February 2012
This month's featured kit in the Resource Center: Discernment. The 12 week structure of this study is based on 2 complementary teachings of Jesus: “Come and See” (6 weeks) & “Go and Do” (6 weeks) Author: Sue Anne Steffey Morrow, and published by Abingdon Press. Kit includes a DVD, leader’s guide and study guide. Chapters include: Discerning God’s Presence in our midst, our work, the shadows and in our habit of being. Ask for: KTGHX031
January 2012
Spring 2012 Presbyterian curriculum has arrived in the Resource Center! All ages from Preschool thru adults can be previewed. For adults: it’s the Being Reformed: Faith Seeking Understanding series; For Youth it’s the Faith Questions mini-courses (4 or 6 sessions) For Elementary & Preschool it’s We Believe.
This is a well thought out curriculum. I encourage you to check it out.
November 2011
Surrender by Francis Chan & Bluefish TV – for high schoolers
Surrender typically implies weakness, loss and defeat. Can you actually gain something by giving up? Jesus said that the only way to truly live is to fully surrender your life to Him. In these four challenging sessions, students share real-life stories about their own struggles and triumphs in surrendering to Christ.
Four video-driven sessions:
- Surrender Stuff (20 minutes)
- Surrender Status (22 minutes)
- Surrender Sin (23 minutes)
- Surrender Self (22 minutes)
Includes:
- 4 DVDs
- 52-page Leader’s Guide
- Printable Group Handouts
Francis Chan is the founding pastor of Cornerstone Church in Simi Valley, California and a nationally-recognized speaker. Francis is committed to teach directly from the words of Scripture and is passionate about seeing the next generation of American Christians display a deeper love for Jesus and their neighbors.
October 2011
New DVD A Sea Change; Imagine a World Without Fish (83 mins) Follows a retired history teacher and grandfather on his quest to discover what’s happening to the world’s oceans. His journey takes him to Alaska, California, Washington and Norway as he uncovers a crisis that most people are unaware of: ocean acidification. “Optimistic, with a whole section of solutions at the end. Broad appeal for all ages.” Dr. Cat Dorey, Sustainable Seafood Advisor
This resource is a donation from the Eco-Justice educator Jenny Holmes.
DivorceCare kits for adults and kids.
DivorceCare makes it easy for your church to help divorced and separated people. You can quickly equip a lay ministry team to launch a comprehensive, Christ-centered divorce recovery ministry – even if they have no prior ministry training. Every DivorceCare video features powerful interviews with 31 different leading authors, counselors, speakers and pastors. Each one has years of expertise in divorce recovery ministry. They all embrace a Christ-centered approach to divorce recovery. (DVD, leader’s guides, etc.) These are two separate kits, and a lot of material. They are too heavy to mail, so would need to be picked up at the Resource Center or at a Presbytery meeting. Mt Tabor Church started a group which has since doubled in size. You may call Rev. Carly Friesen to ask her about it.
*****
The Life of Katie Luther, Martin’s wife. (DVD 27 mins)
Meet the fascinating woman who helped change the course of history. She was a former nun and she and Martin both became famous for their beer making abilities at the popular inn they ran.
Everyone who watches this DVD seems to enjoy it!
For High Schoolers: Made To Make A Difference – Can You Really Change the World? By Max Lucado and based on the book Outlive Your Life. Four sessions; Our Generation (22mins) Poverty is a Priority (23 mins) Blast the Walls (24 mins) and Do the Good Quietly (17 mins). Published by bluefish tv and this study kit has been getting rave reviews from the kids that have watched it! Ask for: KTGA1003. There are 2 other bluefish tv kits in the Resource Center.
A women's Bible study by: Liz Curtis Higgs, Loved by God, Trusting His Promises & Experiencing His Blessings. (6-7 weeks) Do you find yourself struggling between wanting to do the right thing and wanting to do your thing? So did the following 4 Bible personalities.
This kit is a verse by verse study of Genesis 27-29 exploring the lives of Jacob, Esau, Leah and Rachel. Liz incorporates lots of humor in her lessons. She's the author of Bad Girls of the Bible. There are seven 30-minute lessons and a facilitator's guide.
There are 2 other kits in the Center designed for women - look up their descriptions under "Sisters" for a subject/keyword under the 4th tab: (Search Resources) from the Resource Center's home page.
Renovation of the Heart; New kit at the
Media Resource Center:A Curriculum of Christlikeness
(multimedia and
for groups) by Dallas Willard. Explore what it means to put on
the character of Christ. 13 sessions total. To see a more
complete description on the MRC's home page, type in the
title. This was highly recommended by one of our
pastors.
The Mayberry Bible Study with
episodes from the TV show. Kit includes a study/leader's
guide. With practical applications for daily living, both Vol
1 & 2 feature relevant scriptures for you to use as modern
parables on the teachings of Jesus. Each volume has 4 studies
(service, mercy, commitment etc) and is a VHS tape.
Reflections on Psalm 23 for people with cancer.
(Thirteen 8-minute segments) Ken Curtis, founder
of Vision Video, was diagnosed with advanced cancer and then
decided to journey to Israel and seek out King David’s home.
Psalm 23 was a vital part of his spiritual healing. The
resulting meditations provide a combination of candid personal
experiences and some of the spiritual resources available
through this time-honored Psalm.
Reflections on the Lord’s Prayer for people
with cancer - Also by Ken
Curtis. While made for people facing
cancer, the reflections are relevant for any health issue.
(Similar format to the above listing)
Confronting Death, A
Christian Approach to the End of Life - Walter
Wangerin, Jr.
(DVD 57 mins/5 segments) Drawing from his own
recent experience with cancer, this award winning author
explores the following issues:
- Discovering serious illness
- Grieving before death
- Caring for the one who is not sick
- How do we handle the pain?
- Confronting the dying itself
“We as faithful people have the power and ability to
look death straight in the eye and understand it.”
(Wangerin)
Living Fully, Dying Well by
Rueben Job in association with Abingdon Press. (A study for
small groups) Our best decisions about life's most
important events are seldom made in a time of crisis. This
study will help inspire you to talk openly about faith and
mortality. Topics include biblical and social perspectives on
growing older. Included in the kit: leader's &
participant's guides and a DVD in 8 segments of 10 mins each.
Living Till We Die: a journey of faith
practices by hospice chaplain Nancy Blakely.
This is an 84 pg paperback guide for developing and leading a
course in your own congregation or for personal use. Session
plans for the following 6 faith practices are covered as well
as other useful information: Honoring the Body; Keeping the
Sabbath; Forgiveness; Healing; Dying Well; Singing Our
Lives.
A Child’s View of Grief – a
guide for caring adults (38 pgs) + a DVD with the same name
(20 mins). Children in our society are sometimes referred to
as the forgotten mourners. Learning how to establish a
helping/healing relationship is the focus of this resource.
Handled with warmth & understanding, a child’s early
experiences with death can be vitally important learning
opportunities.
Someone You Love is Dying, how do you cope?
By Charles Corr, Ph.D. Most of us think of
“grief” as something we experience only after the death of
someone close to us. In reality, grieving can begin long
before the final loss occurs. Anticipatory grief is the
subject of this 28 pg booklet. A 20 min DVD w/the same name is
also available.
Suicide and its aftermath resources: There are approx 10 on
this subject including Fierce
Goodbye hosted by singer Judy Collins whose son
committed suicide. Type in the subject keyword “suicide” on
the Center’s search the catalog/combo search page to
see all the listings.
Also, by typing in the
subject/keyword “death” many other resources, too numerous to
mention in this column will display. A popular series is
“Exploring the Sacred in Death and Dying”.
"The Tabernacle" (28 mins) This
is a computer generated 3-dimensional film. The Table of
Shewbread, the Altar of Incense and the Ark of the Covenant
will no longer be just mental images and you'll feel as if you
yourself have walked on Holy Ground, just as the priests once
did. Good for family viewing also. Ask for DVDBC1001
Walk Where Jesus Walked with Ray
Vander Laan (2 hrs) The format is like being in a history
class but you are on location in the country now known as
Turkey. This can be used for your personal edification of
course, doesn't necessarily need to be used in a group
study. It's broken down into 5 segments and comes w/a
guide.The 2 hrs will fly by! Ask for DVBB4005.
Exploring Religious Art -
DVD Designed to show great masterworks of art and
explain how they came to be created. The viewing segments are
divided into two 3 minute vignettes. The introduction presents
an historical context while segments one through ten focus on
specific works of art. In addition, the discussion questions
and hands-on activities provided in the accompanying guide
will not only help students master basic information, but also
encourage them to enjoy and apply what they learn. Some of the
art segments are: “St.Michael the Archangel Overcoming Satan,”
“The Flight into Egypt,” and “The Ascension.”
Rediscovering the Labyrinth – A Walking
Meditation DVD
(29 mins)
hosted by Reverend Dr. Lauren Artress at Grace Cathedral in
San Francisco. This is a story of transformation, and an
invitation for you to begin the journey. It’s a moving
documentary of real people whose lives have changed by walking
a labyrinth. Ask for: DVGH2007
Renovation of the Heart (kit) a
video-based curriculum by Dallas Willard. It is designed to
help Christians develop inward Christlikeness. Thirteen
presentations by Willard plus an unscripted conversation
among Dallas, Larry Crabb, and John Ortberg on authentic
transformation. Includes 2 dramatizations by Curt Cloninger.
Also: one CD containing the script of conversation among
Willard, Larry Crabb, and John Ortberg, and other resources
designed to enhance your presentation, and 2 participant’s
guides with exercises, discussion questions, and Bible
Studies.
Making Love Last a Lifetime-Biblical Perspectives
on Love, Marriage, Sex by Adam Hamilton (a United
Methodist pastor). This kit contains both a video tape and a
DVD, plus a leader's guide, pastor's guide with CD-ROM, and
participant's guide. It's divided into eight 15-minute
presentations and meant to be a small group study. It's billed
as being interesting for both singles and married couples.
Victory at Jerusalem (70 mins).
Filmed on location with Pastor Ronald Kelly. It tells the
story of the most important event in all of human history- the
death & resurrection of Jesus Christ. Pastor Ron retraces
the sites and events of Christ's last days. A timely resource
for Easter!
Crossing Rome; this dvd (26 mins)
is the compelling journey showing how the cross went from a
despised symbol of shame to a revered sign of triumph.
We have lots of other Easter resources too. Do a web search on
the Center's home page and type in the keyword: "Easter."
Christianity and Islam by Dr.
Timothy George is a four-part series comparing and contrasting
the two religions. Each section is 25 min. Includes: The
Tenets of Islam, The Trinity, The Bible and the Incarnation,
and The Cross and Salvation. DVD plus 32 page guide. Ask for
KTPG1007.
The Purpose Driven Life; What
on earth am I here for? by Rick Warren This
is a 6 session dvd study for groups or individuals and
includes a 77 page study guide. This study has been used by
over four million people during the 40 Days of Purpose
campaigns in churches all over the world. Publishers Weekly
declared his book with the same name as “the bestselling
nonfiction hardback in history!” He is the pastor
and founder of Saddleback Church in Orange County, CA, and
will be giving the invocation at Obama’s swearing in
ceremony.
Countering Pharaoh’s Production-Consumption
Society Today featuring Walter Brueggemann. This
is a small group dvd study that can be conducted over four to
five one-hour sessions. “It is a journey from slavery to
covenant that we keep making over and over again… because
Pharaoh has immense power always to draw us back into
slavery.” Brueggemann Filmed while he was at a
lectern and is a serious study, not one for those who
want something “lightweight.” Produced by: Living The
Questions
The Evidence for Heaven – A
biblical and scientific examination of our final destiny
(dvd 90 mins) Watch the interviews from 21
medical doctors, biblical scholars and scientists that believe
immortality is a reality. Hear from those who’ve had near
death experiences about their journey ‘there’ and back. A
bonus feature on the dvd is a 3-part Bible study on
heaven.
Youth for Human Rights dvd 30
public service announcements (90 seconds each), 1 for each of
the ‘formally stated’ rights. The Universal Declaration of
Human Rights, ratified by the United Nations in 1948, forms
the foundation of everyone’s most basic human rights,
transcending all borders. Yet, despite its timeless relevance,
most citizens haven’t heard of it! Eleanor Roosevelt was the
principal architect of the Declaration. Is it a pipe dream to
believe that we can truly make human rights a reality? Youth
are the “stars” of many of the segments.
The Prophets by the Arts &
Entertainment Network (50 mins)
Links between the human and
the divine, they (Elijah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Jeremiah) stand
amongst the Old Testament’s most commanding and confounding
figures. What was the impetus and meaning of their proclaimed
divinations? On location footage and interviews w/historians
and authors make this documentary unusually interesting!
Billy Graham – a personal crusade
by the Arts & Entertainment Network (50
mins)
Illuminates the life of America’s most famous
evangelist-a man who practices what he preaches. Covers
pivotal events in his life, inc William Randolph Hearst’s
decision to publicize his crusades and Graham’s close ties
w/several presidents. This biography traces his development
from childhood to the peak of his spiritual empire. Very well
done.
Looking to be a bit more “GREEN?” The Media
Resource Center has several videos/dvds to view on
this relevant subject.
- THE GREENING OF FAITH: Program 1, THEOLOGY &
SPIRITUALITY
Summary: Why the
Environment is a Christian Concern (+ leader’s
guide)
Program 2: ETHICS (+ leader’s guide) - FAITHFUL
EARTHKEEPING: THE CHURCH AS A CREATION AWARENESS CENTER
- by Kaye, Lindy (1997) VTMBX006
Designed to help
congregations learn about the issues related to the care of
God's creation and to suggest ways for individuals &
congregations to act as earth keepers. Part 1: The Biblical
Call to Earth keeping (20min.); Part II: Creation's
Praise...Creation's Cry (27min.); Part III: Earth keeping:
The Church Responds (32min.).-features Dr. Cal DeWitt.
- AS
IF SALMON MATTER: MAKING ETHICAL CHOICES (2 hrs, 4
parts) by INTERFAITH NETWORK FOR EARTH CONCERNS ( 2004)
Highlights of a seminar held at Portland State University.
Ask for:VTMBX018
- THE
END OF SUBURBIA- Oil Depletion and the Collapse of the
American Dream
(76 min) – hosted by Barrie
Zwicker, (2004) ask for:
DVMBX005
An exploration of the American way of life
and its prospects as the planet approaches a critical era as
global demand for fossil fuels begins to outstrip supply.
- KILOWATT
OURS (55 mins) by BARRIE, JEFF ( 2007)
What would you find if you traced the wires from your
light switch to their energy source? Mr. Barrie and his wife
cut their bills in half and use a portion of the savings to
buy green power. In this interesting dvd, he'll help you do
the same! ask for: DVMBX004
- RENEWAL
- Stories from America's Religious-Environmental
Movement - (2007)
Individual stories range from
6-17 mins for a total of 90 mins.
This documentary
offers a comprehensive overview of what different religions
are doing about the awesome devastation of Earth's life
systems now taking place. The filmmakers' vision of the
problem and understanding of viable solutions show rare
depth of perception and are matched only by their sense of
the urgency of action if we're to realize our hopes for the
future. Close captioned also. Ask for: DVMBX003
- AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH (96 mins) by Al Gore
2006
Marva Dawn’s keynote address from the
Leadership Fair last February is now available to hear - on
cassette tape only. She’s a marvelous speaker and it’s about
30 min. long. Call 503-445-4999 or email Media
Resource Center to have it sent to you.
RENEWAL- DVD. This documentary
offers a comprehensive overview of what different
religions (including Muslims, Native Americans,
and Buddhists) are doing about the devastation of Earth's life
systems now taking place. The filmmakers' vision of the
problem and understanding of viable solutions show rare depth
of perception and are matched only by their sense of the
urgency of action needed if we're to realize our hopes for the
future. Individual stories range from 6-17 mins for a total of
90 mins. Close captioned. Ask for: DVMBX003
FAITH UNDER FIRE with Lee
Strobel (4 volumes) DVDs; all have leader’s &
participant’s guides. Vol 1: Four sessions on Jesus, the
resurrection, universalism and the supernatural.
Vol 2:
Four sessions on the Bible, heaven, hell and science. Vol 3:
Four sessions on forgiveness, pain and suffering, the Trinity,
and Islam. Vol 4: Four sessions on the relevance of
Christianity.
Lee Strobel was the legal editor of the
Chicago Tribune and a spiritual skeptic until 1981. He was
married to a Christian woman however, thus the rest of the
story!
WALKING THE BIBLE – a journey by
land through the five books of Moses.
2 DVDs (168 mins
total) Both a heart-racing adventure and an uplifting quest,
this resource features one man's (Bruce Feiler) epic
journey-by foot, jeep, rowboat, and camel- through the
greatest stories ever told. This was featured on Public
Television in 2006.
Passing on the Language of
Faith (22 minutes, video tape) A short
explanation of the five generations living today and how they
have passed along their faith beliefs to the next generation.
Covers the "Buster" generation through the "Millennium"
kids…shows some interesting vintage film footage. Also covers
the Silent, Boomers and GenX groups. Produced by: Dr. Roland
Martinson of the Youth & Family Institute of Augsburg
College. Ask for: VTHHX005
The Way of the Child –
Helping Children Experience God from
Companions in Christ, a division of Upper Room Books. Created
by: Wynn McGregor
Focuses on the spiritual formation of
children ages 6-11. Each session is designed for a 1 to 1
1/2 hr time frame. There are eight modules and in a
"formational" approach rather than an "informational"
approach. This unique resource offers kids a "time apart" from
the noise and bustle of life to learn and experience practices
that will nurture their innate spirituality, help them develop
a deeper relationship w/God, and form vital community
w/others. This kit includes an introductory dvd showing how
the room is set up, CD w/songs, family booklet, and leader's
guide.
New resources for the vision
impaired/blind:
A series of 5 cassette tapes
titled: Different Members, One Body – Welcoming the
Diversities of Abilities in God’s Family. These have been
a donation from the Opening Doors Task Force
Committee.
CHRISTIANITY'S FAMILY
TREE – What Other Christians Believe and Why.
Eight 20 min presentations by Adam Hamilton, a pastor of the
United Methodist Church. This kit includes a dvd, book,
leader’s guide and a Pastor’s guide w/CD-ROM to expand the
study into a congregation wide event should you choose
to do so. The traditions examined are: Orthodoxy, Catholicism,
Lutheranism, Presbyterianism, Anglicanism, Baptists,
Pentecostalism and Methodism.
UNDERSTANDING PENTECOST
(video tape, 26 mins) Explore the history from Acts 2,
traditions, and experiences through dance, scripture and
personal interviews. Fifty days after the Resurrection,
tongues of fire and a mighty wind surrounded Peter and the
other apostles and they spoke in many languages. This is an
excellent intro for youth and adults to the Pentecost
presence in their lives today.
JIM AND CASPER GO
TO CHURCH (both the dvd and a book) 8 clips,
2-5 mins each
This is the very interesting story of an
atheist who put his soul up for sale on e-Bay and received
$500 for it! The stipulation was that he had to go to several
church services w/the Christian man who “purchased” it. An
unlikely friendship formed with frank conversation about
faith, churches and well meaning Christians.
THE ASPHALT GOSPEL
(time unknown at present) A dvd about 6 ordinary
people who set out on a walking journey to change the face of
Christianity in America. The film is produced by Scott
Griessel and published by Crosswalk America. It’s being used
till the end of April. You may put a “reserve” on it by
contacting the Resource Center.
NOOMA
series by emerging church pastor Rob Bell. We now own
all 18 of these segments. They are very popular and average
about 12 minutes each. After a church checks out several they
often wind up ordering the whole series for themselves! If you
haven’t watched one yet, you are in for a thoughtful treat.
You may check out up to 4 at a time.
New items for your
spiritual growth and edification: Kits usually
include a DVD and sometimes a video tape, leader’s guide,
participants’ guide and sometimes a
book:
- JUST WALK ACROSS THE
ROOM (Kit) with Bill Hybels.
(4 sessions)
Just Walk Across the Room ushers in the next
era in personal evangelism with a natural, relational
approach that follows Jesus’ own example. This transforming,
four-week experience will guide your church through
inspiring sermons, insight-packed small group sessions, and
individual reading in the book. Discover how to follow the
Holy Spirit’s promptings to “just walk across the room” -
and into the lives of people living far from God. You can
watch a 3 min video of this at: www.zondervanchurchsource.com - Prayer:
Six Sessions on Our Relationship with God (Kit)
by: Philip
Yancey. In this six-session curriculum, award-winning
author Yancey probes the very heartbeat - the most
fundamental, challenging, perplexing, and deeply rewarding
aspect - of our relationship with God: prayer. What is
prayer? How does it work? And more importantly, does it
work? You can watch an informative 3 min video of at: www.zondervanchurchsource.com
- The Purpose
Driven® Life Curriculum Kit
The Purpose Driven
Life Small Group Curriculum is a six-week, video-based small
group study of The Purpose Driven Life® by Rick Warren - the
book Publishers Weekly declared the "bestselling nonfiction
hardback in history." You can watch an informative 3 min
video at: www.zondervanchurchsource.com
- When God's People Pray:
Six Sessions on the Transforming Power of
Prayer DVD
+ participant’s guide. By Jim Cymbala, bestselling author of
Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire - a powerful new small group DVD that
will help you and your church tap into the transforming
power of prayer. Discover the power of God to restore hope,
ignite faith, work miracles, and change lives - through
prayer. Cymbala tells how God moves in life-changing ways
when we set aside our own agendas, take him at his Word, and
listen for his voice.
The Fourth Wise
Man
(video 72 mins) starring Martin Sheen & Alan Arkin.(based
on Henry van Dyke’s classic) This magi takes w/him 3 precious
gifts to present to the Messiah after seeing THE star on
Christmas eve. It takes him 33 yrs to catch up to Jesus and
along the way he uses his gifts to help people in dire need.
An excellent family film!
Truce
in the Forest, a 40 minute video based on a true story of
a Christmas Eve encounter between German and American soldiers
in one woman's home. Trusting in God, Greta bravely confronts
this potentially explosive situation. Ask for:
VTDA4016.
New Resources from Presbytery's
Opening Doors Task Force on
Disabilities:
