Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Help

I am thinking of doing a movie series for Lent. I'd show a movie and then use it in the sermon.

So, here are the themes I'm thinking of

First Sunday in Lent: Gratitude (Deut 26:1-11)

Second Sunday: Questioning (Genesis 15:1-12; 17-18)

Third Sunday: Feasting (Isaiah 55:1-9)

Fourth Sunday: Forgiveness/Reconciliation Luke 15:11-32 (prodigal sons/gracefilled father)

Fifth Sunday Transformation (Isaiah 43:16-21)

So, I need movies to go with these. It doesn't have to be the entire movie--just something in the movie that relates to the theme. I looked on www.textweek.com but they don't have any recent movies. It looks like people stopped posting ideas for movies in the early aughts.

I would really appreciate any help you can give me.

6 comments:

Rev. Sarah said...

Hi,
Here's some thoughts from me (I've done various Faith & Film adult study groups, so that is where most of these ideas come from.)
Gratitude - American Beauty
Questioning - Contact (search for truth) or The Matrix (searching for true identity)
Feasting - Babette's Feast
Forgiveness/Reconciliation - Dead Man Walking or Smoke Signals
Transformation - Chocolat
I hope this helps get you started!
Peace, Rev. Sarah

Stephanie Anthony/She Rev said...

Way fun and you just gave me the idea to use, too. My Lent theme is definitely less traditional in terms of Lenten themes, but it's timely for the congregation. We're going to explore the parable the session wrote that voices their understanding of God's vision for the congregation. They also pulled out 3 themes for ministry that will be the focus in the near future - compassion, hospitality, and worship. Maybe I'll do those 3 themes with a movie series, too. Hmmmmm...worship could be harder, but worth giving a try.

Sorry - - I got sidetracked. I was going to suggest Babette's Feast, too. I checked out the Movie Theme Index at textweek for a few more suggestions. You might try that.

Transformation - The Shipping News, A Beautiful Mind, Dances With Wolves, The Breakfast Club (There are others, but I just picked out the ones that I know better and think would fit.)

Feasting - Like Water for Chocolate

Forgiveness/Reconciliation - The Spitfire Grill (We watched this one in seminary during Pastoral Care.), Field of Dreams,

Questioning - Signs, Patch Adams (These come from the "Challenging God" category, but might fit.)

That was fun! Now I need to think if I can come up with one about worship for myself. That seems to be harder. Ferris Bueller's Day Off keeps coming to mind, the way the crowds multiply around him and join together in essentially singing his message and rallying around his "spirit." Probably not the best idea, but it keeps coming to mind.

Elaine (aka...Purple) said...

Nice idea.

What about "The Mission" for forgiveness/reconciliation"?

Ruth said...

Babette's Feast - yes yes yes! Even though I fell asleep the first time I saw it because of having to read the subtitles & listen to the gentle 'plinky plinky plnky' of people talking Danish - it is WONDERFUL & I have seen it used in a church study group and they loved it too.

Sorry no new ideas because I'm really useless at remembering titles of films 'you know, that film with a girl and a dog and it was sunny...'.

X

Deb said...

For questioning, how about Evan Almighty? The guy (a congressman tasked by God to build an ark) asks God, especially towards the end when the skepticism towards God coming through, "Would it be too much to ask for a little precipitation?"

Lots of questions the whole way through...

Joan Calvin said...

Thanks for all the ideas!