DLT Lent courses with film tie-ins.

Lent begins on Wednesday, February 14. Here we look back at three bestselling Lent courses with film tie-ins released in recent years all of which are available now in paperback ...

THE MYSTERY OF EVERYTHING: A Lent course based around the film The Mystery of Everything by Hilary Brand (Paperback, 160pp, £5.99)

The Mystery of Everything is a new and original Lent course by Hilary Brand, which takes the multi-award winning film about Stephen Hawking, The Theory of Everything, as its starting point. The course explores ways in which the mysteries of the universe and of everyday life – and the acceptance that we have more questions than answers – can reinvigorate our faith and spiritual journey.

The course is based around five weekly group sessions entitled:

The experience of wonder

The enigma of weakness

The complexity of relationships

The encounter with frailty

The hope beyond brokenness

Each session includes an extract from the film, group discussion questions and a meditation. There are also short introductory and follow up chapters for individual reading each week, and a chapter of Bible passages for further daily reading. The book supplies full notes for group course leaders.

WHAT THEY SAID: Church Times > ‘Hilary Brand … writes lucidly and helpfully about physics, about the interface between science and faith, and very movingly about her personal experience of her friend Sally, who suffered from Motor Neurone disease, yet to the end was wowed by God’s amazing grace. There are some stunningly relevant quotes, each session contains pertinent questions for the group to chew over, ending with a worship session with some original and highly numinous prayers. In addition there are six weeks of personal bible studies on mystery in Genesis, Job, the Psalms, Wisdom literature, Paul’s epistles and the Gospels, written in the same lucid and punchy style. A snip at just £5.99.’

READ A SAMPLE HERE or HERE.

ANOTHER STORY MUST BEGIN: A Lent course based on Les Miserables by Jonathan Meyer (Paperback, 96pp, £5.99)

Another Story Must Begin is an original Lent course based on the film, the novel and the stage adaptation of Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables. Through discussion of some of the themes and principal characters of this epic narrative, the course explores the grace of God and our own fallen state and opportunity for redemption, and helps us to reassess what we can do with our lives and for those around us.

The course is based around five weekly group sessions:

Fantine and Cosette

The Bishop of Digne

Jean Valjean

Javert

Redemption and Salvation

Each session includes watching scenes from the Oscar-winning movie starring Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe and Anne Hathaway (with timing references for the DVD), and questions and reflections for group discussion. Each session also includes introductory reading, notes for leaders, related Bible passages and suggested closing prayers.

WHAT THEY SAID: Church Times > 'Another Story Must Begin is built around the characters, and may well appeal to those who might be hesitant about joining a traditional Bible-based study. Hugo’s novel is essentially about issues of suffering, repentance, forgiveness, and grace; so the Christian content, including Bible passages, feels appropriate and unforced. Meyer devised it for his own parish, where scenes of the film were shot. It may reach parts of other congregations, too, which traditional courses fail to attract.'

READ A SAMPLE HERE or HERE.

A BEAUTIFUL FRIENDSHIP: A Lent course based on Casablanca by Paul Kerensa and Zoe Young (Paperback, 112pp, £5.99)

Casablanca is the classic movie and provides a great basis for discussion of themes of sacrifice, repentance, suffering, loss and hope at Lent. Its wartime setting provides additional poignancy for study at a time of continued armed conflict around the world as well as the centenary remembrance of the first world war.

Miranda and Not Going Out writer Paul Kerensa makes an intriguing departure from his comedy writing, preparing this moving book in the style of DLT’s classic movie-based Lent Courses. A Beautiful Friendship is written with his wife, Zoë Young.

It is designed to be studied by groups or individuals alongside the DVD of Casablanca, starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman. The book includes leaders’ notes, timings for film clips, discussion-starters, reflections and prayers.

WHAT THEY SAID: Art Serve > 'This is a lovely book, a great gift and although it is a Lent Course it would work well for individuals or groups to use at any time of year. Make sure you don't miss this one.'

READ A SAMPLE HERE or HERE.