It's a Pokenberry Christmas, Part 1

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#385: “It's a Pokenberry Christmas, Part 1”
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Scripture

James 1:17

17Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

Isaiah 41:10
10So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

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It's a Pokenberry Christmas, Part 1

“It's a Pokenberry Christmas, Part 1” is episode #385 of the Adventures in Odyssey audio series. It was written and directed by Paul McCusker, and originally aired on December 13, 1997.

Summary

Whit and Eugene travel to Pokenberry Falls to help George Barclay, who has lost faith that he should be a pastor … which leads to a bizarre series of events.

Plot

George and Eugene fall off the bridge.

At a quiet Whit's End, Whit reads a letter from Mary Barclay that discusses how discouraged George Barclay is in Pokenberry Falls. Things are so bad he is considering quitting the pastorate. Whit and Eugene decide to visit the Barclays over the holidays as an encouragement to George. As his family, Mary, Donna, Jimmy, and Stewart Reed Barclay, plays in the snow, George attempts to justify his church budget to Barry Lionel, the sole financial supporter of the church. Mr. Lionel can't see the value of spending his money on the poor members of the congregation and tells George that he may have to close the church.

Discouraged, George stops at the church office and finds Ellis Birch, the church treasurer, frantically trying to find the deposit slip for the $800 he was supposed to deposit in the bank the previous week. Without the money, the church can't pay its bills. The two desperately try to find the money, but it's nowhere to be found.

George gets more and more frustrated and angry, especially when he hears that Stewart has injured himself falling off his bike. He visits with Stewart and agrees to fix the pedal from the bike while Stewart rests. Frustrated with the day and with life in general, George storms out of the house.

Meanwhile, Whit and Eugene have checked into a motel and, after calling Mary, decide to go look for George. George has gone to Mr. Lionel for help, but Mr. Lionel refuses, suggesting they just let the church die. Whit and Eugene find George on a bridge. Believing George is about to jump, Eugene runs to stop him and instead falls over the edge into the river himself. George jumps into the river to save Eugene. The story continues in part II...

This plot section is too short and should be expanded. »

Discussion Questions

  1. Why would Eugene assume the worst: that George Barclay was considering throwing himself into the water?
    • And though George denied it later, was there any truth to Eugene's assumption?
  2. Have you ever been in a position like George's, where God has called you to do something that would be impossible to carry out without Him?

Cast

Heard in episode

Role Voice Actor
Barry Lionel Tom Williams
Donna Barclay Azure Janosky
Ellis Birch Howard Morris
Eugene Meltsner Will Ryan
George Barclay Chuck Bolte
Jimmy Barclay David Griffin
John Whittaker Paul Herlinger
Mary Barclay Carol Bilger
Stewart Reed Barclay Craig Miller
Mr. Welch Alan Young

Mentioned in episode

Character Mentioned By
Jason Whittaker John Whittaker
Jana Whittaker-Dowd John Whittaker
Armitage Shanks Eugene Meltsner


Notes

Trivia
Allusions
Goofs
  • The original album art contained a scene from this episode: that of Eugene and George falling into the river. In the episode Eugene slips and falls into the river and George jumps in after him. In the album art, George is below Eugene, which would mean that he fell first. Interestingly, the pre-release art for the album cover is much more canonically correct.

Reviews

Quotes

John Whittaker: That's no man, that's George Barclay!


Mary Barclay: George, do I have to give you a time out and send you to your room?


George Barclay: To you warped, frustrated, rich old man, they're sheep.


George Barclay: We gave up a nice situation in Odyssey to come to this... crummy, drafty old town.
Jimmy Barclay: You forgot measly, Dad.
George Barclay: Crummy, drafty, measly old town!


Jimmy Barclay: You're just getting a big head 'cause you're getting a big college scholarship, and they're throwing a big party for you later. Big deal!


Donna Barclay: Help me up, Jimmy.
Jimmy Barclay: Help you up?!!


George Barclay: I'd better go up and talk to him.
Jimmy Barclay: Good idea. Spread the joy.


Jimmy Barclay: <mock weeping> Oh, Daddy!