Who? What? Why? When? Where? How?

If you are anything like me, when you have told your children a bible story you really want them to remember it and hopefully also remember what it has to do with them. An obvious way that most of us do this is by asking the children questions to reinforce the teaching. This is a very small idea to bring a different dimension to asking questions. A die with a question word on each side; Who? What? Why? When? Where? How? The children take turns at rolling the die and either you ask a question using the word they roll or they have to think up the question and ask someone else. Another way is to write the question words on a piece of paper and flick tiddlywinks to chose the question - this can get silly!
Dice available from amazon - link below.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Question-Dice-Pack-Five-Where/dp/B007ZQH8XE/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1382007323&sr=8-2&keywords=question+dice

Heart Bucket Brigade

This book and the others in the series have some great ideas for getting kids listening to God, enjoying being in His presence an expecting to hear from Him. Doesn't need to be limited to kids either. Books are by Mike Seth, children's pastor at Bethel church in California. 

   http://store.ibethel.org/p850/the-heart-bucket-brigade

Grandparents and Grandchildren Holiday Club Studland Village HallFebruary 2013

A brilliant morning written and led by Barbara Meardon (Adviser for Work with Children and Families) & Joanne Triffett (PDO Mother’s Union) and run by volunteers from the Mother’s Union, Clergy and Parishes in the Swanage area.

The theme for the work with the children and grandparents together was to explore aspects of Lent and Easter in a creative way with a reflective story of how Jesus called the disciples and still calls us today. The grandparents had some time on their own to discuss issues they have experienced being grandparents and how they can share their Christian faith and the children made glass painted lanterns and boats.

Note it is never too young to teach stewardship and community when you can persuade the smallest person to sweep up!!

if anyone would like the practical ideas do get in touch barbara.meardon@salisbury.anglican.org

Top tips: 
• a great welcome and top class hospitality are crucial 
• having everything ready 
• have a theme - The theme for the work with the children and grandparents together was to explore aspects of Lent and Easter in a creative way 
 • use reflective storytelling and wondering questions so that everyone present is engaged whatever age they are - we had the story of how Jesus called the disciples and still calls us today from Margaret Coooling's Book Bible Storybags. 
 • The grandparents had some time on their own to discuss issues they have experienced as grandparents and how they can share their Christian faith while the children had fun making glass painted lanterns and boats to remind them of the themes in the story. Note it is never too young to teach stewardship and community when you can persuade the smallest person to sweep up!!

Prayer Bear

Have you ever been one of those people who hates praying out loud with other people? You want to join in really but you’re not sure how to do it?

Kids are just the same.

One way I use to encourage them to speak out their own prayers is to use my prayer bear. First we decide on a particular theme for our prayers, or a starter phrase like “Dear God, thank you for.......” then we pass the prayer bear around the circle. One at a time the person holding the prayer bear takes their turn to pray. Anyone who doesn’t want to speak can pass the bear on to the next person.

I have used this idea with several different groups and everyone will now pray out loud at least some of the time, and if we do prayers a different way they all ask where prayer bear is!

submitted by Hilary Bond

Where did I leave my sheep?

Sheep have also been spotted in Wareham! During Advent, 20 shops in town played host to a small wooly friend. The sheep had been knitted by the Mothers Union and came in a variety of styles and sizes.

The shop keepers chose a sheep, gave it a name, labelled it, and found it a suitable place in their shop window. Then the hunt was on. Children from all around the area were challenged to find the sometimes rather hidden sheep and list their names. On Christmas Eve the sheep were collected by a local shepherd and taken to the crib service in Lady St Mary’s church. Good fun was had by all. The shopkeepers seemed to enjoy it as much as the children.

Hilary Bond

Nativity Trail at West Lulworth

All through December, a Nativity Set visited houses in West Lulworth.

Wherever it went a sheep was left behind so that people could follow a trail of sheep to the church for Christmas Day service.

This is what Lotte Wilde thought about its visit to their home:

‘When the Nativity set arrived, we had to arrange it. My brother, Finn and I put the manger in the middle of the stable, Mary and Joseph either side, the wise men on the right and the shepherds on the left and the angels on the top. We chose 'George' the sheep and hung it on our Christmas tree. For the next few days we had people and other children looking through our window to see what our sheep was called! It was a great Christmassy thing to do!

submitted by Janet Hall

Hand in Hand

Please send in your good ideas, photos and experiences to share with others in Purbeck about what went well or not so well over Christmas.

Feel you need a lift for the New Year? Here are some ideas:

A couple of years ago I went to the children's and family ministries Hand-in-Hand Conference in Eastbourne. It was a brilliant weekend with something for everyone in children's, family and young people's ministry. I saw some great talks and found excellent resources and it is great to meet up with so many people who feel passionate about what we do.

There are basic sessions for those starting out; sessions for junior leaders; diving deeper sessions for those who've been involved in children's ministry for a while; sessions exploring all age worship and family friendly church; sessions focused on children with additional needs and their families and more. Also specific sessions and half price for young people. Plus time for worship, prayer and Bible study. Barnabas are exhibiting and being joined by over 50 other ministries and organisations that serve this area of church life. There will be a conference shop where half price deals on hundreds of resources can be found.

Find out more at www.familyministry.co.uk/conferences

If you can’t get to Eastbourne how about a day conference at Exeter on Saturday March 2nd 2013 at Belmont Chapel, Western Way, Exeter? Saturday 2nd March. 9:30-18:30. At Belmont Chapel, Exeter.

A day event for anyone involved in Children and Youth Ministry in the South West. Come and bring your team of volunteers to get inspired, challenged and equipped. This year fully embracing Children and Families Ministry from age 5 upwards.

More information can be found at: http://www.ycwsw.org.uk/

You can also find the event on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/events/119039858256714/

Or book a place on the Children’s and Youth Workers Retreat at Ivy House in Warminster March 4^th-5^th with myself and Joanne Triffett, Project Development Officer from the Mother’s Union, leading. Do email me for more details: barbara.meardon@salisbury.anglican.org