Gathering in fellowship to explore stories of faith through film

Come one, come all. We meet in the church lobby on the first Saturday of the month at 5:00-8:00 p.m. Enjoy free pizza and refreshments, view a feature film, and discuss the spiritual and faith issues that are raised by discussion questions and reference Bible verses. For more information about the Faith and Film program, call the Church Office at (410) 435-1506.

First Saturday of the Month:

January 5, 2013 - To Kill a Mockingbird (1962) not rated, 131 minutes. Ranked by many as one of the best films of all time, this adaptation of Harper Lee's novel stars Gregory Peck in an Oscar-winning role as lawyer Atticus Finch, who defends an innocent black man (Brock Peters) against rape charges in the rural South. Meanwhile, with help from a friend (John Megna), Finch's children, Jem (Phillip Alford) and Scout (Mary Badham), set their sights on making contact with a reclusive neighbor (Robert Duvall). James 2:1-13 Study Guide		February 2, 2013 - The Long Walk Home (1990) rated PG, 95 minutes. Sissy Spacek stars as Miriam Thompson, a Montgomery, Ala., housewife who finds herself in the midst of a civil rights revolution when she helps her black maid, Odessa (Whoopi Goldberg), during the infamous bus boycott of the 1950s. When Miriam discovers Odessa is forced to walk the 9 miles to her house and back, she volunteers to give Odessa a ride -- much to the dismay of Miriam's husband and social circle. Bibleref \| Study Guide
March 2, 2013 - Faith Like Potatoes (2006) rated PG-13, 111 minutes. Based on a true story, this inspiring drama centers on white farmer Angus Buchan, who -- weary of the conflict in Zambia -- moves his family to South Africa, where they try to transform a bare plot of land into a working farm. Psalm 121: 1-2; Matthew 6: 25-26; 2 Corinthians 4:18 \| Study Guide		April 6, 2013 - Babe (1995) rated G, 92 minutes. Director Chris Noonan's tale of precocious piglet Babe's (voiced by Christine Cavanaugh) struggle to fit in and become a champion sheepherder won the hearts of audiences and critics. Babe was nominated for seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and won the Visual Effects Oscar. Everything about this movie -- from farmer Arthur Hoggett (James Cromwell) to the multitude of farm animals to the humble, edgy script -- is remarkably appealing for kids and adults alike. Bibleref \| Study Guide

May 4, 2013 - Cast Away (2000) rated PG-13, 143 minutes. After FedEx systems engineer Chuck Noland's (Tom Hanks) plane crashes in the Pacific Ocean, he finds himself fighting to survive on a deserted island with nothing but a painted volleyball -- a silent partner he names Wilson -- for company. An acting tour de force for Hanks (who received a Golden Globe Award for his performance), this drama from director Robert Zemeckis is a fascinating abstract about the indomitability of the human spirit. Bibleref \| Study Guide		June 2, 2013 - The Winslow Boy (1999) rated G, 110 minutes. When his 14-year-old son is expelled from the Royal Naval College for stealing, bank manager Arthur Winslow (Nigel Hawthorne) launches a long and costly effort to clear the boy's name, aided by his daughter (Rebecca Pidgeon) and barrister Sir Robert Morton (Jeremy Northam). But in the process, the determined Arthur risks destroying his family. Genesis 41:15, Mark 8:34b \| Study Guide
July 6, 2013 - The Way (2010) rated PG-13, 120 minutes. When his son (Emilo Esteves, who also directed) dies while hiking the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route in the Pyrenees, a grieving father (Martin Sheen) flies to France to claim the remains. Looking for insights into his estranged child's life, he decides to complete the 500-mile trek to Spain in his son's honor. Bibleref \| Study Guide		August 3, 2013 - Dean Spanley (2008) not rated, 100 minutes. At a visiting swami's lecture, Edwardian gentleman Fisk (Jeremy Northam) meets his district's strange new clergyman, Dean Spanley (Sam Neill). The dean is a firm believer in reincarnation, which he expounds upon freely when drinking a particular Hungarian wine. Curious, Fisk delivers a case of the stuff to the dean, regaling in the man's stories about his previous life as a dog. Peter O'Toole co-stars in this offbeat British comedy. Bibleref \| Study Guide

September 7, 2013 - The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2011) rated PG13, 124 minutes. To make the most of their meager retirement savings, a group of British pensioners (Judy Dench, Celia Imrie, Bill Nighy, Ronald Pickup, Penelope Wilton, Maggie Smith, Tom Wilkinson) moves to India to live out their golden years at the Marigold Hotel, run by the young and eager Sonny (Dev Patel). But upon arrival, they discover the once-lavish resort has wilted considerably. Bibleref \| Study Guide		October 5 2013 - Lincoln (2013) rated PG13, 150 minutes. Director Steven Spielberg takes on the towering legacy of Abraham Lincoln (played by Daniel Day Lewis), focusing on his stewardship of the Union during the final four months of the Civil War. The biographical saga also reveals the conflicts within Lincolns's cabinet regarding the war and abolition, a depiction based on Doris Kearns Goodwin's book, Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln. Bibleref \| Study Guide
November 2, 2013 - The Life of Pi (2012) rated PG, 127 minutes. Based on Yann Martel's best-selling novel, this coming-of-age tale directed by Ang Lee recounts the adventures of Pi, an Indian boy (Suraj Sharma) who is the sole survivor of a shipwreck. Pi finds himself on a lifeboat with only some zoo animals for company, including a Bengal Tiger named Richard Parker. Bibleref \| Study Guide		December 7, 2013 - A Man for All Seasons (1966) not rated, 120 minutes. When Henry VIII (Robert Shaw) seeks approval from the English aristocracy to divorce his wife and marry commoner Anne Boleyn, Sir Thomas More (Paul Scofield) finds himself caught between a murderous king and the powerful Roman Catholic Church. Richly crafted with a fine supporting cast, director Fred Zinnemann's period drama swept the 1966 Oscars, winning six golden statuettes, including Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Director. Bibleref \| Study Guide

January 5, 2013 - To Kill a Mockingbird (1962) not rated, 131 minutes. Ranked by many as one of the best films of all time, this adaptation of Harper Lee's novel stars Gregory Peck in an Oscar-winning role as lawyer Atticus Finch, who defends an innocent black man (Brock Peters) against rape charges in the rural South. Meanwhile, with help from a friend (John Megna), Finch's children, Jem (Phillip Alford) and Scout (Mary Badham), set their sights on making contact with a reclusive neighbor (Robert Duvall). James 2:1-13 Study Guide		February 2, 2013 - The Long Walk Home (1990) rated PG, 95 minutes. Sissy Spacek stars as Miriam Thompson, a Montgomery, Ala., housewife who finds herself in the midst of a civil rights revolution when she helps her black maid, Odessa (Whoopi Goldberg), during the infamous bus boycott of the 1950s. When Miriam discovers Odessa is forced to walk the 9 miles to her house and back, she volunteers to give Odessa a ride -- much to the dismay of Miriam's husband and social circle. Bibleref \| Study Guide
March 2, 2013 - Faith Like Potatoes (2006) rated PG-13, 111 minutes. Based on a true story, this inspiring drama centers on white farmer Angus Buchan, who -- weary of the conflict in Zambia -- moves his family to South Africa, where they try to transform a bare plot of land into a working farm. Psalm 121: 1-2; Matthew 6: 25-26; 2 Corinthians 4:18 \| Study Guide		April 6, 2013 - Babe (1995) rated G, 92 minutes. Director Chris Noonan's tale of precocious piglet Babe's (voiced by Christine Cavanaugh) struggle to fit in and become a champion sheepherder won the hearts of audiences and critics. Babe was nominated for seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and won the Visual Effects Oscar. Everything about this movie -- from farmer Arthur Hoggett (James Cromwell) to the multitude of farm animals to the humble, edgy script -- is remarkably appealing for kids and adults alike. Bibleref \| Study Guide

May 4, 2013 - Cast Away (2000) rated PG-13, 143 minutes. After FedEx systems engineer Chuck Noland's (Tom Hanks) plane crashes in the Pacific Ocean, he finds himself fighting to survive on a deserted island with nothing but a painted volleyball -- a silent partner he names Wilson -- for company. An acting tour de force for Hanks (who received a Golden Globe Award for his performance), this drama from director Robert Zemeckis is a fascinating abstract about the indomitability of the human spirit. Bibleref \| Study Guide		June 2, 2013 - The Winslow Boy (1999) rated G, 110 minutes. When his 14-year-old son is expelled from the Royal Naval College for stealing, bank manager Arthur Winslow (Nigel Hawthorne) launches a long and costly effort to clear the boy's name, aided by his daughter (Rebecca Pidgeon) and barrister Sir Robert Morton (Jeremy Northam). But in the process, the determined Arthur risks destroying his family. Genesis 41:15, Mark 8:34b \| Study Guide
July 6, 2013 - The Way (2010) rated PG-13, 120 minutes. When his son (Emilo Esteves, who also directed) dies while hiking the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route in the Pyrenees, a grieving father (Martin Sheen) flies to France to claim the remains. Looking for insights into his estranged child's life, he decides to complete the 500-mile trek to Spain in his son's honor. Bibleref \| Study Guide		August 3, 2013 - Dean Spanley (2008) not rated, 100 minutes. At a visiting swami's lecture, Edwardian gentleman Fisk (Jeremy Northam) meets his district's strange new clergyman, Dean Spanley (Sam Neill). The dean is a firm believer in reincarnation, which he expounds upon freely when drinking a particular Hungarian wine. Curious, Fisk delivers a case of the stuff to the dean, regaling in the man's stories about his previous life as a dog. Peter O'Toole co-stars in this offbeat British comedy. Bibleref \| Study Guide

September 7, 2013 - The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2011) rated PG13, 124 minutes. To make the most of their meager retirement savings, a group of British pensioners (Judy Dench, Celia Imrie, Bill Nighy, Ronald Pickup, Penelope Wilton, Maggie Smith, Tom Wilkinson) moves to India to live out their golden years at the Marigold Hotel, run by the young and eager Sonny (Dev Patel). But upon arrival, they discover the once-lavish resort has wilted considerably. Bibleref \| Study Guide		October 5 2013 - Lincoln (2013) rated PG13, 150 minutes. Director Steven Spielberg takes on the towering legacy of Abraham Lincoln (played by Daniel Day Lewis), focusing on his stewardship of the Union during the final four months of the Civil War. The biographical saga also reveals the conflicts within Lincolns's cabinet regarding the war and abolition, a depiction based on Doris Kearns Goodwin's book, Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln. Bibleref \| Study Guide
November 2, 2013 - The Life of Pi (2012) rated PG, 127 minutes. Based on Yann Martel's best-selling novel, this coming-of-age tale directed by Ang Lee recounts the adventures of Pi, an Indian boy (Suraj Sharma) who is the sole survivor of a shipwreck. Pi finds himself on a lifeboat with only some zoo animals for company, including a Bengal Tiger named Richard Parker. Bibleref \| Study Guide		December 7, 2013 - A Man for All Seasons (1966) not rated, 120 minutes. When Henry VIII (Robert Shaw) seeks approval from the English aristocracy to divorce his wife and marry commoner Anne Boleyn, Sir Thomas More (Paul Scofield) finds himself caught between a murderous king and the powerful Roman Catholic Church. Richly crafted with a fine supporting cast, director Fred Zinnemann's period drama swept the 1966 Oscars, winning six golden statuettes, including Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Director. Bibleref \| Study Guide

2013

2012

2011

Gathering in fellowship to explore stories of faith through film