Films can be soul food nourishing our lives, stretching our minds and nurturing our Christian faith. This month St. Marks United Reformed Church is exploring Reel Faith: faith & films in Sunday worship. We've shared a little about A Wonderful Life' (1946), Shadowlands (1985) & The Truman Show (1998) together.
Many were familiar with A Wonderful Life and remembered characters like George Bailey and Clarence his guardian angel who helps him see his life differently. At first glance perhaps this film seems a bit sweet and gentle and possibly twee with its morals and feel-good factors but we explored a bit more together as a church. We recalled how the local community pull together to support George and the Bailey family in their difficult financial situation and made links between the harsh times people are in now with mortgage repayments, financial systems failing and some having no safety net or insurance. Some remembered the scene of George's despair as he contemplates suicide on a bridge in the middle of winter. We connected it with different parts of our lives and experiences including our faith when we are struggling to know our own roles, where we have given up on our or God's dreams for us and in exploring the importance of being connected together in a supportive local community. Some of our church community have experienced despair and aloneness like George showed - some have tried to commit suicide and we know people in our families and friends who have done that and it has been hard for us to know what to do and how to respond and pray for them as a Christian community sometimes. Lots of the church had seen this film around Christmas time and look forward to it then so to think more about the place of this film, its themes, teachings, connections with our Christian faith and possibilities of hope in times of despair and hardship was really interesting and powerful.
For the 28th June (11am-12.15noon) all of St. Marks (and anyone else who'd is welcome to share with us) are invited to have watched at least one of the Harry Potter films on which our service will be themed with characters, storylines and connections with the bible. In the meantime keep your eyes and ears open for films which challenge, contrast or comfort you in faith and leave a comment to let us know of any. We'd love to hear from you about your favourite film and how it connects with your life, faith or spirituality.
