New Release--NOOMA #19: Open

The 19th installment of the NOOMA series has recently been released. It is entitled Open. This one talks about answers to prayer. Rob says that if we understand how Jesus prayed, our concepts and expectations of prayer would change.

To celebrate the new release, I give you my current Top 10 favorite NOOMA videos.

1. Rhythm

2. Lump
3. Rich
4. Store
5. Luggage
6. Open
7. Name
8. Kickball
9. Flame
10. Trees

The Power of Forgiveness

During Lent this year, Monaghan Presbyterian Church in Dillsburg explored the theme of forgiveness. In addition to the NOOMA DVD Luggage, Mary Speedy also showed the Martin Doblmeier documentary The Power of Forgiveness. This DVD deals with the subject of forgiveness in chapters on Northern Ireland, the Amish response to the recent school shooting, Elie Weisel and the Holocaust, and other situations around the world in which groups or individuals have been wronged and struggle with how to deal with the aftermath. Instead of showing the entire 78 minute DVD all at once, Mary showed individual chapters of the film and led discussions on them. She is happy to consult with anyone in the presbytery who would like help in tackling the issue of forgiveness in their church.

Did You Know?

Did you know that Messiah College's Murray Library grants clergy free library privileges? Simply show your presbytery membership card at the Circulation Desk, and they will give you a library card on the spot, free of charge.

Movie Night Idea

Protestants love Dietrich Bonhoeffer. His story is so compelling, so inspirational, that we return to it again and again. This DVD by Martin Doblmeier is the best of the many videos about Bonhoeffer's life. I saw it for the first time during its one week run at the Midtown Cinema in Harrisburg. I have been an enthusiastic promoter of it ever since.

This 90 minute DVD chronicles the life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer through pictures, archival footage of Germany and its leaders, and interveiws with scholars (including Bonhoeffer's close friend and editor Eberhard Bethge) and family members. A must see for anyone interested in Bonhoeffer, the Second World War, or the role of Christians in a hostile world.

Why I Love NOOMA

NOOMA is a series (19 so far) of DVDs featuring Rob Bell, pastor of Mars Hill Bible Church in Grandville, Michigan. Each DVD deals with a different topic. A few of the topics covered in the series include anger, forgiveness, romantic love, stewardship, and mission.

I personally love these DVDs. Rob tells a good story, and his messages are relevant to everyday life. In addition to his message, there is a parallel story being acted out throughout the video. This side story serves to further illustrate his point.

There are at least four reasons why these videos work so well for religious education. First, they appeal to both older youth and adults. Second, they keep your attention. Because of Rob's storytelling skills and the fact that they are only 10-14 minutes in length, they keep you engaged. Third, they are fantastic at generating discussion. Fourth, since they generate discussion so well, they don't demand a lot of prep time from the class leader.

Check one out today.