subject that has always carried guilt or secrecy for us, how do we begin to have open, healthy, shame-free conversations with the next generation?

For many of us, it feels like Christianity has always spoken about sex in the same way: with suspicion, silence, or shame. But history tells a more complex story. The way Christians have understood and taught about sexuality has shifted dramatically over time—and those shifts still shape us today.

For many families, the start of a new school year brings excitement — fresh notebooks, sharpened pencils, and the anticipation of new friends and experiences. But for others, it’s a season of stress. Rising costs for school supplies, clothing, and extracurricular activities can be overwhelming. Some parents worry about how their children will get the academic support they need, or how to arrange care when the school day ends but their workday doesn’t.

This season offers us an opportunity: to look beyond our own routines and ask how we might make the start of the year a little brighter for others.

The month of August is rich with stories of faith. Three remarkable figures — St. Bernard of Clairvaux, John the Baptist, and St. Monica — each have a day of remembrance on the church calendar this month. Their lives, though separated by centuries, share a common thread: deep devotion to God and a lasting influence on those who came after them.

Most of us would say we want to avoid violence. We long for peace—in our homes, our communities, and the world. But if we’re honest, many of us were taught a version of God that doesn’t always align with that longing.

In fact, some of our ideas about God are rooted in divine violence.

Every July 31, the church remembers St. Ignatius of Loyola—founder of the Jesuits and creator of the Ignatian Examen, a daily spiritual practice that continues to shape the faith of people around the world.

One of the surprising things that happens when our faith starts to take new shape is realizing just how deeply our old theology has influenced us—often in areas we didn’t even realize were connected to faith. We explored this in our Wisdom-Based Parenting series, too. The truth is, very little in life is compartmentalized. Theology doesn’t stay neatly packaged in a Sunday morning box—it weaves its way through how we parent, vote, argue, and even how we respond to conflict.

In our newest resource, Wisdom-Based Parenting, we explore how deeply our beliefs shape our parenting—often in ways we don’t even realize. Whether we were taught to think of parenting as a calling, a stewardship, or a series of rules to follow, our theology weaves its way into everything from discipline to bedtime routines.

But theology isn’t the only factor at play.

Throughout the year there are days set aside to celebrate the different saints and leaders throughout the history of Christianity. Below are a couple of saints whose feast days fall in the month of June.

 Consider looking up some of these saints with your kids and talking about the different things about them that make them unique and worth celebrating.

This Sunday is Pentecost Sunday—a day in the church calendar that often slips by quietly, but carries extraordinary meaning. Celebrated 50 days after Easter, Pentecost commemorates the moment the Holy Spirit was given to the disciples. It’s a pivotal event that marks the birth of the Church itself.

By this point in the biblical story, Jesus had already returned to heaven—an event known as the Ascension, which took place 40 days after Easter and is typically recognized on the Sunday following that milestone. Ten days later, something powerful and surprising happened.

Bynum’s charge is rooted in a posture of curiosity—a readiness to be surprised by what we read, hear, and experience. She invites us to slow down, to sit with texts and traditions long enough to be puzzled, even confused. Not to retreat from that discomfort, but to lean into it.

What if we approached the Bible this way?

Curiosity is often seen as a doorway—one that opens us to new perspectives, deeper understanding, and richer experiences. When it comes to faith, curiosity can become a sacred tool, prompting us to ask better questions, challenge long-held assumptions, and uncover beauty we might have otherwise missed.

Jesus is recorded asking over 300 questions in the Gospels.

He is asked nearly 200.

And he answers… only three.

That alone tells us something profound about how Jesus engaged with the world.