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Church Video Ideas:  Christmas Media Review

Orginally published on Thursday, November 30, 2006 at 5:00 PM
by Greg Atkinson

Feliz Navidad! Each year I do a “Christmas Media Review”, so in keeping with my annual tradition, I’d like to submit to you the various companies and resources that are creating seasonal content for use in worship. I’ll be highlighting some new Christmas media products available to your church, as well as reminding you about some that I’ve used in the past. Let’s dive in!

HERE’S WHAT’S NEW THIS YEAR

2100 Productions: “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” ($15) is a worship video from the Urbana missions convention. Using art from numerous cultures, it expresses the longing for Christ that is shared around the world.

A Visual Planet: “Christmas Image Sampler” for $25 – this product is packed with quality media, including 165 still images, 2 loops and 2 videos.

Angelhouse Media: “Molecules Christmas Volume 1” - new artistic particles used in the substance of worship. These graphics are created with the latest graphic design tools in the industry, giving you the cool effects and creativity on your screens.

BluefishTV: “Life of Mary Part 3: Unfamiliar” - A beautiful sermon illustration for Christmas. “Life of Mary Part 4”: Unfulfilled/Fulfilled – This Christmas sermon illustration captures the entire ministry of Jesus in 3 minutes from birth to His resurrection. “Why Do We Celebrate Christmas?” This on-the-street interview video asks this and “What is the perfect Christmas gift?” You’ll love their answers. Crisply edited, this video illustration will stir thought and discussion in your group. “A Daughter's Christmas Gift . . . With Love” – This touching sermon illustration will melt some Scrooge-like hearts. “A Christmas Carol: I Heard the Bells” – Peace on earth? That Christmas wish can ring hollow in a time of war and natural disaster. But in this video sermon illustration, the words of an old carol stir hope, even in crisis. – NOTE: All these videos are only $1.99 each.

Christian Collages: 10 “Christmas Image Sets”, each includes 4 backgrounds with variations on a particular theme ($6 each).

Eleven72: “All Too Familiar” ($20) – This short film asks the question "Are we too familiar with the story of Christmas?" “Advent Stills” ($5) and “Advent Motion Backs” ($8) – 4 stills and 4, two minute videos with the Advent candles framed for text. “Christmas Countdown” ($15) has Scripture about the birth of Jesus.

Floodgate Productions: “Christmas Again” ($20) is one of the best videos that came out this year – it’s well done, thought provoking and prompts the heart for worship. Their “Coming to Earth” video is well done and also $20.

Gorilla Pictures: “Christmas Quote Countdown” ($10) is an inspiration prelude.

Group Publishing: “Worship E-Motions: Focus on the Holidays” ($99) – This DVD includes more than 40 high-quality video clips and carefully selected Scripture passages with beautiful backdrops. Choose from animation, videos, narration, sermon illustrations, drama, visual Scripture, and great nature images. You can search by topic, book and chapter, and theme.

Highway Video: “Seasonal V8” for $55. Included on this volume are the mini-movies “Cradle to the Cross”, which is a modern look at the reality of the incarnation and “O Holy Night”, which didn’t do much for me until I viewed the version with text. The version with words made it for me.

Independent Producers: “Deck the Walls” - 50 new Christmas backgrounds for $20 from Wasteland Media. “Rediscover the Nativity Story” from Chris McGowan (video for $20 or the collection, which includes a loop and a countdown for $28). *NOTE: These are available at WorshipHouse Media.

LifeWay: “Transitions – Christmas Vol. 2” ($20) This DVD features a variety of instrumental, solo voice, and choral audio tracks combined with moving visual images.

Midnight Oil Productions: “Christmas Loops” for $50. I really like the “Winter Lamp” and “Bethlehem Star” loops. Also new this year is “Humble Beginnings” for $75.

One Small Barking Dog: Our friends in the UK went out on the streets with their comedic friend 'Barry Bling' disguised as Father Christmas to see what people want for Christmas. This strange on-the-street video is $10 in the US.

Organic Videos: “The Christmas Story” video for $20 featuring various Scriptures telling the birth of Christ. I don’t care for the choice of fonts, but dig the music.

Outreach: “The Nativity Story” movie video clips and PowerPoint™ templates.

Sarti Design: SD Christmas Stills - 25 professionally designed background images for $9.95. So good, they make me want to quit trying to produce my own. Well done!

SermonSpice: The following are from Independent producers - “Christmas 365” by Sound and Vision Media Service for $15. “Merry Christmas” ($18) by Richard Dunn shows how people say ‘Merry Christmas’ in many languages and reminds us that Christ came for all people. “Yellow Ribbon Christmas” ($20) by Worship Ministries Outreach Unlimited is a great tribute to our military serving during the holidays.

SermonVideos.com: “Christmas Pak 2006” by SermonVideos.com contains a mini-movie, countdown and 12 motion backgrounds for $40. I love their resources!

The Work of the People: “Chris Seay Holiday Volume” - this $30 volume includes 3 teaching/interview pieces with Chris Seay, pastor of Ecclesia Church in Houston. What Chris is saying is great, challenging and well said, but it’s hard to take him seriously while he’s smoking a pipe. I don’t think anyone under the age of 50 (except Kramer) can pull off a pipe. Thankfully, he just had the pipe in one of the three videos. “Little Drummer Boy” is a Christmas music video with music by Kevin Marks for $15. As usual, this video is not obvious and leaves a lot to the imagination. In “The Reason for the Season” Pastor Ron Lewis offers his take on the holiday expression. TWOP also makes seasonal loops for $15 each. A little expensive, but good quality.

VMG Backgrounds: Quality individual stills ($4) and loops ($6). Sharp and classy.

Worship Films: “Visual Christmas 2” in Standard Definition for $39 and HD format for $49. This is a solid product featuring loops, 3 countdowns and 2 videos – one of my favs.

WorshipHouse Media: From producers Flashlight Films & Igniter Media: “The Nativity Collection” ($25) – featuring 1 countdown, 4 loops, 8 stills, and a video clip all themed around the new movie.

GREG’S TOP PICKS

SINGLES:

“Bethlehem Star” loop from A Visual Planet’s “Christmas Image Sampler” may be the best Christmas motion background I’ve seen and their “WINTR004” may be the best still background. Well done AVP!

“Prophecy” from Worship Film’s “Visual Christmas 2”. I’d love to see this video shown in a Jewish temple service. This is one of my favorite videos of the year. Well done!

“Christmas Again” from Floodgate Productions is one of the best mini-movies of the season. I love the effects, the use of a child’s voice, the typography and the message!

“The Reason for the Season” from The Work of the People is thought provoking, captivating and well done. Good story. Worth reflecting on.

VOLUMES:

“Christmas Pak 2006” by SermonVideos.com contains a mini-movie, countdown and 12 motion backgrounds for $40.

“Visual Christmas 2 HD” from Worship Films. Thank you to Worship Films for offering your products in both SD and HD! These are some of the best loops of the year.

VALUE:

“Christmas Image Sampler” from A Visual Planet – this is the best bang for your buck.

“The Nativity Collection” from Flashlight Films and Igniter Media Group. If you’re doing anything with the new movie, this is your best bet for thematic resources.

SD Christmas Stills – This is a downloadable collection of 25 amazing backgrounds that’s too good and too economical to pass up.

ORIGINALITY:

“Give Life” from The Work of the People’s “Chris Seay Holiday Volume” is the most powerful, challenging and moving video of the year. This is my “best overall” pick.

“Cradle to the Cross” from Highway Video is powerful and edgy. I like it!

My intent here is more focused on exposing you to what’s out there than detail. You can personally preview each of these clips online yourself. Most are available at clearing houses such as SermonSpice, The Shoutable Store and WorshipHouse Media, or you can find most producers by adding “.com” to their name. For the complete version of this year's "Christmas Media Review", including the best picks of years before, follow the link.

With all the media resources available to the Church today, it’s easy to miss the simple message of Christmas. The incarnation – how God became man and lived among us. Emmanuel. Because this story is so life-changing, so meaningful and important, I urge you to take the proclamation of it seriously. I review and list these many resources simply to encourage you and expand your vision of the many resources God has made available to His Church. Merry Christmas!

© 2006 - Greg Atkinson – Church Video Ideas Used by permission from author. All rights reserved by author. Greg Atkinson lives in Dallas with his wife and their three small children. Greg served previously as the Director of WorshipHouse Media, after having served as a worship pastor for 11 years. He is the Founder of Multisensoryworship.com and Co-Founder of Wasteland Creative, where he continues to consult, teach and write about worship, media and creative communication. You can connect with him through his daily blog, Church Video Ideas, his podcast, Creative Synergy, or his email: .


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  There are 13 Comments:

  • Posted by

    Even without all of the evidence that Christmas started as a pagan festival with Christ’ name added later, all we have to do is look at who celebrates Christmas and for what reason. People are shooting each other over video games at 5:00 AM, IN JESUS NAME!  I believe it is important that we refrain from doing what is right in our own eyes and observe that which we are commanded, adding nothing and taking away nothing? If you concur, you must understand that you cannot take a pagan holiday cluttered with traditions and objects, incorporate it into biblical Christianity and please God.
    Does any Christian reader imagine for a moment that when he or she shall stand before their holy Lord, that they will regret having lived “too strictly” on earth? Is there the slightest danger of His reproving any of His own because they were “too extreme” in “abstaining from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul.” (1 Peter 2:11) ? We may gain the good will and good word of worldly religionists today by our compromisings on “little (?) points,” but shall we receive His smile of approval on that Day? Oh to be more concerned about what He thinks, and less concerned about what perishing mortals think.
    Which of these men, women or groups celebrated and honored Christmas?

    1) Jesus
    2) The Apostle Paul
    3) Hitler
    4) The Preacher Charles Spurgeon
    5) Saddam Hussein
    6) The Preacher A.W. Pink
    7) The American Colonists
    8) Josef Stalin
    9) The early Church
    10) Bill Clinton
    11) The Reformers
    12) Charles Manson
    13) The Puritans
    14) The Massachusetts Bay Colony
    15) Margaret Sanger (founder of Planned Parenthood)

    Answers:

    1) NO, Jesus did not celebrate His birthday, nor did any biblical characters except two evil onesâ?¦ Pharoah and Herod.

    2) NO, Paul did not celebrate Christmas.

    3) YES, Hitler loved Christmas and celebrated it by giving gifts of books he enjoyed.

    4) NO, Charles Spurgeon did not celebrate Christmas, and recognized it as a pagan holiday.

    5) YES, Saddam Hussein regularly honored Christmas and sent out Christmas messages (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2604699.stm)

    6) NO, A.W. Pink refused to recognize the Papal/Pagan ceremony he called XMAS.

    7) NO, the early American Colonists recognized the pagan roots of Christmas and refused to participate.

    8) YES, Josef Stalin celebrated Christmas as we see in his Christmas message to Hitler: ("The friendship of the peoples of Germany and the Soviet Union, cemented by blood, has every reason to be lasting and firm.” - Josef Stalin, Soviet Dictator (Christmas greeting to Hitler, 1939))

    9) NO, The early Church knew nothing of Christmas.

    10) YES, Humanist and serial adulterer Bill Clinton LOVES Christmas.

    11) NO, The Reformers rejected Christmas as a symbol of Popery and Paganism.

    12) YES, Charles Manson celebrated Christmas 2000 by painting a picture which is available on the front page of the website run by his supporters.

    13) NO, The Puritans rejected Christmas as a relic of the Papacy and of Paganism.

    14) NO, The Massachusetts Bay Colony banned Christmas as paganism and offensive to Christ.

    15) YES, The serial murderer and mother of abortion Margaret Sanger loved Christmas and regularly sent Christmas greetings to her friends.

  • Posted by Greg Atkinson

    Wow. You just created a whole new category of legalism. Legalism is one thing, but you’re out alone on a much more distant extreme. I, along with the rest of the Church, will celebrate Christ’s birth this Christmas season. Happy Holidays!

  • Posted by Todd Rhoades

    Rosalind has left the building… for good.

    That’s five this week.

    What’s up?!!?

    Todd

  • Posted by

    Hey Greg,

    “Because this story is so life-changing, so meaningful and important, I urge you to take the proclamation of it seriously.”

    Amen brother! Appreciate all your work into putting this list together. Nope. I’m not in charge of our video area at church but I still appreciate it for those who are.

    Oh hey, the other day I was told that Third Day was tool of Satan because of how they destroyed a couple of hymns. (Off topic I know but considering I was listening to one of their “Christmas songs” it sort of applies here)

    Blessings,
    Camey

  • Posted by Greg Atkinson

    “Tool of Satan”? Dear, Lord, I hope you’re kidding. I’m a HUGE Third Day fan.

  • Posted by

    Nope. Not kidding. Of course that was one of the same people who told me that I shouldn’t have anything to do with “those girls” .... Pregnant, teens, single, former druggies or still using.

    Huge fan myself. Frankly, it makes me want to cry out to Jesus even more!

  • Posted by Bill A.

    Great list. Thanks so much.

    The only thing that would have made it better is to provide links so I didn’t have google a bunch of these. Maybe next year.

    Merry Christmas.

  • Posted by Greg Atkinson

    This is just a teaser. You can download the full review, including hyperlinks, from the homepage of my website: http://www.multisensoryworship.com

  • Posted by adam mclane

    Thanks for your incredible list. This is by far the most comprehensive review I’ve seen. Just want to know, where was this when I was out buying my Christmas media!

  • Posted by Greg Atkinson

    I hear ya and feel your pain. I had to wait for the producers to come out with their products for 2006. Some just released their new Christmas media this week. Each year I beg the media producers to start early preparing for Christmas, but each year most wait until the last second. However, most churches wait to the last minute to plan for their services and special events so this review will be about 3 weeks early for them.  smile

  • Posted by

    Thanks for the reviews.  I know that was a lot of work and I appreciate it.

  • Posted by

    I agreed 100% with Rosalind.  The Lord Jesus Christ wants his followers to remember him in another way but not during the celebration of Christmas.  He said in Luke 22:19 - “… this do in remembrance of me (Lords Supper).  God is God and He will not hesitate to tell us when and how we celebrate Him.  It’s not us that we decide on how and when to celebrate Him but God Himself. 

    Some religions and members of the Church are observing the Lord Supper but God knows if they please Him or not because He said in 1 Cor. 11:24-29 that “29 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. 29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.”

  • Posted by Leonard

    I sent this list to my worship pastor and he did some amazing things with it, thanks a ton and Merry Christmas.

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