VCG-800 HEALING YOUR GRIEF WOUND- (Y/A); 2 videos, 30 min. ea.; guide; UMCOM Productions. Videos offer practical guidance and wise counsel from a variety of persons who know the pain of grief personally. Dr. Howard Clinebell, an expert in pastoral psychology, leads a grief group who share their struggle and learning in the recovery process.

.1 THE EARLY WEEKS- three important tasks of the early stages of grief are highlighted.

.2 THE LATTER STAGES- Dr. Clinebell and the grief group offer insights and suggestions for three other tasks of grieving after the first 3 months.

VCG-801 KNOWING GOD, BECOMING GOD'S PEOPLE- by Ken Bailey- (A); 2 videos, 9 25-min. segments; Reproducible study sheets, Essential Media Services, 1997. Ken Bailey introduces the viewer to three major images of Christian discipleship: servants of Christ, shepherds of the flock, and stewards of the mysteries of God. He shows how true Christian discipleship involves understanding God and Jesus. This series is more technical than some of his other studies.

. .1 PROLOGUE THROUGH CLASS FOUR-

Lecture I The Christian Leader as Servant.

A. Servant in the Old Testament

B. Jesus as Servant and Example

Lecture II - The Christian Leader as a Shepherd

A. God as the Good Shepherd (Old Testament)

.2 CLASSES FIVE THROUGH NINE

B. Jesus as the Good Shepherd

C. The Church Leader as a Good Shepherd

Lecture III - The Christian Leader as a Good Shepherd

A. Steward of the Mysteries of God

B. Paul the Steward of the Mysteries

C. Christian Leadership and the Cross

VCG-802 EXPLORING THE SACRED IN DEATH AND DYING with Ron DelBene- (A); 6 videos, 18-27 min. ea.; Guide; EcuFilm, 1997.

A series for anyone who has had to deal with the death of a loved one or had to relate to someone whose loved one is dying. It is for those who have taken on the responsibility to be there for persons who are dying, their families, loved ones, and friends.

.1 SAYING GOOD-BYE- (24 min.) This program shows ways people have said "Good-bye" and looks at some rituals that have been helpful in the closure process.

.2 LIVING THROUGH GRIEF- (19 min.) This program emphasizes the importance of accepting our feelings and shows how grieving mends the spirit and heals the heart.

.3 TELLING THE STORIES- (23 min.) As people tell their stories, the viewer experiences the many faces of death.

.4 RECOGNIZING THE SACRED- (18 min.) The viewer learns how being present and attentive to the dying person can provide great opportunity to see a deeper level of experiencing life and death. The video stresses the importance of recognizing and trusting instincts.

.5 COMMUNICATING- (25 min.) This episode explores ways to open up or improve meaningful communication in families and with friends.

.6 ONE FAMILY'S STORY- (27 min.) This episode shows that there is diversity of feelings and thoughts within a family and illustrates the importance of recognizing and embracing sacred moments.

VCG-803 TALKING ABOUT GOD- (A); 7 videos, 20-25 min. ea.; Guide; EcuFilm, 1999.

Contemporary Christian and Jewish people of faith--professional theologians, pastors, a rabbi, a teacher of disabled children, and others were asked to respond, on camera, to a series of questions about God. The responses were then edited to create in each program a montage of reflections on the questions. Persons of many cultural backgrounds are interviewed. The key topics for each video are listed.

.1 WHAT'S YOUR EXPERIENCE OF GOD?- (22 min.); God Unexpected and A Tin Ear for God.

.2 HOW DO YOU TALK ABOUT GOD?- (24 min.);

The Problem of Language, What Does Prayer Do? and Theology and Story.

.3 WHO ARE YOU TO GOD?- (24 min.); Are you Good Enough?, Does God Need You?, and Does God Have a Plan for your Life?.

.4 WHERE IS GOD IN YOUR LIFE:- (25 min.); God in Suffering, A Sense of God's Presence, and Yearning for God.

.5 WHAT IS GOD DOING?- (21 min.); Does God Intervene?, What Does God Want from the Church? and Are We Content?

.6 WHOSE SIDE IS GOD ON?- (22 min.); What about WWII?, Does God Prefer the Poor?, Is God Gonna Even the Score?.

.7 HOW CAN BELIEVERS LIVE TOGETHER?- (25 min.); Sheep in Other Folds and Putting Together Community.

VCG-804 GOD AT 2000: HOW DO YOU SEE GOD?- (A) 8 videos, 80 min. ea.; Trinity Institute, 2000.

God at 2000 is a video series from a teleconference symposium sponsored by Trinity Institute. Seven internationally known scholars from the worlds of Islam, Judaism, and Christianity reveal how they personally view the sacred.

.1 SEEING GOD AGAIN - WHAT'S AT STAKE? with Marcus Borg

.2 HONEST TO GOD: THE UNIVERSE OF FAITH with Diana Eck

.3 AN OCEAN OF GOD: THE INNER-CONNECTEDNESS OF ALL BEING with Lawrence Kushner

.4 THE GOD THEY NEVER TOLD ME ABOUT with Joan Chittister

.5 GOD: THE REALITY TO SERVE, LOVE, AND KNOW with Seyyed Hossein Nasr

.6 THE GOD OF ALL FAITHS with Karen Armstrong

.7 THE PRODIGAL GOD with Desmond Tutu

.8 A CONVERSATION WITH THE SPEAKERS with all seven panelists

VCG-805 MOVING THROUGH YOUR PROBLEMS TOWARD FINDING GOD with Dr. Larry Crabb- (A); 2 videos, 6 - 45-min. lessons; Guide and book; Zondervan, 1993. (Gift)

Dr. Crabb uses a variety of stories and experiences from his own life to demonstrate that our deepest problem and worst sin is doubting God. He believes that pursuing God, not trying to solve our problems, is a person's highest priority. Finding God leads the way to real freedom and joy.

.1 Sessions 1 - 3

Session 1 - A New Passion: I Must Find God

Session 2 - Competing Agendas: What Is God Up to? versus What Am I After?

Session 3 - Cheapened Appetites: Learning to Desire a God Who Won't Answer Questions

.2 Sessions 4 - 6

Session 4 - Our Fallen Structure: How Mishandled Assaults Strengthen Our Doubt

Session 5 - Telling Our Stories: Disrupting What's Bad and Releasing What's Good

Session 6: Coming Home: Wanting God More Than Anything Else

VCG-806 SISTERS: BIBLE STUDY FOR WOMEN- (A); 6 sessions, 15 min. ea.; Guide, Participant’s Guide and DVD; Cokesbury, 2003. (May be updated).

"Sisters" is a 6-session Bible study for women. As women in "Sisters" groups journey together, they will connect and apply the Scriptures to their daily lives, mature in their faith, and grow closer to God and each other.

.1 KNOWING GOD: MAKING GOD THE MAIN THING IN MY LIFE by Kimberly Dunnam Reisman- The first study sessions are entitled: (1) The Clues We Need (2) What Faith We Have (3) Shaping the Invisible (Praying the Bible) (4) A Life of Moral Excellence (5) Divine Destiny (Kingdom of God) (6) The Big Picture (Our Part in God’s Plan)

.2 FINDING BALANCE: LOVING GOD WITH HEART AND SOUL, MIND AND STRENGTH with Becca Stevens- 6 sessions, 15 min. ea.

This 6-week study helps women consider the question of balance in their lives--between service and worship, duty and devotion, doing and being. Author Becca Stevens guides the study, examining the lives of New Testament women such as Mary and Martha, Lydia, Mary the Mother of Jesus, the Canaanite woman, and Mary Magdalene. On the sixth week the class explore "The Anointings of Jesus Christ," in which Mary played a vital role.

.3 UNFAILING LOVE: GROWING CLOSER TO JESUS CHRIST with Rebecca Laird- 6 sessions, 95 min.

Rebecca Laird speaks to women's hearts and introduces them to Jesus as friend.

Week 1 - A Child Born to High Expectations

Week 2 - You Are the Beloved

Week 3 - Made for a Mission

Week 4 - A Journey of Faithfulness

Week 5 - God's Unfailing Love in Dark Times

Week 6 - Hope Does Not Disappoint Us

.4 A MILE IN HER SHOES: LESSONS FROM THE LIVES OF OLD TESTAMENT WOMEN - 6 sessions, guide, (also in DVD format).

DVG-807 GOD IS CLOSER THAN YOU THINK- (A); 1 DVD, 1 CD, 6 sessions; 70 min.; Leader’s Guide and Participant’s Guide; Zondervan, 2004.

               John Ortberg, pastor and author, helps the group experience the intimacy you long for with God and that He longs to have with you.  Sessions are:

               1. God’s Great Desire for People 
2. Where’s God in My World: 
3. Partnering with God Today 
4. Listening to the voice of God 
5. God Wants a Relationship with You
6. Heaven Breaking Through.

 

DVG-808 LISTENING FOR GOD:  CONTEMPORARY LITERATURE AND THE LIFE OF FAITH- (A); 1 DVD; 16 sessions; 200 min. Guide; Augsburg Fortress, 1996.

               In this collection of contemporary stories and essays, readers investigate how life and faith merge in new ways and places.  This program includes 8 selections, brief author profiles, and reflection questions.

         .1   Authors included are:  Flannery O’Connor, Frederick Buechner, Patricia Hampl, Raymond Carver, Annie Dillard, Alice Walker, Garrison Keillor, and Richard Rodriguez.

         .2   Authors included are:  John Updike, Anne Tyler, Henry Louis Gates, Jr., Tobias Wolff, Carol Bly, Gail Godwin, Kathleen Norris, and Andre Dubois.

 

DVG-809    LIVING FULLY, DYING WELL- (A); 8 sessions, ca. 10 min. ea;. Leader’s guide and participant’s Guide; EcuFilm,
        2006.
        This DVD is designed to assist us in making careful, wise, and prayerful preparation for meeting life’s most important moments.  In this program, participants will learn how to face openly and unafraid the benefits and limitations of aging and end-of-life decisions.  The sessions are:
        1.    LIVING FULLY
        2.    THEOLOGY OF AGING
        3.    OUR CULTURE’S VIEW OF AGING
        4.    FINDING PURPOSE AND MEANING
        5.    GETTING IT ALL TOGETHER
        6.    DYING WELL
        7.    WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE DIE
        8.    HOW THEN SHALL WE LIVE?
               A. Service  B.  Making Changes  C.  A Son’s Story  D.  Staying Active  E.  Dying Well.

DVG-810    COMING FULLY ALIVE AS YOU AGE- (A); 4 sessions, 105 min. total DVD; Leader’s guide  Senior New Ways, 2008.
        This program explores the positives of aging and ways to have a healthier, happier life in later years.  The four programs cover the following topics:
        Finding Meaning in Life
        Being Fully alive:  Mind, Body, and Spirit
        Aging as a Spiritual Journey
        Uplifting Power of Humor
        Each session is intended to be about 1.5 hours long with a facilitator leading the group exercises included on the DVD.