Here’s a round-up of some children’s ministry news. This month it features: a couple of books from SPCK, some free resources from ROOTS for churches and some new on funding available for uniformed organisations.
Pray, Sing, Worship – A picture book for Holy Communion
This is a beautifully illustrated full-colour book which follows the structure of the Common Worship Holy Communion service.
It includes many of the texts of the Holy Communion service in full, alongside colourful illustrations. It is aimed at children aged 4-6, and it could be used by a child in the service itself. The text of the service is not cluttered with explanation or activities, and instead it is accompanied by traditional, simple illustrations that show children what is happening in the service.
The book is available as a paperback singly and in a pack of 10, and as a hardback. The 10 pack is perfect for churches to distribute to children during church services, and the hardback would make an ideal baptism gift.
Making the Most of Your Child’s Baptism by Ally Barrett
A short, full-colour gift book which explains the baptism service for parents.
Baptism is a special event in the life of any child and family. This full-colour guide is aimed at parents bringing a child to church for baptism, who are not necessarily familiar with the church. It includes:
- explanations of the words and actions in the baptism service
- questions to think through
- ideas to try
- follow-up activities and prayers to use at home
Supporting resources for churches are available at www.spckpublishing.co.uk.
Free material to download from ROOTS
ROOTS has been publishing ecumenical, lectionary-based worship resources for ten years. Our two bi-monthly magazines, ROOTS Adult & All Age and ROOTS Children & Young People, are supported by our website, www.rootsontheweb.com.
FREE until Easter on the ROOTS website – you don’t need a subscription to access these extra resources
2012 ROOTS Lent Calendar
Through the weeks of Lent we are called to live lives of prayer and action. The Lent Calendar takes the weekly readings and offers a prayer and action for each week. This resource is aimed at older children, young people and adults. Go to www.rootsontheweb.com to download the Lent Calendar in colour or black and white.
Celebrating carers for Mothering Sunday
These special resources explore the role of mothers and carers. The material is based on the story of Miriam and Moses and includes discussion starters, activities, prayers and two PowerPoints reflecting on the life of a mother and young carer, which have produced for us by The Children’s Society. The material can be adapted to use with children, young people or adults.
Go to www.rootsontheweb.com and click on ‘celebrating carers’ under Mothering Sunday.
Young women reflect on their communities
Young women from Girls’ Brigade England & Wales helped London Mayor Boris Johnson make his mark… on a special graffiti mirror showing what matters to them and their communities.
Boris met the young women at the launch of YOU.Matter at Merton Sea Cadet base, Mitcham, London, on Thursday 19 January.
As part of YOU.Matter, Boris has handed the Girls’ Brigade England & Wales (GB) and seven other youth organisations a share of £1.3m to help transform lives across the capital. This comes in recognition of the positive contribution these groups make to society, in light of the disturbances seen last year.
Five leaders and 14 young women from GB groups based at Worcester Park Baptist Church and Downsview Methodist Church attended the launch event.
Lucy Thacker, 17, from Worcester Park Baptist Church, says ‘On our giant mirror we wrote things like peace, joy, equality and having a voice – Boris wrote Team London. He spoke to every single teenager in the room, and had a nice chat to me about GB.’
The money made available by the Greater London Authority and managed by the Safer London Foundation (The Metropolitan Police Charity), will be used to connect with young people on the margins of society. Through the project GB will be able to work with even more churches to open up relevant groups and opportunities for young people.
Hannah Field, Mission Co-ordinator for the Girls’ Brigade England & Wales (GB), says ‘In today’s economic climate it’s great to think that the Mayor of London values the positive contribution that GB makes to society, as it seeks to join in with God’s mission of restoration to see lives transformed and enriched’.
‘YOU.Matter is an exciting project, as we know everyone matters to God and it’s great to have this opportunity to share it in word and action.’
If you’re in a Church and would like to show young people in your community that they matter, GB can assist you. We provide training for volunteers, resources to enhance work with girls and young people, along with a network of local and national support. GB can be used as a flexible mission tool and can take on different formats such as lunch time or after school groups, breakfast clubs, cafes and multi activity programmes.
For further information contact Liz Sarkodie (Email: liz.sarkodie [at] girlsbrigadeew.org.uk) on 07918765446 or visit the GB Website. More information about YOU.Matter can be found here.
