Kirsty and I walked into town this afternoon to pick up some basic groceries that we were running low on and while in the small Sainsbury’s store, I decided to pick up some Corona beer as it was offer. When we got to the checkout with our bread, milk, cream, tomatoes, cucumber, fresh chicken and such, I was stunned to hear the cashier ask me if I had any I.D. to buy the alcohol!
Now I’m all for I.D. checks and I’m pleased shops have started to ask anyone looking under 21 for proof of age. I know many young people aged around 15 who can walk into shops on a Friday night and get served cheap booze at the drop of a hat, but it’s pretty funny when a 28 year old man with his wife can’t buy a few bottles of imported beer with their groceries because he didn’t have his driving license on him!
I had to take off the hat I was wearing to try and convince the cashier that I was, in fact, ten years over the legal age limit. After much good natured banter, she realised I wasn’t going to down the lot round the back of the car park with my mates, and let me buy the stuff.
Next time, I am definitely taking I.D.
I’m finishing wrapping up the presents in front of the fire and Kirsty is making her world-famous Brownies in the kitchen. I’ve been asked to give the all-age Christmas address at church tomorrow morning so am putting the finishing touches on what I plan to say. Something about Chocolate Sprouts I think!
Enjoy your day tomorrow and I pray that you experience something of the hope that Jesus brings.
Merry Christmas
Last Sunday we ran a joint youth event with St Margaret’s Angmering and St Peter & St Paul’s Rustington called iWorship. The purpose was to hang out, have a meal and worship together allowing a chance for the youth to get to know young Christians from the other churches. It was a great event and we had a lot of fun together.
During the meal, we placed an image with corresponding scripture relating to some part of Jesus’ life onto each one of the eight tables. The young people were encouraged to read the passage while they ate. Later, as part of our worship together everyone was asked to reflect on that scripture and image, then to write or draw their personal thoughts about the passage onto post-it notes and stick it down.
Once everyone had a chance to finish, we laid out the eight images at the front in chronological order. Suddenly the young people could see a pictorial timeline of Jesus’ life and how their particular passage fitted into it. They were also able to read the various responses they had all written to what Jesus had done for them. At Christmas time, rather than just focusing on the birth of Jesus, we wanted to give them something of the significance of His life and why therefore we celebrate Christmas.
As an exercise in creative worship, it worked really well and might be something you can try with your groups throughout the year. I’ve prepared the images and scriptures we used as a download for you to print out and adapt. You can download it here (you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader).
These are the eight points in Jesus’ life that we used:
- Jesus’ birth (Luke 2:1-20)
- Jesus as a boy (Luke 2:41-50)
- Jesus is baptised (Mark 1:4-12)
- Jesus calls his disciples (Mark 1:14-20)
- Jesus’ miracles and teachings (e.g. Matthew 14:22-33)
- Jesus is transfigured (Mark 9:2-9)
- Jesus’ death (Luke 23:32-47)
- Jesus’ resurrection (John:1, 11-17)
And these are some of the responses the young people wrote:
It’s all about Jesus coming into the world and how the saviour of the world was born from such poverty
It’s not always easy to follow Jesus. It can be a rocky road. we need to trust Him and have faith like Peter to step out of the boat.
Jesus picked normal people, NOT people who would usually be leading or have high respect in society
Thank you for calling me! Help me to be a fisher of men
This is less of a game and more of a simple logic puzzle. However by dressing up and acting out the scenario, our Ignite group (11-14’s) has had a lot of fun playing!
Numbers: groups of up to 10. Around five or six works well.
Suitable for: older children and younger teens (8-14’s).
Preparation time: Around 10 minutes
Safety First: There are no real safety concerns with this game.
Equipment needed:
- An empty space.
- A ‘river’ marked out on the floor.
- Props for each of the 3 objects; chicken, fox and corn. You could use clip art pictures printed and laminated for them to hold while playing. We have been lucky enough to have costumes to dress up in.
- Optional: a ‘boat’ to cross the river in!
The premise of the river crossing is very simple, a farmer has to get his three items (chicken, fox and corn) to the market by crossing the river. Unfortunately he can only carry one in his boat at a time and if he leaves certain items on the riverbank together, they will get eaten! (If left together, the fox will eat the chicken and the chicken will eat the corn). The team have to work out how to get all the items across the river without losing any items.
When we’ve played this game, we’ve given out roles of farmer, chicken, fox and corn to members of the team and they’ve had to act everything out in the space we have. The other members have to direct them and work out the solution. For example, if they want to take the fox across the river, the farmer and the fox have to get in the boat, row across the ‘river’ and climb out the other side. This adds a touch of silliness to the whole thing and helps to give it a practical focus rather than simply an abstract problem.
To make it easier for you if you want to play, I’ve created some instructions and images which you can print out and use with your group. Download here (you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader).
The solution:
- Take the Chicken across, leaving the Fox and Corn together.
- Come back with an empty boat.
- Take the Fox across, leaving the Corn behind.
- Bring the Chicken back across.
- Take the Corn across leaving the Chicken.
- Leave the Fox and Corn on the far bank, come back with an empty boat.
- Take the Chicken across.
We’ve found that most children initially get confused about bringing items back across the river. There have been times when we’ve needed to suggest it as an option. Normally though they crack it in about 10 minutes.
Last night I bought some cigarettes for the very first time. It’s not the first time I’ve smoked them (that was when I was 16 and wanted to fit in with some friends), but it was the first time I had walked into a shop and asked for them over the counter. I used to work in a newsagents and would sell them all the time but never actually bought any.
I ended up in the local off-licence at 7pm because a friend and I were plastering my kitchen wall and I went to pick up a pizza for dinner. My friend, a regular smoker, asked me to get him some more fags (that’s cigarettes to you Americans) as he’d run out. Seeing as how he’s done a LOT of work at my house recently, it was the least I could do.
The reason i even mention it here is because I actually felt very uncomfortable doing it. Walking into the shop and up to the counter, I kept thinking “What will I say if someone I know sees me?”, “What message does this send the children and young people that I work with?”.
I found myself getting quite paranoid about this simple act and I’m sure the shop keeper looked at me strangely as I grabbed the gold packet and shoved it into my pocket quickly.
The scenario may seem quite trivial, but it got me thinking about my values and what I stand for. I have never encouraged anyone to smoke and generally dislike smoking due to the health problems that it causes (although I believe people should make their own choices). But by buying cigarettes for someone else, was I actually endorsing smoking? Is selling them the same thing?
I once went to Racial Awareness Training where I was told that by doing nothing when racism happens, I was contributing to that act. Is the same principle true in this situation? I would certainly never buy cigarettes for a young person, so why should I do it for an adult friend?
I love it when something really challenges my thinking and makes me evaluate what I believe. Maybe next time we can discuss it for an hour or so first…
I mentioned this game before as it is one we’ve used quite a lot over the years. Because it’s so simple to play and requires hardly any preparation, it has become a back-up safety net for when we’ve got some spare time. However like anything, it can become boring if overused!
Suitable for: most ages and abilities.
Preparation time: Little to none
Safety First: There are no real safety concerns with this game.
Equipment needed:
- Plenty of paper for drawing on
- Various pens and pencils for each team
- A list of words for the teams to draw (could be made up on the spot if necessary)
Speed Pictionary is based on the board game, but has been adapted so that it can be played anywhere without the board.
Split up the young people into teams (they don’t have to be equal) sitting down around the pens and paper. To start the game, the first word on the list is given to a representative from each team simultaneously who then have to run back to their teams and draw out the word for the others to guess.
As you would expect, the drawer is not allowed to make any sound and cannot draw letters or numbers. The team must keep guessing until they get the right word at which point someone else from the team must run up to the leader and get the next word. The game continues in this fashion until a team completes the list, winning the game.
In order to make the game as fair as possible we get the leader with the list of words to stand in the middle of all the teams so no-one has to run further than another. Also we encourage the teams to take it in turns to send the next person up rather than whoever guesses it. This means that everyone will get a go.
You may have noticed a link appear at the top of the page to ’shop’. This because I’ve added an Amazon Associates store to this website. Basically it’s an opportunity for me to promote books, resources and materials that I’ve found helpful in my youth work. Over time, the products will grow but for now there are already some classics like Purpose Driven Youth Ministry and Growing Souls available.
On the right-hand side, in the sidebar, you can see some of the products that I’ve added to the store already. Click through or use the link at the top to have a look and why not buy something that could be useful in your own work! Also if you have any recommendations for me, then leave a message in the comments.
This is definitely a summer game for outside but a firm favourite with the young people round here! We’ve used the Wet & Wild Human Bowling game every year as part of our big summer festival and even those who’ve done it many times still come back for more.
Suitable for: most ages and abilities (as long as safety issues are thought through)
Equipment needed:
- A length of tarpaulin or plastic sheeting (10 metres is probably minimum)
- plenty of water (preferably via a hosepipe)
- 10 or more 2-litre plastic drinks bottles
- Washing up liquid or other product to make the plastic slippery
- cushions, padding or crash mat to put under the start of the tarpaulin
- Swimming costumes/suitable clothing and towels
Essentially it’s a ’slip n slide’ where people throw themselves along a length of wet tarpaulin on the ground in order to knock down the skittles/pins. It works just like a bowling alley with points awarded for the number of pins knocked down. Individuals can take it in turns to have a go, or you could pair them up for a doubles attempt!
Lay out your tarp on a flat piece of grass, allowing enough space each end for a run up. Place the padding under the tarp at the beginning where people will dive. At a suitable point along the tarp (around 7 metres) mark out where the pins should stand and place the bottles there (put some water in the bottom to balance). Spread the washing up liquid across the surface and spray with plenty of water. Start the competition!
Safety First: There are various safety concerns with this game, so please think them through in advance. The two main issues that could arise are:
- Injury when diving onto the ground at the start of the tarpaulin. This can be addressed by putting some form of padding or crash mat under the tarp so they land on something soft or by using an inflatable to slide on.
- Getting soap in eyes from, or allergies to, the washing up liquid used to make the tarp slippery. Either provide goggles for each person or find an alternative way of making it slippery.
When played safely, this game is a guaranteed fun for everyone. Even the parents will want to play!
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