STAR
Support, Training And Resources
An e-bulletin from the Diocese of Peterborough's
Children's Missioner, Rona Orme
Email: rona.orme@peterborough-diocese.org.uk
Website: www.peterborough-diocese.org.uk/children
WANTED! 1
At Peterfest, the day of celebration at the Cathedral on Saturday 28 June, I am organising activities for children. There will be a child-focussed stall with lots of things to do between 12 and 3pm, as well as a more organised hour’s programme of activities at 1.30pm. I am working on the ideas and the kit, but I need some CRB-checked helpers who love working with children.
Are you available on Saturday 28 June to make sure that children are fully included in Peterfest 2008? Please get in touch if you can assist me – thanks!
WANTED! 2
Are you passionate about working on ecological issues with children? Visit http://ew.ecocongregation.org/resources/module4 to find some great ideas. Ecocongregation are looking for more resources for this site, as well as funding to develop more work. Can you help with either of these requests? Do you work for a company that might be interested in funding something like this? Do you have access to a Trust that could provide funding? Please let me know, and I will put you in touch with the right person.
ENCOURAGING NEWS from the south-east of the diocese:
We had a brilliant evening last night with Yardley Gobion cub pack! We based the evening on the Pentecost section from Footsteps to the Feast, pub Barnabas, which is excellent. It involved a warm up activity, followed by a fantastic story 'Weird...but wonderful', creative activities and closing prayers. After which we sang Happy Birthday to us and the Church and ate birthday cake!! It was great fun.
[The] idea of taking the church out to the children's groups has proved so successful, as the Passover meal with the Guides went very well also.
In this issue:
Working with KS2 Children and Teenagers?
Encouraging Play
Children's Workers are Subversive!
Ethical Toys
11 Million Website
Building Community with Children
Project Postcode
Sun-Sensitive Paper
STAR Thought
Working with Older Children? Top
Christian Aid have produced a new website for 7-14s: http://www.globalgang.org/ which looks really attractive. Encourage the children in your church family to take a look.
‘Gang-up on poverty’ – is an invitation from Christian Aid to seven to 14 year olds, with the launch of a film-making competition to address worldwide poverty. The driving force behind the contest is Global Gang – the children’s arm of Christian Aid – and asks budding movie-makers to make a short, three-minute film persuading their peers to take action on poverty. The winning entry will be shown on the Global Gang website, and displayed at the London International Gallery of Children’s Art later this year. Entries have to be in by the end of July.
Lots of young people have the enthusiasm and the ideas to do this – let me know if anyone in the Diocese is up for the challenge.
Encouraging Play Top
As we seek to nurture the whole child, we need to encourage a culture of play and playfulness. Visit http://www.commonthreads.org.uk for excellent resources and courses to develop play.
Children's Workers are Subversive! Top
At least the best ones probably are! Read this interesting and reflective article from Martyn Payne of Barnabas: http://www.barnabasinchurches.org.uk/pages/3836.htm
Ethical Toys Top
Searching the internet for a traditional skipping rope for my niece, I found this delightful site: http://www.toys-to-you.co.uk/index.html - lovely toys with green/ethical etc perspective. No skipping ropes, but so many other lovely ideas
11 Million Website Top
The website of the Children's Commissioner for England has had a make-over! Al Ainsley-Green invited children and young people to redesign the site – and you can check out the results at: http://www.11million.org.uk/ Part of the site offers the chance for children and young people to have their say – so why not encourage the children you know to explore it for themselves and let Al know what they think!
Building Community with Children Top
Visit http://www.christianitytoday.com/childrensministry/articles/community.html for some excellent ideas on building community with the children you work with. This is an area in which we can all do better.
Project Postcode Top
Visit http://www.bikermajor.com/ProjectPostcode/ to find out about this prayer initiative from the Salvation Army. Why not involve your children’s group in selecting a postcode to pray for (it could be their school, your church, No 10 Downing Street-but somewhere significant to them) and then find different ways of praying for what happens in that postcode area.
Sun-Sensitive Paper Top
I am not sure how to use this product http://www.toyday.co.uk/shop/creative-toys/sun-print-paper/prod_106.html but I am intrigued by the possibilities. Could be used for a hand-print, for seeds scattered across the paper… Let me know if you come up with a brilliant idea to share.
STAR Thought Top
'The technology of the Muggle world, amusingly, is seen as a way of making-do without magic.’
Quote from Field Guide to Harry Potter by Colin Duriez, IVP
isbn 978 0 8308 3430 3
Read this book for a clear and well-argued explanation of the Christian themes and world view portrayed in the Harry Potter series. The author makes clear links between the fantasy parables of JRR Tolkein, CS Lewis and JK Rowling, and the Christian values embedded in their works.