Media Resource Center Newsletter
February 2020
Welcome to the Upper New York Media Resource Center
If you've never used the Media Resource Center before, I invite you to give us a try. Funded by your Shared Ministry dollars, we can supply you with small group discussion materials, Bible studies, children and youth curriculum, adult curriculum, and a myriad of subjects such as stewardship, evangelism, social issues and VBS materials, just to name a few. Our quick and easy online ordering is just a click away. You can add things to a "shopping cart", then once submitted, you'll receive an email with your invoice attached. We send your order through the USPS and we'll supply the mail back envelopes and label with instructions on mailing. Your only cost is the postage to return it. Please feel free to search our online catalog below.

If I can assist you in any way, please don't hesitate to give me a call at 315-898-2027 or email me at [email protected].
Ask the UMC:
What does The United Methodist Church say about fasting
There is a strong biblical base for fasting, particularly during the 40 days of Lent leading to the celebration of Easter. Jesus, as part of his spiritual preparation, went into the wilderness and fasted 40 days and 40 nights, according to the Gospels.

Fasting has been a part of Methodism from its early beginnings. John Wesley considered fasting an important part of a Christian's life and he fasted weekly. To Wesley, fasting was an important way to express sorrow for sin and penitence for overindulgence in eating and drinking. He believed it allowed more time for prayer and was more meaningful if combined with giving to the poor. Wesley did advise caution against extreme fasting and against fasting for those in fragile health.

Although fasting usually refers to any practice of restricting food, there is a distinction between fasting (limiting consumption of food and drink) and abstinence (abstaining from eating meat.) Abstinence from meat one day a week is a universal act of penitence. It is important that you check with your physician before attempting a total fast (no food, water only) for more than 24 hours.

Lent is a very personal time of self-reflection, so The United Methodist Church does not have official guidelines on how individuals should observe Lent. Some choose to give up a certain food, however a spirit of fasting can include restriction of activities such as television watching, shopping or social networking. Some choose to give away clothing or possessions, give time by volunteering or increase time spent in prayer. We fast to reorient ourselves away from the distraction of those things and back toward God.
The Wesleys Take the Web
In this series of short videos, modern animated versions of the brothers who founded Methodism talk about some of the statistics and the spirit of what is now The United Methodist Church.

The characters were created by United Methodist pastor Charlie Baber, who draws the Wesley Bros. comics. Read more>> .
Additional Resources for 2020
The Bible Project - Explore Free Bible Videos
The Bible Project is a nonprofit animation studio that produces short-form, fully animated  Bible videos  and other  Bible resources  to make the biblical story accessible to everyone, everywhere. We create 100%  free Bible videos ,  podcasts , and  Bible resources  to help people experience the story of the Bible.

From page one to the final word, we believe the Bible is a unified story that leads to Jesus. This diverse collection of ancient books overflows with wisdom for our modern world. As we let the biblical story speak for itself, we believe the message of Jesus will transform individuals and entire communities. Click here to preview . Read more>> .
The Wesleys Take the Web
The Grace of Les Misérables - by Matthew Rawle
Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables is a truly epic story. Whether you’ve tackled the 1,400-page 19th century novel, witnessed the Broadway musical (and memorized its soundtrack), or seen the several screen adaptations of it, you already know the power of its story.

In the six-week study The Grace of Les Misérables , author and pastor Matt Rawle dives into six ideals found in the story—grace, justice, poverty, revolution, love, and hope—each represented by a character in Hugo’s story. As these imperfect and relatable characters interact, we can see how these ideals work together (perhaps even in spite of each other) out in the world.

In keeping with his previous works, Matt Rawle brings us to the intersection of church and pop culture by drawing parallels between the iconic story and musical and our Christian calling, inspiring us to both understand our faith and live it out in the world.

A DVD, leader guide, youth resources, and worship resource flash drive are also available for a six-week study.

Click here to preview. Go to our  Online Catalog  to order  The Grace of Les Miserables, K349= ,  then choose the component(s) you wish to borrow to add to your shopping cart.
Entering the Passion of Jesus by Amy-Jill Levine
Jesus’ final days were full of risk. Every move he made was filled with anticipation, danger, and the potential for great loss or great reward. Jesus risked his reputation when he entered Jerusalem in a victory parade. He risked his life when he dared to teach in the Temple. His followers risked everything when they left behind their homes, or anointed him with costly perfume. We take risks as we read and re-read these stories, finding new meanings and new challenges.

In Entering the Passion of Jesus: A Beginner’s Guide to Holy Week, author, professor, and biblical scholar Amy-Jill Levine explores the biblical texts surrounding the Passion story. She shows us how the text raises ethical and spiritual questions for the reader, and how we all face risk in our Christian experience. The book provides a rich and challenging learning experience for small groups and individual readers alike. As part of a larger six-week study that is perfect for Lent, it includes a DVD, a comprehensive Leader Guide, and a Leader Kit.

The book’s six chapters include:

  • Jerusalem: Risking Reputation
  • The Temple: Risking Righteous Anger
  • Teachings: Risking Challenge
  • The First Dinner: Risking Rejection
  • The Last Supper: Risking the Loss of Friends
  • Gethsemane: Risking Temptation

The six-session DVD features Dr. Amy-Jill Levine offering a fresh, timely reinterpretation of the Passion of Jesus. The video segments are approximately 10–12 minutes each and, when combined with the six book chapters, make an ideal six-week group study. All videos sessions are closed captioned.

Click here to preview. Go to our  Online Catalog  to order  Entering the Passion of Jesus , K282= ,  then choose the component(s) you wish to borrow to add to your shopping cart.
Simon Peter by Adam Hamilton
He left everything to follow his teacher and possessed a passion that would change the world. That’s one way to describe Peter. Here’s another: poor, uneducated, quick-tempered, and full of doubts and fears. Doesn’t even sound like the same man. And that’s the point of Simon Peter , a six-week adult Bible study by Adam Hamilton. Peter was just an ordinary guy who heard and followed God’s extraordinary call. Discover how you, too, have special gifts, talents, and abilities that God can use to make a difference today.

In addition to the leader guide and DVD components for adult studies, corresponding youth and children’s resources, can be used to create a church-wide study.

Chapters Include:

  • The Call of Simon the Fisherman
  • Walking with Jesus in the Storm
  • Bedrock or Stumbling Block?
  • “I Will Not Deny You”
  • From Cowardice to Courage
  • The Rest of the Story

The six-session DVD features Adam Hamilton on location in Israel and Italy. The video segments are approximately 10–12 minutes each and, when combined with the book, make an ideal six-week group study. All videos sessions are closed captioned.

Click here to preview. Go to our  Online Catalog  to order  Simon Peter , K287= ,  then choose the component(s) you wish to borrow to add to your shopping cart.
Why Easter Matters by Andy Stanley
As believers in Christ, we all would like to say that we trust in God. We would all like to claim that we believe God has our best interests in mind and that obedience to him is the best pathway to finding joy, peace, and fulfillment in life. But the truth is that we often find ourselves actively resisting the very God in whom we say we trust.

This was true of people even back in the days of first-century Israel when Jesus walked the earth. In this four-session study (study guide sold separately), pastor Andy Stanley explores the lives of some of these individuals and reveals how the story of Easter became real to them when they found themselves caught up in the events of Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection. These characters include figures in the Gospels such as: Joseph Caiaphas, Judas Iscariot, the two criminals on the crosses next to Jesus, and the disciples and other followers of Jesus, who found their world turned upside down when the one they believed to be the Messiah was first put to death . . . and then rose again.

Sessions include:

  • The High Cost of Following Christ (John 12:25)
  • The Risk of Surrendering to God (Matthew 19:27)
  • The God Who Can Be Trusted (Luke 23:39-41)
  • The Foundation of Our Faith (Acts 1:8)

Click here to preview. Go to our  Online Catalog  to order  Why Easter Matters, K339=,  then choose the component(s) you wish to borrow to add to your shopping cart.
The Passion Play by Rob Fuquay
With few exceptions, the Oberammergau Passion Play has been presented by the inhabitants of the village of Oberammergau, Bavaria, Germany every 10 years since 1634. The play is a staging of Jesus' Passion story, covering the final period of his life from his visit to Jerusalem to the journey to the cross..

In his new book and study, The Passion Play: Living the Story of Christ’s Last Days , author and pastor Rob Fuquay follows the biblical story of the Passion and how it has been experienced through the centuries against the backdrop of this amazing play.

Perfect for Lent, this book and study takes you on a journey to the origins of the Passion Play and helps you understand how the play has been used both as a ritual of praise and later as a weapon through its anti-Semitic past. The book and study help readers and small groups feel a sense of connection to the play while recognizing their own place in the story of Jesus.

The six-session DVD features Rob Fuquay filmed on location in Oberammergau, Germany guiding participants through the study. The video sessions are approximately 6-8 minutes in length and, when combined with the six book chapters, make an ideal six-week group study. All videos sessions are closed captioned.

Click here to preview. Go to our  Online Catalog  to order  The Passion Play: Living the Story of Christ's Last Days, K331= ,  then choose the component(s) you wish to borrow to add to your shopping cart.
Calendar - February 2020
  • February 17 - Conference office and Media Center closed for President's Day
  • February 26 - Ash Wednesday
If you have any suggestions for our format of the Media Resource Center newsletter or have ideas that we may include in the future, I'd love to hear from you. Just drop me a line at [email protected] .
Upper New York Conference | 315-898-2027 | [email protected] | www.unyumc.org