Stranger Things – Everyone seems to be talking about it these days. If for some reason you’re completely out of the loop, here’s what this show’s season 2 is about: “It’s 1984 and the citizens of Hawkins, Indiana are still reeling from the horrors of the demagorgon monster and the secrets of Hawkins Lab (Season 1). Will Byers has been rescued from the “Upside Down” (a different dimension) but a bigger, sinister entity still threatens those who survived.” If you’re still struggling, here’s another way to look at it: imagine combining the classic movies The Goonies, E.T., and Aliens all rolled into one – and there you have it.
All the fan favorites like Mike, Dustin, Lucas, and Eleven are back along with new characters and bigger stakes. My wife and I binged Season 1 when it came out last year and we took our time over the course of about a week. This time though with Season 2, we began Friday night and finished the next afternoon! I know we’re crazy, but I know we’re not alone. I get why so many people watched franticly the first season and why so many will be binge-watching or have already binge-watched the second season. Maybe it’s the ’80s nostalgia or it’s the fun a lovable characters the Duffer brothers have brought to life, but either way Stranger Things mania is sweeping the nation.
Theologian Peter Leithart says, “the Devil has no stories.” What he means is that stories, no matter how spooky or tragic or family-friendly, borrow elements from a deeper and truer story. Stranger Things is stuffed full of metaphors, symbols and even references to the most compelling story in the universe – the Gospel. Here’s some small examples that are SPOILER FREE for those of you who haven’t seen Stranger Things:
- The show’s protagonist is a girl named Eleven. She is pretty clearly a Christ figure (Her nickname, El, even means “God” in Hebrew). She has a mysterious birth story and her true father is never mentioned.
- The world of Stranger Things resembles our world. It has two interconnected dimensions: (1) The world of the 1980’s – filled with that fun-loving nostalgia of a simpler time. (2) The Upside Down – described as a world of death with toxic air and predatory monsters. It’s also a sort of prison for Will, a kid brought to the Upside Down by a monster.
- The Upside Down shows that evil penetrates our reality in visible, dangerous, and consequential ways (a core theme of Season 2).
- Without entering spoiler territory, there’s a box Officer Hopper uses to place food into and the box looks awfully familiar to the Tabernacle in a Catholic church where they store the consecrated host from the Eucharist. Coincidence? I think it’s there on purpose.
- And like every good TV show, this series takes cliffhangers to a whole new level only intensifying the need to watch more and more episodes. Reminds me of those of us who are in Christ are desperately waiting for the day our Savior returns.
I cannot emphasize enough just how important and necessary it is to open our eyes as we encounter and watch Stranger Things. Netflix has dropped a big opportunity in the laps of parents, church leaders, couples, small groups, and beyond. TAKE IT! This is an opportunity to be a part of the conversation everyone is talking about at work, school, and home and take such a simple thing (a TV show) and make it growth-inducing and transformative.
*If you’re interested in topics about media and movies, be sure to check out on our blog “The Gospel According To…” reviews on some of the latest hit movies and TV shows!*
Events in November:
- Choir Practice (Tuesdays @ 6:30 and 7PM) – Junior and Senior Choir continue as they each prepare for the Christmas Cantata. Junior Choir (Children and Youth) begins at 6:30PM and the Senior Choir (Adults) starts at 7PM. Come along and join us!
- Bible Study (Wednesdays @ 7PM) – Each week join Pastor David as we spend time together in prayer and study through the word of God. Previously we’ve done Proverbs, Elijah, John’s New Testament Letters, and Spiritual Warfare. Each Wednesday night at 7PM we have been studying a 16 session study on the book of Romans. “Can I come even if I haven’t been there since the 1st week?” YES! You won’t miss a thing as we catch each other up each week and come fresh together to the Word of God.
- Daylight Savings (Nov. 5th) – “Fall Back” is the word to remember that Sunday as we all get an extra hour of sleep. Don’t forget to change your clocks back 1 hour – but hey, at least if you forget you’ll be nice and early for church that morning!
- HIS’ Ladies Ham Dinner Luncheon (Nov. 5th) – Following our Worship Service that Sunday, stick around afterwards for a wonderful time of fellowship and food. If you’re looking for what you can bring, get in touch with Pastor David and he’ll connect you to the event coordinator.
- Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes – Help bring a smile to a child’s face this Christmas! Pack your shoebox and bring it anytime before Sunday Nov. 12th! Feel free to contact Pastor David and he’ll connect you to the OCC coordinator if you have any questions.
***NOTE CHANGES: $9 shipping fee (increase from last year), NO candy, gum, or toothpaste! THANK YOU!
Upcoming Events:
- Advent Begins (Dec. 3rd) – The Christmas season is a time for celebrations! If you’re like me, the moment that Thanksgiving is done, it’s officially Christmas season (even though I know some people like to start even earlier). It’s the season we’ve waited for all year. So let’s celebrate by looking back at this special time of year through the eyes of those who were a part of that special time. May we begin our Advent season in celebration of what is to come – like it’s the first time we’ve heard the story; full of joy, excitement, and anticipation! Join us for our special Advent sermon series: “HARK” all throughout the month of December!
Christmas Cantata & Christmas Eve Candlelight Worship Service (Dec. 24th @ 10:15AM) – Join us this Sunday morning for a special time of worship from our Children and Adult choirs as they present the Christmas story through music and song. It’s always a special time for families to watch and participate in as we readily await our Savior’s birth! AND Join us for our annual Christmas Eve Candlelight that will happen during our morning worship service as we celebrate the birth of our Savior. Bring the whole family and invite a friend to this very special time of our service that morning that you won’t want to miss!- Annual Congregational Meeting (Date TBA) – Following our Worship Service that Sunday, we will hold our Annual Congregation Meeting. It’s a time to look back and see all that God has done over the past year as well as provide a road-map of the year to come. This meeting includes reports from the Pastor, Lay Delegate, Treasurer, and other church leaders as we plan ahead and ask for God’s wisdom in our future goals for 2018 and beyond.
Don’t forget to stay in touch here on our website as well as at our church! Feel free to COMMENT and SHARE with your friends on social media and we look forward to seeing you at California EC Church this month!
Did you miss out on a new a post or missed a Sunday and want to hear the message? Be sure to check back for more Monthly Snapshots (always on the 1st of the month), “The Gospel According to…” reviews, recorded sermons, and lots of other great things here on our church blog and website!
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