The St. Stephen’s Movie Theology Group

The St. Stephen’s Movie Theology Group at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Lubbock has been meeting for seven years. Between 5 and 15 of us (generally around 8) have been gathering once a month in each other's homes for about 2 hours of fellowship and thought-provoking discussion. We have watched action movies, movies based on books and/or true events, Academy Award-winning classics, comedies, documentaries, obscure foreign films, and science fiction. I look forward in 2024 to recommending that we consider the 1952 Western genre film “High Noon”, which speaks to the idea that all people have a responsibility to society and that one must stand up for one’s beliefs. 

Why do we choose to continue doing this? What does it mean to us? How has it changed us? 

Personally I look forward every month to meeting with this group to enjoy the fellowship, and to open my mind to new perspectives and new ways of thinking. There is just nothing like a small-group gathering for fostering a deeper knowledge of another person, and for forming a sense of connectedness. And for me, nothing has the power to open one’s mind like the arts. Numerous movies we have watched have made me more sensitive to the deep pain and injustice inflicted by racial bias.

What others have said…

"This time together has offered a time of new knowledge and growth. I so appreciate what I carry away from our conversations. This has been a family to me. Sharing, caring, loving, and thoughtful."

"Lovely friendships and community bonded together through these films and the stories they tell. It’s such a treat to me to hear one another weave together many thoughts and to have ah-ha moments that are interesting and enlightening. I also find it challenging and rewarding to look for God’s grace, goodness and sometimes even redemption in movie characters as plot and lives develop. Pivotal moments for characters to change for the better or worse are also interesting points of discussion and discovery."

"All in all, the more participants we have at Movie Theology Night the more we learn about others in fellowship at St Stephens and of course the movie.”

"I enjoy discussions about God and theology. I enjoy discussing the meaning of movies--what they mean to me and to others and how they may or may not intersect with our own lives. I enjoy the social connections with other members of our group. I also enjoy viewing, and then discussing, movies that I would probably never pick on my own. I've been quite pleasantly surprised by some of them. I like that there is no designated leader of the group and that no single individual monopolizes the discussions.” 

This group is open to all adults. We meet on the second Sunday of the month. Each month we decide upon the movie to watch before our next gathering. Please join us and bring a snack to share and a favorite beverage for yourself.