Our 2008 Holiday Media Guide can be found in the Nov/Dec 2008 issue of COLLIDE. In the meantime, here is last year’s Holiday Media Guide in case you missed it:
Church Media
Here are a few of our favorite holiday church media resources. Most of them are, or contain, sermon illustration videos that may help you communicate your message.
“A Brief History of Christmas”
AngelHouse Media
www.angelhousemedia.com
$20
Both creative and funny, this short video gives you exactly what its title suggests. In less than 4 minutes, we see the evolution (so to speak) of Christmas from Bethlehem to that red-nosed reindeer and shopping malls. Amid the stress of the holidays, “A Brief History of Christmas” thoughtfully asks and answers the question, “Why are we doing all this?”
Also see: The ADVENTures with Ed series
“The Nativity: All Too Familiar?”
eleven72
www.eleven72.com
$20
Does familiarity really breed contempt, even when it comes to Christmas? This short video wonders if a lifetime of Nativity scenes and other decorations has caused the true meaning of the Nativity to escape us.
Also see: [NEW!] “Breath of Heaven” and “Peace on Earth”
Christmas Worship Elements & Christmas Stock Footage
Flashlight Films
www.flashlightfilms.com
$40 (CWE), $74.95 (CSF)
The Christmas Worship Elements DVD contains six short videos, shot on 35mm film, that tell parts of the Christmas story. On Christmas Stock Footage, you’ll find more than 30 short, editable clips that empower you to tell the Christmas story in your own video.
Also see: [NEW!] “A Christmas Wish”
“Christmas Again”
Floodgate Productions
www.floodgateproductions.com
$20
Christmas—been there, done that. Like “The Nativity: All Too Familiar,” “Christmas Again” explores the phenomenon of Christmas becoming old hat. The songs and readings stay the same, and for some, so does the empty feeling. “Christmas Again” re-focuses our attention on the Incarnation, which is cause for adoration.
Also see: “Silent Night?” and “Coming to Earth”
“Cradle to the Cross”
Highway Video
www.highwayvideo.com
$20
It isn’t often we hear the Christmas story told from God’s perspective, but that is the version “Cradle to the Cross” endeavors to tell. It is chilling to hear God (OK, it’s really some guy doing a voiceover) reminding us of the significance of Christ’s birth and that the story continued to the Cross.
Also see: “The Best Christmas” and Seasonal V08
Igniter Seasonal Volume 01
Igniter Media Group
www.ignitermedia.com
$99
This volume isn’t limited to just Christmas media, but that it contains both the humorous “A Christmas Moment” and the more serious “A Child Is Born” is worth mentioning. Also included are Christmas stills, loops, and countdowns to complete your presentation.
“12 Crazy Days of Christmas”
Restoration Videos
www.sermonspice.com or www.worshiphousemedia.com
$20
Though a bit repetitive, this short video is undeniably funny. What better way to talk about, and perhaps overcome, the stresses of the holidays than a video that shows strangers experiencing familiar mishaps?
Christmas Pak 2006
SermonVideos.com (Visual Reality)
www.sermonspice.com, www.shoutable.com, or www.worshiphousemedia.com
$40
Besides the Christmas version of the great “Be Still” sermon illustration video, SermonVideos.com’s Christmas Pak 2006 also includes one countdown and 15 motion backgrounds. “Be Still (Christmas)” is in some ways the opposite of a video like “12 Crazy Days of Christmas” because of its stark simplicity, but their messages are similar.
Also see: “Meaning of Christmas”
“O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”
The Work of the People
www.theworkofthepeople.com
$15
This somber, wordless video of an old man going about his holiday routine is polarizing—you either like it or you don’t. Used in the right context, it serves as powerful imagery of the emptiness some feel this time of year.
“He Came”
WorshipFilms
www.worshipfilms.com
$18
At just over 2 minutes, “He Came” is short on time but big on message. Its driving beat, nicely shot footage, and insightful text challenges us to humbly seek He who humbly came.
Also see: Visual Christmas 1 & 2
Christmas at the Movies
These classic films have become synonymous with Christmas in our culture. In fascinating ways, they all communicate important truths about this season. Share them with your church if you’re so inclined.
A Christmas Story (1983)
The Story: Ralph, a kid growing up in the Midwest in the 1940s, is obsessed with getting a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas. “You’ll shoot your eye out,” the adults exclaim.
The Scene: When Christmas morning finally arrives, Ralph actually gets the object of his desire as a gift from his father. Ralph immediately heads outside with the gun, takes aim, nearly shoots his eye out, and starts crying. Somehow, the gift fails to satisfy.
Christmas Vacation (1989)
The Story: All Clark Griswold wants is a good old-fashioned, family Christmas. What he gets is a house full of unbearable in-laws, as well as a membership to the Jelly of the Month club in lieu of the Christmas bonus he was counting on.
The Scene: Clark gathers the whole family in the front yard before unveiling his Christmas light opus. After a speech and a drum roll, the lights fail to turn on. Holiday disillusionment strikes again.
A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)
The Story: Charlie Brown attempts to direct the Christmas pageant, overcome materialism, and find the true meaning of Christmas, all in one movie. Of course, the journey isn’t easy, leading to a few utterances of “Good grief!”
The Scene: Nothing will give you goose bumps like Linus reading from Luke 2 during the Christmas pageant. “Glory to God in the highest,” Linus says, “and on earth peace, good will toward men.”
How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966, 2000)
The Story: A grumpy, green, fuzzy thing hates Christmas so much he plots to rob the residents of Whoville on Christmas Eve.
The Scene: The Grinch, having stolen Whoville’s Christmas goods, turns an ear toward town in expectation of hearing the townspeople mourning their loss. Instead, he hears them singing and rejoicing together. Upon realizing Christmas is about more than material things, his undersized heart grows three sizes.
It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)
The Story: Down on his luck, George Bailey contemplates suicide after $8,000 that belongs to him is lost (hey, that was a lot of money back then). Luckily, Clarence the Angel, hoping to earn his wings, stops in to show George what things would’ve been like if George had never been born.
The Scene: After seeing how badly his family, friends, and town would’ve fared without him, George realizes it’s a wonderful life. “Please, God, I want to live again,” he prays. In an instant, George is returned to life and can’t contain his joy.
Miracle on 34th Street (1947)
The Story: A man named Kris Kringle is put on trial to determine whether or not he is insane and should be committed to an institution for claiming he is Santa Claus. Lawyer Fred Galley sets out to defend the old man by proving to the judge and Macy’s that Santa Claus is real.
The Scene: Kris and Fred knew that only a miracle would keep Kris out of the asylum, and that’s just what they got. The post office delivers 50,000 letters written to Santa during the trial, which Fred convinces the judge is an endorsement by the U.S. government of the existence of Santa Claus.
