October 30, 2017 | Author: Anonymous | Category: N/A
found in the Younger Children materials and the Arts and Crafts Extras. Candice more than 50 kindergarteners a year…&nbs...
Writers
Copyright and Online Permission Statement Copyright © 2015 by Chalice Press. Produced for and outlines developed by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA (NCC) Committee on Outdoor Ministries (COM). Site License Purchase of this resource gives license for its use, adaptation, and copying for programmatic use at one outdoor ministry site (hereinafter, “Camp”) for up to one year from purchase. Governing bodies that own and operate more than one campsite must buy one copy of the resource for each campsite. Copies of the DVD files may be made for use only within each campsite. For questions or permission for other uses, contact Chalice Press at 314231-8500 or permissions@chalicepress. com. This site license allows your camp to post this edition of InsideOut resources for up to one year from purchase on a passwordprotected Web site for the exclusive use of volunteer directors and authorized staff. The password must expire within one year of purchase, and the administrator must change the password immediately upon discovery of unauthorized use. Please e-mail the Web site link for verification to
[email protected]. The camp must include the following copyright permission statement on each Web page, posted file, or item of the InsideOut resource: Copyright ©2015 Chalice Press. Used by permission. For use only at [insert camp name and location]. Thank you for your help in this matter and for your willingness to serve in the ministry of camping. Project Manager Erin Reed Cooper Copy Editors John Patrick Carey Anne Konopka Art Director/Design, Cover Images Connie Hui-Chu Wang Interior Photographs and Images: Camp Mack, Fotosearch
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Barbara Chalfant is the associate for mission for the Presbytery of West Virginia responsible for the areas of Older Adult Ministry, Hunger Action, Social Justice, Peacemaking, and Disaster needs. She is a certified educator for the Presbyterian Church (USA) and has served congregations in Washington D.C., Tennessee, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. Originally from Charlottesville, Virginia, she is a potter, artist, singer, writer, swimmer, and fearless idea generator. She is a lifelong learner, and her friends and family have gotten used to getting impromptu lessons on her latest passion or project. She is currently working on the second draft of her first novel, which is on schedule to be published by her 100th birthday... maybe. Barbara’s sense of wondrous curiosity can be found in the Younger Children materials and the Arts and Crafts Extras. Candice Cooper is an elementary school teacher and elder in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) who specializes in early childhood education and developmental readiness. Her true love is teaching early years of public school, and she spent more than twenty years teaching more than 50 kindergarteners a year…that’s more than 1,000 students who got their start in learning with her. Candice encourages educators to “keep it light and make it fun,” using music, sign-language, repetition and repetition in the classroom. Currently, Mrs. Cooper is one of Newburgh, Indiana’s favorite substitute teachers. Candice shares her patience and practical tips in the Preschool Adaptation materials. Erin Reed Cooper is an educational minister ordained by the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). She has served congregations in Indiana and Georgia. Erin is a doctoral candidate at Colombia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Georgia. She has innovated tools for ministry, including educational portfolios for congregations, curricula for biblical literacy, and the integration of children and youth in preaching and worship leadership. Erin is an artistic dabbler, ecclesial junkie, and always includes three things in a list. She has been delighted to be the Editorial Project Manager of Fearless Faith with an amazing team of advisors, genius writers, and the passionate people of Chalice Press. Andrea Hall is a certified Christian educator in the Presbyterian Church (USA) with five years of experience in full-time educational ministry. She is a graduate of Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and is currently pursuing a doctorate in educational ministry from Columbia Theological Seminary. She published an article with Presbyterians Today titled “Why We’re Not Interested in Your Sunday School.” Andrea resides in Greenville, Pennsylvania with her husband, Sean, and their three cats. An introvert to the core, Andrea likes most anything that involves being alone—but she knows that God has not designed us to be alone, so she (usually) enjoys stumbling through life in and with the Church. Andrea’s contemplative spirit whispers through the Older Children materials and the Table Talk Tents. J. Douglas Harrison is a theological ethicist and a member of St. David’s Episcopal Church in downtown Austin, Texas. While he loves teaching and has taught at a number of colleges and graduate schools for more than 15 years, he currently works as a spiritual director, artist, speaker, and church consultant. He is very active in the arts community in Austin and helps organize an annual art festival attended by thousands of people. As an activist he works with community organizations promoting racial reconciliation in the Church and with groups who create opportunities for people with developmental disabilities to share their spiritual journeys. Doug is completing his first book on spirituality for people who are contemplating leaving the Christian faith. More of his writings can be found at his blog “The Outpatient Monk” at www.outpatientmonk.com. Doug poured his holy heart into the Biblical and Theological Background materials and the Spiritual Practices Extras. Steven Heit is a member of the United Methodist Church who has worked with youth for the last 18 years. For 12 of those, he was blessed to be youth director in Paris, Tennessee to the greatest youth group he could have imagined. And he can imagine quite a bit. Which is how he spends most of his time these days. When he’s not working, he likes good music, great food, original football, and any disc golf he can find the time to play. Along with a host of other things that would take up too many pages in this curriculum to list. Steven is the creative, goofy genius behind the Older Youth materials. Troy Taylor is a camp leader in the United Methodist Church. He spent nearly 20 years doing camp ministry in Tennessee, but recently relocated to the Oregon Coast. Troy wrote on last year’s curriculum team and is also a published poet. He and his wife, Allyson, try to see the sunset on the beach every evening. Troy loves hiking, reading classics, maps, evergreens, old clocks, movies, owls, baseball, tree climbing, campfires, and nerdy documentaries. His biggest hope in ministry is to work at a faith that pushes us to grow to our better selves, something that really matters. Troy’s work engages all ages in the Intergenerational/Family Camp materials. Lee Yates serves the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Indiana as minister for faith formation. He is a frequent contributor to the United Methodist Press’s Bible Lessons for Youth curriculum and Vibrant Faith Ministry. Along with his freelance writing, Lee creates Vacation Bible School resources under the label Yoda, Yada, Yada Publishing. Recently Lee has been a featured writer in Lifelong Faith Journal. His wife, Mandye, is also a pastor, so Lee spends a great deal of his free time helping kids with homework while they complain about another evening spent at Church. Lee enjoys playing soccer and basketball, and as a native of Kentucky, makes no promises about deadlines that fall during the NCAA basketball tournament. Lee can make a game of anything, and actively does so in the Younger Youth materials and the Games Extras.
DAILY OVERVIEW
BIB/THEO STAFF YOUNGER OVERVIEW DEVOTIONS CHILDREN
OLDER CHILDREN
YOUNGER YOUTH
OLDER YOUTH
INTERGEN
EXTRAS
DAY CAMP
Contents Welcome to InsideOut
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Daily Overview for Fearless Faith
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Images for Each Day
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Additional Resources for Leaders
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What’s on the InsideOut Website?
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Biblical and Theological Overview
13
Staff Devotions
28
Daily Guides for Younger Children
33
Daily Guides for Older Children
74
Daily Guides for Younger Youth
113
Daily Guides for Older Youth
149
Daily Guides for Intergenerational or Family Camps
190
Extras
230
Arts and Crafts
230
Spiritual Disciplines
233
Games
238
Multiday Projects
241
Science and Nature Projects
244
Table Talk
246
Day Camp (Seven Weeks of Daily Activities)
261
Tell Us What You Think…
349
Sneak Peek at Next Year
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InsideOut:
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Welcome to InsideOut
When you are a leader at church camp, you are an educator, guidance counselor, maintenance person, crisis manager, and song leader. You are also a pastor, a friend, and you have the highest honor and responsibility of being the embodiment of Christ Jesus to many people who are longing to know God’s tender love. It is a hard job, but a worthy one. Probably the best news is that Christ dwells in you, and you can listen to that still, small voice and all the communion of the saints who support you, bless you, and cheer you on. All the same, you need to have the skills of a teacher, the comfort of a parent, and the wisdom of an elder to do the work of camp ministry. This curriculum is here to support you in that work. You will find in the pages ahead biblical theology done by scholars (who are also camp leaders), activities designed to help you share the Bible stories, games and projects that reinforce ideas and skills, and a whole lot of camping fun!
How to use InsideOut Fearless Faith: Courage in Community Open either the PDF or the Microsoft Word document on your disc. In this document you will find a Biblical and Theological Overview for each of seven days, and Daily Guides for seven days of materials for younger children, older children, younger youth, older youth, and intergenerational or family camp. Following the daily guides are plans for 7 weeks of Day Camp. As an appendix are extra resources for arts, games, science and nature, multiday projects, “Large Group Worship,” spiritual disciplines, and “Table Talk.” You can use the PDF that comes on your disc, or, for a more customizable version, open the Microsoft Word document and edit it to your specifications. Your disc also contains Artwork and Graphics suitable for T-shirts, marketing, and other uses within the camp.
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You will see Hashtags (#ThisIsAHashtag) listed beside each activity. They are there to help you categorize the types of activities you do with your campers, to ensure that you engage in many forms of Christian community. Really, they are just noting contemporary words for ancient Christian practices or spiritual disciplines. You could call them “things Christians do in community.” For each day’s activities, you will see things that fall under five categories or disciplines: #learn, #play, #create, #pray, or #serve. For those of you who have used InsideOut curricula before, these categories function as the multiple intelligences notes did in the past. They help you to provide a balanced day, appealing to differing needs of the campers and community. As you shape each day, try to include at least one activity from each of the five #disciplines. There are many things that Christian communities do together (it might be fun for you and your staff to make your own list), but these are some essential things that will help your community at camp “gel.” It may help you to think the phrase “Christians #learn together,” or “Together, we #serve.” We also worship together. Worship at camp offers the unique chance to experiment—to try things that your campers might never have experienced in a traditional congregation. Each day you are offered two idea starters for worship experiences. You will see them listed as #celebrate and #centering. Your camp may be the kind that loves to use morning worship to get the juices flowing and the energy going, and ends the day with a gentle vesper service. Therefore, you might want to use #celebrate for your morning time together and #centering in the evening. Or your camp may be more designed to have a quiet morning watch and end the day with a campfire celebration. You can see how you might flip the activities to reflect those moods. This is your camp, and you know what’s best for it. InsideOut is here to provide you with ideas and resources.
Daily Guide
Worship Practices
Each Daily Guide begins with a Title. The reference Scripture is given. The Scripture Focus is one or two verses from a key moment in the story. It may be used as a memory verse. If not indicated otherwise, the Scripture and Scripture Focus are taken from the New Revised Standard Version. Next, a Theological Summary is provided in a sentence that demonstrates how the scripture is related to the theme of Christian community. Campers Will… offers several bullet points that will be the aim of the activities. Next, the Christian Practices (activities) are listed with one or more #hashtags. Finally, Leader Notes call attention to special details that counselors and other staff may want to notice.
The tools to design your daily worship can be found in the Worship Practices pages. These can be used for devotional Cabin Time, small-group worship, or large-group worship. You will find suggested Song Ideas either to sing with or to play for your campers. A Prayer that relates to the day’s theme is suggested and can be used in a variety of settings. Because camps’ daily routines vary, you may need energetic worship experiences as well as more contemplative ones. Each Worship Ideas page offers you two suggestions. One, #celebrate, will work for eye-openers, campfire, or other enthusiastic, high-energy settings. The other, #centering, offers a more calming and contemplative suggestion. Additional worship resources will be found in the “Extras” section at the back of the book.
Daily Guide Day 1: Together, the Courage to Show Up – Genesis 12:1—8 Scripture Focus: Quoted from the NRSV. If another translation or paraphrase is recommended for your age group, it will be listed here. Theological Summary: This is a sentence that relates the scripture to the theme of the day. Campers Will: • These will list some goals for your campers today.
Worship Practices Cabin Time: This is a guide for cabin counselors to incorporate into their morning or evening routine. These are ways that you can connect with your campers and help them know they are in a safe and secure environment. Song Ideas: Some suggested songs to either sing or listen to that support the theme
• You may have one or two to whom you want to give special attention.
Prayer: You can use this prayer during worship time, as a meal blessing, etc.
• You will also find one acknowledging a legitimate fear.
Worship Ideas: #centering, #celebrate
Christian Practices: This is a list of the activities that will be featured this day. Instructions and information will be found on following pages #HASHTAGS Beside each activity is one or two #hashtags. These correspond to 5 categories that the activities fall into. As you plan your day, you will want to have at least one activity from each category. The categories are things Christian communities do together. They are: #play includes games, sensory experiments, physical challenges #pray
includes prayer or reflection
#create includes creative writing, arts, music, crafts, design, drama #serve
includes outreach projects, consideration of others
#learn
includes Bible reflection, life application, understanding theme
Leader Notes: This section lists theological road bumps to be aware of, special notes of main theme, or important reminders about the nature of camp.
Here you will find two different activities to make worship meaningful. Because different camps have different types of worship (Eye-Openers or Morning Watch, Vespers or Campfire) you will find one worship type that has an enthusiastic and energetic mood #celebrate. The other worship idea, #centering, will be more contemplative or inward focused.
Story Help Following the “Worship Practices” pages, you will find a page to help you relate your story to your age group. In some places, this will be in the form of a Story Summary—a tool for some of the longer stories in the curriculum. You may find a Story Synopsis, a present-tense telling of the story that catches you up on the action just before the story. Especially with the younger age groups, you may see Story Resources: either a list of storybooks that are faithful to the biblical text, or sometimes a script for a play. You will want to check this page well before camp to see if there are books you want to borrow from your library or purchase.
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Christian Practices The bulk of the pages in each Daily Guide are the Christian Practices. These are the step-by-step instructions for the activities. Each practice will be Titled and #tagged so that you can quickly find the one you’re looking for. The descriptions of the practices include four sections: Why, Supplies, How, and BTW. Why gives your leaders a rationale for the activity. This will explain how the activity will function in your group. Sometimes the purpose of an activity isn’t clear, but this section will tell your leaders how it relates to the Campers Will… goals for the day. It also lets them know if the activity helps to burn off steam, calm and center, or reinforce learning the Bible story. Supplies obviously lists the items or resources you will need to complete the activity. How many of each item you will need will vary depending upon your group size. How gives step-by-step instructions to the practice, whether those are game rules, recipes, discussion questions, or other pointers. BTW. By The Way is a special new feature this year. We know that camp is not just a series of programmed activities. This section calls attention to all the teachable moments that happen between programmed events. It helps your leaders find times and places to reinforce the biblical message, opportunities for pastoral response, and sometimes just other supplies or resources you could consider. It will offer you modifications that you can make on the fly. Since InsideOut is so customizable to your camp’s needs, you will have your unique ways of doing things. This section helps you to “change it up” to fit your camp.
The Five Disciplines Camp is a unique setting for community building to take place. The go-go-go atmosphere at camp wakes campers from their typical school or work schedule of sit, sit, sit. Scientists keep finding more ways in which physical activity is good for us. We know that learning takes place better when bodies are moving. Brains in motion create stronger memories. It is also true that the more human senses that are engaged in an event,
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the more opportunities brains have to practice empathy, compassion, and justice, and to engage in relationships. Camp engages the senses. Even if your facility isn’t the typical outdoor summer camp, you have the opportunity to engage body, mind, and spirit—to engage the whole person. In order to provide resources for a wide variety of experiences for your campers, each Christian Practice in Fearless Faith falls into one or more of five disciplines. These categories will help you to determine what sort of activity it is. As you plan, you will want to be sure to include at least one of each of the five disciplines every day. The disciplines are: #play
includes games, sensory experiments, physical challenges
#pray
includes prayer or reflection
#create includes creative writing, arts, music, crafts, design, drama #serve includes outreach projects, consideration of others #learn
includes Bible reflection, life application, understanding the theme
Customize Your Program Your camp is special. One of the greatest things about InsideOut is how customizable it is to your setting. Some of the variables that may change the experience are: • Number of days/length of camp • Theme of camp (Music, Arts, Drama, Sports, Adventure, etc.) • Denominational or doctrinal content • Special resources you have (garden, animals, waterfront) • Time of year/weather You may want to print out the first and second pages of the Daily Guides to distribute to your staff. Plan ahead which activities you will do as a large group. You may want to give your leaders choices in what individual activities to do with their campers. Create a daily schedule that lists titles of Christian Practices (activities) and page numbers in the Daily Guide where they can find a detailed description of each activity. For example:
Time
Activity
8:00
Breakfast
Title
Page
Location
#discipline
9:00
Morning Worship
Circle in the Sand
p. 40
Lakeside Chapel
#celebrate
Andrea
10:00
Small Group
Who’s Shoes?
p. 47
Villas 1, 2 & 5
#learn #play
Barbara, Doug
Dining Hall
Suggestions for Shorter Camps 1 Day – For a retreat study or an “open house” event, Day 1: Together, the Courage to Show Up 2 Days – For an overnight camp or a lock-in, Days 1 and 7 fit well together. 3 Days – Days 2, 3, and 6 combine well: Trust, Forgive, and Change. 4–6 Days – You may want to consider using more than one scripture some of days. In that case, perhaps consider combining the lessons for Days 2 and 3: Trust and Forgive, and/or combining the lessons for Days 4 and 5: Stand and Do Justice. While the material is laid out for seven days, there is more than you could ever fit into one week. To extend the materials for a longer camp, you can always split the lessons for a few days in half.
About Your Campers Learning and Development In addition to being familiar and comfortable with the content of the resource and the scripture, counselors need to understand the campers with whom they will be working. You don’t need to be a certified teacher or neuroscientist to understand and respond to the needs of your campers. In the past decade, significant discoveries about human learning and development have been made. While it is important to understand some general physical and social milestones your campers display, it is equally important to learn to assess and meet the needs of your individual campers. Children and adults within specific age ranges have multiple factors that determine the kind of input they require to learn and grow. As you get to know your campers, learn some of the facts about how brains work and how to maximize their potential.
Leaders Steven, Troy
Safety First: In order for a human to learn, the environment he or she is in must feel safe. Because the human brain developed as a tool to ensure safety, it functions best when it is safe. Safety is physical, emotional, and rational, and as a leader you need to consider how safe you are making your campers feel. Affirmation of behaviors that are safe will inspire confidence and your campers will be more willing to take risks, a necessary element in learning. Learning Is Physical: Healthy, moving bodies make for active brains. Even emotional and spiritual development depend upon physical health. Be sure to provide your campers with lots of physical activity, healthy foods, and plenty of rest. Camp can be a demanding physical endeavor, but science is showing that this is part of what makes it so transformative. Also, healthy habits formed at camp can make it back home with your campers. Every Body Is Different: Each individual’s needs are unique to him or her. Life experience, gender, physical development, and chemistry shape not only desires but also needs. Remember that not all of your campers will benefit from all activities. It is important to get to know your campers’ physical limitations and interpersonal abilities. Learn about each of your campers’ special needs and be sure to communicate your findings with other leaders.
About Preschool Adaptations In the Intergenerational section, you will see Preschool Adaptations for some of the activities. These will help you make camp enjoyable for your youngest campers. Here are some general guidelines:
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For your youngest campers, you will need to create a safe and least-restrictive environment. The following items are suggestions for all sessions: 1. Leaders need to inform young campers what expectations they have for them when in small group together. Behavior guidelines, for example: Keep your hands and feet to yourself. Please don’t interrupt. Be a good listener. Wait your turn. Follow the “Golden Rule.” 2. Use group circles to encourage good eye contact and good listening. 3. Some activities will work best with broad age ranges, others will work best by grouping according to age. Decide ahead of time which way you will create groups for each activity. 4. Find at least two ways to tell each story. Repetition is key.
New This Year Every year we strive to make InsideOut a better resource for your camp. In response to your feedback, you will find some changes in Fearless Faith. Previously, we have listed “Multiple Intelligences” based on Howard Gardner’s research from 1983 with each activity. We hope you’ll find our change to t he more ecclesiastic language of “Five Disciplines” more helpful for planning activities. Recognizing the importance of always leading youth into deep and meaningful conversation, the writers have woven “Going Deeper for Older Youth” into each day’s activities. If you are looking for “Whole Camp Worship Plans,” you will find great worship plans that are accessible for all age groups in “Worship Practices” in the Intergenerational materials. Finally, we strongly encourage you to check out the Biblical Overview Training Videos for each day. They are a fun (and funny) way to reinforce the Biblical and Theological Background.
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CONTENTS
BIB/THEO STAFF YOUNGER OVERVIEW DEVOTIONS CHILDREN
. Daily Guide
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Day 7
OLDER CHILDREN
YOUNGER YOUTH
OLDER YOUTH
INTERGEN
EXTRAS
DAY CAMP
Daily Overview for Fearless Faith .
Theme
Together, the Courage to Show Up
Together, the Courage to Trust
Together, the Courage to Forgive
Together, the Courage to Stand
Together, the Courage to Do Justice
Together, the Courage to Change
Scripture Key Verse
Genesis 12:1–8
Ruth
Genesis 45:1–15
Daniel 3
Esther 4
Acts 10
Together, the Matthew 28 Courage to Connect
Genesis 12:7–8
Ruth 1:16–18
Genesis 45:14–15
Daniel 3:28
Esther 4:13–14; 8:6
Acts 10:44–45
Matthew 28:19–20
Theological Summary God called Abram out of his comfortable life to create community, and when Abram showed up, God met him there and blessed him. Ruth is an outsider who learned to trust Naomi, Naomi’s community, and her God, and when she did, everyone benefited. When Joseph knew it was safe to do so, he showed his forgiveness to his brothers so that the work of God could go on. When we are called to be different than others and to stand with our community, we will not stand alone. Esther took a risk to defend God’s people because she trusted God’s covenant with her community. Sometimes a community has to change its plans to be faithful to God’s story rather than just doing what the community has already done before. In order to bless all nations, Jesus calls the community to cross borders and cultures and be willing to be changed by them as well.
Campers Will • know they are connected to one another just by showing up
• find camp to be a place where they are valued and accepted for who they are • become familiar with surroundings
• acknowledge fear of new experiences and rejection • learn the importance of trusting each other
• discover the impact of trust on a community • reflect on consequences of broken trust • acknowledge fear of betrayal
• experience the transformative power of forgiveness in relationships • explore giving and receiving grace
• discover how forgiveness is communal
• acknowledge fear of being taken advantage of/hurt again • find confidence in community
• discover the impact of communal worship • find strength in numbers
• acknowledge fear of being misperceived • understand that our choices can have positive effects on the community • identify and address injustice
• expand their understanding of community to a global scale • acknowledge the fear of failure
• learn that community adapts to change from inside and outside • notice that change is inevitable • celebrate and share change
• acknowledge fear of the unknown • learn to invite others into a community of fearless faith
• understand the value of being a community of faith outside of camp • leave with a connection between camp and home communities • acknowledge fear of being alone, going home, being forgotten
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Images for Each Day These images represent the themes of each day of Fearless Faith. They are simple to reproduce, and they can be found in the Art file of your DVD-Rom.
Day 1 Day 7
Day 2
Day 1: Together, the Courage to Show Up
Day 6
Day 3
Day 2: Together, the Courage to Trust Day 3: Together, the Courage to Forgive Day 4: Together, the Courage to Stand Day 5: Together, the Courage to Do Justice Day 6: Together, the Courage to Change Day 7: Together, the Courage to Connect
Day 5
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Additional Resources for Leaders Connecting with the Camping Community There’s more to InsideOut than what you have in front of you. For example, have you “liked” InsideOut’s Facebook page? https://www.facebook.com/InsideOutChurchCampResources
InsideOut’s Facebook page links you to the larger InsideOut community, with regular posts about the benefits of camp, news and inspiration from other camps, and a quick way to share your creativity with other camp directors. Connect with camp leaders from across the country, sharing ideas, frustrations, and solutions. Some of the topics are: • Are church camps and conference retreat centers going away? • Is your camp really prepared for tick season? • What are your campers’ morning rituals? • What 5 things should all parents know about today’s camps? See how other camps are using InsideOut materials and show off your own camp’s T-shirt design.
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What’s on the InsideOut Website?
ChristianCampResources.com provides you with videos, additional camp activities, planning and training resources, and a variety of flyers and logos that you can customize for your camp’s needs. This is where you can get an early look at next year’s resource about Church, Community, and Mission.
If you want activities beyond what’s available in Feraless Faith or would like activities that fit in with your campers’ special interests—such as Nature Study and Creation Care or Spiritual Practices—download the free PDF of camp activities.
Other free PDFs offer training activities for counselors, tips on setting up your camp and planning your week of fun. Downloadable logos for each year’s theme can help you promote your camp.
FEARLESS
FA I T H
InsideOut’s Twitter feed, https://twitter.com/InsideOutCamps, provides another way to keep up with InsideOut.
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CONTENTS
DAILY STAFF YOUNGER OVERVIEW DEVOTIONS CHILDREN
OLDER CHILDREN
Biblical and Theological Overview Introduction Fearless Faith: Finding Courage in Community All Christians across the planet, all Christians who have come before and all who are to come, are members of the Church Universal. We call this the community of Christ, and our common faith in Jesus, the Son of God, forms an unbreakable bond between us all. Our story has been told for centuries. The faith of those who have come before us strengthens the ways we live as God’s people, helping us to understand who God is, and who God needs us to be. The stories that are highlighted each of the days of Fearless Faith: Courage in Community are foundational to the Christian Community. They stretch back to the moment when God first called us to be community and covenanted to unite us as family forever. They reflect how the community has responded at times that it has been challenged— times when it seemed as if it would come to an end, and times when the community was rescued and refreshed by the work of God through the people of God.
YOUNGER YOUTH
OLDER YOUTH
INTERGEN
DAY CAMP
EXTRAS
kindness of God through their actions. In almost every story is the challenge and blessing of living with people who are not like us. In the stories of Cornelius, Peter, Mary Magdalene, and the other disciples, we will discover how this branch of the family came to be the community of Christ— how God breathed life into death and pushed the community to be open to God’s goodness and blessing. If we are called by God to be a community that embodies the love of God, then we will have times when our very identity will be challenged. These stories are about different times when people’s identity has been challenged. In very different ways, every age group of campers will be learning about, experimenting with, and ultimately choosing their identities. Engaging these stories is a great way to encourage campers to experiment intentionally and reflectively. In all of these stories, we see that living together as a community called by God is not just a means to an end or a basic human need for relationship. Living as God’s people both requires and provides us with courage. When open to these stories they won’t just teach us, they will indeed do something in us. They will inspire us—will call our campers to be the best people they can be in the community of God’s people, and in the world.
These are some of the most epic tales of the Bible, even though they may not be the most famous. All of these stories are key plot points in the biblical narrative of God lovingly at work within the world. Notice how all of these individual stories are part of one epic story about God working through community to bless the world and restore creation to how God intends it. Are you aware of when each story takes place in relation to the others? Can you see how different stories build on some of the others? In the stories of Abram and Sarai; Esther; and Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, we see that we are not just called to community but to be a community that is sometimes different from the rest of the world. In other stories, we will see how abundance and trust builds community. In the stories of Joseph and Ruth and her mother-in-law, Naomi, we will see people revealing the loving
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YOUNGER CHILDREN
Day 1: Together, the Courage to Show Up—Genesis 12:1–8
OLDER CHILDREN Theological Summary
YOUNGER God called Abram out of his comfortable life to YOUTH create community, and when Abram showed up, OLDER YOUTH
God met him there and blessed him.
Introduction INTERGENERATION In these few verses we are reading one of the most significant plot points in the entire Bible. Here in these verses God reveals the plan to restore all of creation to God’s intended goodness, and it all begins with Abram and Sarai’s first “yes” to God.
Our World The experience of coming to camp may itself be an embodied lesson for understanding Abram in this story. Many may be experiencing a sense of being out on their own and without their families, just like Abram was being called to do. They may have a number of fears they are experiencing in coming to camp, including a fear of being isolated, lonely, or even outright rejected. This story can help us acknowledge those fears and to see them as places full of potential to do something new. It is good for us to consider our own assumptions about community and ask if the way we think of being in community is the same thing God had in mind when these promises were made. The promise God makes to Abram is filled with “blessings.” When people talk about “blessings,” we find they often mean fortune, good luck, or material possessions. However, the way this story unfolds, it seems as if those things might fit more into the category of things Abram might be called to give up and walk away from rather than what this story is referring to as “blessings.”
The Word In the beginning of the book of Genesis we learn about God’s creation and how it is “very good;” meaning it is valuable and precious to God. The creation story itself tells us a lot about what God is like. God’s good creation is made out of abundance and love, and God built in all the wondrous parts of creation to be in communion with each other. Then, through the stories of Adam and Eve and Cain and Abel, we see the introduction of fear, distrust, and competition. In all of these stories we see that people keep turning away from communion with God and each other, and turning toward violence. Sin is not merely an abstract theological idea in Genesis. It is broken communion. It makes sense, then, if what the world has at its core is a communion problem, God would provide a communion solution. For Abram and Sarai, though, this means they must walk away from the family and land they know. God calls them away from their country, their people, and even Abram’s own family residence. This means that he will have to leave the protections and privileges that come with being part of a country. God’s blessing isn’t the same thing as the world’s riches or privileges. When Abram heads out into the wilderness, away from his comforts of home, God meets him out there. In this story God promises something to Abram that must seem quite impossible. Not only do we learn that Sarai is barren, the very idea that God wants to enter into an intimate relationship with broken humanity is surprising. Finally, Abram reaches a place and pitches his tent. He sets up camp and as soon as he does he builds an altar to worship God. So while Abram takes a big risk by leaving the land he knows, by the time he pitches his tent, he is already giving thanks.
Did You Notice?
• What does it mean to be a blessing?
• God’s promise to Abram and Sarai is first of all a call to discipleship. They have to leave their home behind to see God’s promises bear fruit.
• What will the campers leave behind to be able to “show up” to camp this year?
• God’s idea is to bless all people on the earth through them.
• How were you called to “show up” at camp this year?
• Abram is quickly met by the presence of God after he has obeyed and left his homeland.
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• Campers who show up are participating in the promise God made to Abram and Sarai.
The Word in Our World God called Abram out of his home, family, and familiarity to go out on an adventure and find God’s promises. God’s everlasting covenant is to be in communion with creation. It is intimate and risky. Can you leave behind your expectations and assumptions and just commit to going on a journey of faith? Church and camp are great examples of times you are called to just show up. • What would it mean for us to give up our positions of privilege and comfort? • How can we help campers recognize places where God is calling them out of something? • How does God want to bless the world through us? • How is it a blessing to be at camp? • What kind of community should we be, in order live as God’s blessing to the world?
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Day 2: Together, the Courage to Trust—Ruth
OLDER CHILDREN Theological Summary
YOUNGER Ruth is an outsider who learned to trust Naomi, YOUTH Naomi’s community, and her God, and when she OLDER YOUTH
did, everyone benefited.
Introduction INTERGENERATION The story of Ruth and Naomi is one of the most
profound examples of trust in the Bible. The commitment and loving kindness they embodied made an impression on other people in their community and, ultimately, played a role in continuing the unbroken continuity of God’s communion.
Our World The gender roles and economics of Israel at the time of this story are quite different from those of our time. They may be very foreign to most of the campers. There is no easy way to explain those social dynamics and laws. Even though we see echoes of ancient dynamics in our world, we could never work through them in one day of camp. At the same time, the story misses something without them; the issues cannot be ignored without changing the story. Your campers are not completely unfamiliar with these structures that limit access and abundance to persons based on such things as gender, wealth, and marital status. Some of your campers may come from homes in which broken relationships have caused there to be a legal document telling their parents how to parent them. Stepparents, widowhood, adoption, legal guardianship, and gender issues remain points of stress even in the lives of our youngest campers. Ruth and Naomi’s world can seem distant to us, but some of our campers’ family dynamics are still filled with fear and complex. Your campers are faced with decisions based on fear or based on blessing every day. Like widows and children of ancient Israel, the youngest members of our society are completely dependent upon the generosity and goodness of those in positions of power. Who are prohibited from being full participants in our communities?
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• What sort of issues cause you to act selfishly or fearfully? • What kinds of things inspire generosity and trust? • What social rules limit our campers?
The Word It is already a difficult time for Ruth, Orpah, and Naomi because of a drought, but it is also a difficult time because of their gender and nationality. Ruth is a woman and a Moabite, prohibited from becoming an Israelite. The drought has left them poor and hungry, and all three of their husbands have died, leaving them as widows in a culture in which the responsibility for caring for women’s needs falls to their husbands or their in-law’s family. The rules are complicated to figure out, but not for Naomi. She releases her daughters-in-law from any obligation to her and even generously, graciously, gives them the option of staying in their homeland, Moab, to reenter the life and culture there. This allows them to return to what was familiar, but it also means they will be free to marry again and regain some economic stability. This is a particularly unique act of kindness, because it puts Naomi’s future even more at risk. She could have obligated her daughters-in-law to provide for her, but she does not. Instead, she shows her “hesed,” loving kindness, and releases them of any obligation to her. It is a profoundly dangerous act. Ruth and Orpah are her only hope of income. Yet she releases them from their obligation to her. One of the main themes of scripture is the relationship of abundance and trust to scarcity and fear. In Genesis, we see that God made the world abundant, with more than enough for everyone to thrive. Abundance leads to trust and freedom because, when there is more than enough of something, people don’t fight for it. Whether we see the world as scarce or abundant is demonstrated in how we treat other people. God calls to us to help restore creation to be a place where we can safely live by trust and know there is everything we need for everyone to thrive and live well.
Orpah trusts Naomi, receives the release from her obligation, and returns to her former life. Ruth trusts Naomi in a different way and commits to staying with her. Ruth doesn’t get legalistic or simply cite her social duty to Naomi—she commits in a way that is clearly an act of love and of trust. She promises to join Naomi’s culture, people, and faith. Naomi offered Ruth her freedom as an act of loving kindness. And, as an act of loving kindness, Ruth decides to stay with Naomi and travel with her back to Bethlehem. Then Ruth engages in another social form of trust. As part of the Law, people who were poor were allowed to go to grain fields and follow along after the harvesters and gather the leftovers. This is called gleaning. Often the Law required the community to express God’s abundance and excess instead of fear and scarcity in God’s people. So Ruth goes into the fields to practice gleaning, and waits patiently according to custom, until it is her turn (2:3). As she gleans, she happens into Boaz’s fields. There she encounters Boaz, who questions her and his employees about her presence. When he finds out who she is, the Moabite who has committed herself to Naomi in an act of loving kindness, he recognizes her good reputation and grants her free access to his fields. He tells her not to go anywhere else, but allows her to glean from his fields and to even drink the water supplied to his workers. Boaz grants her this because of her relationship to Naomi. In turn, he shows her loving kindness, even if just a little at first. It takes time for them to learn to trust each other. They conduct little experiments to be sure the other person is trustworthy. As the story progresses they come to trust each other more, eventually get married, and become the great-grandparents of the great King David—establishing the linage of Jesus. This is a really good example of how trust can grow, like a tree, from a small seed to a powerful giant. Boaz trusts her a little at first, mostly because of her reputation. He doesn’t just take everyone’s word for it though. He takes time to get to know her and learn how trustworthy she really is. Then he takes small risks that help him to find out whether Ruth really lives up to her
reputation or not. She does. She cares about being trustworthy about small things; she is faithful about the big things.
Did You Notice? • Naomi’s gift of freedom went above and beyond her duty to her daughters-in-law. • Ruth’s commitment to Naomi went above and beyond her duty to her mother-in-law. • Ruth and Naomi’s relationship to each other was forged in hard times. • Ruth and Naomi’s commitment to each other is part of what wins over Boaz’s favor. He sees that they are trustworthy. • Ruth and Boaz only trust each other in small things at first, but came to trust each other more and more when the other person proved trustworthy.
The Word in Our World Just like Abram and Sarai, Ruth and Naomi found themselves living outside the comforts of home and in a difficult situation. There were good reasons for them to be afraid of what would happen. It would have been easy to think of their own needs first. Instead, both of them acted unselfishly. They earned each other’s trust by thinking of their trusted loved one’s needs before acting selfishly out of fear because of the crisis they were in. They were also accustomed to practicing the loving abundance they learned as people who followed and worshiped God. • How do we treat each other when we are afraid? How do we treat foreigners? • What are some signs that maybe you shouldn’t trust someone? Where is God at work in this story? • What are the things that you can do to show people that you are trustworthy? How do we show loving kindness to others? • How do campers learn to trust the leaders and other campers? What are campers looking for? • Is there a way to show this lesson through actions as well as to teach it?
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Day 3: Together, the Courage to Forgive—Genesis 45:1–15
OLDER CHILDREN Theological Summary
YOUNGER When Joseph knew it was safe to do so, he YOUTH showed his forgiveness to his brothers so that the OLDER YOUTH
work of God could go on.
Introduction INTERGENERATION Joseph is famous for his coat of many colors, but
the real climax of his story may be when he is finally reconciled to the family who had been so awful to him years before. By the end of his story, Joseph sees himself as part of God’s good covenant with creation, and that forgiveness is not only about his own personal feelings and resentments. Even so, this is not some simple or trite story about forgiving and forgetting. Joseph goes through a very complicated process that is worth some attention.
Our World Any good conversation about forgiveness is going to be complex. We bring both cultural assumptions of forgiveness as well as our own stories of forgiveness and needing to be forgiven. At every age level there will be campers who come with a diversity of things they need to forgive or things for which they will need to be forgiven. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could teach everything we need to know about forgiveness in one day? What we can do is introduce the idea of forgiveness as the beautiful art form that it is. We cannot teach campers everything they need to know about playing the piano in one day, either, but we can help them learn something about making music and expose them to the beautiful music a piano can make at the hands of an expert. In other words, we don’t have to help everyone master forgiveness, but we can inspire campers to want to master the art. What are ways we can honor camper’s questions and interest in forgiveness? How can you share that you are also learning the art of forgiveness? Joseph’s act of forgiveness has many subtleties. A lot of movies, TV shows, and other contemporary storytelling media paint characters as clear heroes or obvious villains. This story of Joseph and his family is more like real life, in which people do
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both good and bad things and change over time. Campers will want the opportunity to explore and wonder about all the many strange things that Joseph did before the key verses in which we read about the moment he expresses his forgiveness. Throughout camp we continue to focus on how being together in community gives us and requires of us the courage to show trust. This episode of Joseph’s life is part of the same book as God’s promise to Abram and Sarai. It is not just about forgiveness but about how forgiveness grows out of living in community. We may not be able to hand a neatly wrapped package to campers that explains forgiveness, but we can point toward it in the distance, remind them that, as we struggle to learn the complexities of forgiveness, we will also be getting to know God better. Most of all, we can talk about how even here and now at camp, we can, together, have the courage to forgive. • What are beliefs, assumptions, and experiences that you have on the topic of forgiveness? • Where do your convictions about forgiveness match or differ from this story in Genesis? • Are there any of Joseph’s behaviors or choices in this story that raise questions? • What can be learned about forgiveness from the perspective of his brothers or other characters? • In what way is community a character in this story? • What role does forgiveness play in the communities to which you belong?
The Word Joseph is born to Jacob and his most beloved wife Rachel after much waiting and longing (Genesis 30). The story of Joseph and his brothers begins in Genesis 37. His story is complex and involves several scenes that tie together as a complex plot, which is important to understanding the final climax of his reconciliation with his brothers. Reading the full account from Genesis 37 to the end will be helpful to see how the story unfolds, even if all the details may not be worth discussing with your campers. Ultimately, this is a story about forgiveness that is both generous (such as the idea of loving kindness we learned about with Ruth and Naomi), and wise. Joseph is very careful about how and when he shows forgiveness. This is not just a
story about Joseph. It is a story about relationships. We will see how it is also another chapter in the story of God’s promise to Abram and Sarai. Joseph has eleven half-siblings and one full sibling, Benjamin. Joseph is clearly his father’s favorite, which is what the story of the multicolored coat is all about (Gen. 37). He also has a knack for having and interpreting dreams. He tells his family of dreams in which he is supreme over his mother, father, and brothers. Understandably, this causes a riff between him and his siblings. In fact, they initially decide to kill him, but end up trapping him in a cistern and eventually selling him to merchants who are on the way to Egypt. He is sold to the Pharaoh’s main guard, Potiphar. The Pharaoh is the main leader of Egypt, like a king. There, Joseph is falsely accused of rape by Potiphar’s wife and then put in prison, though he is innocent. Joseph eventually wins the favor of the Pharaoh and becomes his highest advisor. After a major period of famine that Joseph has predicted, Joseph’s brothers arrive in Egypt to buy supplies they need. Remember, his brothers and family are not Egyptian. They meet Joseph but do not recognize him because he is now much older than when they saw him last, and he speaks another language. He does not reveal himself to his brothers. Instead, he actually accuses them of being spies. To us, this part does not make it seem like he is moving toward forgiveness. In the midst of all of these complexities, Joseph is discovering that his brothers have changed. They express remorse for what they did to Joseph. Instead of being willing to hurt each other, they have become brothers who are willing to sacrifice themselves for each other. Later, after the death of Jacob, Joseph’s father, his brothers become afraid of Joseph’s seeking revenge again, and they offer themselves as slaves. In one sense, it would be fair for Joseph to accept their offer. Instead, however, he acts like Ruth and Naomi did to each other and offers his brothers mercy and loving kindness. He promises again to provide for them, assuring them that the important thing is that God is using Joseph’s life for good and to save other people’s lives in the time of famine.
and his brothers are part of the fulfillment of God’s promise to Abram. Joseph and his brothers are the great-grandchildren of Abram, who by then was known as Abraham. They are the ones who will become the twelve tribes of Israel. Being reconciled is a gift not only to each other, but also to their great-grandfather and all the generations of Israel who will come after them.
Did You Notice? • Joseph didn’t just walk right up to his brothers and even reveal who he was. He questioned them in a different language. He challenged their commitment to each other. • Joseph doesn’t just let go of his brothers’ bad behavior, he actually goes above and beyond and takes good care of them. • Joseph is able to trust God’s intentions for all of them rather than focusing on his own resentments.
The Word in Our World Joseph knew God had called him, and he was true to his calling even in the midst of hardship. His integrity helped him to forge new relationships and communities so that God could use him to help his brothers and lots of others in the future. The choice just to continue to live our calling and to use our unique gifts for God are the very small seeds of forgiveness. It was by such a choice that Joseph was able to say that what his brothers meant for evil God used for good. Just like Joseph and his brothers, everyone at camp is part of the fulfillment of God’s promise to Abram and Sarai. Our reconciliation and forgiveness is a gift to them and all of those who have gone before us, and it is a gift to everyone who will come after us. • One way to think about forgiveness is to simply not let one’s life be defined by someone else’s hurtful behavior. • How can holding on to resentments keep people from being what God calls them to be? • What are some things God is calling campers as a community to be at camp? At home? • How does having a relationship with God change who, when, and how we forgive?
Let’s also consider a major consequence of Joseph’s reconciliation with his family: Joseph
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Day 4: Together, the Courage to Stand—Daniel 3
OLDER CHILDREN Theological Summary
YOUNGER When we are called to be different from society YOUTH and to stand with our community, we will not OLDER YOUTH
to do a new thing through us as a community, we will have a better chance of standing up to the pressure and expectations. • What are the cultural assumptions you bring to this story that shape the way you see bravery, heroes, and courage?
stand alone.
• How might this story shape or change your perspective on courage?
Introduction
• What are the issues on which you think you won’t compromise?
INTER- The story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego is GENERATION
one of the most classic stories of standing up for one’s convictions. The whole story has examples of making some kinds of compromises, while not making others. So it is not just a story about being stubborn, it is a story about knowing when and when not to compromise. It is also a story about choosing to worship God and only God, even when the consequences of worshiping only God are unclear.
Our World If we were making a movie of this story, we could spend a lot of the budget on the special effects to show the miracle of four people walking around in a furnace without being hurt. We could tell this story in a way that makes it seem as if the whole story is about bravery. It is a story about bravery, but this isn’t a story about a cowboy who marches up to an enemy, acts tough, and eventually rides off into the sunset alone. This story is actually more relatable than any of these spectacular events. Peer pressure and social expectations are trials that every human faces. So many of the ways we communicate exist to set a standard of what “normal” looks like. We compare ourselves to these standards, and then try our best to imitate them, so we too will be “normal.” But when God is doing a new thing with us, it isn’t going to appear “normal” to the world. It takes courage to be one who dares to be different. Your campers (and you) have to face this every day, and even the most confident person is not immune to standards and expectations. But one thing that will always make it easier is to have a community that will support you in your convictions. The courage of community is more than the sum of its parts. When we look to God
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The Word The Israelites are living under the rule of the king of their conquerors. Not only does this king make it illegal to practice Judaism, but he insists that people worship him, instead. He builds a giant golden statue of himself that he commands the people to bow down to. Think for a minute about the king’s other subjects. What power might the statue represent to them? The statue is not a spontaneous gift of the citizens; it is ordered by the king. Then he gives orders to every different kind of leader in his government. It seems people who worship the king do so because it is what they are told to do, not from a sense of devotion. They may believe that bowing down to a statue is a better option than death. It is safer to play along, right? Our three main characters of this story, and Daniel, are already accustomed to living life a little differently than everyone else around them. From the time of their arrival in Babylon, while they are provided with luxurious foods such as meat and wine, they choose to maintain a humble diet as is their custom. On one hand, we see they are willing to be of service to the king, and on the other hand, we see they are unwilling to compromise on even the small issues. When they are asked to make a big decision not to bow down, they already have practiced making hard choices by being faithful in small things. Some people report the defiance of the three— Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—and the king asks them directly if they are refusing his orders, and which god they expect to save them. Their answer is firm. The first thing they tell the king is really important, “We don’t have to answer you.”
It is a clear confrontation of the king’s demands on them. They don’t owe him an answer. They are not focused on the king as either a king or an enemy. They are only focused on God and their community. So when questions are raised as to whether they will remain faithful, they have already made up their minds. They say they believe God will save them, but that even if God does not rescue them, they still will not conform to the king’s wishes. When they are standing before King Nebuchadnezzar, they do not know exactly what’s going to happen. As far as they know, they are about to die. They are profoundly courageous because they trust in God, whatever the outcome. They share an identity. But the outcome is good. Despite the king’s heating the furnace seven times hotter than usual, the men not only survive but are untouched by the fire. They are untouched by the king’s power. And they are joined in the fire by the presence of a mysterious “other.” The story passage is not really specific on who this “other” is. But, the point for us is that they are not alone. Instead of being greeted with death, they are greeted by the presence of someone to be with them. They stand together, and the presence of God, miraculously, stands with them.
Did You Notice? • Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, and Daniel had already made a habit of being faithful to God and to their community even in the small things.
The Word in Our World Abram and Sarai were called to leave their home and go to a foreign land. Ruth found herself living as a foreigner in Israel in a difficult time. Joseph was sold off and ended up in Egypt, where he had to live in and learn a culture different than his own. Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, and Daniel were taken to live in Babylon. Often people who are trying to be faithful to God find they are living in difficult circumstances. In most of these situations, these people learned to lean on each other, and were willing to become a little bit different than other people in order to be faithful to God and to each other. • What are the pressures to conform that your campers face? • What things are campers asked to do that other people think are “no big deal” (like bowing down to the statue of the king was for others)? • A lot of people in the world really do face the threat of death for their faith. What can we do to help them have the courage to stand? • What are examples of modern idolatry? • What are some of the small things people can do to stand together? • Not all of us face a fiery furnace. How can we help the campers recognize the consequences they might face for sticking with the community and being faithful? • Is there a camper who might need to ask others to stand with him or her? Who would you offer to stand with?
• While the king’s threat was very serious, it is not certain that the other people in Babylon were devout worshipers of the king. • Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, and Daniel were all willing to serve the king, but they were never willing to compromise who they were or who they would worship. • They didn’t need courage to try something new they had never done before. They were only staying true to the lifestyle they had always known. • The king’s power could not touch them. They were not in the furnace alone.
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Day 5: Together, the Courage to Do Justice—Esther 4
OLDER CHILDREN Theological Summary
YOUNGER Esther took a risk to defend God’s people because YOUTH she trusted God’s covenant with her community. OLDER YOUTH
Introduction This part of the story of Esther is an amazing
INTER- story of someone who had reached a position of GENERATION
power and comfort, but who could not help but be shaped by the lives of those in her community who were not in the same position. When the lives of those in her community were put at risk, she faced a challenge and, at the prompting and support of her closest family member, acted quite shrewdly and used her influence to save her people. An understanding of the entirety of Esther’s story is important to understanding. You will find story summaries and resources in the Daily Guides.
Our World Esther’s story is another story that has a number of complex and nuanced social dynamics and gender roles. We can see many similarities to situations in our modern world, in which positions of power increase a person’s options and opportunities. Currently, nearly every time one community sees itself as different from another, cultures collide, and violence and disregard erupt. We see politicians and the wealthy make their way to the top, and then we are disappointed when they abandon those at the bottom. If we were up there, we think, we would keep our promises and use our power for justice. But is it that easy? There are challenges that the powerful and privileged face, especially when it comes to a clash of cultures. It takes courage and community to face those challenges. • What are the things that may give people privilege and power today? How are you privileged? • What sorts of things do we need to help us make good choices in how we use the power and privilege we have? • Who benefits from just decisions you make?
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The Word Esther is a remarkable woman. She is clever, committed to her community, and she honors Mordecai, the man who raised her—and who is also a really good person. She is not only faithful to her Jewish community, but she also relies on her relationships with Hegai and Hathach (servants of the king), Mordecai, and, of course, the king himself. She is pulled different directions by multiple communities, but has the courage to stand with the community to which God has called her. She is originally brought to the king because she is beautiful. While she is there, she listens to the advice of some of the king’s servants, and, when the time is right, follows their advice and impresses the king so much that she wins his favor. He makes her his queen, and is more attached to her than to anyone else. Even so, she never tells the king that she is a Jew. Meanwhile, the king hires a man named Haman and promotes him to a position higher than the other nobles. When Haman is at the king’s gate, all of the officials bow down to honor him— all except Mordecai. When Haman sees that Mordecai won’t bow down he decides to kill not just Mordecai, but all of the Jewish people in that kingdom. Haman convinces the king that destroying the Jews is a good idea because they have different customs and disobey some of the king’s laws. He also offers the king the plunder from raids on the Jews. So the king issues an order for the destruction of all of the Jews and that their goods be stolen. When Mordecai hears that this order has been given, he performs the customary mourning ritual. When Esther discovers this, she sends a servant to inquire why. Mordecai tells the servant everything and includes a copy of the king’s order for destruction, and asks Esther to go to the king to beg for mercy. She reminds him that anyone who approaches the king without being invited first could be killed. Mordecai reminds her that she is also not safe just because she is in a place of power. In 4:14 Mordecai says, “For if you keep silence at such
a time as this, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another quarter, but you and your father’s family will perish. Who knows? Perhaps you have come to royal dignity for just such a time as this.” Esther asks him to gather all the Jews of the city to fast with her. At the end of three days she plans to go to the king, even if it means she will die. Mordecai does as she asks. Esther indeed approaches the king and puts into motion a very clever plan. As the plan cleverly unfolds, the king realizes that he loves Esther and Mordecai for how they are behaving and act in his best interest as well as theirs. Esther reveals to the king that it is Esther’s people who Haman wants to destroy.. The king decides it is Esther and Mordecai who are acting justly.
• What colliding cultures are potentially dangerous for your campers? For you? • In what ways does communal faith play a role in how leaders make decisions? • How can you help your campers begin to think of the suffering of others? In what ways might campers recognize that they are comfortable or privileged in ways that not everyone in their community is? • When Esther needed to figure out what to do, she prayed and fasted, and she also asked her community to pray and fast with her. Who are the people our campers will seek for guidance or to join them in praying or seeking God?
Did You Notice? • Esther makes a decision to do what is right without knowing the outcome first. • Mordecai would not compromise on the small things even when Haman tried to make it a big deal and really threatened him. • When push came to shove, Esther called upon her community to fast and pray with her as she figured out what the right thing to do was. She called on her community for spiritual support. • Haman considered Jews a problem because their customs were different and some of their laws required them to disobey the king when the king was asking bad things from them.
The Word in Our World Esther was able to stay connected to her Jewish community even when she was living in the palace. She built a good relationship with the king, respected his wishes, and impressed him. She could have ignored the suffering that was happening in her community. She could have lived a very comfortable, easy life and never told the king she was Jewish.
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Day 6: Together, the Courage to Change—Acts 10
OLDER CHILDREN Theological Summary
YOUNGER Sometimes a community has to change its plans YOUTH to be faithful to God’s story rather than just doing OLDER YOUTH
what the community has already done before.
Introduction INTER- While this is a lesson with a lot of complicated GENERATION
ideas in it, it is also actually something people learn very early in life: we will have to adapt to stay on course. Here we see a really clear example of God’s people figuring out why certain changes need to take place and why. This doesn’t mean that everything should change quickly all the time; it means that there are reasons for us to grow and we can learn, over time, how to decide when things need to change.
Our World For some people, if anything about their faith or faith community ever changes, then it may seem to them that their whole faith is not real. For other people, if their faith is not constantly being restated and growing, then it feels like it must be stale and irrelevant. In human history, when injustice is discovered and admitted to, great change in how we do things can follow. Consider civil rights movements. When people admitted that there were humans who were being excluded from government because of race or gender, they started to rethink the rules. People are often hesitant to change the rules because entire systems of thinking and doing will change with them. When the change has to do with including a community of previously excluded people, change can be painful and far too slow. As time moves on, things always change, and as a community we have to try to learn to change in ways that are faithful to what we have already learned in the past. Doing something new might sometimes seem like a good idea, but we always need to consider how it impacts every member in the community. Or perhaps we are fond of
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a tradition or a custom without realizing it is hurtful to other members of the community. Doing things exactly the same way just because “we have always done it that way” can provide a sense of security, but it may not mean we are being faithful to what God is calling us to in that moment. • Why does including outsiders make us feel that our community is threatened? • How do you know the right thing to change at the right time? The Word We step into the community of the early Christian church now. Jesus has charged his disciples to preach and heal. He ascends to heaven and the Holy Spirit falls upon them. Their world is not the same—it is turned completely on its head. Imagine the early church is left with the directions and all the pieces of a project, but they don’t understand how the pieces fit together and don’t even know what it is supposed to look like when built. Jesus gives them wisdom and the power to live in the reign of Heaven, but there are so many questions that remain. A lot of time and effort go into discerning (deciding) whether or not it is God’s will for people who are not already Jewish to be part of the newly established community of Christ. People are questioning whether non-Jews are required to go through a ritual of becoming Jewish before they can be considered Christian. The Jewish people of Israel have understood that God loves the whole world and wants them to be restoring creation to what God means for it to be. After Jesus comes and the Church begins to grow, people who are not Jewish begin to believe in Jesus and live as part of the community. This is challenging for a lot of Jews at the time and they think it is not a good idea, while others don’t seem to care at all. The disciple Peter is a leader in the movement. He is the one many look to as they discern God’s will. Others challenge his and the other believers’ every move. He goes to pray and has a vision in which all kinds of animals are offered to him to eat, ones that are normally prohibited by the Jewish law. A voice in his vision tells him that it is okay to eat these animals. Peter insists that he has never broken the law like that, but he has this vision
three separate times. Soon afterward a man who has faith in Jesus and follows Jesus (but is not a Jew) invites Peter to visit him, even though it is against Jewish law for them to associate with each other and have a relationship. Eventually this leads Peter to say that, “I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him” (Acts 10:34– 35). In a sense, Peter is saying that Gentiles, or non-Jewish people, are getting it right and are being holy in all ways—except for the fact that they are not Jewish. So, if that is the only thing excluding them, then the community needs to change and recognize that Gentiles belong to the Christian community as well.
Did You Notice? • God tells Peter that what was once unclean is now clean. • The Gentiles were holy in all other ways except that they were Gentiles, which did not seem to Peter to keep them from being holy.
The Word in Our World Remember how God called Abram and Sarai to leave what was familiar for what was better? Remember how Ruth committed to Naomi’s culture even though it was different than her own? Joseph adapted to Egyptian culture while he still stayed true to God. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego all served a different king while they stayed true to their diet and their worship. If we are going to stay focused on the right stuff, it means some specific things will need to change from time to time. The promise to Abram and Sarai is God’s blessing and restoration of the goodness of creation to bless all the nations of the earth. It is a big promise. • What kind of things do you think a community has to consider before it makes a major change? • Can you think of one thing that your community could change that would make you feel like a different community altogether? • Is there something about being at camp that makes you question or challenge something you might need to change?
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YOUNGER CHILDREN
Day 7: Together, the Courage to Connect—Matthew 28
OLDER CHILDREN Theological Summary
YOUNGER In order to bless all nations, Jesus calls the YOUTH community to cross borders and cultures and be OLDER YOUTH
willing to be changed by them as well.
Introduction INTERGENERATION It can be difficult actually to risk being part of
a community. It can be difficult to show up, to trust, to take a stand together, to forgive, to change, and to do justice. When we allow our lives to connect with one another, our lives will inevitably change. Here, the newly risen Jesus doesn’t merely give us instruction on making sure we put up with that, he instructs us to go and do exactly that. We are called to transcend our differences with people in the world to join in the sharing of God’s great community.
Our World To many modern ears, the verses calling Christians to go into the world and make disciples seem like an emphasis on a kind of evangelism that is very culturally specific. For nearly two thousand years, the church has struggled to decide what it means to go and baptize whole nations in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We still struggle. Significant parts of Christian history are stained with the blood of “infidels” who stood for different convictions. And, even today, it is heartbreaking to see what was meant to be a tool of blessing used as a weapon of war. It is imperative that we see ourselves, right now, as the beneficiaries of this commission. Many of us as leaders within the Christian community were gently led and nurtured into the family of Christ and baptized into Christ. There is a lot of brokenness that our campers experience every day, but they come here to camp to encounter blessing. The loving, welcoming Christian community is an ointment on a wounded creation. • What are your initial reactions as a leader when you read this story? • When were you baptized into this community?
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• How might God be not only asking the disciples to go and change the world in these verses, but also asking the disciples to let themselves be changed by the world?
The Word This is one of the most climactic moments in the entire Christian collection of scripture. Because it is not legal for the disciples to be at the tomb on the Sabbath, two of the most committed disciples, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, arrive at the first break of dawn after Sabbath. Suddenly there is a very dramatic appearance of an angel. The first thing the angel tells them is not to be afraid. The angel says that Jesus is not there and is risen, just as Jesus predicted in Matthew 16:21. That the angel reminds them that Jesus had said this would happen even before they can believe it to be true is a key point. Jesus is continuing his pattern of trustworthiness. The women go to the other disciples to tell them what they have seen. They have been instructed by the angel to share what they know and to widen the circle of disciples. They are sent first to those who were closest to Jesus. The women then meet Jesus, not at the tomb, or even on the way to the tomb, but in the process of carrying the good news. They meet the risen Jesus on the road of obedience. Jesus then makes another promise to meet them and the other disciples in Galilee. In Matthew’s gospel, Galilee is where Jesus begins his ministry. From there, news of Jesus’ acts spread through Syria. While there are questions as to just how Jewish or non-Jewish Galilee really is, it is clear that as a territory, it is not at the center of either Roman rule or Jewish influence. Jesus starts at the outskirts and moves to the center, where he is crucified. So, when he goes to meet his disciples after being raised, he returns to the outer limits, where the crowds are mixed. The story tells us that all the remaining disciples of the original twelve make their way to Galilee. They all worship him, but the story says that some of them still doubt. Yet even in their doubt they continue to worship. It is then that Jesus tells them to go and make disciples, and, more specifically, to baptize them
in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. There are two really important parts of this instruction: (1) to baptize and (2) to do so in the “name” of the Father, Son, and Spirit. The ritual of baptism is a ritual of belonging. It is the ritual that Christians use in place of the ritual of Jewish membership mentioned in the text of the last story with Peter and Cornelius (circumcision). In this story, the women who were the first to be at the tomb (as soon as it was permitted) did not count on the miraculous outcome. They were going to care for Jesus’ body. This is similar to Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who were willing to burn even if God did not rescue them, and to Esther who did not know if she would be killed for approaching the king without an invitation. What does it mean to trust God when we don’t know the outcome yet, or even when the outcome is not what we desire? In the first lesson of the week, God promises to make Abram a blessing to all nations. On this last day, Jesus calls us to go and make members and disciples in all nations.
our experience of community to go share the community with others. There will be times when we, like the disciples, will have doubts even right in the presence of God. Jesus never tells the disciples not to doubt or question. He does however, promise to always be with them. Jesus will be with us too, and that is why we continue to gather together in our communities. We can worship God in the middle of our doubts and fears. And, like Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, even in the middle of our fears we can have joy, enough joy to keep going. • What are the fears that campers are facing about leaving camp? • What are the things they may have joy about as they return home? • What communities do they belong to that they can gather with when they have fears? • Who are the “nations,” the people that Jesus may be calling them to connect with when they get home? • How have you been changed this week by your campers?
Did You Notice? • The first thing the angel tells the disciples is not to be afraid. How does fear play in to each of the stories we have read this week? • The women were afraid and yet they were also filled with joy. The joy didn’t make all of their fear go away, but it did give them enough courage to do what they were called to do.
The Word in Our World The experiences campers have at camp can often be surprise encounters with Jesus. The emphasis on spirituality and community can really bring Jesus to life in someone’s life, sometimes for the first time ever. Or, perhaps this week has been a deepening and renewal of commitment for campers and for leaders. Now Jesus calls us all to widen our circle and to go home from camp willing to build community in new ways with new people. In our own small way we are being sent to all nations. We are leaving from our encounter with Jesus here and
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CONTENTS
DAILY OVERVIEW
BIB/THEO OVERVIEW
YOUNGER CHILDREN
OLDER CHILDREN
YOUNGER YOUTH
OLDER YOUTH
INTERGEN
EXTRAS
DAY CAMP
Staff Devotions This section is designed for use by staff. It is important to have time together to pray, to share concerns and joys, and to remind one another why you are doing this. You can connect your devotion to a staff meeting if that works best, or you can find a separate time and place. Each devotion can be used alone as well. You can designate different people to be the leader each day, or you may choose a staff member who acts as your chaplain. Each devotion suggests an activity or focus, and some may require a small amount of supplies to be gathered ahead of time. Begin your devotion together by designating the time as holy. Light a candle or dim the lights. Play some soft music or sing a song. The devotions allow time to share personal prayers and they offer guided questions to invite those prayers. You may choose to say these aloud, silently, with a partner, or you may write them in a journal. Before you begin, it is helpful for the chaplain to explain what prayer form you will be using. Each devotion suggests a Psalm to be read. You may choose to read all of it or some of it, depending on your time and needs. To close, the materials offer a blessing that staff can give one another. Your group may be huggers or hand-shakers, or you may prefer to pray together as partners. Find the means of blessing each other that works best for your group dynamics.
Day 1: Together, the Courage to Show Up You made it! The first day of camp is so filled with excitement and potential. Spend some time with your fellow staff members or alone to work through these questions together. Make an atmosphere of prayer; notice the presence of God in your midst. Gather several small rocks or pebbles. As you list each item below, add a rock to the pile. You can make this altar part of your daily staff worship time.
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• You have done a lot to prepare for this moment. Take a moment to list the things that you’ve done to prepare for your first day of camp. Pray: God, bless the work that has gone into preparing for this moment. • You still have things left undone. What still needs to be finished? Pray: God, grant us peace of mind to know that you will see us through. • You have a life outside of camp. What things have you left behind that you find draw your attention elsewhere? Pray: God, we trust that the people and places we love are in your hands. Thank you for giving us the courage to be present here. Bless our loved ones. • Today, your campers have also left their homes and loved ones. For some this may be a great joy and adventure, for others, a terrifying challenge. What might your campers be facing? Pray: God, you have brought these campers into our care, give us all we need to share with them the love you show us through your son, Jesus. Amen. We have been called to participate in your story. You have been working to bless all of creation, and you need us in order for that to happen. The story that begins with Abram and Sarai is our story, and our campers’ story. Just by showing up, we have shown courage and love. Invite someone to read from Psalm 91. Pray together: Here we are, loving God. You have called us here and we have responded. Just as you went with Abram and Sarai to their camp, and showed up at their altar, help us see that you meet us here, you bless us to be a blessing! Turn to one another and offer a blessing. Say: You are blessed to be a blessing!
Day 2: Together, the Courage to Trust
Day 3: Together, the Courage to Forgive
As a staff, you have to have great trust in one another. Take some time to share your stories about how you came to be a camp leader.
To help teach the concept of forgiveness, it helps for you yourself to be willing to forgive. It helped Joseph to forgive when he recognized that all the ups and downs eventually led to God’s blessing being shared. Not every cloud has a silver lining, but think of some bumpy roads in your life that have led to unexpected blessing.
Bring a communal snack to this devotion time. Popcorn, crackers, candies… whatever you love to share. Place them in a bowl in the center of your group. Each shared prayer item is a piece of the snack. Share a prayer, take a piece of popcorn! • What is it that you are depending upon others for? What are some things you notice are weaknesses of yours, but God has provided as a strength in another staff member? Pray: God, you fill our every need. Help us use each other’s gifts. • It is hard to trust some things. What things do you find a challenge to let go of? Pray: God, give us courage to depend on others. • Often, we come to camp ministry because someone before us influenced our lives in a positive way. Who are the people who have led you here? Pray: God, these people are with us, even if we can’t see them. Thank you for putting them into our lives. • We are also shaping the lives of others. Name campers (all or some) who are following in our footsteps. Pray: God, your story is continuing in the lives of these campers. Because we have been loved and nurtured, we have trusted and followed Jesus. We open ourselves up to the adventure that Christ leads us on. The God of Naomi, Ruth and Boaz is our God. We will follow God. Invite someone to read (or recite!) Psalm 23. Pray together: Loving God, you invite us on a journey with you into the unknown. But you do not invite us to come alone. You have given us companions. Thank you for trusting us with your people. Help us be willing to walk along with those who need to trust us. Amen. Turn to one another and offer a blessing. Say: Your people are my people and your God is my God!
If you have pictures with you in a wallet or a phone. Take some time to share them with each other. We carry around things that are important to us. How many of your pictures are of blessings? How many of them are curses? • It is not always easy to forgive hurts. Without naming persons, name some of the feelings you have about those you need to forgive. When you are wronged, how does it feel? Pray: God, you have blessed us with the ability to feel. Though not all of these feelings are good, all of them are a gift from you. We thank you that you make our hearts tender. • Pain in the body and pain in the spirit are often indicators that there is healing to be done. Notice pain in your body and spirit. What kind of healing do you need? Pray: God, we will pay attention to the ways we know we need to be healed. Your love is ointment to our wounded hearts. • We don’t just forgive as individuals; we must also forgive as a community. What do you need to forgive together? If you need to apologize for a wrong to the community, you are welcome to do so. Pray: God, our intention is to live as your people together. Grant us the courage to forgive each other, so that we might better reflect your love. • Forgiveness is liberating. Name some of the freedoms you enjoy from sins forgiven. How could you share these testimonies with your campers? Pray: God, we are freer people because you encourage us to forgive. Thank you for allowing us to participate in your liberating love. Amen. We are bound to cause hurts when we live together in community. We are all broken people
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in need of healing. We are imperfect people. But when we live together as brothers and sisters in Christ, we commit to live in love and to bless each other. Invite someone to read from Psalm 30. Pray together: Loving God, help us to cling tightly to the people and things that bring us and others joy. Help us to let go of the things that cause us pain, and turn our wounds into opportunities for healing. Amen. Turn to one another and offer a blessing. Say: You are forgiven!
Day 4: Together, the Courage to Stand When you gather, find a partner and sit backto-back on the floor, if you are able. Really relax and try and feel the support of the other person holding you up. If you are alone, take a moment to relax into your chair or bunk and notice how it is supporting your body. Our lives are made better by having others to share our burdens. • As Christians, there are things about which we need to say together, “we don’t do that.” What are some of those things? Pray: God, Give us the courage to stand up for our convictions so that we might live as your people. • Who has given you strength when you have needed it? Who stands with you when you need someone? Pray: God, thank you for giving us to each other to make us stronger. • Who have you taken a stand with? Who might you stand with in the future? Pray: God, let me be the blessing to my brothers and sisters that they are to me. • What things do your campers need you to stand with them on? Which campers could use an extra pair of legs? Pray: God, you are always teaching us to stand. For the challenges and temptations unknown, show us how to stand together. Amen. While there are times that we find ourselves the only ones standing, more often we are surrounded by the people of God. We are also surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses who have stood before
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and stand with us now. With their courage and ours, we can be a blessing to the world. Invite someone to read from Psalm 31. Pray together: You have shown us what is good, O God. We want to give each other the strength needed to live the life you call us to. When we think we can no longer stand, we will look to one another to support us. Amen. Turn to one another and offer a blessing. Say: I will stand with you.
Day 5: Together, the Courage to Do Justice Though we may not realize it all the time, we are leaders in Christ’s community. We have influence stronger than we know. As camp leaders, you are looked to as an example, you are charged with protecting your campers. Though it might not have felt like a blessing at first, Queen Esther realized that her position afforded her the responsibility of protecting her people. For this time of devotion and reflection, gather materials such as construction paper, tape, pipe cleaners, or other craft items. Make paper crowns. Everyone should make his or her crown to give away. Crown each other and wear them as you pray. • What influence do you have that you sometimes forget? Who looks to you to make their world safe? Pray: God, don’t let us take our influence for granted. • When have you made decisions that take advantage of power or privilege? Pray: God, forgive us when we abuse authority. • When have you been able to use your influence this week at camp? When have you seen others use their influence to do justice? Pray: God, thank you for giving us the conviction to do what is just. • How can you encourage your campers to stand up for what is just? How can you help them know that they are powerful? Pray: God, open our eyes to the injustices of the world, and help us open the eyes of others. Our faith is built on the foundation that God desires blessing and goodness for all the people of the earth. But not all the people of the earth feel
goodness and blessing. God gives us the capacity to notice injustice and the influence to make it right. We cannot take our influence for granted! Invite someone to read from Psalm 10.
• What changes do you hope will be made in the lives of your campers this week? How have you opened them to new ways of understanding God’s love? Pray: God, thank you for making camp such a transformative place. Amen.
Pray together: You crown us with wisdom, compassion, and strength. We will accept our roles as leaders, and notice oppression and mistreatment of your people. We will be a voice for the voiceless. Amen.
God’s love is bigger and deeper and fuller than you’ve ever imagined. To live as Christ’s community is to look for ways to be better at sharing this love. It will require change. Thankfully, God has created you to do just that.
Turn to one another and offer a blessing. Say: Do Justice, Love Kindness, Walk Humbly.
Invite someone to read from Psalm 51.
Day 6: Together, the Courage to Change Change happens in the community of Christ because God is always revealing God’s abundance and blessing as deeper and fuller than we dare imagine. Peter realized this when Cornelius proved to be part of the community of Christ even though he was a Gentile. What changed was human understanding of how big God’s love is, and in light of new information, Peter had to change his mind and his behavior. When you gather for devotion today, each of you should bring an item from nature for the group to explore. Nature never stays the same; even rocks and dirt change. Allow everyone some time to share something about camp that has changed over the years. If there is a favorite thing that you “used to do at camp” but has been forgotten, share that. It could be a song you sang differently at a different camp, or a tradition. • The way camp is done changes all the time. What changes have been made at camp? What changes have happened because we understand God differently? What changes have happened for other reasons? Pray: God, help us know you more fully, so that we can best show your love. • It can be hard to adapt to a new way of being. What changes have you found hard to make? Pray: God, be with us as we try our best to understand and grow. • What things still need to change to best reflect God’s love? In what ways do you think God will grow us next? Pray: God, you are always doing a new thing with us. Help us lower our defenses and be willing to change and grow.
Pray together: You have changed us, Loving God. Not just once, but you are always growing us. Open our minds and our hearts, and shape us to be your people. We can’t wait to see what you will do in our lives next! Amen. Turn to one another and offer a blessing. Say: You are a new creation!
Day 7: Together, the Courage to Connect The last day. You may be preparing to go home, or you may be gearing up for a new group of campers. It is sad to think that you will never be the exact same community ever again, because, as we learned yesterday, things are always changing. But you have shared this unique time and space this week and have opened your hearts and lives to each other. Be sure to bring ways to share your information about how to stay connected to your devotion time today. Take a few minutes to share cell phone numbers, enter them in your contacts, message each other, or trade business cards or addresses. Find the same pile of rocks from the first day or create a new one. Today, as prayers are offered, take a rock or pebble as you offer them. Use your small collection of rocks as a way of remembering this community and what God has done with it. • For what do you give thanks to God? What has God done among you this week that could only have happened here? Pray: God, thank you for gathering this community together for this time. Thank you for journeying into the wilderness with us.
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• What are the things that you wish could have happened, but didn’t? What are your disappointments from the week? Pray: God, forgive us for any mistakes we have made and help mend anything that has been broken or hurt. • Who are you eager to connect with as you leave camp? What people and places do you look forward to seeing outside of camp? Pray: God, we have trusted that the people and places we love are in your hands. Thank you for giving us the courage to be present here. Bless us as we return to our loved ones. • What connections do you hope your campers will make as they return home? Pray: God, thank you for trusting us with your most precious people. Help us to all live together as one as you desire. Amen.
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Jesus boldly and courageously sends his disciples into the world, to baptize people into the community of Christ and to share God’s goodness with all the people of the earth. You are one of Jesus’ disciples who is being sent. Go with courage and faith! Invite someone to read from Psalm 133. Pray together: Send us out, O God. And come with us. Only you can be in all our hearts at once. Send us out that we may open other hearts to your love. Thank you for being with us at camp! We have been changed by your son’s love, and we recommit our hearts and reconnect our lives to Christ’s. Amen. Turn to one another and offer a blessing. Say: Do not be afraid! Go!
CONTENTS
DAILY OVERVIEW
BIB/THEO STAFF OLDER OVERVIEW DEVOTIONS CHILDREN
YOUNGER YOUTH
OLDER YOUTH
INTERGEN
DAY CAMP
EXTRAS
Younger Children BIB/THEO OVERVIEW
Day 1:
OLDER CHILDREN
OLDER YOUTH
Daily Quick Reference Guide Scripture Story: Genesis 12:1–8
INTERGENERATION • Read from The Family Story Bible, Westminster John Knox Press pp. 28–29, or from The Children’s Bible in 365 Stories” by Mary Bachelor, Lion’s Children’s Books, p. 23.
Scripture Focus: Genesis 12:7–8 Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, ‘To your offspring I will give this land.’ So he built there an altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him. From there he moved on to the hill country on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east; and there he built an altar to the Lord and invoked the name of the Lord. Theological Summary: God called Abram out of his comfortable life to create community, and when Abram showed up, God met him there and blessed him. Campers will: • know they are connected to one another just by showing up • find camp to be a place they are valued and accepted for who they are • become familiar with surroundings • acknowledge fear of new experiences and rejection
Christian Practices
— Story Cards: #LEARN Tell Bible story with cards
— Painted Stones: #Create #LEARN Painting stone faces
— Hand Pile Prayer: #P r a y Prayer with movement
— Space Tags: #Serve #Create Name plates for each other
Leader Notes When you tell the story of the day, remember that for younger children it is still a surprise to imagine a time before they existed and to them it is difficult to consider a time that they will not exist. They marvel at their parents wedding photos and ask, “Where am I?” You may also have campers who are on the autism spectrum and will have problems sequencing events. This makes today’s story very difficult. To make it easier, consider using visual or physical cues that the campers can see and touch as you tell the story. Anytime you can pair two or more sensory experiences (hearing with touch, seeing with smell) the ability to recall learning increases.
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Younger Children
YOUNGER YOUTH
Together, the Courage to Show Up
Worship Practices Cabin Time
Younger Children
This day it will be very important to welcome each camper to the cabin and settle them in quickly and graciously. Try preparing ahead by having name labels ready for the beds for the campers. Let them each select a bed and then quickly label it with their name. Say to them that you are excited that God has called them to be with you at camp this week and that you have butterflies of excitement inside. Ask if they do too. When you state clearly what you are feeling, it will give them permission to say what they are feeling. You may also choose a one-sentence phrase to whisper to each of the campers every night as they settle down to sleep. Example: “Good night, child of God!” or, “May God walk with you in your dreams, [name of child].”
Song Ideas • “I Will Call upon the Lord” (traditional) • “Children, Go Where I Send Thee” (traditional) • “Father Abraham” (traditional) • “Grab Another Hand” (traditional) • “Trust in the Lord” (traditional) • “Follow You” (Hillsong Kids)
Prayer Lord of Abram and Sarai, you have asked us to leave our homes for just a week, but you asked them to leave their homes for a lifetime of adventure. Help us to trust you this week, to follow your lead, and to listen carefully for your voice. You have a great adventure planned for us. Thank you for loving us enough to let us be together here at camp. Amen.
Worship Ideas Moving Worship
#celebrate
Supplies: one stone for every camper Begin worship at a place some distance from your regular worship space. Give each camper a stone to carry. Plan to have several stops along
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your journey of worship. At each stop have the campers place the stones they carry in a pile at the center of your gathering. Then, as you start to move to another stop have them each pick up a stone—but not the one they started with—and move to the next gathering place. You may sing a song, read scripture, dance, pray, or tell a story at each gathering place. Then, when you come to your regular gathering place, have the campers place their stones in a pile where they will remain the rest of the week. This movement mimics the nomadic movement of Abram and Sarai in the scripture.
Never Alone Conversation
#centering
In a basket, place words, phrases, or pictures of places where people feel alone. Have enough for one per camper. Pair the campers. Have each pair select a “place” from the basket. Ask the pairs to imagine who might be there and be lonely or afraid. Ask each pair to give their person a name and decide between them why that person is in that place. Invite them imagine what that person would need to feel safe and unafraid. Have them share with the group what they come up with, and then pray for people who might be in those situations. Close with a prayer of thanks that you have everything you need to feel safe and secure at camp and that God is with you always.
. Story Resources . In Spark Story Bible, read “Abram’s Call,” then “God’s Promises to Abram.” Spark Story Bible, Augsburg Fortress, 2009.
A great resource for this story is told by Paul Dallgas-Frey. You can access this story at http:// www.essex1.com/pages/paul/bible15.html
Christian Practices Story Cards
#LEARN
Why: This is a short story to tell, but a long story to have lived through. Moving around the table will help the campers get a sense of the movement of this story. They know what it is like to have a warm, cozy home with everything they need. Most of them have not lived long-term out of a tent. They will begin to understand that Abram and Sarai must have trusted God with their whole hearts to have followed God away from such a wonderful home. Making the link to the campers’ courage to leave their homes this week and to live in a new place will help to make the link that God is with them too! Supplies: deck of cards, Bible story How: Sit at a table large enough for all the campers to join around you. Begin to build a house of cards. You may make several small houses. If they fall over, just calmly rebuild. Don’t say what you are doing until everyone is seated and listening. Explain that you are recreating Abram and Sarai’s home. Point out places for animals, spots for guests to stay—rooms that are important. State that it is a great place to live because it has everything one would need, and family and friends are near. Then…tell the story of God’s call to Abram. Slowly take down
BTW: If you are doing something interesting like building card houses, campers will always be drawn to you! If you do not have cards for this, you can use sticks or stones to outline home spaces.
Painted Stones
#Create #LEARN
Why: This activity gives campers the opportunity to share how they see themselves and to make a mark on the camp. It gives campers time to listen and talk to each other and begin to trust that they will be liked in this new place. Supplies: hand-size stones (one for each camper), acrylic or latex paint, brushes (optional: glitter, glue, google eyes, yarn) How: Have each camper choose and decorate one stone to represent him- or herself. While campers are working, encourage casual conversations. Tell them about how Abram and Sarai left their home because God asked them to move to a new place. Mention that they were probably scared. Tell the campers that Abram and Sarai placed stones in a pile as an altar, a place to worship God. Explain that the stones helped them to remember that God was with them and that they were safe in God’s love.
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A beautiful picture accompanies “Abraham Trusts God,” in Children of God Storybook Bible, Desmond Tutu, Zonderkids, 2010. Artwork by Javaka Steptoe. Several of our other stories for the week will be found in this Storybook Bible. Every story is accompanied by beautiful artwork.
the card buildings and pack them into the card box. Wonder aloud how Abram and Sarai would have felt to leave behind so comfortable a home. Wonder aloud just how much they must have trusted God to move away. Let the campers respond as they will, helping to answer your ponderings. Then get up and move to another place at the table and take out just a few cards and build a small tent. Talk about Abram and Sarai traveling, and what it must have been like to live in a small tent. Wonder if the tent they lived in was like the cabin/tent the campers are staying in for the week. Then pack up the cards again and move to another place at the table. Build the small tent again. Then tell about the time that Abram and Sarai traveled following God. Wonder aloud how it must be to trust someone you cannot see. Then stop, listen intently, and then tell of the changing of Abraham and Sarah’s names and the huge promise God made to them.
BTW: Once the stones are finished, you can place them as markers along the path to your cabin or gathering place. This will claim the space for the campers. Your campers may wish to move them from place to place through the week as they feel more at home at camp. Say a prayer of thanks that God is with you all and that you are a part of God’s promise, just like Abram and Sarai.
Hand Pile Prayer
#P r a y
Younger Children
Why: This prayer reinforces name recognition and gives everyone time to think of something he or she is thankful for. Supplies: non-permanent marker How: Write the name of each child on the back of his or her right hand. Ask the campers to form a circle… Either standing or sitting works. Then begin the prayer, asking God to bless the people whose names appear in the circle. As each one places his or her hand, have the group prayerfully say the name written on the hand. Place your hand in the middle with your name visible, and invite the others, one by one, to place their right hands on top of yours. Then after all are in the pile, have each remove his or her hand, one at a time, as they each state something he or she was thankful for during the day. BTW: Some children will not want to say anything… Give them permission to say “pass” if they cannot think of something to say. Remember: prayer is not a test of mental quickness or courage to speak up when one is uncomfortable. It is an opportunity for conversation with God.
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Space Tags
#Serve #Create
Why: Claiming a place for yourself is something anyone can do, but in Christian community we claim space for each other. Having your need for a place of your own recognized by someone else and claimed by someone else is an acknowledgment of how important you are to that community. Children need to know they are welcome and wanted. This activity helps them to see and feel that welcome. Supplies: yarn, scissors, hole punch, markers, tape, cardboard, camper’s first names on individual slips of paper How: Cut cardboard or poster board into rectangles or squares to use for name signs that will mark where each camper keeps his or her belongings and/or bed. Have each camper draw the name of another camper. Each camper will be making a sign for the camper whose name he or she drew. Have each camper write the name of that camper on a sign and then decorate it. Use yarn to hang the signs in the right places in the living area. BTW: You can also use found objects as a part of the signs. Glitter and glue are always a welcome addition if you are working outside.
Younger Children BIB/THEO OVERVIEW OLDER CHILDREN
Day 2:
OLDER YOUTH
Younger Children
YOUNGER YOUTH
Together, the Courage to TRUST Daily Quick Reference Guide
Scripture Story: Ruth 1:6–18
INTERGENERATION • Read from The Family Story Bible, Westminster John Knox Press, pp. 102–104, or from The Children’s Bible in 365 Stories, by Mary Batchelor, Lion’s Children’s Books, p. 122.
Scripture Focus: Ruth 1:16–18 But Ruth said, “‘Do not press me to leave you or to turn back from following you! Where you go, I will go; where you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die, I will die— there will I be buried. May the Lord do thus and so to me, and more as well, if even death parts me from you!”’ When Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more to her. Theological Summary: Ruth is an outsider who learned to trust Naomi, Naomi’s community, and her God, and when she did, everyone benefited. Campers will: • learn the importance of trusting each other
• reflect on consequences of broken trust
• discover the impact of trust on a community
• acknowledge the fear of betrayal
Christian Practices
— Orpah’s Story: #LEARN #Create Brainstorm alternatives
— Reverse Shock Walk: #P l a y #LEARN #Serve Trust walk
— I Doubt It: #P l a y Card game
— Magnetic Personalities: #P l a y #LEARN Playing with magnets — Friendship Bracelets: #Create #Serve Make bracelets — To Trust or Not: #LEARN Discussion about trust
— Community Hand Washing: #P r a y Prayer while washing hands Leader Notes: Our ability to trust is a reflection of our experience in family systems. Camp is essentially an experimental family system. Trustworthiness is central. Make sure you say what you will do and then do it. If you need to make a change, explain the change and then follow through. Watch for teasing. It is an easy pattern to fall into at camp. Some campers will have had a loving experience with “ribbing,” while others will have had a painful experience. It is best to just not engage and to explain that here at camp we treat each other with love and respect, and we say what we mean clearly. This means that teasing is not a part of our vocabulary. Campers on the autism spectrum may have a very difficult time understanding jokes and the twists of teasing. Watch for those moments and be prepared to explain.
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Worship Practices Cabin Time
Younger Children
Take time today to say thank you to each camper for something he or she has done that is trustworthy, helpful, or a sign of friendship. It is important for the campers to know they are valued and they can each be a good friend. You may wish to gather the campers at the end of the day and ask if they saw anyone acting like a good friend or in a trustworthy manner. Celebrate those sightings. Mention aloud those whom you saw. Make sure each is mentioned in a positive way.
Wheat Meditation
Song Ideas
Supplies: either one wheat stalk for each camper, or a sack of wheat berries—which can be found at your local grocery (this is not an activity for those with gluten-free diets; be sure to check!)
• “Dum Dum” • “Little Cabin in the Woods” • “Little Bunny Foo Foo” • “Make New Friends”
Worship Songs • “I’m Gonna Sing” • “In My Life, Lord” • “We Are One in the Spirit” • “Servant Song”
Prayer Lord, thank you for the faithfulness of Ruth and Naomi. We are blessed by the friendships you place in our lives and the deep sense of trust they cultivate. Help us to live up to the trust you place in us and keep us faithful. Amen. #celebrate
This is an active storytelling activity. Supplies: several balloons Have the campers be seated in a circle or in rows. As you begin to tell the story of Ruth, pull out a balloon and write the word “Naomi” on it. Ask the campers to gently keep the balloon off the ground by softly bouncing it in the air down the row or around the circle. Then, as the story continues, add two more balloons, one labeled “Orpah” and the other “Ruth.” Then, as the story
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#centering
This is a guided meditation-type activity.
• Fun Songs
Balloon Journey
of the choice to follow Naomi happens, have them pass the Orpah balloon back to you. Place it behind you. Then, as you describe the difficulties they faced as two women traveling without protection, ask the campers to hold hands while trying to keep both balloons in the air. When you have finished the story, take the balloons and place them where they can be seen, and take a moment to say a prayer of thanks for the faithfulness of friendships and the protection God provided for Ruth and Naomi.
How: Tell the part of Ruth and Naomi’s story that comes in the chapter following today’s reading. It is about harvesting leftover grain from the edges of the field by following the workers and collecting what they missed. This is called gleaning. Give each camper a stalk of wheat and ask them to look at their stalks very carefully. Have them note the way the grains of wheat are stacked so neatly in rows, snuggled in together. Ask the campers to think about their families and friends, those they trust, and to name silently in their heads one person they trust for each of the grains of wheat. Then show them how to harvest the wheat by rubbing the wheat seed heads in their hands. Have them carefully pick out all the wheat seeds and place them in one large bowl. As each person adds his or her wheat to the bowl, point out how the pile of wheat grows. Say, “If each one of those grains is a person who is trusted and is loved, then imagine how many people in the world there are whom God loves and trusts.” Then give thanks for those trusted people. BTW: It might be possible to add the wheat the campers harvest to the next meal they eat. It can be toasted and added as a topping to most anything. Or, you can cook the wheat berries and have the campers try them as a hot cereal.
. Story Resources .
In addition to story Bibles, there are many picture books about Ruth and Naomi.
Christian Practices Orpah’s Story
#LEARN #Create
Why: This activity gets campers working together and using their imaginations. It allows them to wrestle with the themes of the story and decide what they think about Orpah and her actions. Supplies: Bible, large sheet of paper and markers, props, costumes, etc. How: After you have read the story from Ruth 1:6– 18, remind the campers that the Bible gives some good information about what happened to Ruth after her faithful act in remaining with Naomi. However, Orpah was also faithful; after all, she did what Naomi asked her to do, and she followed the custom of the time. But, the Bible does not say what happened to her after she left. Tell campers you’re going to have a “brainstorm.” In a brainstorm, there are no wrong answers. Brainstorm all the different things that might
BTW: If time allows, you could tell what could have happened to Ruth if she had made different choices along the way.
Reverse Shock Walk #P l a y #LEARN #Serve Why: Trusting someone you just met is hard! Many trust games involve blindfolds, but for younger children blindfolds can be really scary! This activity is easy to get out of if you are feeling unsafe. It is not a race! It is a walk. Everyone who makes it to the other side wins. Supplies: items for an obstacle course: chairs, tables, etc. How: Put the campers into pairs. One will be the walker, and the other will give directions. Set up an obstacle course with a variety of obstacles that the campers must avoid. Pretend the objects are electric, and if a camper touches them, they “buzz.” The walkers must walk backwards through the course without stepping on or bumping into anything. They must also avoid bumping into other campers walking through the course. They must trust their partners to guide them safely through the course by telling the backward walkers how many steps and in which direction. If a walker gets nervous and turns around, the pair has to start over. When a team successfully makes it through, have them switch places and repeat the exercise. When you do an activity that pushes trust boundaries, it is important to be clear about the boundaries before the game begins and to talk about it afterward so that the campers can communicate their experiences and so that you can adjust what happens to accommodate any special needs that may arise. BTW: If your campers master this, try having the guide use only body movement to instruct the walker. To make this more challenging, you can make blinders out of sunglasses with construction paper taped on the sides.
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Be sure to tell the part of Ruth and Naomi’s story concerning gleaning grain from the field. Gleaning was an ancient practice to feed those who weren’t able to provide for themselves. Farmers would leave the remains of their crop, particularly at the edges of the field, and anyone was welcome to come along and use the wheat. Children and women who were widowed, unmarried, or separated, or who had not been betrothed to a man were shown this kindness and grace because men were entrusted to be providers. Ruth, Naomi, and Orpah were all widows, but when Ruth pledged herself to Naomi, she was putting trust in Naomi’s ability to provide. Your campers will understand the importance of trusting a provider, but some may have had negative experiences with parents or other people they should be able to trust. Remember that this is a story about taking your time to learn to trust people.
have happened to Orpah. Then act, sing, write, or tell the stories of what might have happened to Orpah.
I Doubt It
#P l a y
Supplies: a deck of cards Why: Every camper knows how to lie; it is human nature. But knowing when someone else is telling the truth or lying can be hard. After this game, you can have a great discussion about ways to figure out whether someone is telling the truth or lying to you.
Younger Children
How: The aim of the game is to get rid of all your cards by playing them to a discard pile. Since cards are played face down, you are giving players the option to lie about the cards they are playing, but if a lie is exposed, the liar must pick up the pile. Deal all of the cards; some players might have one more card than others, but that is OK. A turn consists of discarding one or more cards face down on the pile, and calling out their rank. The first player must discard Aces, the second player discards Twos, the next player Threes, and so on. After Tens come Jacks, then Queens, then Kings, then back to Aces, etc. Since the cards are discarded face down, you do not in fact have to play the rank you are calling. For example, if it is your turn to discard Sevens, you may actually discard any card or mixture of cards, in particular if you don’t have any Sevens and you want to discard a card, you will be forced to play some other card or cards. Players always have the option to “pass” if they don’t have an “honest” play (the object of the activity is not to force children to be dishonest, after all), but every time a player passes, that player will likely fall further behind the others. Any player who suspects that the card(s) discarded by another player do not match the rank called can challenge the play by calling, “I doubt it!” Then any cards just played by the challenged player are exposed, and one of two things happens: 1. If the card(s) are all of the rank that was called, the challenge is false, and the challenger must pick up the whole discard pile; 2. If any of the played cards is different from the called rank, the challenge is correct, and the person who played the cards must pick up the whole discard pile.
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After the challenge is resolved, play continues in normal rotation: the player to the left of the one who was challenged plays and calls the next rank in sequence. The first player to get rid of all cards and survives any challenge resulting from his or her final play wins the game. But, say you play your last remaining card(s), and someone challenges you and the cards you played are not what you called; then, you pick up the pile and play continues. BTW: It is possible to play this game without lying. Remember, some campers will take game playing more seriously than others and will take being doubted more to heart than others. It will be your goal to set a tone that allows this to be a game filled with laughter.
Magnetic personalities
#P l a y #LEARN
Why: This activity gives campers something solid to start talking about before they move to the much harder abstract thinking about love and loyalty. Supplies: scissors, pipe cleaners, various metal objects, a dollar bill, an old CD, other items to test, variety of magnets: refrigerator magnets, ceramic magnets, and one neodymium magnet How: Lay out the magnets and let the campers test them on different objects. Help the campers discover the strongest magnets and the most attractable objects. You can do a mini-experiment with the pipe cleaners by cutting some short lengths and some longer lengths and figuring out which is easier to move with a magnet. Send campers out in pairs into the environment, one magnet per pair, and ask them to find and return with things that their magnets are attracted to. Have a conversation with the campers about why some magnets are stronger than others. Introduce the idea that Naomi and Ruth acted like magnets in that they held on to each other even when it was hard for them. Wonder with the campers about what makes some friendships strong and others not as strong. Have them explore the idea of which people are the strongest magnets in their lives, the people who will never let them go. BTW: Magnetic singing stones are a wonderful way to imagine Ruth and Naomi. These are
sometimes sold in the dollar stores or on Amazon. com as Magnetic Rattle Snake Eggs. If you describe the sound they make as “singing,” you can have the children imagine Ruth and Naomi singing as they worked and traveled together.
Friendship Bracelets #Create #Serve
Supplies: cotton embroidery floss or cotton yarn in two different colors, scissors, yardsticks, safety pins, tape How: There are many ways to make friendship bracelets! Here is just one… Instruct the campers as follows as you show them how to make a bracelet: “Cut six pieces of string or embroidery floss; cut three of one color and three of the other color. Using a yardstick, make each thread 17–18 inches long for a bracelet; add length for an anklet or necklace. Lay out all threads evenly. Tie them in a knot about 2 inches down from the top of the threads. You should have a 2 inch fringe of thread above the knot, and six threads coming down from the knot. Use masking tape to attach the small threads coming out of the knot to the table or put a safety pin through the knot and attach it to the knee of your jeans (while sitting down). A secured knot will help you maintain consistent tension. Start tying your bracelet. Separate your threads into two even groups, with three threads on each side. Take the threads on the right (we will call them pink) and loop them over and under the threads on the left (call them blue). Then put the pink threads through the loop you just created around the blue threads. Pull horizontal pink string and blue string keeping them parallel to your knee or the table, and vertically on the pink threads, keeping them perpendicular to your knee or the table. As you do so, the pink knot should move up to your large knot at the top. This is called a cross knot.
Alternate tying knots on each side until your bracelet is finished. Braid to the finish. Leave about 2 inches of untied thread at the bottom of your bracelet, keeping each tail one color. For each color, make a threestrand braid until you have about 1/2 inch of free thread left. Tie a knot at the end of each braid. Then undo the large knot on the other end and to the same thing to finish the threads. Give your bracelet to a friend and help him or her tie it on! You can draw names to ensure that the sharing is fair. As the group works on more and more bracelets, make sure that every camper is included in the giving and receiving of bracelets BTW: Those campers who cannot manage the dexterity or concentration required for this craft can make beaded bracelets instead. This is a great “anywhere” craft. Extra supplies can easily go in a backpack or a pocket. It will give the campers something to do while they are waiting for meals, for other groups, or for you!
To Trust or Not
#LEARN
Why: Campers must decide every day to trust or not to trust. This will give them an opportunity to talk about these events that they struggle with each day and might give them some new solutions for their own behavior as they confront difficult moments. This game works best with readers. Supplies: jar, situations How: Prepare your trust jar ahead of time. Place in it descriptions of situations of trust at camp or at home. There should be at least one per camper in the jar. One by one, let the campers pull out the situations and read them. Talk about what happened and whether or not they would be trusting of the person in the situation. Make up your own situations. Example: Jordan cannot find his friendship bracelet. He thought he left it in the cabin before dinner. Now it is not on his bed. He remembers that Mike was in the cabin when he left for dinner. What does
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Why: When we find a friend, it is important for us to show how much we care. Friendship bracelets are an easy way to say you like your friend and that you belong.
Repeat the knot with the blue threads. Loop them over and under the pink threads, then pull them through the loop.
Jordan do if he trusts Mike? What does he do if he does not trust Mike? Play until campers begin to get restless. Remember: Laughter and silly solutions can get everyone involved and ready to go deeper as they discuss, so be prepared to be creative in your answers.
Younger Children
BTW: You can divide the group into the “trust” and “distrust” groups and have them answer the situations from their assigned perspectives. If you do that, make sure you switch the designations halfway through so that the negative does not become ingrained in one group. Remember that one of today’s camper goals is to acknowledge the fear of betrayal. Talk about safety with strangers and why sometimes the children’s mistrust is okay.
Community Hand Washing #P r a y Why: Usually the only people ever to wash our hands like this are people we implicitly trust—a parent or a teacher. It is sort of an odd feeling to have a friend wash your hands. But forgiveness sort of feels odd too. This is a way to touch and feel forgiveness. Campers of this age learn best when they can touch while they are learning. Supplies: water supply, buckets, several clean towels, soap (optional: accessible sinks) How: Before a meal, have the whole group rub their hands in the dirt. Try to get their hands a dirty as possible. Then line the group up and explain:
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“All of us make mistakes and hurt other people. Sometimes we are disloyal or untrustworthy. But if we ask for forgiveness, we have an opportunity to start out clean again, to be more trustworthy, and to be better friends!” Then explain that the campers will be helping to wash each other’s hands as a sign of forgiveness and grace. The first person in line will have his or her hands washed by you. First rinse the camper’s hands in a bucket of water. Get as much of the dirt off there. Then go to the next bucket, or a sink, and soap up and wash his or her hands. Then move to the next bucket or sink and rinse off the soap. Do a final rinse in another bucket or under the tap. This camper will then turn back and wash the next person’s hands, just like you showed them. As each camper finishes washing someone else’s hands, he or she will towel dry his or her own hands. The last person will wash your hands. If your group is very large, or you do not have the time, split the group in half and do the hand washing in two lines. Say a prayer together at the end, all holding clean hands! BTW: This activity leads nicely into tomorrow’s theme of “forgive.” Using buckets saves water, but you may wish to have the final rinse at a tap, or use a pump of antibacterial gel at the end.
Younger Children BIB/THEO OVERVIEW
Day 3:
OLDER CHILDREN
OLDER YOUTH
Younger Children
YOUNGER YOUTH
Together, the Courage to Forgive Daily Quick Reference Guide
Scripture Story: Genesis 45:1–15
INTERGENERATION • Read from The Family Story Bible, Westminster John Knox Press, pp. 70–72. Scripture Focus: Genesis 45:14–15 Then he fell upon his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept, while Benjamin wept upon his neck. And he kissed all his brothers and wept upon them; and after that his brothers talked with him. Theological Summary: When Joseph knew it was safe to do so, he showed his forgiveness to his brothers so that the work of God could go on. Campers will: • experience the transformative power of forgiveness in relationships • explore giving and receiving grace • discover how forgiveness is communal • acknowledge fear of being taken advantage of/hurt again
Christian Practices
— A Pack to Carry: #P l a y #LEARN A backpack of stones to forgive
— Checkmate: #LEARN Tell the story with chess board
— Capture the Cup: #P l a y #LEARN Active game of guarding
— First Aid Kits: #Serve #Create Create first aid kits to give away — Mosaic Tiles: #Create A tiling craft
— Forgiveness Kit: #Create #LEARN #P r a y science and prayer in one bag
— Chalkboard Prayer: #P r a y A group confession and assurance Leader Notes
Think about the first time you ever heard an adult ask you for your forgiveness. For many it is a startling experience. It is important for young children to learn that we all make mistakes and that in Christian community we ask for and receive forgiveness. You will be key to this learning. As the respected adult, you will be the example. Try to find at least one moment today to stop and ask a camper for forgiveness. Your leadership will make a huge impact on his or her understanding of how the community of faith works.
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Worship Practices Cabin Time
Younger Children
In the morning, invite the campers to remember a time when they were really angry or hurt by someone they cared about. Invite campers to notice whether or not they have forgiven the offenders for causing that anger or pain. Have them each write or draw something, in card form, to represent the incident. You should make a card too. Ask them to place their cards under their pillows (or in their pockets) and have each consider during the day what forgiveness might mean for that relationship. In the evening, come back to the cards. Ask campers if they can think of effects their forgiveness would have on others. Then ask the campers, one at a time, what they would like to do with their cards. There are no wrong answers. They may want to keep them, rip them to shreds, or burn them. Within reason, allow each to do whatever he or she needs to with his or her card.
Prayer Lord, Sometimes life is not easy and we get hurt by those we love the most. Help us to do what Joseph did and forgive those who hurt us. It was not easy for him, and it is not easy for us, but you are with us and you show us the way. Amen.
Worship Ideas Stop and Start
#celebrate
Supplies: three stop signs Choose a simple song that can be done in a round like “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” or “By the Waters of Babylon.” Teach the song and have the group sing it in a round. Work on it until they know it well. Then explain that songs are like the stories of scripture. Every time God starts a story, God invites humans to join in. Unfortunately, humans tend to get a bit off track. Sometimes they get downright stubborn! They stop and start and the storyline can get hard to follow. But somehow God gets the story moving again. As an experiment, try stopping and starting the round with the stop signs. Assign each group a stop sign,
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and if their sign is up, they must stop singing; as soon as it goes down they can start singing again. This is hard to do and still keep with the natural rhythm of the song. Then tell the story of Joseph, marking the stops and starts of the relationships with the signs. Consider what would have happened if Joseph had not been willing to restart his relationship with his brothers through the action of forgiveness.
The Sounds of Forgiveness
#centering
Call the campers into a time of prayer and refection. Begin by reminding that we all sin and fall short, that we all do and say things that are hurtful and damaging to others. We make choices that fail to express the love God has for us. Invite the campers to make the “shhh…” sign of a finger to their lips if they sometimes have made choices that have hurt others or themselves. As fingers are raised, quiet your voice and leave your finger on your lip. Say, “These actions cause the story of God’s love to be hard to hear. They can even stop the story from being heard at all.” Let silence fall. Then explain that God is not willing to leave the world in silence, so God has provided a way to restore the flow of the story. God forgives and, in that forgiveness, we learn to forgive. Then invite the campers to ask God for forgiveness and to grant forgiveness to those who have hurt them. If they choose that action, they may lower their fingers. It is a relief to not feel hushed, just as it is a relief to let go of our sins into God’s hands. Lower the stop signs and celebrate the good news that the story of God’s love and forgiveness continues in the world.
. Story Resources . Use this for the activity Checkmate. You may simply read it to familiarize yourself with Jacob’s story. This is Jacob. (Use a king)
Then it happened! There was a famine. Jacob and all his other sons were starving! They needed food! So nine of the brothers went to Egypt because they heard that there was food there that they could purchase. Benjamin and Jacob stayed at home and waited. (Move the nine brothers, but not Benjamin, toward Joseph.) When they arrived in Egypt, they went to the person in charge of storing the food. It was Joseph, but they did not recognize him. (Put a hat or mustache on Joseph’s head, or “disguise” him in some other way. Move the brothers in a circle around Joseph.) Joseph was still angry that his brothers had sold him as a slave, so he accused them of being spies. Joseph put his brother Simeon in jail and told them that he would release Simeon only if they brought back Benjamin. (Take Simeon and place him behind all the rooks).
When they arrived, Joseph released Simeon from jail and gave each brother a sack of grain. But he played a trick on them and hid a silver cup in Benjamin’s grain. (Move Simeon from the rooks and into the circle around Joseph, then pretend to slip something under the Benjamin bishop.) He then called the guards and accused his brothers of stealing. Every brother had his grain searched. Of course, the cup was found in Benjamin’s bag. (Turn over every brother pawn to look for the stolen cup. Look under the Benjamin bishop last, and “discover” the drawing there.) The brothers were terrified! Their father would die of sadness if they returned to Egypt without Benjamin! When they cried out before Joseph, his heart melted. Joseph began to cry, for he had finally forgiven his brothers. So he turned to them and told them, “I am your brother Joseph who you sold as a slave. I forgive you and I have missed you all!” (Remove Joseph’s “disguise.”) The brothers were shocked and a little afraid! But Joseph said, “Don’t be afraid! God had a plan and because I was here I could help make sure you, and the people of Egypt, did not starve.” Then the brothers celebrated. Joseph invited the brothers to move to Egypt. (Move all the brothers back to Jacob.) They went home and told Jacob all the amazing things that had happened. Jacob could hardly believe it! Then the whole family moved to Egypt. (Move all the pieces back into one circle.) “Joseph Is Sold into Slavery” and “Joseph Feeds and Forgives” are the titles of the stories about Joseph in Children of God Storybook Bible, pp. 24–27.
Then he sent the others home with some food. (Move the eight brothers back to Jacob.)
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He had 12 sons (bring out each pawn and name them as you do, but use two bishops for Joseph and Benjamin) and one daughter, Dinah (use queen). The 10 older sons found Joseph very annoying! So…they sold him to a group of slave traders who were traveling to Egypt (use two knights). What they did not know is that God had a plan for Joseph! (Separate Joseph from the other siblings.) Joseph was taken to Egypt, and at first had it rough there. He got thrown in jail even though he was innocent! There he met two of Pharaoh’s servants (use two rooks). He told them what their dreams meant, and their dreams came true! Because he listened to God who helped him understand dreams, he was brought to the Pharaoh (other king) who ruled all Egypt. He put Joseph in charge of storing food for the country in case there was a famine. (Move Joseph far away from the others.)
When Jacob heard what had happened, he was frightened. He did not want to send Benjamin to Egypt! But he knew he had to. So the brothers left Jacob at home alone and went back to Egypt. (Move these nine brothers into a circle around Joseph.)
Christian Practices A Pack to Carry
#P l a y #LEARN
Younger Children
Why: Younger children have a hard time thinking in abstract terms. It is hard for them to imagine that they can be weighed down by anger, hurt, and unforgiveness. This experience is very physical. Every hurt has weight. Likewise, the campers can experience the responsibility of the community to carry burdens together, and their right to stop the community when it needs to forgive and let go. Supplies: empty backpack, masking tape, and permanent marker How: As you start your day, introduce your empty backpack as a place to put all the bad feelings in your group. Explain that as they go through the day everyone will take a turn carrying the group backpack. If there is something that happens during the day that makes one of the campers mad or frustrated, that camper should pick up a rock or a stick and place it in the backpack. They can write on the stone or stick what made them frustrated. You can start the activity by adding a rock and writing on it as an example. Either “woke up too early” or “not enough hot water for a good shower” will work. As you go through the day, stop several times and ask if anyone wishes to add to the pack. If they are shy about adding, you can add for them in ways such as this: “It would have made me mad if someone had splashed me in the pool after I asked them not to,” or, “I would have been frustrated when someone cut in line in front of me at the water fountain.” As the pack fills, make sure everyone has a turn to carry it. When it gets too heavy, ask the group to stop and pull out the items one by one, and ask the campers if they can forgive the grievances marked on the items … Pronounce them forgiven and return the items to nature. At the end of the day, check the backpack for any leftover items. Ask the campers to help you think about the backpack activity. Have them consider what the easy parts were and what the difficult parts were. Ask, “What makes our hearts heavy, and what makes our hearts lighter?” Talk about
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what it means to live in Christian community and how that may be different when it comes to carrying each other’s burdens and forgiving each other. Make sure you close in prayer. BTW: You can choose to collect twigs or other burnable items all day and use them as a part of a bonfire at the end of the day. Then you could pray around the campfire. If you collect stones all day, you could choose to pile them like an altar (also called an ebenezer). You could then pour water over them to symbolize forgiveness. You may need to set out objects along your path ahead of time, so that you are sure you have enough items available to be picked up to make the pack heavy.
Checkmate
#LEARN
Why: There is a lot of movement in this story, and it is hard to keep track of if it is not acted out. The verses we are using today tell only a part of the movement. Telling more of the story of Joseph’s forgiveness will make more sense to the campers. Using wondering as a method of engaging the campers in conversation allows them to share more freely what they are discovering in the story. It helps them to know there are no right or wrong answers, but that there is a lot to think about when they encounter the stories in the Bible. Supplies: pieces from a chess board (see below), chessboard or table, (and a “hat” or “moustache”!) How: Use the script found on page 45. Use chess pieces to tell the story. Jacob: King
Brothers: 10 Pawns
Joseph and Benjamin: Bishops
Slave traders: 2 Knights
Prison mates: 2 Rooks
Pharaoh: King
Dinah: Queen Prison: All 4 Rooks (reuse the 2 above) (And, you can always use other pieces as camels (Knights) and various characters. You may even wish to make them nametags!) Tell the story with the pieces, moving them around the board (or table) as the brothers travel. As you tell the story, look at the pieces, not at the campers. This helps them focus on the movement of the story. If they ask questions as you tell the
story, let them, but do not answer them; just say, “Hmmm, I wonder…” This allows the campers to seek their own answers. As you conclude the story, take time to wonder aloud (letting the campers answer your wonderings): • I wonder how Joseph felt when his brothers sold him.
• I wonder what Joseph was feeling when he saw his brothers for the first time. • I wonder if it was difficult for Jacob to be at home alone waiting for his sons to come back. • I wonder what it was like for the brothers to discover that Joseph was alive. • I wonder if I could forgive someone like Joseph did. BTW: You can tell this story with other items. Try it with stones, pencils, or other nonedible objects. Many times there are not enough people in a group to tell the story by acting it out, so this works well with small groups of campers. If you tell the story this way early in the day, you can ask the campers to tell it back to you later in the day using the chess pieces.
Capture the Cup
#P l a y #LEARN
Why: This active game will reinforce Joseph and Benjamin’s story. It is a good opportunity to talk about how we protect ourselves and loved ones from being hurt or having treasures taken from us. Supplies: a plastic or paper cup How: Have the campers sit in a circle 15 to 20 feet in diameter. Place the cup in the center of the circle. Choose one camper be the guardian of the cup. This camper may not touch the cup, but he or she may crouch over it on all fours. The goal of the other campers in the circle is to grab the cup and make it all the way back to the edge of the circle without getting tagged. If the guardian of the cup tags a player before he or she makes it back, the “tag-ee” must go all the way back to the edge of the circle and count aloud to 10 before he or she can resume play. Whoever gets the cup back to the edge is the new cup guardian. Play may continue until all are tired.
First Aid Kits
#Serve #Create
Why: Thinking ahead and knowing where to find the right supplies helps young children feel more comfortable with change. This service project helps them to understand that they can make a difference if someone needs them to help. Supplies: permanent markers and stickers, labels with “First Aid” printed on them, list of items to be put in each camper’s box, as noted below. Per Camper: 1 shoebox, 1 plastic soap dish or small plastic container, 2 large adhesive bandages, 2 medium adhesive bandages, 4 alcohol wipes, 2 single-use packets of antiseptic , 2 gauze pads, tissues, 4 single-pack wet wipes How: Have campers wash their hands, select a box, decorate it, and fill it with the listed supplies. BTW: The kit may be kept by the camper who made it, or it can be given to a shelter to be shared with those who live on the streets or are traveling unprepared. You may consider preparing two kits per camper, so one can go home with the camper and the other may be passed on to someone in need. As gathering the supplies can get more elaborate and expensive, you may wish to invite campers to bring specific supplies to donate to the cause as their offering for camp.
Mosaic Tiles
#Create
Why: God’s intention is not always apparent. In our story today, a family was broken and lived that way for many years before God pulled them back together to be a working, useful family. This craft mimics that pattern. Supplies: ceramic floor tiles or bathroom tiles, paper cut to the same size as the tiles, stones, marbles, or tiny tiles, tile adhesive How: Have the campers gather the items they would like to use in their design for their tile. Lay them out on the paper the way they want them organized in their final project. This step will help conserve supplies and keep the activity organized.
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Younger Children
• I wonder how it felt to be so hungry that you would walk to another country to find food.
BTW: If it seems too easy, you can have two cup guardians at the same time. If it is raining, you can play the card game “Spoons” instead. You don’t have to have spoons; you can use pencils or sticks of a similar shape and size.
Younger Children
They can also draw a pattern on the paper first and then use the stones, marbles, etc., to fill in the spaces. Once a camper has the pattern laid out and supplies in place, spread tile adhesive thickly on the front of the tile (like a generous peanut butter sandwich). If you put enough on the tile, then when the decorations are placed on the tile there will be enough goop to squish up and hold the decorations in place without grouting. Have the camper quickly transfer the mosaic design from the paper to the tile. Wipe off any adhesive that is in the wrong place with very wet paper towels. Let dry overnight. BTW: Mosaics are often made of broken ceramics and glass. But for this age group that would not be as safe as using marbles, stones, and precut tiles. It is also possible to use broken DVDs! You should use Liquid Nails Clear to glue the pieces to the surface and then grout between the cracks. Use the mirrored side.
Forgiveness Kit #Create #LEARN #P r a y Why: Forgiveness is not easy. Children often need something they can touch and feel to remind them of what their hearts and imaginations can do. Having a kit makes a statement that forgiveness is important, and it is healing for those who need it. Supplies: One and one-fourth cup white vinegar, 1 teaspoon of salt, two clear shallow bowls (not metal), water, paper towels, permanent marker; for each camper: Slips of paper with “I am sorry” printed on one side and “please forgive me” on the other, slips of paper with “I need to forgive” printed on one side and “help me” on the other, zip lock bag, 2 dull, dirty pennies per camper. How: Ask the campers what they think forgiveness is and what it does to the person who forgives and the person who is forgiven. Give each camper two of the dirty pennies. Explain that when we have done something to hurt someone else or are hurt or are angry at someone else we feel heavy or dirty. Receiving forgiveness or giving forgiveness makes us feel clean, lighter, and better. Mix the vinegar and salt in a bowl. Invite each camper to put one of his or her pennies in the bowl. Stir the pennies and wait several minutes.
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Watch the pennies change color. Scoop the pennies out and place them in the other bowl and cover them with clean water. Stir them around and then pull them out and place them on a clean paper towel. Ask each camper to take one of the pennies and dry it really well. Give each camper a Ziploc® bag with one slip of paper of each kind in it to put their pennies in. Put their names on their bags. Then invite the campers to find a quiet place to sit to pray. Invite them to take each item out of their forgiveness kit and think about it as they pray. Remind them to return all items to the bags at the end. Let them keep their forgiveness kits with them. BTW: Vinegar can smell bad. You can use lemon juice, orange juice, or even salsa, but it will take longer for the pennies to change and will be more difficult to see.
Chalkboard Prayer
#P r a y
Why: Every time we worship as a community, we have a prayer of confession; however, that often is inaccessible to this age group. Having the campers all place their sins on the board and then help to erase it with Jesus’ assurance of forgiveness is a powerful way to help them understand that the old stuff is gone and that the board is clean and ready for something much more beautiful. Supplies: chalkboard and chalk, or dry erase board and markers How: Have the campers write or draw pictures on the board of stuff they have done or have left undone that they probably need forgiveness for. Once the board is full, ask the campers if they are sorry for what they have done or left undone. If the answer is yes, then let them take turns erasing parts of the board as the group says, “In Jesus’ name we are forgiven.” BTW: You could also do this on paper and then burn it in a campfire.
Younger Children BIB/THEO OVERVIEW
Day 4:
OLDER CHILDREN
OLDER YOUTH
Daily Quick Reference Guide Scripture Story: Daniel 3 (NRSV or NIRV)
INTERGENERATION Scripture Focus: Daniel 3:28
Nebuchadnezzar said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants who trusted in him. They disobeyed the king’s command and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God.” Theological Summary: When we are called to be different from others and to stand with our community, we will not stand alone. Campers will: • find confidence in community
• find strength in numbers
• discover the impact of communal worship
• acknowledge the fear of being misperceived
Christian Practices
— Standing Story: #LEARN Talk about injustice
— Fruit Basket Turn Over: #P l a y Get some wiggles out
— Stand Up Prayer: #P r a y Affirm each other’s prayers — Yes We Can: #P l a y A working-together challenge
— Stand Together: #P l a y Help one another up game
— Something We Do: #P l a y #LEARN Your group’s special move
— Portable Furnace Lanterns: #Create A reminder: We’re not alone
— Fiery Furnace S’mores: #Serve #Create Make a treat for someone else — Ice Candles: #Create Make a beautiful candle
Leader Notes At this point in the week the campers should be comfortable enough to be themselves in all their messy, wonderful, and irritating ways. Standing with your community sometimes means standing with people who are maddening and amazing. Standing up for what is right is sometimes easier than standing up for someone’s right to be different than we are. Watch for moments when you can point out to the campers what is most important to stand for and with instead of against. We live in a polarized society that tells us there are two ways to look at every issue, but the truth of the matter is that there are hundreds of ways to look at one issue and we should probably explore several before we settle graciously on one solution or another. Your way of being with campers who are different can teach the kind of graciousness we need to cultivate as part of being a Christian community.
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YOUNGER YOUTH
Together, the Courage to STAND
Worship Practices
Younger Children
Cabin Time
Multiplying the Light
There is always that camper who needs an extra hand. Today, take time to point out and appoint each camper someone else to look out for. It could be as simple as, “Will you make sure that Jordan has a partner at swim time? I know he is not very comfortable in the water, but you are. Could you stand with him?” Or, “Susan does not seem very comfortable in the dark, tonight, will you walk with her?” (Remember to be sure to ask Susan and Jordan first if they would like help.) Everyone needs a hand. Today, make sure they have one.
Supplies: matches, tub(s) of sand; one per camper—long, tall, slim taper candles
Song Ideas • “This Little Light of Mine” • “Rise and Shine” • “By Your Side” (Robert M. Alexander)
Prayer Loving God, give us the strength to stand up together to say and act upon what we believe. Make those opportunities clear. And when one of us stands, let us all stand with him or her. Amen.
Worship Ideas Stand Up for Us!
#celebrate
Young children often know more about the world than we wish they might. They worry about children who are hungry, homeless, or in places of war. Before worship, ask the campers who they are worried for. Then write up simple signs that name those people or things. Give one sign each to several of the campers. Ask them to help you with a prayer by standing and saying, “I stand with _____ [whatever that sign says].” Ask the other campers each to choose a sign holder to stand with. Then, as a group, have them write a two- or three-sentence prayer upon each sign for those mentioned on the sign. Gather the campers and pray the prayers they have written together, each group standing as their prayer is read.
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#centering
How: Give each camper a candle. In the front center of the worship space, have a tub or a couple of tubs of sand for the candles to be placed in. Talk about the story you learned today about friends who stood together for what they believed. Talk about how hard it is to stand alone in the dark. Light one taper and place it in the sand. Ask the campers to look at the light, to see how bright it is, but also how small. Ask them to consider if they are ready to stand with the light, to walk in faith in the world, to stand up for people who need their help and love. When they are ready to stand with God in Jesus Christ, then they are invited to come forward, light their candles, and place them in the sand, to add their lights to the one light. Give the group plenty of time to watch the light grow in silence. Then, direct them to observe how much stronger the light and heat are now that all are standing together. Let them enjoy the light in silence. Then, close in a prayer of thanksgiving.
. Story Resources . Daniel 3 is a good story and is fun to read. There are brass bands and a golden statue and a firery furnace. Get campers accustomed to saying Nebuchadnezzar, [neb-oo-cud-NEZ-zer] and you’re good to go! Even have a spelling bee! If you use a paraphrase such as The Message or The Good News Bible, the campers might enjoy taking turns reading it. There are versions in most story Bibles, but this is one you can pull out your trusty NRSV and read from the text. It’s good for campers to see that there are wonderful stories in the Bible even when there aren’t any pictures! If you would like to use a story Bible, read from The Family Story Bible, Westminster John Knox Press pp. 143–44, or from The Children’s Bible in 365 Stories, by Mary Batchelor, Lion’s Children’s Books, pp. 236–38.
Christian Practices Standing Story
#LEARN
Supplies: deck of cards, table, bowl or can How: Have the campers sit in a circle. Pull three aces from the deck and then choose enough cards to add to the three aces for each camper in the group to have one. Shuffle those cards and deal one card to each camper in the circle. Have the campers look at their cards, but not show them to anyone else. Tell them that if they are holding an ace they are a part of a very special community, one that loves God more than anything else. Name the men—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—as a part of that community. Begin to tell the story: the creation of a gold statue and the command to the people to bow down. Then have the ace holders stand. Tell the rest of the story and invite the three with their aces to place their cards on the table and sit down. As you tell the part about the fiery furnace, take their cards and place them under a can or a bowl. As you do, secretly add the fourth ace. Talk about how hot the fire was, and then lift the can or bowl to show that now there are four aces. Finish telling the story. Ask the campers to consider what it would be like to stand up against a whole crowd of people and say, “That is something we do not do.” See if they can think of a time when they saw someone do just that. Think of times that history was changed because people stood up and said, “No more!” BTW: Think ahead about some current cultural references that the children probably have been exposed to that speak of injustice, and someone or a group of people standing up to the crowd. Even if it is a movie reference, it will help to get the discussion moving.
#P l a y
Why: It is a fun standing and sitting game. There are no winners, but a lot of energy and movement are expended. It is a good game to get the wiggles out. Supplies: circle of chairs—one per player (minus one) How: One person stands in the circle and calls out a characteristic (such as: those wearing blue, or all those who know how to swim). All those who fit that description must change seats. While they do, the person in the middle tries to find a chair and sit on it. Whoever is left standing calls out another characteristic. If the “caller” cries out, “Fruit Basket Turn Over,” then everyone must leave his or her seat and find another. BTW: You can make the game a tie-in to telling the story by changing the rules and having everyone who doesn’t fit the description jump up, while all who fit have to fall like ragdolls to the floor. (This works well if you notice campers being left out.) Then, make these the last two characteristics: “Everyone who will stand up for what’s right!” (they should all fall); and, “Everyone who stands alone!” (They should all jump up).
Stand Up Prayer
#P r a y
Why: Corporate prayer can be powerful! However, it can also be something we do not fully engage in. It is difficult not to become an active part of this prayer. How: The leader begins the prayer by explaining, “Jesus promised to be with us if two or more of us are gathered together in prayer. For this prayer, we will make that promise even stronger by standing up for the things we especially wish to pray for. Everyone will have an opportunity to stand and suggest something to pray for—a thanks, a concern, or a sadness.” Then, have the campers, one at a time, stand when they want to pray, and say, “Stand if you want to pray—” The end of the sentence might be, “…a thanks to God for the good food we have been given,” or, “…for all those who are afraid of the dark,” or, “…for all the people who could not come to camp this week to have fun.” (Model the prayer for them first a couple of times.) Then, if the other campers agree
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Younger Children
Why: Talking about standing up for what you believe is the first step in being able to do it in real and scary situations. The campers may already have seen or experienced injustice. This time is a safe time and place to talk about how to act their way through those difficult moments with grace.
Fruit Basket Turn Over
to pray for the statement, they stand and shout. “May it be so!” It is sort of like voting for the prayer. It will get loud, but who said prayers must be quiet? Let the campers stand up at random until all are finished, and then close the prayer. BTW: This works well as a cool down after Fruit Basket Turn Over.
Yes We Can
#P l a y
Younger Children
Why: A great active game that can be done anywhere, even in the water. There are things that can make working together easier; holding on to each other makes this game easier. This might be a good discussion starter about what makes it easier to stand together, as Daniel’s friends did. Supplies: any items needed to create the “course”; beach balls or balloons—one per camper maximum How: Pull out a beach ball (or a balloon). Stand two campers side by side and place the ball between their hips. Then have them walk a course and see if they can do it without dropping the ball. (Hint: It’s easier if they link arms.) If they drop the ball, they have to pick it up and start over again. When they complete the course, you can add a third person and another ball and try it again. See how many people you can get, in a line, from one place to another. BTW: You can do this a couple of times during the day in progressively more difficult places. See if they can climb stairs, get in a canoe, or weave through trees.
Stand Together
#P l a y
Why: This is a challenge game—mental and physical. When we choose to stand together, we rely on each other for strength and compassion, give and take. This game can lead to a discussion on what it really means to stand with someone. How: Pair campers and have them sit on the floor, back to back, with arms linked at the elbows. Try to pair them via similar height and body type. See if they can work together to get themselves into a standing position. They’ll need to push against each other in order to get to their feet. Then see if they can stay linked while walking around and trying to pick up items from the floor.
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BTW: Remember, some children are very conscious of their strengths and weaknesses. Any difference in body type (overweight or underweight, taller than most or shorter than most) can be a sensitive issue. Be careful as you pair campers to make sure that all have a sporting chance at accomplishing the task.
Something We Do
#P l a y #LEARN
Why: Group identity is important! By this time in the week your group should be functioning well together. This game allows them to risk more and to laugh more. If other groups are engaging in the same game, there is a bit of competitive flavor to see who can be the most creative or outrageous. Remember that Daniel’s friends had a very strong group identity that allowed them to stand together. Make sure your group does too! How: As you are moving your group from one place to another, invite them to add in their walk a movement that the whole group will do (examples: make only left turns, stop and applaud as a group at every tree bigger than a foot wide, or walk sideways when in sight of other groups). You can change the “thing you do” if three or more in your group request and share an acceptable idea. Acceptable ideas must then have whole group approval before being implemented. After you have played with this for a while, invite the group to choose a group movement to do in the dining hall (examples: no one moves alone—if someone needs to leave the table, another goes with them; or every time someone stands to leave the table, the rest of the group slaps the table and says, “Go forth!”). Watch for other groups who may have chosen movements to do. BTW: The success of this game does not rely on the physical ability of the group. This allows the nonathletic kids to experience success and leadership they do not always receive. If you have several weeks of camp, note the best ideas from past camps to share as examples for current camps.
Portable Furnace Lanterns #Create Why: These lanterns are more fun to carry than flashlights! This is an easy and beautiful craft exercise that can lead you into discussion about what it was like in the fiery furnace.
How: Relay these instructions to the campers: “Cut out flame shapes from the tissue paper. Mix 1 part glue with 2 parts water on a plate, dip your flames into the mix, and glue them to the outside of the jar. Start with red “flames,” glue orange ones over them, and then yellow ones on top. It may be easiest to put the glue mixture onto a shallow plate. Let them dry. Then, ask a counselor or leader to cut a piece of wire long enough to wrap around the rim of the jar twice, and then to pull up and twist for a handle. Finally, put in your tea light and enjoy.” BTW: Some campers will have a hard time getting the flames on the jars smoothly. Remind them that the wrinkles and folds in their paper will make it look even more like flames once the tea light is in the jar. Later, if you have a campfire, look at the flames and their wrinkles.
Fiery Furnace S’mores #Serve #Create Why: This is an easy way to change a normal treat into a storytelling treat! If a camper can remember the names of the men in the fiery furnace, that camper can have another S’more! Supplies: bonfire; per camper: 2 graham cracker squares, 2 half chocolate bars, 2 marshmallows, at least 8 Teddy Grahams, 1 roasting stick How: Then, to make a Fiery Furnace S’more, roast a marshmallow over the fire. Place a roasted marshmallow atop a chocolate bar, which is sitting on a graham cracker. Then, place all four teddy grahams, standing up, in the marshmallow. Now, it’s time to eat! To make a lot of these s’mores, everyone will need help from someone
BTW: In case of rain, you can do these in the oven. Just build them on a sheet pan and place them in the oven at 350 degrees for several minutes (until the marshmallow melts and browns).
Ice Candles
#Create
Why: Making these candles teaches campers about things that are useful to know for a whole lifetime. It teaches the campers about safety, heat, flammability, and the planning that must go into making it safe for everyone. It is exciting to be a part of a craft that is a little dangerous. However, this is also a great time to work on patience, sharing skills, and listening skills. Supplies: wax from leftover candles (white, pink, red, or yellow) or new paraffin wax, orange and yellow crayons, stove and double boiler (or electric fry pan and #10 tin cans, plus electrical source), water, ice cubes, wooden spoon; clean pint or half-pint milk cartons(one per camper for one pour, two per for two pour);. small taper candles the height of the milk cartons (one per camper) How: Pull apart the top opening area of each milk carton so that it is completely open. Rinse out all remaining liquids. Allow to dry thoroughly by setting the cartons upside-down until dry or by wiping them dry with paper towels. Pour 1 or 2 inches of water into the bottom portion of a double boiler. Set the pan atop a burner on the stove, then place the top pan inside the water-filled double boiler bottom. Add hunks of wax or old candles to the top portion of the double boiler. Melt the wax over low heat, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon. (If using electric frying pan, put water into frying pan, place #10 cans with wax in pan and heat as above.) Using the wooden spoon, pour at least a quartersized pool of wax into the bottom of each milk carton candle mold. Press a taper candle into the wet wax in each carton to secure it in upright position. Allow wax to harden.
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Younger Children
Supplies: plastic jars with lids; wire for handle; wire cutter, scissors; tissue paper in orange, yellow and red; white glue; sponge paint brushes (you can use fingers), battery-operated tea lights; shallow plates
else to make it work smoothly. Try placing the campers in groups of three: one to roast, one to stack the cracker and chocolate, and the other to use the teddy grahams to move the marshmallow off the stick and onto the base.
Fill cartons with ice cubes until the ice nearly covers the taper candles, or the carton is 1/2 to 3/4 full.
Younger Children
Pour the melted wax, after it has completely melted, into each milk carton, over and around the ice, using care not to cover the taper candle wick. Keep the wet wax height to at least 1/8 inch lower than the tip of the taper candle. Allow wax to set until it becomes firms and ice melts—for an hour or so. Pour the water out of the cartons and into the sink. Tear away the carton from each hardened “ice candle.” Make sure to tell the campers to allow their candles to “cure” for several days before using.
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If you wish to, you can do a “second pour.” If you are doing a second pour, do not remove the candle from its carton after the ice melts and the wax hardens. Pour out the water. (If the carton seems weak, you can place the candle in a new carton for the second pour.) Prepare a different color wax from the first pour. Pour new wax to fill in areas left by ice. Allow to cool for an hour or two, and then remove carton. This works best if the colors contrast well. Orange and yellow or red and yellow will make the candle appear to be colored flames. BTW: Wax is highly flammable. Never melt it over direct heat. You can also use soy wax; it is sustainable! You can also melt it faster and safer in the microwave. It is more expensive, however.
Younger Children BIB/THEO OVERVIEW
Day 5:
OLDER CHILDREN
OLDER YOUTH
Daily Quick Reference Guide Scripture Story: Esther 4
INTERGENERATION • Read from The Family Story Bible, Westminster John Knox Press, pp. 126–28, or from The Children’s Bible in 365 Stories, by Mary Batchelor, Lion’s Children’s Books, pp. 256–59
Scripture Focus: Esther 4:13–14; 8:6 Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, “Do not think that in the king’s palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews. For if you keep silence at such a time as this, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another quarter, but you and your father’s family will perish. Who knows? Perhaps you have come to royal dignity for just such a time as this.”… [Esther said,] “For how can I bear to see the calamity that is coming on my people? Or how can I bear to see the destruction of my kindred?” Theological Summary: Esther took a risk to defend God’s people because she trusted God’s covenant with her community. Campers will: • understand that their choices can have positive effects on the community
• expand their understanding of community to a global scale
• identify and address injustice
• acknowledge the fear of failure
Christian Practices
— Casting Call Challenge: #LEARN #P l a y #Create Like a biblical fairy tale! — Just Us: #P r a y #Serve #Create Imagine what God can do with Just Us — You Choose!: #P l a y Use a “cootie catcher” to decide how to move
— What Can One Little Person Do?: #LEARN #P r a y Write your own verse in history
— Whose Shoes?: #LEARN Consider others’ perspectives
— Esther’s Trail Mix: #Create #LEARN #Serve Make a snack to share
— Purim Hamantashen: #Create #LEARN #Serve Bake a traditional snack
Leader Notes: Young campers like getting to make choices for themselves. The more difficult part is getting them to think about how their choices will affect others. It is hard for any of us to make a decision that puts ourselves at risk in favor of creating a better situation for others. There may be a time during the day when you will be able to have the campers make a decision together. Take the time to stop and have every person state what their decision would be if they were alone, and then ask them to think what would be the best decision for the group. Exposing the “behind the scenes” part of decision-making is helpful for younger campers and makes your decisions as a leader more understandable to them.
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YOUNGER YOUTH
Together, the Courage to Do Justice
Worship Practices Cabin Time
Younger Children
Take a moment in your cabin group to check in about how the week is going. Explain to the campers that you know God brought them to camp this week for a special reason. Invite them to wonder about why God might want them to be here at camp this week in particular. Is it to be a friend to someone who might not have had one if they had not attended? Was it to learn something special they will need to know at home? Spend the day looking for what God is doing or calling you to do.
Song Ideas • “Walk Like an Egyptian” (The Bangles)
How: Print the pictures on half sheets with the name of the person and country on the sheet. Choose five or six different photos and print enough for each camper to have one photo. Open a time of silent prayer and allow the campers to pray silently for the people in the pictures, for the situations they are in, and for those who God has called to do justice and to walk with these people in their situations. At the end of the silent prayer, say the names of the people in the pictures, one by one, each time asking the camper(s) who have the photo of the name called to stand. Say a sentence or two in prayer about standing with people in that situation. Then ask those standing to be seated and call out the next name. Close with the Lord’s Prayer.
• “What Does the Lord Require?” • “Let Justice Flow Down” (Douglas Romanow) • “Seek Ye First” • “You Are My All in All” • “Thuma Mina (Send Me Lord)”
Prayer Loving God, you call us to be ready to serve you wherever you place us. Help us to open our ears and our hearts to your voice calling us to serve. Show us how to make the world a better place, to seek justice, and to share your love. Amen.
Worship Ideas Energizer
#celebrate
Supplies: recording of “Revolution” by Kirk Franklin, player with batteries Teach the campers an energizer. Revolution is a great one for today. Remind them that it is OK not to get it all right the first time but to keep working at it! A video of the instructions is available on YouTube.
Standing for Others
#centering
Supplies: computer, Internet access, color printer, paper for printing photos of people around the world in challenging situations
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. Story Resources . Esther’s story is one you absolutely should use a story Bible or story book to tell. It’s long, and the language is a bit out of reach for the younger campers. Spark Story Bible condenses it without leaving too much out—and tones down the violence. But there are also lots of good picture books with Esther’s story. These first two are elegantly illustrated and stick to the story, the second two have more fun with the story and get pretty silly. You can find resources online about the Jewish holiday Purim, which is a festival featuring Esther’s story.
Story Synopsis Use this to help you with Casting Call Challenge. Esther is a beautiful Jewish teen who lives with her older cousin Mordecai in Persia. The Jews were foreigners there. Esther is chosen for her beauty to replace the queen who refused to follow King Ahasuerus commands. Esther fits in well at the palace, and gets to know the king well. But Jews weren’t very well liked in Persia, and one particular royal official hated that Jews (specifically, Mordecai) wouldn’t bow before him. When Mordecai refused to bow to him, Haman decided to plot to kill all the Jews in Persia,
and convinced the king that it was a good idea. Mordecai told Esther about Haman’s plot and said to her that it was time for her to use her power and influence. He wanted her to tell the king that she was Jewish, and perhaps he would change his mind about supporting Haman.
Afterward, let them choose a different fairy tale and tell the story themselves.
Esther’s Story, Diane Wolkstein, Morrow Junior Books, 1996.
BTW: This activity is great for counselors and leaders who are spontaneous and silly. You may want to think through some other examples beforehand and be prepared. If you’re using Disney characters, try making up a song about our story on the fly to the tune of a song from the movie… “Watch and you’ll see…all the Jews free… in this part of the world!”
The Story of Queen Esther, Jenny Koralek, Eerdmans, 2009.
Just Us
Hey, Little Ant, Phillip and Hannah Hoose and Debbie Tilley, Tricycle Press, 1998. Esther…the Girl Who Became Queen, Veggie Tales, 2000. (DVD)
#P r a y #Serve #Create
Why: Children worry about the world problems adults worry about. This allows them to speak their concerns and to speak solutions only they can dream. The word “justice” can be too abstract, and this activity can help give it meaning. Supplies: paper, markers or crayons
Christian Practices Casting Call Challenge #LEARN #P l a y #Create Why: Campers are likely to be very familiar with Disney characters and popular fairy tale stories. They will think of Esther and her people the next time they see these characters. Supplies: your imagination—and why not costumes? (and a familiarity with the story) How: The challenge is for you to tell the story of Queen Esther and her people using popular contemporary characters from shows and stories. Ask the campers for a suggestion of a favorite fairy tale or well-known movie. Together, name the characters from the popular story and decide which character will be playing which biblical figure. Then, tell the story, acting as all the characters with funny voices and all the flair of a fairy tale world!
How: Have the group divide into pairs. Give each pair paper and something to draw with. Instruct them to consider where the world needs help, and pretend that the only people available to help are them. Have them choose a problem they see in the world and draw a solution to the problem that the group might make happen. They can imagine that they have all the supplies they need to make it happen. What you are looking for is the plan. When all have finished their drawings, have all the campers get into a circle. Begin your prayer by explaining, “God is here with us, and every word we speak and every problem we say, God will hear.” Then go around the circle, having the campers share their drawings—the problems and the solutions. After each time, have the group say, “Lord, hear our prayer.” Close with a summary of what you have heard. Then remind them that “just us” is what God has in the world to be of service. Justice can come from “just us.” After the prayer, talk to them about what “just us” might actually do to serve.
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She worked up the guts to do it, and, in front of Haman, told the king that she and Mordecai were Jewish, and Haman was plotting to kill her people—even she wasn’t safe! The king was furious at Haman, and instead of his plot being carried out, Haman was carried out…to the gallows. The king issued a new decree that kept the Jews from being defenseless. Queen Esther is celebrated every year, to this day, for her courage in taking a risk on behalf of her people.
Example: “The Little Mer-Queen! Now starring: Ariel as Queen Esther, Sebastian as her Uncle Mordecai, Prince Eric as King Ahasuerus, featuring Haman the Sea Witch and introducing Flounder as…Flounder, the queen’s fish. Of course Queen Esther had a fish. Duh.” Challenge yourself to roll with all the wacky things the campers throw at you.
BTW: Some campers will be slow to identify a problem. Make sure you have several you can whisper to them as ideas.
You Choose
#P l a y
Younger Children
Why: Making decisions can affect the whole group. Esther knew she needed to make the best decision possible. This game gives the campers experience in how the decisions they make can affect the whole group. Campers will enjoy making the cootie catcher and teaching others to make one. Supplies: origami (square) paper to make “cootie catcher” (or origami fortune teller) How: Using square sheets of paper, make an origami “cootie catcher.” Instructions can be found on page 61. On each inside “petal,” allow campers to write ways for the group to move (examples: hop on one foot, walk backwards, walk two steps, spin around, repeat; sing “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” and step forward on every “row”). As you lead your group in moving from place to place, use your paper “cootie catcher” (CC) to help you decide how you will move. Each time, stop, ask the “CC” twice to get two suggestions, then ask the group to decide which they like best. Then, after you have gone a distance doing the action, stop and ask if they thought they had made the best decision. Then ask the “CC” for two more suggestions. Soon it will become clear which actions work best for your group. BTW: Some campers may already know how to make cootie catchers. Give them a chance to shine and teach the others in the group.
What Can One Little Person Do? #LEARN #P r a y Why: This song introduces some more modern heroes into the discussion. It is important to have good examples to follow in faith. Supplies: recording of “What Can One Little Person Do?” by Sally Rogers (see YouTube), player with batteries (or Internet access, computer, and external speakers), paper, pencils How: Listen to the song “What Can One Little Person Do?” The song refers to several individuals who made a difference for social justice: Harriet
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Tubman, Sojourner Truth, Rosa Parks, and Martin Luther King, Jr. Discuss what each person did to help the world. Then, work with the campers to create a new verse or two for the song about Esther, or someone they admire, or something they want to achieve. When it is finished, sing some of the new verses together to the tune of the song. BTW: You can offer to sing the song and the new verses for the whole camp at worship!
WhosE Shoes?
#LEARN
Why: Compassion and empathy are learned responses. Having the campers practice what they might do makes it easier when they are confronted by the real situations. Supplies: Six shoe boxes with shoes (total of three pairs of large boy’s shoes, three pairs of large girl’s) in them, scenario cards for each set of shoes on page 62. How: Place one pair of shoes in each shoebox, with a corresponding scenario card. Place the boxes around the camp to be found as you travel through the day. When you “find” a box, ask one camper to open the box and put on the shoes. Then, read the scenario card aloud. Based on the information given, campers should try to put themselves “in that person’s shoes,” identifying how that person might feel. End each scenario by coming up with three ideas of ways to show compassion in that type of situation. BTW: If other groups in camp are doing the same activity, you can share the shoes by letting everyone know ahead of time where they are placed around campus.
Esther’s Trail Mix #Create #LEARN #Serve Why: When camper hands are busy, the campers are more able to think and talk about important things. Creating good things to give away is fun and it helps them make new friends. Supplies: recipe labels for each bag, Ziploc ® bags, bowls, Bugles, pretzels, sunflower seeds, dried cranberries, Chex cereal, Teddy Grahams, Hershey’s Kisses, cup measuring cups or large spoons
BTW: Check with your food service staff member to make sure you don’t have campers with allergies before using these foods. Remember not everyone is excited about eating food products that children have had their hands all over. So you may wish to encourage the campers to give their trail mix to other campers, and to sit and talk right then as they enjoy the mix together. To do this, you may wish to invite another group in camp to join your group for snack. _______________________________________________ For the recipe label:
Esther’s Trail Mix BUGLES remind us to celebrate with music when God saves us. PRETZELS remind us to pray, thanking God for Esther’s courage to speak. SUNFLOWER SEEDS remind us to bloom where we are planted so we can shine like the sun when God calls us to act. CRANBERRIES remind us listen carefully for the sweet voice of God. CHEX remind us that God’s people are woven together into one nation. TEDDY GRAHAMS remind us to “bear” one another’s burdens.
HERSHEY’S KISSES remind us of the love of God and God’s Son, Jesus, which sweetens our lives _______________________________________________
Purim Hamantashen #Create #LEARN #Serve Why: When God saves God’s people, we should remember and celebrate! Making these traditional Purim cookies makes those celebrations even sweeter. Supplies: table, plastic table covering, plastic gloves for everyone, measuring cups, oven, mixing bowl, egg beater, mixing spoon, brush, cutting board sprinkled with flour, rolling pin, cup, teaspoon, greased pan, ingredients (listed below) 4 eggs 1 cup sugar 1/2 cup oil 1 Tbsp. lemon juice and lemon rind from half a lemon 1 teaspoon vanilla 3 cups sifted flour 2 teaspoons baking powder 1 egg to brush jelly for the filling How: Basic Recipe: Pre-heat oven to 350. Beat eggs and sugar in mixing bowl. Add the next five ingredients and mix well. Divide the dough into four parts. Stretch and roll it out on a floured surface to about 1/2 cm in thickness, and cut out circles with a cup. Fill each one, putting a half a teaspoon of jelly in the center of the round dough. Fold the sides of the round over the jelly in three sections to form a triangle with the jelly in the center. They should look like tri-corner hats with jelly in the middle. Put them on a greased pan. Brush with beaten egg. Bake for 20 minutes. Yield: about 3 dozen cookies. Group set-up: Cover table in plastic or use a well-scrubbed and easily cleanable table. Assign campers one task each: cracking eggs, measuring sugar. Allow campers to take turns rolling, cutting, and shaping cookies. (Or, you can skip the rolling and cutting by spooning out small portions and having the campers shape the dough into rounds.)
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How: Have campers wash hands. Together, lay out supplies, mix them in a large bowl, put labels on bags, and fill the bags with trail mix using measuring cups or large spoons. As you work, explain that the Jews fasted and prayed for Esther as she prepared to meet the king. Esther made dinner for the king and his friend as a way to open the difficult conversation about how the Jews were being threatened. Food is a great way to make strangers friends and to open the door to conversations that might be hard. Talk about who the campers would like to be able to talk with or be new friends with. Have them consider who they might give their bags of trail mix to as a way to say hello or let us be friends.
After the cookies are baked, have your campers pick another group of campers to share your cookies with, or use them for the whole camp for lunch or dinner. As you bake, tell the campers about the celebration of Purim in honor and remembrance
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of the courage of Esther and the faithfulness of God. Find resources about the celebration online. BTW: If you are not doing the “Trail Mix” activity, plan to meet with a group that is and share your cookies with them as they share their mix with you!
Make your own Cootie Catcher Younger Children
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How do you think the birthday girl felt? If you were in this situation, what might you do to treat your little sister well?
A boy brought four quarters to school to buy a treat at lunch. He noticed that another child didn’t have any lunch, so he gave his four quarters away. How do you think both boys felt? If you were in this situation, what else might you do to help?
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A girl is having a birthday party. Her little sister gets really sick and the party is postponed.
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A boy is was in the craft shop at camp. The kids in group working next to him smear glue in his hair.
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Whose Shoes?
A girl brought her new jump rope to school to use at recess. Another child in the class got a pair of scissors and cut it in half. How do you think this girl felt? If you were in this situation, how could you practice loving your enemies?
There is a new kid in class. He doesn’t have a math book yet, and the teacher gave an assignment from the book. No one wants to share his or her math book with the new kid. How do you think this new boy felt? If you were in this situation, how could you show kindness?
A girl is on a softball team. The ball is hit right to her, but she missed the catch. The team starts saying mean things about her athletic ability. How do you think this girl felt? If you were in this situation, what could you say to encourage your teammate?
Younger Children BIB/THEO OVERVIEW
Day 6:
OLDER CHILDREN
OLDER YOUTH
Younger Children
YOUNGER YOUTH
Together, the Courage to Change Daily Quick Reference Guide
Scripture Story: Acts 10
INTERGENERATION • Read from The Family Story Bible, Westminster John Knox Press, pp. 279–80, or from The Children’s Bible in 365 Stories, by Mary Batchelor, Lion’s Children’s Books, p. 393.
Scripture Focus: Acts 10:44–45 While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard the word. The circumcised [Jewish] believers who had come with Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. Theological Summary: Sometimes a community has to change its plans to be faithful to God’s story rather than just doing what the community has already done before. Campers will: • learn that community adapts to change from inside and outside
• celebrate and share change • acknowledge fear of the unknown
• notice that change is inevitable
Christian Practices
— Story in Cards: #LEARN Tell the story with playing cards
— All Aboard: #P l a y #LEARN A game with a changing playing field — Clean and Unclean Food: #LEARN #P l a y Try new things
— Speaking Jesus: #LEARN Share Jesus’ message in many languages
— Color Milk Experiment: #LEARN #P l a y #P r a y Make a simple change and see a surprise — Milk Painting: #LEARN #P l a y #Create Beautiful and unique artwork
— Body Parts Bingo: #P l a y Silly game with changing partners
— Called to Pray: #P l a y #Serve Learn about and thank missionaries
Leader Notes: Following a pattern or a routine makes us all feel safe. Just being at camp this week and taking on a new schedule, new living space, new food, and new friends is a huge change for your young campers. Acknowledge their courage today, and point out how they have done well at navigating the changes. Have them share how the camp experience is different from their daily routine. Talk about how, before camp started, you might have been a bit nervous about meeting them, and about how you wondered how you were going to manage the changes the week would bring to you. It may be that the campers have some coping skills to share! Share ways of coping with change and the need to find a safe and stable ground to stand on in the middle of what they perceive as chaos. It is part of your task to help them find the stable ground and, in some cases, to be that safe place.
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Worship Practices Cabin Time
Younger Children
By this time in the week every camper in your care has probably tried something new to him or her. Take a moment to whisper to each one that you are proud of his or her courage, and so excited to know that he or she is brave enough to try new things and to do it even if he or she thinks he or she will fail.
Song Ideas • “Lord, Be Glorified” (works as an easy circle dance too) • “More Love, More Power” • “Open the Eyes of my Heart” • “A Place in the Choir” • “Sanctuary” • “Will You Come and Follow Me”
Prayer Lord, just when we get comfortable with the way things are, you ask us to change the way we see, hear, think, and feel about the world. You even call us to serve and live in places we have never been. We are hesitant. We do not like change. But we know that you have a purpose and that wherever you call us to go, whatever you ask us to do, you are with us. Thank you! Amen.
Worship Ideas Up in the Air
#celebrate
(Use this as an affirmation of faith for worship.) Supplies: large white sheet or parachute, beach balls (or balloons) with writing on them Write on the balls things that God calls us to do that call us to change (examples: God may call us to serve in a foreign country; God may call us to change; God may call us to be kind to someone we do not like; God may call us to take a risk, etc.).
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Using a white sheet or a parachute, gather the campers around and ask them to hold on to the edges. If the group is too big, you can assign some to hold the sheet/chute, while the other campers hold the beach balls (or balloons). Start the affirmation by asking the group to repeat after you: “We believe that God is with us.” Instruct them to say it back to you every time they hear you say it. Then have one of the campers read aloud what is on a ball, and then toss it onto the sheet/chute. Those holding the sheet/chute should gently ripple the cloth to keep the ball bouncing, but not tossed off. You say: “…but that is okay, because we believe that God is with us.” The group responds. Then the next ball is read and tossed. You say your line, and the group responds. When all the balls are moving on the sheet/ chute, shout “Amen!” and instruct the sheet/chute holders to bounce all the balls off. Let the campers gather the balls and place them in a significant place such as under a cross or on the altar.
Things You Do Not Know
#centering
Supplies: paper, pencils or pens, campfire How: Around a campfire, give each camper a piece of paper and a pencil. Ask the campers to remember Peter: He had thought he would be a fisherman all his life, but he ended up being a very special disciple of Jesus. Then he betrayed Jesus and he thought he would never be forgiven, but Jesus asked him to “feed my sheep.” Then Peter thought only Jews could believe and be saved by Jesus, but then God showed him that God loves Gentiles too. God called Peter to do things he never imagined, and to be in places he had never been. Invite the campers to draw pictures or write and imagine what God might call them to do and be. Invite them to imagine who or what they might become as people who love Jesus and follow God. When you have given them enough silent time to do this, invite them to come and toss their papers into the fire as a statement that they are willing to follow where God leads.
. Story Resources . For a very simple and easy version of Peter and Cornelius’ story, go to Spark Story Bible (Augsburg Fortress, 2009). It would work well as a quick summary. It is short enough that it would be fun to see if your campers can remember all the lines.
Christian Practices Story in Cards
#LEARN
Why: Most campers do not live in homes with food restrictions, and so do not easily understand the need for, or religious value of, the kosher dietary rules that Peter lived with. But they can understand the Pedro story below, even in its silly form. Partnering a silly story with the Peter story will help them to understand the pattern of the thinking in Peter’s story. The use of the cards helps hold their attention and focus, and helps make the connection between the stories. Supplies: deck of cards with all the face cards removed (use one Joker) How: Tell this story with the cards: There once was a man named Pedro. He loved even numbers (turn over several cards, noting with delight the evennumbered ones and tossing the odd-numbered ones into a pile). His twin brother, his father and mother, his grandfather and grandmother, and all of his family only used even numbers (sort through several more cards). When Pedro ate breakfast, he ate two eggs and two muffins; when he went to school, he walked two miles and ran up 10 steps and sat in the sixth chair on the fourth row. If he was given the options of taking out three, four, or five books from the library, he always took four. For Pedro, even numbers were just right, and odd numbers were very bad (sort out several more cards). Then one day his mother told him that their family was going to have a new little sister. Pedro was happy at first, but then he realized that if he had a baby sister that his family would have an odd number of people in
Pause, gather all the cards, and tell the story of Peter and the rules about kosher food and nonkosher food as you use the same movements with the cards as you tell Peters story. BTW: Some campers may have families who practice food restrictions, such as being vegan, kosher, or vegetarian, or who live with food allergies. They can share what it is like to eat with strangers who have different food rules.
All Aboard
#P l a y #LEARN
Why: It is difficult for a group to rethink a solution that used to work and is no longer working. The early Christians had to be agile in their thinking as the church grew from just those who were Jews believing in Jesus to Jews and Gentiles believing and living out their faith together. Supplies: sheet of flip chart paper, half-sheet of flip chart paper, legal-size sheet of paper, and a letter-size sheet of paper How: Lay the flip chart paper on the ground and explain that this is the size of the campers’ platform. They need to get their whole group on the platform and sing one whole verse of “This Little Light of Mine” to be considered for the next challenge. There should be no part of any group member touching the ground. All should be balanced on the paper. Once they do that, congratulate them and lay out the half-
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For a read that makes the complexities of the story easier to understand, The Family Story Bible (Milton, Westminster John Knox, 1996) is good.
it! That would be horrid! So he asked his mother if they could have two baby sisters. She smiled and said that they would have to start with one and see if they wanted another one later. Pedro was very upset. He explained the problem to his mother and father. He said, “If we have a baby sister our family will no longer be even! We will be odd!” His parents fell silent as they considered the problem. Finally, his father spoke: “Maybe, my dear son, odd is good.” So Pedro struggled with that. He went back and looked at his numbers. “Odd is good,” he thought (sort out more cards, but this time just lay them all out on the table). Then, one day, several months later Pedro got to meet his little sister. As he held her for the first time, he smiled. Odd is good! he thought. From that day on, Pedro liked numbers, all of them, both even and odd.
sheet of flip chart paper, explaining that it is the “platform” for the next challenge. Have them figure out how to stand on that and sing. Then introduce the legal-size paper, and then the lettersize paper. Talk about what it was like to have to change. Discuss what changes they made and what worked and what did not. Ask them to name times that they had to change.
Younger Children
BTW: This activity can be spread out over the day and be done on the way to somewhere else. Just carry the progressively smaller pieces of paper with you, or “plant” them around the camp along the path to where you will be going during the day. Make sure campers maintain healthy physical boundaries. This game stops when people get uncomfortable.
Clean and Unclean Food #LEARN #P l a y Why: Many children have a very narrow list of foods they will eat. Trying new things is easier if everyone tries them at the same time. It is also a great conversation starter. Supplies: several food products that the campers may not be familiar with, white cloth napkins, basket How: Prepare several kinds of food that are easy to eat with just hands. Wrap each kind of food in clean white cloth napkins. Place in a basket. Remind the campers of the story of the day and of Peter’s revelation that some kinds of food that he had never eaten were actually OK to eat. Explain that you have some foods that they may never have eaten, but that you have heard are really good to eat. Carefully unwrap one at a time, allowing the campers to try each new food before moving on to the next. After each tasting, ask what they think of each one. Talk about what it is like to try something new. Discuss what makes it easier to accept something new, and what makes it harder. Ideas for kinds of food: Fava beans, slices of star fruit, various dried fruit, corn nuts, fresh coconut, wasabi peas (though you should tell them they are spicy), old-fashioned root beer hard candy (Remember to be aware of food allergies)
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BTW: Check with your food service people for ideas. Report back what campers liked, and maybe it can be added to your dinner meal.
Speaking Jesus
#LEARN
Why: Part of the story of Peter is about the different languages the Spirit gave him to speak the truth to the world. We can speak the most important truth to the world too. This activity helps the campers learn how to do that. Supplies: world map, marker, cards with “Jesus loves You” printed in different languages on them (p. 69) How: Teach the campers five different ways to say “Jesus loves you”—and draw different symbols on the map on the countries where people speak that language (for example: a star for Spanish, a cross for French, a circle for Swahili, etc.). BTW: You may have campers in your group who already speak another language. Let them teach you!
Color Milk Experiment #LEARN #P l a y #P r a y Why: When one thing changes, other things must change. It works with milk and people. It is a great conversation starter. It is also just fun. Supplies: whole milk, food coloring, liquid dish soap, Q-tips, shallow pans (that fit your paper if doing Milk Painting after)—one for every three campers How: In each pan, pour enough milk to just cover the bottom to the depth of about 1/4 inch. Add one drop of each of the four colors of food coloring into the center of the pan. Using a clean cotton swab, gently touch the center of the colors with the end. Did anything happen? Now place a drop of liquid dish soap on the other end of the swab. Gently touch the center of the colors with this end and watch the colors twist and swirl. To make this a #P r a y activity, empty the pans and pour new milk. This time, every time the campers add a color or a drop of soap, they must say a prayer out loud and then watch the change that happens. Every time we say a prayer, something happens, even if we do not see it. Keep praying until the color movement ends.
BTW: This is a companion activity for the “Milk Painting” activity. If you are doing the milk painting activity, you can do this first with the same supplies. And remember that it doesn’t take much in the pan. Milk is a precious resource. Be conservative and reuse.
Milk Painting
#LEARN #P l a y #Create
Supplies: milk (higher fat content works better), dish soap, tray/shallow dish, food coloring, cotton swabs or toothpicks, enough sheets of watercolor paper smaller than the size of the tray so that each camper can have at least one (optional: eye droppers) How: Cut your watercolor paper to a size that easily fits within the tray. Pour roughly 3–4 tablespoons of milk into a tray—enough to cover the bottom. Add in drops of food coloring around the milk. Add a couple drops of dish soap around the milk as well. The soap and food coloring will now start interacting. Using a cotton swab or toothpick, begin swirling the colors. Before the colors get too mixed together, take one sheet of paper and lay it on top of the milk mixture. Press down. Gently lift it, turn it over, set it aside to dry, and continue with additional sheets. Let everything dry completely. Then, use the paper to write notes on or to make other crafts or to frame. BTW: As a variation, don’t swirl the soap and food coloring, but rather dip the paper in immediately after dropping in the soap. The process of dipping the paper will swirl the colors. If your paper is warped after drying, you may place it between two sheets of paper and iron it to flatten it out again.
Body Parts Bingo
#P l a y
Why: We are talking about change and the courage to do things we normally would not have thought about doing. This game does just that. You have not lived until you find your nose in a stranger’s armpit!
BTW: Be kind. Young children have a full range of comfort levels with personal space. Be aware that some have no boundaries, and others have very firm boundaries. Watch for campers who might be really uncomfortable, and choose only the easiest body part pairings to accomplish. You do not know what a child has had to endure, and you will quite possibly have a child in your group who has experienced some form of abuse. If a child’s reactions make you think he or she has been abused, mention your concern to your supervisor and discuss possible next steps.
Called to Pray
#P l a y #Serve
Why: It is important to know that God did not just call people in the Bible. God calls people today too. In fact, God calls us! All we have to do is listen and be ready to serve. This helps the campers to connect those ideas. Supplies: cards with missionary information, pens, paper How: Ahead of time, prepare cards that include information about people who are involved in mission and service: include the name, address, photo, and basic information about the kind of service and working conditions. Plan to have one card per camper. Have two or three cards per missionary. Read aloud the information about the missionary on one card. Invite the campers to volunteer to represent that missionary in prayer. Hand out the cards to those who said yes, and then move on to the next card/missionary. When all campers have a card, ask them to gather in groups according to who they picked as their missionary. Ask them to think about what the missionary left behind to
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Why: This art project is a continuation of Color Milk Experiment. Because a food resource is being used, it’s best to get as much use out of it as possible. This produces beautiful and unique artwork.
How: You will be the leader. This game is a cross between “Tag” and “Simon Says” and can be played inside or outside, or even in the water. A leader shouts out, “Body Parts Bingo!” which means find a partner. Each pair will then touch together the body parts that the leader shouts out (for example: knee to knee, elbow to elbow, nose to elbow, hand to head, head to knee, foot to elbow, etc.). The pairs must move fast to make the pairings, and then, when the leader shouts, “Body Parts Bingo!” again, they must change to other partners. Laughter ensues.
say “yes” to serve God. Ask them to think about what the missionary might need to accomplish his or her mission. Have the campers write notes or prayers for the missionaries. Then, as a whole group, share the prayers and notes.
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BTW: Your denominational website may have links to missionaries’ stories. If you did the “Milk Painting” activity, consider using those papers to write letters of thanks and support to the missionaries. Ironing the paper will dry it fast enough to do this.
(Germany, Austria)
German
(YAY-soos leebt deesh)
Cristo te ama
Younger Children
Jesus liebt dich
♥ JESUS LOVES YOU ♥
(KREES-tow tay AH-ma)
Spanish
(Latin America, all of South America except for Brazil, Spain)
Jésus t’aime (ZHEH-zoo tem)
(China, Taiwan)
Chinese
(yea soo eye knee)
Ye Su ai ni
French
(France, parts of Canada, many countries in northern Africa including Madagascar, Rwanda and Chad Haiti)
Yesu anakupenda
(YAY-soo ah-nah-koo-PEN-dah)
Swahili
(Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Congo)
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BIB/THEO OVERVIEW OLDER CHILDREN YOUNGER YOUTH OLDER YOUTH
Younger Children
Day 7:
INTERGENERATION
Younger Children
Together, the Courage to Connect Daily Quick Reference Guide
Scripture Story: Matthew 28 (NIRV) Scripture Focus: Matthew 28:19–20 (NRSV) “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Theological Summary: In order to bless all nations, Jesus calls the community to cross borders and cultures and be willing to be changed by them as well. Campers will: • learn to invite others into a community of fearless faith • understand the value of being a community of faith outside of camp • leave with a connection between camp and home communities • acknowledge fear of being alone, going home, being forgotten
Christian Practices
— Story in the Cards: #LEARN Learn the story with playing cards — Seed Bomb: #Create #LEARN #Serve Make it and grow it
— Message in a Bottle: #Create #LEARN #Serve Good news to carry home
— Space Tags Prayer: #P r a y Transition from camp space to home space Leader Notes
Campers may be anxious on this last day of camp. Emotions can be high—already there is a sense of loss that this community that you have worked to create will be scattered. Honor that campers need time to say goodbye, but don’t dwell on it. Instead, today is about “what next?” You will need to set a pattern for how one leaves camp. Help campers think about how they might stay connected to new friends and about how congregations and families are places for these relationships to flourish.
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Worship Practices Cabin Time
Worshipful Dancing
Thank each camper for coming and remember with each of them one of your favorite moments with that camper.
Choose a song that is slower, and has several clear phrases that are repeated (for Example: “Father, I Adore You”). Have the group get in a circle. If the circle is too big for the space, organize some into an inner circle. Begin to sing and walk holding hands in one direction; change directions at the end of the phrase. On the next-to-last phrase, step toward center; on last phrase, step out. The movement should progress like this:
• “Father, I Adore You” • “Bring Forth the Kingdom,” (Marty Haugen) • “Family of God” • “Come, O Come,” (John Michael Talbot) • “He Is Alive” • “Here I Am, Lord”
Prayer Lord God, you have been so good to us this week. You helped us to make new friends, kept us safe, and taught us the joys of playing, learning, praying, worshiping, and serving together. As we prepare to go home, help us to remember all that you have taught us, and give us the courage to remember and to share the good news. Amen,
Worship Ideas Yea God! Prayer
#celebrate
This is sort of a free-for-all prayer, messy and glorious! Explain that there is much to be thankful for in this week of camp and that it is right to give God our best praise and thanks. Explain that anyone who has something to thank God for should stand and get in a circle around the worship space. Everyone should be in the circle. Then, one by one, allow the campers to shout aloud what they are thankful for. After every thanksgiving, the group will shout, “Yea God!” They can also clap. If you have too many to let everyone speak, have one from each family or small group speak for the group. Remember, with this kind of prayer, the louder the better.
“Father, I adore you,” (walk to the right) “Lay my life before you,” (walk to the left) “How I love you.” (step forward one step and back one step) This works well in a round, with the inner circle as one part, and the outer as the other part.
. Story Resources . There are several versions of this story that are easy for younger children to comprehend. You may want to read the passage from the New International Reader’s Version (NIRV). It is based on the NIV, but has shorter sentences. You may not have a lot of time on your last day to study this Bible passage, but you can emphasize the enthusiasm and courageous tone of the scripture. Notice how this story repeats two significant statements, “Do not be afraid,” and, “Go!” These are the primary message of the last day of camp. Though it is not a story of resurrection, the familiar story book Oh! The Places You’ll Go! by Dr. Seuss connects personal courage and sending forth. This book can be a good companion to today’s scripture.
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Song Ideas
#centering
Christian Practices Story in the Cards
#LEARN
Why: This is a moment to help the campers understand that they, too, are disciples who are given the great commission.
Younger Children
Supplies: deck of cards and its box How: Beforehand, remove one suit of cards from the deck, except for the queen. You will use this one suit first as you tell the story. As you begin the story, talk about the disciples. Tell about how they had followed Jesus for three years and learned so much from him about God’s love for the people of God. (Slowly lay out the ace through jack in a row on the table.) Remind the campers that Jesus died on the cross, and that after three days the disciples found the tomb empty. Then they discovered that Jesus was alive, risen from the dead! (Place the king above the other cards.) They were excited and a bit confused, as this was very surprising. One day, not long after his rising, Jesus gathered the disciples on top of a hill. There he told them something very important. He was going away to heaven, but he would not be leaving them alone. He was sending a special comforter, which we call the Holy Spirit, to live with them forever! He then explained that he had work for the disciples to do. They were to go everywhere and tell about Jesus and all he had taught them. Then, pick up the rest of the deck, and invite the campers to think about where the disciples might tell the good news. For every suggestion, place a card face down in a circle around “Jesus and the disciples” (the twelve cards already on the table. When you have a number of places, push the campers to think globally and locally by adding worldwide places, and common places the campers will go when they return home. Then pause and gaze at the cards and tell the campers that Jesus then left the disciples. (Remove the king from the table and place back in the box.) Ask, “What do you think the disciples were feeling when they saw Jesus rise into heaven?” Wonder with the campers about how the disciples felt about the mission Jesus gave them to accomplish.
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Discuss what the campers think Jesus wants us to accomplish. Then pray with the campers. BTW: You might consider adding cards to the disciple cards and identifying them by name as the campers themselves.
Seed Bomb
#Create #LEARN #Serve
Why: Fun and just messy enough for a last day. These can be given as gifts to the adults coming to retrieve the campers. Supplies: potters clay, flower seeds, potting soil, paper bags or recycled egg cartons How: Mix seeds in a small amount of potting soil. Set aside. Take a small piece of clay and flatten and pinch it into a small, thin circle about an inch and half wide. Place some of the seed mixture in the center and fold the clay over it to form a ball. Roll the ball in your hands to firmly enclose the seeds in the clay. The clay probably won’t dry today, but your campers can watch as the “seed bombs” change at home. Package them in the paper bags or egg cartons. To use, they can be tossed onto the ground anywhere there needs to be flowers. The clay will protect the seeds from being eaten by birds until they can germinate and begin to grow. Note: some potting soil has peanut hulls. Keep campers’ allergies in mind. Remind the campers as they make the balls that, in some ways, the disciples were seed bombs that Jesus threw out into the world. He spent three years filling them with the story of God’s love, and, just before he returned to heaven, he tossed them out into the world—not alone, but with the promise of the Holy Spirit to come. The campers are seed bombs too! Filled with the stories of camp, they are sent back home to tell the good news. BTW: Seed bombs are an ancient Japanese practice called Tsuchi Dango, meaning “earth dumpling” (because they are made from earth).
Message in a Bottle #Create #LEARN #Serve Why: Leaving a place is as hard as arriving sometimes. This ritual can help your campers make the transition. It is good to have memories of your friends. This way, they always will.
Supplies: permanent marker, pencils or pens, basket for papers; one per camper—empty, clean and de-labeled water or soda bottle and strips of paper,
BTW: Even if you did not do the “space tag” activity, you can do a blessing.
BTW: If this is an activity the whole camp is doing, it is good to identify each group’s bottles with a color or some marking so if they get lost in transition it is easy to say which group the bottle belongs to.
Space Tags Prayer
#P r a y
Why: It is important to pray for each camper and to bless that camper as he or she goes. It acknowledges that camper’s individuality, but also his or her membership in the group. Supplies: space tags you made on Day 1 How: Create a ceremony of leaving by having the campers retrieve the “space tag” signs they made on the first day of camp. (The campers should each have the sign that camper made, not the sign with his or her name on it. Gather the campers in a circle around you, each holding the “space tag” sign he or she made. One at a time, call a camper to the center of the circle with you. Then, call up the person holding the sign with that person’s name on it. Say: “[Name on the sign], thank you for
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How: Ahead of time, write each camper’s name on a separate bottle with permanent marker. Place a basket full of strips of paper in the center of circle of campers. Place bottles with camper names aside where campers can get to them, but they are not easily seen. Ask if the campers have ever heard of people putting messages in bottles and tossing them into the sea. Then explain that before Jesus ascended to heaven he had much to tell the world, and so he asked his disciples to do it for him. Those disciples were like bottles with Jesus’ message in them. Explain that at the end of camp, the campers will be like that too: “bottles” with the message of God’s good news in them, tossed back into the world. Invite each camper to take one slip of paper and write on it something he or she loved about camp or something that camper did or learned. Then invite the campers to roll up their slips very tight and to slip them into the bottles. Once all the memories are in the bottles, you can add glitter, sand, camp dirt, or some other objects that will remind them of the week.
having the courage to come to camp, and for your service and presence through the week.” Then, have the maker give the sign to the person he or she made it for, while you say, “Now go out into the world and be an amazing disciple of Christ.” Each time, have the campers respond together: “God walks with you [Name of camper].” Then, have the two campers return to the circle. Work your way around the circle in this fashion. At the end, pray for all your campers and do a group hug.
CONTENTS
DAILY OVERVIEW
BIB/THEO STAFF YOUNGER OVERVIEW DEVOTIONS CHILDREN
YOUNGER YOUTH
OLDER YOUTH
INTERGEN
EXTRAS
DAY CAMP
older Children BIB/THEO OVERVIEW YOUNGER CHILDREN
Day 1:
YOUNGER YOUTH
Together, the Courage to Show Up Daily Quick Reference Guide
OLDER YOUTH
INTER- Scripture Story: Genesis 12:1—8 GENERATION • Read The Great Family by Jerome W. Berryman (Morehouse Education Resources, 2014) Scripture Focus: Genesis 12:7–8
Older Children
Then the Lord appeared to Abram, and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built there an altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him. From there he moved on to the hill country on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east; and there he built an altar to the Lord and invoked the name of the Lord. Theological Summary: God called Abram out of his comfortable life to create community, and when Abram showed up, God met him there and blessed him. Campers will: • know that they are connected to one another just by showing up • find camp to be a place where they are valued and accepted for who they are • become familiar with surroundings • acknowledge fear of new experiences and rejection
Christian Practices
— The Dot: #LEARN #Create Acknowledging fears and creating simple art
— The Journey Ahead: #LEARN #P l a y Working together to plan for the journey — Letters to Home: #Serve #P r a y Writing letters to those who remain at home — We Are Connected!: #P l a y Discovering that we are connected to one another
Leader Notes To prepare, read through the “Biblical and Theological Overview” for Day 1. The Abram story is about a community that was called by God to leave a comfortable place and go to an unknown place so that a new community could come into being. They did as God asked and, when they did, God showed up and blessed them. This is what is happening at camp this week, as well. Individuals are called to leave their comfortable lives and become a new community. Trust that God will show up and bless those involved.
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Worship Practices Cabin Time The first day at camp can be a challenge for many reasons. Some campers are homesick or lonely. Other campers may appear to be adjusting very easily, but may still have some fears or insecurities. Affirm that God is present in the cabin and in every place around camp. Use a non-permanent mark to demonstrate this. If the campers are taking a tour of the camp, make the same mark in each significant place.
Song Ideas • “Father Abraham” (traditional) • “The Summons” (John Bell, 1987) • “Lean on Me,” especially the chorus (Bill Withers, 1972) • “I Am the Church! You Are the Church!” (hymn) • “We Are the Church” (Jay Beech, 1988)
Prayer Dear God, we come to you today just starting out on our own unknown journey. Like our friends Abram and Sarai, we are counting on you to show up and bless our time here at camp. We have some fears, but we are grateful that you go with us. Help us to make friends and become closer to you. Through our friend, Jesus, we pray. Amen.
Blessings
#centering
Supplies: sand, anointing oil In this activity, the campers will be blessed for their week at camp. Take the campers to an area with sand (beach, sand pit, etc.). (If there is limited sand access, consider doing an adjusted version of this activity at night under the stars, so that they can be used instead.) Explain that God promised Abram he would have as many descendants as there were grains of sand on the beach, and that he would be blessed in order to be a blessing. God kept that promise, and now the campers are also blessed to be a blessing. Invite the campers to touch the sand and think about this promise. During this quiet time, ask each camper if you may bless him/her. Then, take some anointing oil, place a bit on the camper’s forehead or on the back of the hand and say, “You, [name], are blessed to be a blessing.”
Worship Ideas Psalm Expressions
#celebrate
Supplies: Bible In this worship activity, the campers will be introduced to different kinds of Psalms. Read the following psalm verses and invite the campers to act out the emotions that are expressed: Psalm 8:4–5 (humility), Psalm 27:1–2 (confidence), Psalm 51:3–4 (guilt, repentance), Psalm 138:1–3 (gratitude), Psalm 139:21–22 (anger), and Psalm 149:1–2 (joy). The campers can be as outrageous
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• “I Will Call Upon the Lord” (Michael O’Shields, 1981)
as they want, but they need to express the emotion of the psalm. Finally, affirm that it is okay to experience a lot of different emotions while at camp and encourage the campers to use these and other psalms to express their emotions.
. Story Summary .
Christian Practices
In today’s story, God tells Abram and Sarai to go to the land God is showing them, and God promises to fulfill a blessing to Abram and his heirs. The only thing required on Abram and Sarai’s part was their obedience. When they are obedient God is faithful. It is a simple, straightforward story.
The Dot
Story Resources
Supplies: The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds, paper, paint, paintbrushes
The Great Family, Jerome W. Berryman, Morehouse Education Resources, 2014.
Older Children
Jerome Berryman is the author and one of the founders of Godly Play, a worship series for children that uses manipulatives and a lot of imagination to share the wonder of biblical stories. The practice invites children to engage with the story. You can use this with your campers. Rather than “telling” the stories, invite your campers to “meet” you in the stories. You’ll find that, like Abram, God will meet you and your campers there. The Dot, Peter H. Reynolds, Candlewick Press, 2003. This storybook is about a child whose fear is holding her back from trying to be artistic. Her teacher instructs her to make a dot and sign her name to it. This small step encourages her to realize that she can be an artist. You will find an art project to go with this storybook. This girl’s story is about realizing potential that she didn’t know she had, much like Abram and Sarai.
#LEARN #Create
Why: This activity may give campers the courage to be present and take risks. The nonthreatening art project may help campers feel included and capable. This is also an opportunity to acknowledge fears.
How: In this activity, campers will discover what it means to have the courage to show up. Invite campers to look and listen as you read The Dot. Then, debrief: • Why do you think that Vashti did not want to participate in art class at first? • What finally gave Vashti the courage to make her art? • Do you have any fears about being at camp? What are they? Vashti was afraid of making art because she thought that she was not a good artist. But, when she got the courage to take one small step, she bloomed into a great artist. Discuss with the campers the importance of them having the courage to show up at camp and seeing where it takes them. Allow the campers to create their own Vashti-style art. They may want to make dots, squiggles, lines, spirals, etc. Be sure that the campers sign their artwork. Put it on display.
Marvin K. Mooney, Will You Please Go Now?, Dr. Seuss, Random House, 1972.
BTW: Instead of paint, you can use markers, crayons, or colored pencils.
A nice bedtime read-aloud. In Dr. Seuss’ unique poetry, the narrator spends the entire book begging Marvin to “Go!” and not until the last page do we find out Marvin’s actions. Hint: They’re a lot like Abram’s!
The Journey Ahead #LEARN #P l a y Why: This activity may help campers identify with Abram and Sarai and realize how much courage it would have taken for them to go where God was calling them. This is also a way for campers to work together and get to know one another. Supplies: Bible, 2–3 small duffel bags, various practical objects (food items, bandages, flashlights, Bibles, bottles of water, ropes, etc.)
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How: In this activity, campers will engage with the story and imagine what it might have been like to be Abram and Sarai. Read the story from Genesis 12:1–8. Then, put the campers in groups of 3–5 and give each group a bag. Ask them to pack their bags based on what would be most useful for a journey to the unknown. After the bags are packed, imagine a scenario that could have taken place during Abram and Sarai’s journey. Narrate the scenario, giving the campers challenges to overcome. Make some challenges simple, such as fixing a hole in a pail. Make others more challenging, such as a sick child or a lost sheep..
BTW: To get the giggles going, you can add some ridiculous items to stretch their imagination: kitchen utensils, a flower, swim trunks, a kazoo… It may be preferable to use Berryman’s The Great Family instead of simply reading from the biblical passage.
Letters to Home
#Serve #P r a y
Why: This activity reminds campers that there are people who are missing them while they are at camp. Both campers and the people who are left behind need courage during camp. Supplies: paper, envelopes, writing utensils, art supplies, stamps, box or tray How: In this activity, campers will think about those whom they have left behind to attend camp. In the story, Abram and Sarai had to leave behind a lot of people whom they loved. Even though it was difficult, they did it because God was calling them to go to a new place and they knew that God would always be with them. While at camp, the campers have left behind family and friends. Invite the campers to think about these people and imagine how they might be feeling during this time apart. Encourage the campers to write letters or send drawings to these people.
Be sure to stamp the envelopes and mail the letters today. BTW: If you want, you could use The Dot artwork from earlier as their notepaper. Be aware of any campers who may be homesick.
We Are Connected!
#P l a y
Why: This activity will help campers get to know one another and make the point that they are all connected to one another. Supplies: play dough of various colors (enough for each camper to have a good bit), sealable plastic bag for each camper How: In this activity, campers will introduce themselves and understand that they are connected to one another. Give each camper some play dough. Ask the campers to mold their dough into things that represent them. Invite each camper to share about what he or she has made. Then, explain that each of them is unique and special, but they all came together at camp to make a new group. Invite the campers to come forward one at a time and give their play dough back to you. As they do so, clump all of it together (taking care not to mix the colors together too much), creating a new, big, colorful ball. Then, explain that just as each camper contributes something to the group, each one also receives something from the group. Give each camper a piece of the big ball. Allow the campers to put the play dough in a container or plastic bag and take it with them as a reminder of their connection to one another. BTW: Recipes for homemade play dough are available online or you may want to use clay.
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Give each group an opportunity to work together to imagine a way to overcome the challenge, using the items in their backpacks. And then come back to the larger group to explain their solution.
After the campers have completed their letters, have them put them in envelopes and address them. Invite them to come forward one at a time and place their letters in a box. As they do so, they may say a prayer for their loved ones. If the campers have difficulty, they can say, “Dear God, please be with [name of loved one] while I am at camp. Amen.”
older Children BIB/THEO OVERVIEW YOUNGER CHILDREN
Day 2:
YOUNGER YOUTH
Together, the Courage to TRUST Daily Quick Reference Guide
OLDER YOUTH
INTER- Scripture Story: Ruth GENERATION • The Family Story Bible, by Ralph Milton, Westminster John Knox Press, 1996. Scripture Focus: Ruth 1:16–18
Older Children
But Ruth said, “Do not press me to leave you or to turn back from following you! Where you go, I will go; where you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die, I will die—there will I be buried. May the Lord do thus and so to me, and more as well, if even death parts me from you!” When Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more to her. Theological Summary: Ruth is an outsider who learned to trust Naomi, Naomi’s community, and her God and when she did, everyone benefited. Campers will: • learn the importance of trusting each other
• reflect on consequences of broken trust
• discover the impact of trust on a community
• acknowledge fear of betrayal
Christian Practices
— Journeying with Ruth: #LEARN Making a Godly Play story come to life
— Trust Run: #P l a y Demonstrating trust
— Trusted Friends: #P r a y Praying for trustworthy individuals
— Sharing the Harvest: #Serve #Create Providing food to those in need
— Orpah’s Story: #LEARN #Create Imagining what might have happened to Orpah — No Rules!: #P l a y Demonstrating the importance of rules
— A Voice in the Wilderness: #P r a y Praying about trusting God — Trust Walk: #P l a y Trusting one another
Leader Notes Be sure to read through the “Biblical and Theological Overview” for Day 2. At this point, campers need to build trust among one another and see camp as a safe place. One of the ways that this happens is through camp rules. Ruth and Naomi follow rules in place for their protection. Likewise, camp rules are in place for campers’ protection. The rules may be a source of comfort, so be consistent (but not inflexible) when applying the rules.
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Worship Practices Cabin Time Living together at camp creates lots of opportunities for campers to demonstrate both trustworthiness and untrustworthiness. Talk about the importance of rules and respect in the cabin and how following the rules demonstrates trustworthiness. Go over cabin rules and talk about the rationale behind each rule and what the consequences are for breaking the rules. Ask campers to come up with their own set of rules (and consequences) for the cabins.
Song Ideas • “How Firm a Foundation” (hymn) • “Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)” (Hillsong United, 2003) • “Lean on Me,” especially the chorus (Bill Withers, 1972) • “I Am the Church! You Are the Church!” (hymn) • “We Are the Church” (Jay Beech, 1988)
Prayer
Secret Prayer Partners
#centering
Supplies: paper, writing utensils, bowl In this activity, the campers will trust one another to pray for them throughout the week. Invite the campers to write their names on a piece of paper and include on it any prayer requests that they have. Encourage the campers to write down at least one praise and one concern. Have them fold the papers, and mix them up in the bowl. Allow each camper to choose one piece of paper (make sure that no one chooses his or her own name). Each camper should spend time in prayer for the person whose name he or she picked, and continue to pray for these “partners” throughout the week. At the end of the week, the campers will find out who their secret “prayer partners” were.
Dear God, sometimes it is hard to trust others. Sometimes people let us down and betray us. But, we know that we need to trust other people if we are to live happily in your world. Like our friends Ruth and Naomi, help us to trust others and to be trustworthy ourselves. When trust is broken, restore it. When trust is restored, help us to celebrate! Through our friend, Jesus, we pray. Amen.
Worship Ideas Follow the (Worship) Leader #celebrate Supplies: music, instruments In this worship activity, a camper will lead the other campers in worship actions. Explain that Ruth had to follow Naomi when she decided to go with her to Bethlehem. Invite one camper to start
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• “In Christ Alone” (Keith Getty and Stuart Townend, 2001)
as the leader. Play some music and instruct the other campers to follow the actions of the leader. The leader might sing, do hand motions, dance, play an instrument, start a conga line, pray, etc. Ask campers if they have any favorite practices they do at church or home to worship, and do those. Take turns until everyone has had a chance to be the leader.
. Story Summary .
Older Children
This story is about how Ruth and her motherin-law Naomi found a new community for themselves when Naomi’s husband and sons died. Ruth was married to one of Naomi’s sons, and Orpah was married to the other. Ruth and Orpah were in their own country of Moab, but Naomi had moved there with her husband and sons from Bethlehem. Naomi was without any family in Moab at all. All three women were without children. All three women were left as widows, and widows needed to be cared for. Naomi tells her daughters-in-law to go back to their own tribes; maybe they could find someone else to marry them and help them have children. Orpah stays in Moab, but Ruth begs her mother-in-law to let her come to Bethlehem with her. Ruth loved Naomi so much, and she trusted that even though they had no family in Bethlehem, if she stayed loyal to Naomi, they would find a family and that Naomi’s God would accept them as people of God. Naomi and Ruth traveled to Bethlehem, and Ruth found the field of a gracious landowner who allowed widows, orphans, and the very poor to gather his leftover wheat. When Naomi found out that the landowner’s name was Boaz, she was thrilled. Boaz was related to Naomi and had a right to marry Ruth. Ruth didn’t know about many customs and laws of the Hebrews, so she trusted Naomi when she told her what to do next. Ruth gleaned in Boaz’s field and got to know Boaz. All of Boaz’s household saw that Ruth was a caring and devoted person. Ruth bravely asked Boaz to marry her (through which he would also gain the right to buy her father-in-law’s land) and be the father of her children. Boaz told Ruth he was willing to do that, but that a younger and closer relative had first right to marry Ruth. When the closer relative found out that the purchase of the land came with two childless widows, he decided not to claim it. He didn’t trust that his current wives and children could get along with these two women. But Boaz married Ruth and made sure that her father-in-law’s name remained in the record book. They had a son together and named him Obed. The family tree and community of Naomi was restored, and Obed had a son named Jesse. Jesse had a son named David, who became king of Israel. Centuries later, another “king” of
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the line of David would be born in Bethlehem. His parents, Mary and Joseph, would name him Jesus.
Story Resources The Complete Guide to Godly Play, Volume 6. Jerome Berryman. Morehouse Education Resources, 2006. Duke and the Great Pie War, Veggie Tales, 2005 (DVD). The second story highlighted is a retelling of the story of Ruth and Naomi.
Christian Practices Journeying with Ruth
#LEARN
Why: This activity will help campers visualize the journey that Ruth and Naomi were on. Supplies: Godly Play, Volume 6 How: Using the Godly Play story found in volume 6 (the words for the story begin on page 69), tell the story of Ruth. However, instead of telling the story in a circle using materials, invite the campers to act as the people of God and walk all over camp. If there is a body of water with a bridge over it, use that as the Jordan River. (If not, create a “river” using some rope.) Have campers play the roles of Naomi, her husband, her sons, Orpah, Ruth, and Boaz (and Jesse and David, if you have enough campers). Designate a building on campus to be “Bethlehem.” Choose an open space to be the fields. Have some stray pieces of “wheat” (perhaps strips of paper) in the fields and encourage the campers to practice gleaning. Be sure to ask the “wondering” questions found at the end of the story. BTW: Instead of acting the story out, it may be preferable to tell the story as it is written in the Godly Play volume, using a felt underlay and telling the story in a circle. You could use rocks, sticks, or other items from nature as the characters and places.
Trust Run
#P l a y
Why: This activity is high energy and campers can run off some of their energy. It also helps develop trust among the group, which is important during this stage of the week.
How: Have the campers stand in a single-file line in a wide open space, all facing in the same direction. Pick one camper to be the runner. The runner must stand a few feet in front of the line, facing the first person in line. The runner must indicate that he or she is about to go by saying something like, “I am going to run now. I trust my friends to move away.” The campers answer back in unison, “You can trust us.” As the camper runs, the other campers must jump out of the runner’s way. The runner should slow down or stop as needed until he or she has moved past the entire line. Take turns until all of the campers have had a chance to be the runner. Debrief the activity with the group: • Was it easy or hard to trust your fellow campers? Why?
• What do you do when you need to trust someone but find that it is difficult? • Why do you think that Ruth trusted Naomi, Naomi’s people, and Naomi’s God so much? • What are the risks involved in trusting someone? BTW: During the debriefing time, spend some time exploring the risks of trusting. Acknowledge and affirm fears of being betrayed. This activity may be done inside or outside, provided that there is enough space that is free of obstacles.
Trusted Friends
#P r a y
Why: This activity helps campers connect the theme of the day and the story with their own lives. The tangible objects may remind campers of these trustworthy role models throughout the week. The puppets become a way to voice fears they might not want to say themselves. Supplies: various craft items: yarn, construction paper, wiggly eyes, etc.; socks or paper bags; glue How: In this activity, campers will be encouraged to name and pray for individuals whom they trust. Invite campers each to make a simple puppet that reminds him or her of someone whom he or she trusts. When campers have
“Dear God, thank you for [have them state the names of the people]. They are a part of our community even when they are far away. It is good that we know trustworthy people who love us and accept us as we are. Please bless each person named here today and help them know how grateful we are for them. Help us to be trustworthy, as well. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.” BTW: Instead of making puppets, you may wish for campers to use nature items to help describe their trusted friends or share stories about them.
Sharing the Harvest #Serve #Create Why: This activity helps campers connect the Ruth story with real people who live in their communities and are in need. It also gives them an additional opportunity to reflect on Ruth’s profound trust in Naomi, Naomi’s community, and Naomi’s God. Supplies: art supplies; plastic tableware; napkins; large self-sealing plastic bags or paper sacks; individually packed food items, such as: small bags of chips, packaged cookies, apples and bananas, fruit snacks, granola/protein bars, juice boxes, packets of food like tuna or crackers How: In this activity, campers will recall the Ruth story and aim to serve others who might be in need of food. Ruth and Naomi were allowed to glean because they were widows in need. This means that they were allowed to take what was left over after the harvest. Explain to the campers that there are many people who do not have enough to eat. Invite the campers to put together sack lunches for those in need. They may wish to decorate the bags or include notes to the recipients. After the lunches have been put together, deliver them to a local food pantry. Tell
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• What would have happened if someone had purposely not moved when someone was running? How would that have changed how we feel about each other and deal with each other this week?
finished their puppets, have the campers sit in a circle. One by one, invite them to introduce to the group the person whom he or she trusts. When everyone has gone, use the following prayer to be the voice of the trusted friends. Have the puppets repeat after you:
the campers something about the food pantry’s ministry and the people it serves. BTW: This activity could be done after lunch or dinner, during which campers could be encouraged to take one bag of chips (or another packaged item) for themselves and one for a food pantry. If possible, consider traveling to a food pantry, soup kitchen, community garden, or other local food ministry and volunteering there. Alternatively, invite someone from one of those organizations to come and speak to the campers about their ministry. Be mindful of food allergies.
Orpah’s Story
#LEARN #Create
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Why: This activity gets campers working together and using their imaginations. It allows them to wrestle with the themes of the story and decide what they think about Orpah and her actions. Supplies: Bible, paper, writing utensils, props, costumes, etc. How: After reading the section of the story of Ruth found in 1:6–18, remind the campers that the Bible gives some good information about what happened to Ruth after her faithful act in remaining with Naomi. However, Orpah was also faithful; after all, she did what Naomi asked her to do, and she followed the custom of the time. But, the Bible does not say what happened to her after she left. Divide the campers into small groups of 4–6. Invite each group to come up with a creative way to tell the story of Orpah. These stories can be performed as plays or songs, written as letters from Orpah to Ruth, or simply read as stories. BTW: This activity can also be done individually as a written project or journal entry.
No Rules!
#P l a y
Why: This activity helps campers understand the importance of rules. It also allows the leadership to reinforce the camp rules early in the week and explain that rules are there for everyone’s protection and to ensure that everyone can be safe and have the most fun possible. Supplies: two dice per each small group of campers (3–5 people)
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How: Tell the campers that are going to play a dice game. Divide them into small groups of 3–5 and then give each group a set of two dice. Then, tell them to begin playing. Give no further instructions. If the campers ask for more guidelines or information, just tell them to start playing. Give the groups some time to figure things out for themselves and come up with a game to play. After some time, call everyone back together and debrief using the following questions: • How did you feel when you were told to begin playing without being given any directions? • Without directions, how did you play the game? What was the first rule that you came up with? • How did your group agree/disagree on what the rules would be? If there was conflict, how did you resolve it? • Why do you think that rules are often part of our lives, and especially part of our lives together at camp? How are rules good? How are rules bad? • How are rules related to trust? BTW: To make it a more physical game, give each group of campers a ball instead of dice and tell them to “play ball.” If the campers enjoy playing cards, consider using the card game Fluxx instead of this activity. In Fluxx, the rules, goals, and objectives constantly change. Consider using this activity to go over the camp rules again and possibly come up with additional rules for each small group to follow.
A Voice in the Wilderness
#P r a y
Why: This activity encourages campers to reflect on what it means to trust God. Learning to trust new people is difficult for many campers. Many campers may not be prepared to trust other campers or leaders immediately, but they may feel comfortable trusting God. Hearing God’s Word and connecting it with the location of camp will be helpful for some. Supplies: Jeremiah 17:5–10 from The Message printed on handouts (one per camper and leader), flashlights, The Message version of the Bible How: In this activity, campers will pray about what it means to trust God while connecting with
God in nature. Take the campers to an open space. Have the campers read Jeremiah 17:5–6 together as a group. It should be read slowly, giving time for reflection. Silently, lead the campers to a lush area of camp, with trees and water. Invite them to read verses 7–8 together in the same manner. Finally, lead the campers to a dark space (either indoors, or outdoors during the night) and invite campers to read verses 9–10 together. Reflect with the campers about what it means to trust God in difficult times. Share a personal story. Close by reading Isaiah 43:1–7 from The Message or with a time of silent prayer.
Trust Walk
• How did you feel during this activity? Why? • How would someone who really didn’t have sight learn to trust others? • When Ruth followed Naomi, she was following her into an unknown place with unknown people and an unknown God. How do you think that she felt? Why do you think that she chose to go with Naomi anyway? BTW: There are many variations of trust walks. Campers can be paired up and one camper blindfolded while the other camper gives directions (sometimes using no words, just hand pressure). Use whatever trust walk activity that would work best with your particular group.
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BTW: Encourage campers to take some quiet time and return to the place that they liked the most. They may want to journal about the scripture reading or about their personal thoughts or prayers.
other leaders are around to ensure campers’ safety. Debrief together:
#P l a y
Why: This activity will build trust among the group. It may also help the campers connect with Ruth and see how her deep trust was what sparked this great story. Supplies: blindfolds, various objects How: In this activity, campers will explore the concept of trust through a trust walk. Blindfold all of the campers and have them stand in a single file line, placing their hands on the shoulders of the person in front of them. Lead them over, under, and around different objects. Be sure that
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older Children BIB/THEO OVERVIEW
Day 3:
YOUNGER CHILDREN YOUNGER YOUTH OLDER YOUTH
Together, the Courage to Forgive Daily Quick Reference Guide
Scripture Story: Genesis 45:1—15
INTERGENERATION Scripture Focus: Genesis 45:14–15 Then he fell upon his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept, while Benjamin wept upon his neck. And he kissed all his brothers and wept upon them; and after that his brothers talked with him.
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Theological Summary: When Joseph knew that it was safe to do so, he showed his forgiveness to his brothers so that the work of God could go on. Campers will: • experience the transformative power of forgiveness in relationships • explore giving and receiving grace • discover how forgiveness is communal • acknowledge fear of being taken advantage of/hurt again
Christian Practices
— Let It Go Prayer: #P r a y Simple prayer exercise
— Poetry Slam: #Create Writing and sharing poems
— Food for Others: #Serve #P r a y Making soup jars to share with others
— Covered: #P l a y Game to reinforce the Old Testament understanding of forgiveness
— Capture the Cup: #P l a y Game to remember the Joseph story
— Famished!: #LEARN Working together to enact part of the Joseph story
— Inside Out: #LEARN #P l a y Working together to understand theme of community Leader Notes To prepare, read through the “Biblical and Theological Overview” for Day 3. The Joseph story is about an individual (Joseph) who forgives a community (his brothers). Throughout the day, there will be various opportunities for individual campers to think about other individuals, as well as groups, who are in need of forgiveness. However, they also need to see the role of the community in encouraging forgiveness. Joseph did not necessarily have that (or, if he did, it’s not in the biblical account). Yet, campers need to understand that forgiveness is also something that the community does together. Look for ways to point this out.
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Worship Practices Cabin Time Living together at camp creates lots of opportunities for forgiveness to be offered. Pay close attention throughout the day and call attention to the times when campers showed forgiveness to one another. At the end of the day, debrief these moments with the campers and then thank God for helping the campers show forgiveness.
Song Ideas • “Before the Sun Goes Down” (PureNRG, 2009) • “The Forgiveness Song” (Veggie Tales, 1995) • “Lean on Me,” especially the chorus (Bill Withers, 1972) • “I Am the Church! You Are the Church!” (hymn) • “We Are the Church” (Jay Beech, 1988)
Prayer Dear God, we come to you today learning the mystery of forgiveness. We know that forgiveness is important, and we hope to forgive others, but it is difficult. You know this. You are the God who forgives us. Just as you helped Joseph and his family, help us, Lord. Help us to offer forgiveness as individuals and as a community. Give us the strength to encourage one another to forgive so that the world around us may be transformed. Through our friend, Jesus, we pray. Amen.
Worship Ideas Joseph Today
#celebrate
Supplies: none, other than perhaps some random props After the campers have heard the Joseph story at least once, divide them into small groups of about 4–6. Ask them to put together a creative way to tell the Joseph story (or a specific part of the Joseph story) as if it was happening today. Groups may perform skits, construct various text messages or tweets that the characters in the story
Fears in the Sand
#centering
Supplies: sand, wide container to hold sand, Bible (optional: recording of contemplative music and battery-operated player) In this activity, the campers will be encouraged to express their fears. Start by leading everyone in a brief, calming prayer. Consider having reflective, instrumental music playing in the background. Then, invite one camper to come forward and use his/her fingers to trace a fear in the sand. The camper can use words or symbols and take as much time as he or she needs. Then, the camper will pass his or her hand over what he or she has drawn, wiping it away. As the camper returns to his or her seat, the rest of the campers say together, “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you” (Psalm 56:3). The camper should gently tap another camper on the shoulder, inviting him or her to come forward and take his or her turn. Continue until all have had a chance to come forward. Close by reading Psalm 86:1–13.
. Story Summary . Our story starts near the end of the dramatic story between Joseph and his brothers. The story may be familiar to you, but here’s a quick refresher: We first hear about Joseph in Genesis 37 as a young and arrogant favored child who seems to be spoiled by his Father. The jealous older brothers sell him to traders headed to Egypt. His father, Jacob, thinks Joseph has been killed by a wild animal. As dramatic as these events are, Joseph’s life gets even stranger. He is sold to a prominent Egyptian named Potiphar and serves him well. Joseph does so well that he is promoted to head of Potiphar’s home. This goes well until Potiphar’s wife decides
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• “No Way Out” (Phil Collins, 2004)
would send, sing or dance, form their bodies into symbols that tell the story, etc. Some groups may need ideas or encouragement. Have the groups perform for one another.
part of Joseph’s duties should be sleeping with her. Joseph refuses, she accuses him of rape, and Potiphar throws Joseph in jail. While in Jail, Joseph meets two servants of Pharaoh. He interprets their dreams with great accuracy. One of the two, as Joseph predicted, returns to serve Pharaoh, who is also having strange dreams. The servant tells Pharaoh about Joseph. Joseph is summoned and interprets Pharaoh’s dreams as a warning of a great famine. Joseph is put in charge of all of Egypt to guide them through the famine.
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It is during this famine that Joseph’s brothers come asking for food. They do not recognize Joseph, who decides to test them and see if they have become better men. Joseph hides a silver cup in the bags of Benjamin, the youngest brother. After “catching” Benjamin stealing the cup, Joseph has him arrested. Judah, on behalf of the brothers, comes to Benjamin’s defense and Joseph can see the brothers are good men. It is in that moment that our text beings.
Story Resources Forgive, Joseph! Carolyn Nystrom, Moody Press, 1998. There are many movies that portray the Joseph story, including various versions of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, as well as The Ballad of Little Joe (Veggie Tales), and Joseph: King of Dreams. There are also many other movies that demonstrate the concept of forgiveness. One for consideration is Disney’s Brother Bear.
Christian Practices Let It Go Prayer
#P r a y
Why: This activity helps campers visualize letting go of their hurts and offering forgiveness. The feeling of the sand slipping through their fingers will remind them of the forgiveness they offered. Supplies: a handful of sand for each camper, Bible How: Ask campers to take a small handful of sand. Then invite them to close their eyes, form
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a fist, and hold it in front of them. Ask them to recall a time when someone hurt them, and they had a difficult time forgiving. Encourage them to imagine these hurts being held in their fists. Give a few moments of silence for reflection. Then, read today’s scripture story (or another scripture passage), and invite the campers to loosen their fists slowly. At the end of the reading, encourage the campers to open their fists and let go of their hurts, offering forgiveness to whomever has hurt them. BTW: This activity should be done outside. If it’s breezy, the sand should blow away. However, the activity may also be done indoors without the sand.
Poetry Slam
#Create
Why: This activity helps campers who prefer to work alone and process internally. It is also an opportunity for campers to express themselves to one another. Supplies: paper and writing utensils How: Invite campers each to take 20 minutes to write a poem about forgiveness. It can be any kind of poem—a haiku, a rhyming poem, a non-rhyming poem, etc. It can be somewhat silly or very serious. It can be about a personal experience, a fictional experience, someone else’s experience, or the Bible story. After everyone is done, encourage the campers to present their poetry, one at a time, to the rest of the group. Be aware of campers with special needs or those who may be very shy. Make sure that everyone “snaps” after each poem is read. Debrief with the group afterward. Ask some of the following questions: • What common themes did you notice? • What was difficult about writing this poem? What was easy about it? • Why is forgiving so hard? • What might be some things that we can do to help make forgiving a bit easier? • What are the risks involved in forgiving someone? BTW: If a camper is uncomfortable reading his or her own poem, offer to read it on his or her behalf. If a camper is struggling to write a poem, ask that camper to create a drawing instead.
Food for Others #Serve #P r a y Why: This activity helps campers connect the story with helping real people. The smell of the spices and the feeling that the campers get working together to create something real will help them make meaning. Supplies: measuring cups, tablespoons, teaspoons, large mixing bowls, mason jars, label stickers, funnels, potato flakes, powdered milk, chicken (or vegetable) bouillon, onion flakes, dried parsley, dried thyme, seasoning salt
RECIPE 2 cups potato flakes 1 ¾ cups powdered milk 2 tablespoons chicken or vegetable bouillon 2 teaspoons onion flakes 2 teaspoons dried parsley ¼ teaspoon dried thyme 1 ½ teaspoons seasoning salt Wash hands before beginning. Have each pair put their ingredients in a bowl and mix well, Then, using a funnel, fill a jar with the mixture. They can attach a note to the side of the jar that includes the instructions for making the potato soup: “Add 1 cup of hot water to ½ cup of mix and stir. Salt and pepper to taste.” The note should also include a written prayer from the campers. Pray over the jars when they are completed.
Campers may also enjoy decorating the jars beforehand. They can use tissue paper and Mod Podge to make the jars look like stained glass, put ribbons or stickers on them, paint them, etc.
Covered
#P l a y
Why: This playful activity helps campers remember that the Old Testament word for “forgive” also means “to cover up.” Supplies: rolls of toilet paper How: Tell the campers that in the original Old Testament language, the word translated as “forgive” also means “to cover up.” When Joseph forgave his brothers, he covered them up completely with his forgiveness. Encourage campers to get in groups of two to four. Choose one person in each group to be “covered up,” and the others will do the covering. Allow one minute for the teams to cover the person up with the toilet paper. Debrief with the following questions. • Are there any spots where the “covered” person is not covered? If we do not forgive someone completely, what might happen? • Have you ever tried to forgive someone completely and couldn’t? Why not? What happened? BTW: After this activity, the toilet paper may be used to make “clean mud” for sensory play. Have the campers shred the toilet paper into small bits. Then take a bar of Ivory soap, grate it, add it to a cup of hot water, and stir. Put the shredded toilet paper into a basin and pour the water in. Let the campers mush it with their hands until it becomes a moldable dough.
Capture the Cup
#P l a y
Why: This activity is a fun game that relates to the Joseph story through the use of the silver cup. It is reminiscent of a competition game, but there are no winners or losers, only teams working together to achieve a common goal. Supplies: two silver-colored cups, each marked differently in some way
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How: In the story, Joseph’s brothers came to him in need of food. Despite what they had done to him in the past, Joseph forgave and provided for them. Explain to the campers that they are going to share the love that Joseph showed by making potato soup jars for those in need. Ahead of time, choose a local ministry to which the jars will be donated. As campers are working, tell them something about the place where the jars will go and the people who might be taking them home. Campers can work in teams of two to make the jars.
BTW: Instead of donating the jars to a ministry, campers may choose to give them to the camp staff (kitchen staff, custodial staff, etc.).
Older Children
How: This game is similar to the traditional “Capture the Flag” game. Divide the campers into two teams. Each team has a silver-colored cup and one half of the playing area. One player from each team is responsible for the cup and must hide the cup somewhere on that team’s side of the playing area. When the game begins, the teams must look for the other team’s cup (which may be guarded, but not moved). When one team finds the other team’s cup, the player who hid the cup must be put in “prison” (a designated place on each team’s side). The player in prison must stay in prison until two or more of his or her teammates come to release him or her. They do so by touching hands with the person (who may be guarded but not touched). When the player is released from prison, another player form that team hides its cup, and the game continues. The game goes on until time is called. BTW: This activity may be done inside or outside, provided that the space is large enough. Be sure to set boundaries on the playing area and give each team the same amount of space.
Famished!
#LEARN
Why: This activity allows the campers to work together to solve a problem. It also helps them connect with the brothers in the story. Although it is important to focus on Joseph and his ability to forgive in order to move the community forward, there was transformation among the brothers as well, and this helped Joseph to forgive them. Supplies: snack of your choosing, the book Forgive, Joseph! How: Tell the campers that they are going to receive a special snack. However, the group must travel together to some predetermined location (the kitchen, camp offices, etc.) in order to receive the snack. Work it out ahead of time with a staff member so that when the campers arrive and ask for the snack, the staff member tells them that they cannot have a snack unless one camper stays with them for the day and works for them. Observe as the campers work this out. If the campers seem content to offer up one of the campers on their behalf (or if one camper volunteers on behalf of the others), be prepared
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to offer reasons why that would not be good for the group. Make sure that no sensitive camper is completely thrown under the bus. Without completely taking over, try to get the campers to the point where they all agree to stay and work together. Praise them for coming to this conclusion and then give them the promised snack. As everyone is eating together, read the story of Joseph from Forgive, Joseph! Discuss how Joseph’s brothers changed during the course of the story, allowing Joseph to forgive them. Consider some of the following questions: • Did anyone in our group act like Judah? In what way? How did that make you feel? • Did anyone in our group protect someone in the way that the brothers protected Benjamin? How did that make you feel? How do you think that it made that person feel? Be sure to end by helping with the staff member’s work. BTW: This activity may also be done without using a snack as the reward. Perhaps the reward is a special activity that the campers enjoy. Perhaps the “work” that has to be done is a chore that everyone dislikes. Be creative and customize this activity appropriately.
Inside Out
#LEARN #P l a y
Why: This activity allows the campers to work together to solve a problem. Natural leaders, as well as those who are good at taking direction, will emerge in this scenario. The activity will also help them connect with the Joseph story and reinforce the importance of community. Supplies: Bible How: In this activity, campers will try to untangle themselves by working together. Be aware of campers with special needs or mobility issues. Invite campers to form a circle in which everyone is facing the outside. Have everyone join hands, and then instruct them that they must make it so that everyone is in a circle facing inside. However, they may not drop hands! They will need to work together to climb over, under, and around in order to achieve this goal. Encourage them, but do not take over. When they have successfully completed the task, give lots of praise. Gather everyone
together and read the story of Joseph. Debrief together: • What was it like to be so tangled up? How did you feel at various points during the activity (when first given the task, when you were most tangled up, when conflict arose, when you finally accomplished the goal)? • What is good about being part of a community and working together to solve a problem? What is difficult about it?
• How was the relationship between Joseph and his brothers “tangled up”? What had to happen in order for everything to be made right again? BTW: The bigger the group is, the longer this activity will take, but the more meaningful it will be. If you have a relatively small group, consider joining with another group.
Older Children
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older Children BIB/THEO OVERVIEW YOUNGER CHILDREN
Day 4:
YOUNGER YOUTH
Together, the Courage to STAND Daily Quick Reference Guide
OLDER YOUTH
INTER- Scripture Story: Daniel 3 GENERATION • Read The Message by Eugene Peterson Scripture Focus: Daniel 3:28
Older Children
Nebuchadnezzar said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants who trusted in him. They disobeyed the king’s command and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God. Theological Summary: When we are called to be different from others and to stand with our community, we will not stand alone. Campers will: • find confidence in community • discover the impact of communal worship • find strength in numbers • acknowledge fear of being misperceived
Christian Practices
— Fiery Furnace Foam: #Create #P l a y Participate in a sensory activity to connect with the story — Around the Campfire: #LEARN Experience the story around the campfire
— Standing With: #Serve #P r a y Send letters to and pray for important people in campers’ lives — Photo Scavenger Hunt: #P l a y Work together and interact with elements of the story
— Campfire Coals Prayer: #P r a y Pray for the campers and help them to see the importance of community — Belonging: #P l a y Participate in a group activity to understand the value of community
— Building the Story: #LEARN Use building materials to engage with the story Leader Notes
To prepare, read through the “Biblical and Theological Overview” for Day 4. Some of the campers may have heard this story before, but they may have heard a different emphasis. Many curricula use this story to teach about bravery or persecution. However, it is important today to focus on the importance of standing with our communities and how God promises that, when we do, we will never stand alone.
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Worship Practices Cabin Time
Worship Ideas
By now, camp is in full swing. However, midweek can be the toughest part of the week. Campers may be getting homesick, and going home still seems far away. Tensions may also start to rise as everyone gets to know each other better, and living together becomes more difficult. For all of those reasons, this is an excellent time to focus on community and on the importance of everyone in the group. Have a time today for concerns and fears to be voiced. Support and pray for one another.
Big Band
• “I Shall Not Be Moved” (hymn) • “This Little Light of Mine” (hymn) • “The Servant Song” (hymn) • “Lean on Me,” especially the chorus (Bill Withers, 1972) • “I Am the Church! You Are the Church!” (hymn) • “We Are the Church” (Jay Beech, 1988) If you can obtain the music from the children’s musical It’s Cool in the Furnace, there are multiple age-appropriate (and fun) songs about this story available there.
Prayer Dear God, thank you for the gift of community. We need people to stand by us with things get tough. We know that you always stand with us, but we are grateful when you send others, as well. Let us learn from Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego that you are with us when we stand together. Help us to see where you might be calling us to stand with someone in need. Through our friend, Jesus, we pray. Amen.
Supplies: musical instruments of all kinds In this activity, campers will praise God with music. Gather as many musical instruments as possible. If there is limited access to musical instruments, consider having the campers make some (simple maracas, drums, etc.). Invite each camper to choose an instrument. Talk about how the people in the story used music to praise their leaders and gods. Explain that the campers are going to make music for God. Try all different kinds of songs, tempos, etc. Consider having a parade. Talk about what it feels like to make music for God. Invite the campers to use their instruments as you read Daniel 3. When you mention “instruments,” they get to make a lot of noise.
The Way I See It
#centering
Supplies: paper, writing utensils, recording of soft music, battery-operated player In this activity, each camper will think about his or her identity. Play some soft music in the background. Ask campers to think about themselves and how others see them. Give them each a sheet of paper and ask them to make three columns: “The Way I See Me,” “The Way Others See Me,” “The Way God Sees Me.” Invite them to spend some time thinking about this. Campers may share, if they wish. Affirm that everyone has concerns about how others perceive them. Affirm God’s love for each camper. Or, instead of paper, you could use dry-erase markers on either windows or mirrors.
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Song Ideas
#celebrate
. Story Summary . This story is from the Old Testament prophets. Prophets help people put their knowledge of God together with the world they are living in. Sometimes the prophetic message is a harsh warning, other times it is a testament of other people who have been faithful in similar situations.
Older Children
Despite warning after warning from prophets like Jeremiah, God’s people find themselves divided. Many stay in Judah after Babylon conquers, them while others are taken into exile. Those in exile were often leaders, artists, or highly educated. Babylon took those they thought would contribute the most to their society, and this also kept them from causing trouble in the newly conquered kingdom. Among those Jews forced to call Babylon home were Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. In their first days living in Babylon, the four men distinguish themselves and prove their commitment to the Lord by the diet they keep and the way they live. God then blesses them for their faithfulness. Daniel interprets a dream for King Nebuchadnezzar and finds himself promoted to a place in the King’s court. He asks that his three friends be given positions of authority and Nebuchadnezzar grants the request. Ironically, Nebuchadnezzar even claims that the Lord is God of gods and Lord of kings. That is where our story picks up in Daniel 3. While the three friends do end up making quite a scene, it was not their intent. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego are just trying to remain faithful to God by the way they worship, or, in this case, what they refuse to worship. Nebuchadnezzar’s giant golden statue is not something to be worshiped in their religion, and the three friends don’t feel Nebuchadnezzar has the authority to make them. He is a king, but their commandment comes from God. Seeming to forget his previous experience with Daniel and the Lord, the king tries punishing Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. However, being thrown into a giant furnace full of fire fails to end the three and, by the king’s telling of the story, a fourth figure joins them in the fire. After letting them out, Nebuchadnezzar repeats all the great things he said about God earlier, but seemed to forget.
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Story Resources “A King Learns About God,” The Family Story Bible, Ralph Milton, WJKPress, 1996. “Fiery Furnace,” Spark Story Bible, Augsburg Fortress, 2009.
Christian Practices Fiery Furnace Foam #Create #P l a y Why: This sensory activity connects campers with the story in a different way. The story is filled with sensory images, but since campers are unable to work directly with fire in a hands-on way, this activity is a good alternative. Supplies: measuring cups, 4 mixing bowls, shaving cream, cornstarch, baking soda, liquid watercolors or food coloring, vinegar, (optional: squeeze bottles) How: Make four batches of foam in fire colors (red, yellow, orange, and white). To make each batch of foam, take about 2 cups of shaving cream and add about ½ cup each of cornstarch and baking soda. Add color as desired. Use hands to mix to get the desired consistency. Then, add all of the colors together on a sidewalk or other concrete area outside in a way that looks like a large flame. Invite the campers to work with the foam. They may want to use tools or figurines as they do so. After some time, bring out the vinegar, preferably in squeeze bottles. Allow the campers to add the vinegar to the foam and watch it sizzle and fizz. Campers may continue to work with the foam, but make sure that they do not touch their eyes after the vinegar has been added. BTW: This activity is fun to do even without the vinegar.
Around the Campfire
#LEARN
Why: This multi-sensory story is perfect for the campfire. Campers can connect with the sight, smell, and sounds of the campfire and create lasting memories of this experience. Supplies: The Message version of the Bible, campfire
How: Read Daniel 3 from The Message. Try reading it a couple of different times, in different ways. Read it slowly, pausing for silent reflection. Read it dramatically, with a great deal of emotion. Allow the campers to look into and smell the campfire, imagining the events of the story. Debrief as a group or in small groups using the following questions: • What do you like best about this story? • How does this story make you feel? • Do you identify with anyone in the story? If so, who? Why? • Tell about a time when you were given the chance to stand up for something. How did you respond? If you could do it all over again, would you do anything differently?
BTW: If a campfire is unavailable, use the same activity with candles or incense.
Standing With
#Serve #P r a y
Why: This activity helps campers connect the story with their own lives. It helps them appreciate their communities and focus on how they can stand with others. Supplies: paper or notecards, writing utensils, art supplies How: Discuss with the campers the importance of having someone stand with them when they are going through difficult times. Refer to the fourth person in the fire in today’s story. Share a personal story, if possible. Invite the campers to think about someone who has stood with them during a difficult time. Encourage them each to write a note to that person, thanking him or her for doing so. Then, ask each camper to think about a person who may need someone in his or her corner. Can the campers stand with these people? Encourage the campers each to write a note to this person, as well, promising to stand with him or her. After the notes have been written (campers should be encouraged to send the letters when they get home), pray the following prayer (or a similar one), leaving space and time for the campers to state the names of the individuals to whom they wrote.
BTW: Instead of writing notes, campers can create other gifts for these individuals.
Photo Scavenger Hunt
#P l a y
Why: This fun activity helps build community as teams work together. Supplies: digital cameras (or phones) How: Divide the campers into teams of 5 or more and give each team a camera. Explain that they need to find the following things around camp (you may want to change this list as you see fit) and take a photo of themselves with the item. If they complete all the tasks, offer them a reward. When all of the teams return, talk about the items and how they relate to the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Photo scavenger hunt list: • Fire pit. Four people need to be in the photo. • Chapel. Three people need to be in the photo. • Statue (or cross). Three people need to be in the photo. • Musical instrument. The whole group needs to be in the photo. • Room where furnace or boiler is located (just take photo of the door; do not go inside). Three people need to be in the photo.
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• What are the risks involved in standing up for something, even if it is the right thing to do?
“Dear God, thank you for standing with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fire. We are so thankful that you have promised us that we will not have to stand alone, for we know that you are always with us. We also know that you send others to be with us, and we are so grateful for them. When we have gone through difficult times, these people have stood with us and made the journey easier. God, thank you for: [allow time for the campers to name those who stood with them]. Bless these people, God, and let them know how much we appreciate them. God, we also ask that you would be with those who need someone in their corner. We know that you might be calling us to stand with these people, and we thank you for that. Help us to be good friends, showing your love. And help these people during hard times: [allow time for the campers to name those with whom they intend to stand]. Bless these people, God, and let them know how much you love them. Through our friend, Jesus, we pray. Amen.”
• Something golden. One person needs to be in the photo. • Take a photo with everyone in the group kneeling. • Camp director’s office (bonus point if he/she is in the photo with you). Two people need to be in the photo. BTW: Be sure to add locations that are specific to your camp. Consider adding some locations that are not obviously related to the story and see if campers can make a connection.
Campfire Coals Prayer
#P r a y
Older Children
Why: This activity connects the themes of fire (from the story) and community. It may demonstrate the importance of community, as well as give the leaders an opportunity to pray for each camper by name. Supplies: campfire, poker or stick
run to the center of the circle and then back to their place in the circle. If they are not part of that group, they should just keep walking. Call several groups, one by one. Some of the groups should include all the campers (e.g., people who have attended camp), and some groups should be ones that involve fewer campers (e.g., people who walk to school, play on a team, are a sibling, play a musical instrument, attend Scouts, etc.). Try not to choose a group that will single anyone out completely. When you are done, debrief: • What did you observe? • In what ways do these groups tell you who you are? Are some groups more important than others? • Are there any groups that you especially want people to know about? Are there any groups that you are embarrassed about? Why? • Can someone tell what groups you belong to just by looking at you? • Can someone tell what groups you belong to by what you do or don’t do? How can our behavior let people know who we are?
How: Allow your campers to gather near the campfire at a comfortable distance. An adult leader will explore the fire with them using a poker. Explore the different parts of the fire and notice how the fire burns hotter when all the coals are together. Help campers identify themselves with a coal as you move the coals one at a time toward the outer part of the fire pit. Notice how the coals fade quickly. “Name” each of the coals with the campers’ names, and pray for each as you add their coal back into the fire.
Building the Story
BTW: This would be a good activity to do after a campfire, when the fire has begun to go out. If a campfire is unavailable, consider using small individual candles instead.
Why: This activity is a hands-on way for the campers to work with the story. Questions or insights that otherwise wouldn’t may come out through this activity.
Belonging
Supplies: The Message version of the Bible, pipe cleaners, straws, play dough, foil, stones, etc.
#P l a y
Why: This activity builds community by demonstrating all of the ways in which the campers are connected. It also encourages campers to think about the groups in which they are involved and how those groups help shape them. How: This activity highlights many of the groups to which the campers belong and invites the campers to reflect on how those groups shape their identities. Have campers stand in a large circle in an open area. They will walk clockwise in the circle. Then say the names of different groups. If the campers are part of that group, they should
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BTW: There are many other creative ways to discover the different groups to which the campers belong. Consider putting them into small groups and inviting them to figure out a number of things that they all have in common. #LEARN
How: In this activity, campers will each build something as the story is read. Provide a number of various supplies and materials. Invite campers to build anything that they would like (related to the story) as you read through the story. Read Daniel 3 from The Message. You may want to read slowly or more than once. After the story has been read, invite the campers to share what they made and why. BTW: Be creative with the supplies. If unique supplies are not available, encourage campers to draw or paint.
older Children BIB/THEO OVERVIEW YOUNGER CHILDREN
Day 5:
YOUNGER YOUTH
Together, the Courage to Do Justice Daily Quick Reference Guide
OLDER YOUTH
INTER- Scripture Story: Esther 4 GENERATION Scripture Focus: Esther 4:13–14; 8:6
[Esther said:] “For how can I bear to see the calamity that is coming on my people? Or how can I bear to see the destruction of my kindred?” Theological Summary: Esther took a risk to defend God’s people because she trusted God’s covenant with her community. Campers will: • understand that their choices can have positive effects on the community • identify and address injustice • expand their understanding of community to a global scale • acknowledge the fear of failure
Christian Practices
— Groggers: #Create #LEARN Create noisemakers
— Mishloach Manot: #Serve #Create Share with others — Al Hanissim Prayer: #P r a y Thank God
— Saving God’s People: #P l a y Connect with the story
— Praying for God’s People: #P r a y Pray for oppressed people
— Time Is Running Out!: #P l a y #LEARN Enact the story — Writing for Justice: #Serve Write letters
— Shaving Cream Seals: #Create #P l a y Use sensory play Leader Notes To prepare, read through the “Biblical and Theological Overview” for Day 5. The Esther story is about an individual (Esther) who risks everything to save her community. Throughout the day, campers will hear about people who risked everything to save lives. It is important to recognize the courage of and importance of individuals who did this. However, it is also important to help campers see the small ways that they can do justice every day.
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Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, “Do not think that in the king’s palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews. For if you keep silence at such a time as this, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another quarter, but you and your father’s family will perish. Who knows? Perhaps you have come to royal dignity for just such a time as this.”…
Worship Practices Cabin Time
Worship Ideas
Gather together and read Hey, Little Ant. Talk about some of the issues that arise in the book. What are some of the reasons why the ant shouldn’t be squished? What are some of the reasons why it might be okay to squish the ant? How do we determine what is right and what is wrong? Take some time to listen to campers’ concerns about struggling to do justice in their own lives.
Let Justice Reign!
Song Ideas Older Children
• “Where Justice Rolls Down” (Bob Stromberg, Rick Carlson, and Michael Pearce Donley, 1994) • “Hey, Little Ant” (Phillip and Hannah Hoose, 1992) • “What Can One Little Person Do?” (Sally Rogers, 2000) • “Lean on Me,” especially the chorus (Bill Withers, 1972) • “I Am the Church! You Are the Church!” (hymn) • “We Are the Church” (Jay Beech, 1988)
Prayer Dear God, we don’t understand why the world is not as it should be. Bad things happen; people hurt other people. Things just aren’t right. Sometimes, we feel afraid. Doing the right thing is hard. Others might make fun of us. We might not make a difference. We might even get in trouble. But we know that you love your people and that you want them to live in a world that is good. Give us the courage, like Esther, to do the right thing, even when we are afraid. Through our friend, Jesus, we pray. Amen.
Supplies: food and drinks, party supplies (noisemakers, hats, decorations, music, etc.), art supplies In this celebration, campers will praise God for an act of justice. Choose one or more stories from history or from recent news when someone stood up for justice. Tell the story of this situation and then allow the campers to celebrate in whatever way they deem appropriate. Campers may want to create their own artwork commemorating this event and decorate their cabin. Remember to spend some time thanking God for giving this person the courage to do what was right.
Quaker Prayer
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#centering
Supplies: Bible, (optional: quiet materials to manipulate—such as clay or pipe cleaners) In this centering time, campers will learn the power of silence. Mention that Esther had to wait and listen for the time to be right before speaking. Before entering the space where they will pray, explain to the campers that they are going to enter in silence and then sit and listen for God. They are not to make any noise until they hear the scripture verse (Psalm 146:5–9). After that, they are to remain quiet and listen for God, but if they feel moved to share something (a thought, an emotion, a song, etc.), they may do so by standing, speaking, and then sitting down. Everyone should remain quiet throughout the duration. When all who want to do so have shared, close simply by saying, “And all God’s people said, ‘Amen.’”
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. Story Summary . King Ahasuerus calls for Queen Vashti to come before him, but she refuses. She is “dismissed,” and a search for a new queen is held. A beautiful Jewish woman named Esther, who lives with her cousin Mordecai, is selected to be a candidate for queen. Her cousin tells Esther to keep quiet about being Jewish.
Mordecai goes to Esther and tells her it is time for her to use her position to save all of her people. She plans a banquet with the king to request that her people be freed. Haman is still angry about Mordecai and plots to coerce the king to have Mordecai hanged. That night, the king finds that Mordecai had never been honored for his service to the king. The king asks Haman how a hero should be honored; Haman says “with a parade,” thinking it would be in his honor. It wasn’t. It was for Mordecai. After the parade, Haman and the king go to Esther’s banquet. Esther makes her request that her people be saved. The king demands to know who planned this. Esther points to Haman. The king sentences Haman to die on the gallows he had made for Mordecai. While the king cannot revoke his decree, he allows Mordecai to issue a new one that says that the Jews may attack back on the day that they were to be attacked. The day was to be celebrated every year as the festival of Purim—that is, the dice.
Esther’s Story, Diane Wolkstein, Morrow Junior Books, 1996. Hey, Little Ant, Phillip and Hannah Hoose and Debbie Tilley, Tricycle Press, 1998. Esther…the Girl Who Became Queen, Veggie Tales, 2000 (DVD).
Christian Practices Groggers
#Create #LEARN
Why: This activity connects campers with Jewish friends and neighbors who celebrate this holiday today. It also engages them in the story by helping them focus on listening for Haman’s name. Supplies: the storybook Courage, Esther!, craft supplies to make noisemakers (plastic soda bottles, empty toilet paper rolls, paper plates, beads, buttons, markers, feathers, glue, etc.) How: Using whatever supplies are available, invite the campers to create and decorate noisemakers to celebrate Purim. These noisemakers are called “groggers.” After all of the noisemakers have been made, read the Esther story using Courage, Esther! or another storybook about Esther. Instruct the campers to shake their noisemakers every time that the name “Haman” is read. They can even “boo” and “hiss” at Haman. Explain that every year, when the Jewish people celebrate Purim, they read the Esther story from a scroll and use their noisemakers to drown out Haman’s name and show disdain for his deeds. BTW: When Jewish communities celebrate Purim, they also invite children to dress up in costumes. If costumes are available, consider making it part of the activity.
Mishloach Manot #Serve #Create Why: This activity helps demonstrate the importance of community. In the Esther story, the Jewish people are not unified. Today, the Jewish people practice “mishloach manot” in order to demonstrate unity, friendship, love, and the importance of community.
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Mordecai overhears the king’s guards plotting to murder the king, and he notifies the king, who finds out it is true. Mordecai is honored in the king’s book of deeds and is welcomed as an official into the king’s court, where it is known that he is Jewish. Meanwhile, the king appoints a man named Haman as leader of all his officials. Haman commands that the other officials bow in his presence. Mordecai stands his ground (because bowing to anyone but God is against his religion), and makes an enemy in Haman, who, rather than just wanting to destroy Mordecai, asks the king’s permission to destroy all the Jews. The king agrees and seals a decree stating that they would roll the dice to see what day this terrible plot will be carried out.
Story Resources
Supplies: chocolate bars, graham crackers, large marshmallows, containers for two s’mores ingredients, craft supplies
Older Children
How: In this activity, campers will learn about the tradition of “mishloach manot,” which is when Jews give gifts of food to friends on Purim. Invite campers to decorate the containers in a fun way (one or two per camper). Then have campers wash their hands and instruct them to package the s’more supplies in the containers. Each container should include enough supplies to make at least two s’mores. When the campers are done, tell them that they each are to choose someone at camp (or two people, if they’ve made two) to whom to give their “s’mores prep packages.” Keeping in line with Jewish custom, they will then each ask someone else from the group to deliver their s’more kits to their designated recipients. BTW: Instead of s’mores, consider making trail mix or some other appropriate, ready-to-eat food. As always, keep in mind campers’ allergies.
Al HaNisim Prayer
#P r a y
Why: This activity encourages campers to think about the ways in which God is active in their lives and in the lives of others. It also helps them connect with one another. Supplies: chalkboards, marker boards, or 5 large pieces of paper; 5 markers, recording of soft music, battery-operated player How: The Al Hanissim prayer is a special Jewish prayer that is said on some holidays, including Purim. In the first part, it thanks God for miracles, redemption, mighty deeds, saving acts, and wonders. Write each of these five words or phrases on papers or marker boards around your space, leaving room for campers to write underneath or around them. Leave a marker near each. Invite campers to think about all of the things that God has done in their lives and in the lives of others. Have them write these specific instances under the categories in which they fit. Have some soft music playing in the background. Close the activity by praying over all of these written prayers of thanks. BTW: Some of these terms are bigger words with which the campers may not have a lot of experience. It might be helpful to give examples
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of each one and/or define the terms, especially terms like “redemption.”
Saving God’s People
#P l a y
Why: This activity helps campers learn the names of the characters in the Esther story. . It is also a fun way to enact the story. How: Choose one camper to be “Haman.” Then, send Haman away for a moment, and choose two campers to be “Esther” and “Mordecai.” All other campers are “God’s people.” Allow Haman to return. Explain that God’s people are going to run around in the game area. The camper chosen as Haman is going to try to tag God’s people, which will land them in jail (a designated area of your choosing). Esther and Mordecai are able to go to the jail and tag the imprisoned people, thus freeing them. However, Haman should not know who they are. Otherwise, he could put them in jail, which would inhibit God’s people from being saved. So Esther and Mordecai need to try to free God’s people without Haman seeing. They may need to work together with other people in order to accomplish this. Play until Esther and Mordecai are in jail, or for a set period of time, whichever comes first. Then choose others to be Haman, Esther, and Mordecai and start again. BTW: This activity may be done inside or outside, or even in a pool or lake, provided that there is enough space.
Praying for God’s People
#P r a y
Why: This activity connects the Esther story to today and also encourages campers to begin to think about places around the world where injustice is occurring. Supplies: large map of the world, notes on the conflicts (made ahead of time), sticky notes, marker, candles (one per camper), lighter or matches How: Ahead of time, take a large map of the world and mark (with sticky notes or a marker) some places in the world where God’s people are being oppressed. Check international news sources for information and to gain a basic understanding of each conflict. Be sure to include stories from the U.S. and/or the regional area surrounding the camp. Share these stories briefly with campers.
Share at least one story for each camper in your group. After you have shared about all of the situations, allow each camper to choose one for which to pray. Stand in a circle and hold hands, placing the map, unlit candles, and a lighter in the middle. Open with a general prayer and then go around the circle, inviting each camper to pray out loud for his or her situation. When done praying, campers may each light a candle in the center and place it on the map in the appropriate place. If campers are unsure of what to say, tell them that they may pray something like, “Dear God, please be with your people in [location name]. Help them, encourage them, and let your justice be done. Amen.”
Time Is Running Out! #P l a y #LEARN Why: This activity encourages campers to interact with others and with the Esther story. Supplies: copies of handout on page 101 (one per camper), writing utensils, Courage, Esther! or other Esther storybook How: Esther had a short amount of time in which to work to save her people. But there were a number of things that she had to do before she could complete her task. She needed to ask people to pray and fast, go to the king, touch the king’s scepter, throw two parties, and reveal that she was one of God’s people. In this game, the campers will participate in some timed activities that are reminiscent of the Esther story. First, read the story using one of the storybooks. Re-cap all of the things that Esther needed to do in order to save her people in time. Explain that the campers will have a set amount of time (perhaps five or ten minutes, depending on your location) to complete a set number of tasks. The tasks are listed on the handout. BTW: This activity may be done inside or outside, provided that the space is large enough. If inside, obviously some adjustments may need to be made to the handout (or you may what to make some, in order to be specific to your camp).
#Serve
Why: This activity encourages campers to think about injustices that have an impact on their own lives and communities, and to do something about them. Supplies: paper, writing utensils, envelopes, and stamps, list of local, state or national elected officials and their addresses How: Esther was courageous and spoke to the king about an injustice that was occurring among her people. In the world today, there are many areas of injustice. Many courageous people speak out against these injustices in many ways. Sometimes, people choose to write letters or e-mails to their elected officials in order to encourage them to take action on a certain issue. Even letters from children are read every day. Ask the campers to think about an issue that they have heard about in the news that is important to them. Help them identify someone in their local, state, or national government to whom they can send a letter. You will need to use the Internet to find the appropriate person and address ahead of time. Then help campers write brief, personal letters to their elected officials. Letters should include why the issue is important to them. If campers wrote letters on paper, put them in the mail. BTW: If a computer lab is available, this activity may be done on the computer. As an alternative to writing letters, you could have the campers make “public service announcements” about the chosen issue.
Shaving Cream Seals #Create #P l a y Why: This sensory activity allows campers some time to work as individuals. It gives them the freedom to make, and remake, their symbols as many times as they’d like. Supplies: flat surface (enough room for each camper to have his or her own space), shaving cream, popsicle sticks, paint brushes How: In this activity, campers will create symbols for their own “signet rings.” In the story, Haman used King Ahasuerus’s signet ring to further his plan for destroying the Jewish people. In those days, leaders wore rings that acted like their
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BTW: The campers might not yet be comfortable using a lighter or striking a match. If that is the case, you could use pieces of clay or play-doh to place on the map.
Writing for Justice
signatures. They might have symbols or letters on them. Each camper will have his or her own space. Squirt some shaving cream into the area. Allow campers to use their hands, popsicle sticks, paint brushes, etc., to create their own symbols. They may try out as many symbols as they’d like. Suggest that they can try whatever symbols,
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letters, or pictures they can think of. When finished, make sure that everyone helps clean up. BTW: This activity can be done inside or outside. Food coloring can be added to the shaving cream for some additional fun. Be sure that it is okay if the flat surface gets stained. Otherwise, protect it with wax paper.
Time is Running Out! Esther had to complete a number of tasks in order to save her people before time ran out. In this activity, you must complete the following tasks in this order before time runs out. When you are done, return this form to your counselor to see if you succeeded in saving your people in time! 1. First, Esther needed to ask her people to pray and fast for her. Find three different people and ask them to say a prayer for you. After they have prayed, have them sign their names here:
Older Children
2. Esther needed to humble herself and go before the king. Find your counselor. Bow down in front of him/her to show respect. Then, ask your counselor to sign here:
3. Esther also needed to touch the king’s scepter in order to show respect for the government. Run to the flagpole and touch it. Then sign your name here:
4. Esther had to throw two parties in order for her plan to be carried out. Find three people. All four of you need to dance together for 30 seconds. Have all three people sign their names here:
5. Finally, Esther had to tell the king that she was one of God’s people, a Jew. Run to your counselor and announce your name. Find out if you have saved your people in time!
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older Children BIB/THEO OVERVIEW YOUNGER CHILDREN
Day 6:
YOUNGER YOUTH
Together, the Courage to Change Daily Quick Reference Guide
OLDER YOUTH Scripture Story: Acts 10
INTERGENERATION • Read The Message by Eugene Peterson Scripture Focus: Acts 10:44–45
Older Children
While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard the word. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. Theological Summary: Sometimes a community has to change its plans to be faithful to God’s story rather than just doing what the community has already done before. Campers will: • learn that community adapts to change from inside to outside • notice that change is inevitable • celebrate and share change • acknowledge fear of the unknown
Christian Practices
— Parachute Popcorn: #P l a y Work with a parachute to recall Peter’s dream — Pantomime: #P l a y #LEARN Act out the story through pantomime — Labyrinth: #P r a y #Create Pray through the use of labyrinths
— Changed!: #P l a y #Serve Work with sensory materials to explore the concept of change, and create gifts for loved ones — Emoticons: #LEARN Express the emotions of the characters in the story
— Clean Food Blessings: #P r a y #Create Create prayers to say before meals — Casting Call Challenge: #P l a y #LEARN silly storytelling game
Leader Notes To prepare, read through the “Biblical and Theological Overview” for Day 6. This story about Peter and Cornelius focuses on how Peter and his community (the Jewish followers of Jesus) were called to change their ways in order to fulfill God’s purposes. It is important to keep in mind that the law was very important because it fulfilled God’s purposes. However, after Jesus, it became evident that God wanted the people to open the door wide, so something new had to come about. God’s purposes never changed. This is an important point to make. Sometimes people must change in order to stay faithful to who they really are. That is what Peter and his community realized in this story.
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Worship Practices Cabin Time Tomorrow is the last day of camp. There may be mixed emotions. Some campers are sad to leave new friends and routines. Some are anxious to see family and friends. Some campers have experienced significant growth, and they are afraid of the unknown. Spend some time unpacking fears of what will happen after camp is over. Affirm those fears and share your own. Invite campers to write down everyone’s fears so that they can pray for one another when they are home.
• “Change My Heart, O God” (hymn) • “Spirit of the Living God” (hymn) • “We Are One in the Spirit” (hymn) • “Lean on Me,” especially the chorus (Bill Withers, 1972) • “I Am the Church! You Are the Church!” (hymn) • “We Are the Church” (Jay Beech, 1988)
Prayer Dear God, we know that life is filled with changes. Some are easy, and some are difficult. Some we go through on our own, and some we go through with others. Thank you for giving us families, friends, and communities with whom we can grow and adapt. Thank you for giving Paul and Cornelius the courage to change. Thank you that even though we change, and the world changes, and you call us to change, you do not change. You always love us, always take care of us, and always work for justice in the world. Help us to embrace changes and see them as opportunities to serve you. Through our friend, Jesus, we pray. Amen.
Worship Ideas Good Changes
#celebrate
Butterflies
#centering
Supplies: origami paper, string, recording of soft music, battery-operated player In this activity, the campers will make origami butterflies. Using the printable pattern on page 108, demonstrate for the campers how to make the butterflies. Explain that the butterfly is often a symbol of change because it changes from a plain caterpillar into a beautiful butterfly. Play soft music while the campers make the butterflies. To encourage them to stay calm and meditative, ask them to be as loud as butterflies. When they are done, attach string to the butterflies and use them to decorate the worship space.
Supplies: paper, writing utensils
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Song Ideas
In this activity, invite campers to sit in a circle with their eyes closed. Choose two or three campers at a time to move around the circle. Remind campers how important the things they say are, and to be kind and loving. Ask the moving campers to “gently touch the friends who tried a new thing this week” or “gently touch the friends who helped you change.” Make sure to use phrases so that everyone gets several touches. Campers will note positive changes in themselves and in each other. After everyone has gone, give campers writing tools and paper, and let them each make a list of the great things about himor herself, starting with what he or she was just recognized for in the circle. Have them write, “Great things about [their name]” at the tops of their papers, and then write all the “taps” they received in the game. Then allow them some time to write their own statements about how they have changed. As a litany, allow each child to stand and read their list (for example: “I am brave; I am silly, I try new things!”). When all have shared their lists, tell them to write one more thing on their lists: “I am changed by Christ’s community!” Then, everyone shouts the last phrase together.
. Story Summary .
they all stayed together at Cornelius’ house as one community.
Older Children
Cornelius, a good Gentile man, had a vision of an angel. The angel told Cornelius to go find a man called Peter and bring him to his house. Cornelius sent two of his men to find Peter. Meanwhile, Peter, a Jewish disciple of Jesus, was praying on the rooftop of his friend Simon’s house when he had a vision of a sheet full of strange animals coming from heaven. God told him he could eat any of these animals, even though the law of the Jews said some of them were unclean or forbidden. Peter argued, but God told Peter that Peter didn’t get to call something unclean if God called it clean. Then the sheet was taken back to heaven. Just then, Cornelius’s men showed up at Simon’s gate. The Spirit told Peter to go with the men who were looking for him. So Peter said, “I’m the one you are looking for.” Peter invited the men in (which was surprising, because the law also said that these men were unclean) and they invited Peter to come and talk to Cornelius.
Story Resources
Peter and some disciples went back with them to Cornelius’ house. Many Gentile people who had gathered at Cornelius’ house listened to Peter. Peter said, “I came here, even though it is against my law, because God showed me that I shouldn’t call anyone unclean or impure. Now you tell me why you sent for me.” Cornelius told about the angel. He said, “Now that we’re all here together, what has God told you to tell us?”
How: In the story, Peter saw a sheet coming down from the sky. The sheet was filled with animals. Take the parachute and spread the campers around the edges of it. Have them experiment with the parachute for a while. Then slowly add stuffed animals. Challenge them to keep all of the animals on the parachute! Campers can reenact the story by lowering the animals to the ground on the parachute and then raising it up again.
Peter was convinced that he had to change his mind about what was unclean. He talked about the story that they had heard about Jesus Christ—how Jesus could heal wounded people because God was with him. Peter told them that the story was true; then he told them that Jesus was crucified and his dead body was buried, but Peter and the other disciples saw that God raised Jesus from the dead. And Jesus had appeared to them, because Jesus had chosen them to be his friends and tell people that their sins can be forgiven and they too can be part of his family.
BTW: This activity can be done inside or outside. If stuffed animals are not available, balls or bean bags will also work. Experiment with other parachute activities. If you don’t have a parachute, use a king-sized bed sheet per 4 campers (one at each corner). Make it challenging by having them “pop” specific animals off (for example, instruct them to “Keep only bears!”).
When Peter told this story, a change happened to everyone in the room. They all received the gift of the Holy Spirit! Even the Gentiles! It was obvious to Peter that God could change people’s hearts, and he told the disciples with him to baptize these Gentiles into the family of Jesus Christ, and
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There is a short scene with Peter and Cornelius in The Bible: The Epic Miniseries (2014). Consider ordering this DVD and viewing this scene.
Christian Practices Parachute Popcorn
#P l a y
Why: The scene in the story with the animals coming down on the sheet will likely be the most memorable part for campers. This activity allows them to put their imaginations into action, while also encouraging them to participate in a classic pastime. Supplies: large parachute, stuffed animals of all kinds
Pantomime #P l a y #LEARN Why: This pantomiming activity will help campers visualize the story. By entering into the story, campers can identify with various characters. Supplies: The Message version of the Bible, costumes, props (leather items, workbench, stuffed animals, sheet, chairs, soldier’s items, pillow, blankets), nametags
How: Before beginning, set up three separate areas for the two scenes in the story. When the campers are present, read the story from The Message. Ask campers if they have any questions about the story. Explain the distinction between clean and unclean foods and why the Jewish people did not eat unclean foods. Then discuss the two scenes in the story: the home of Simon the Tanner and the home of Cornelius. Point out the two areas that you have created. Allow campers to choose the characters whom they would like to play. Give nametags to the campers (Simon, Peter, two messengers, Cornelius, family members of Cornelius, disciples, narrator). Read through the story again (or choose a camper to do so), pausing to allow the campers to act out the story silently. Debrief:
on page 107. Create the labyrinth using rope or clothesline, sidewalk chalk, or tracing it in the sand on the beach or in the volleyball pit. Explain to the campers that Peter listened to God while he was praying. So campers will be making their own finger labyrinths to take home. During this time, they will also each get the opportunity, one at a time, to walk the big labyrinth.
• How did the characters in each scene break a previous rule or challenge an authority?
BTW: You may want to experiment with all different kinds of labyrinths that the campers can walk through. They can be inside or outside, during the day or at night. You can even plan a glow-in-the-dark labyrinth or one that can be done in the lake or pool.
• Think about a time when something changed and it was very difficult. What did you do to get through it? BTW: Instead of a pantomime activity that uses a lot of action, try this activity as a “freeze frame,” where campers hold their positions in each scene. Snap photos and display them later.
Labyrinth
#P r a y #Create
Why: Sometimes people believe that prayer is all about them talking to God, but often God talks to them, and they just need to listen. A labyrinth can help them listen. This activity is a good one for campers that process internally or need some “alone time” with God. Walking the labyrinth by themselves will encourage campers to reflect on all that God has been teaching them at camp. The finger labyrinth can be a powerful reminder of that experience. Supplies: printouts of page 107, supplies to create a large labyrinth (see below), large colorful paper plates, writing paint, fine paintbrushes, pencils (optional: soothing music to play in background) How: In this activity, campers will be encouraged to listen to God while using a labyrinth for prayer. Ahead of time, create a labyrinth for campers to walk through. Many different designs are available online, but you can use the seed patterns
Instead of the writing paint, campers can use rolled-up foil and glue to make the finger labyrinths.
Changed!
#P l a y #Serve
Why: A lot of senses will be used in this activity! It is a great way to discuss just how much things can change. Supplies: a bar of Ivory soap (must be Ivory), microwave-safe plate, microwave, cookie cutters or molds, water, mixer or food processor or spoon, paper plates, sandwich-sized plastic bags (optional: food coloring) How: In this sensory activity, campers will see how a bar of Ivory soap is changed and then spend some time exploring this change. Take the bar of soap and show it to the campers. Have them pass it around. They can see it, touch it, smell it, and make lots of observations. It might be a good idea to take an extra bar of Ivory soap (one that will not be used in this experiment), place it in water, and allow the campers to make further observations. Then place the dry soap on a microwave-safe plate and put it in the microwave. Run the microwave on high for about a minute and thirty seconds. Make sure that the campers
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• Why is it difficult when rules or guidelines change?
To make the finger labyrinths, campers should choose a paper plate and the design of the labyrinth that they want to use. Then, they should copy (or trace) the labyrinth design onto the paper plate lightly with a pencil. After that, they can trace their pencil marks with writing paint. This makes the labyrinth more threedimensional and easier to use for prayer.
can see what’s going on inside the microwave. The soap will expand and move around. When the microwave stops, remove the soap carefully and let the campers examine it. It may be slightly hot, so do not let them touch it until it has cooled down. Once it has cooled, put it in plastic bowl where the campers can investigate it some more. You may want to do the same with another bar of Ivory to see how the two compare. Debrief: • How has the soap changed? How is it better? How is it worse? How is it the same? • Peter was very concerned about remaining “clean.” Yet, he discovered that God was going to make all things clean. This was a difficult change for Peter. How was this change better? How was it worse? How was it the same?
Older Children
Now that the soap has (likely) been smashed to smithereens by the campers, invite them to make soaps to give away. Take the soap shavings and add a bit of warm water to them. Mix (with a spoon or a mixer or a food processor) just until the substance comes together, and has the consistency of pie crust and can be formed into a ball. Add food coloring, if desired. Let the campers press it into the cookie cutters or molds. After the soaps are molded (but still wet), you can gently push them out of the molds. Put them on paper plates and have the campers each add his or her name to his or her soap shape. Allow the soaps to sit in a cool, dry place until the campers are ready to go home. Then place them in plastic bags and encourage the campers to give them to someone special when they get home. BTW: The smell of the soap in the microwave shouldn’t be too strong and won’t last long, but those with asthma or other respiratory problems may want to be farther away. If only a small microwave is available, cut the bar of Ivory in half before putting it in the microwave.
Emoticons
#LEARN
Why: This activity invites campers to connect with the emotions of the characters in the story. It may also help them to acknowledge fears. Supplies: The Message version of the Bible, large drawings of a wide variety of emoticons (one per standard sheet of paper, with multiple copies of each—enough so that there is one kind of each per camper)
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How: Have the emoticon drawings spread out in front of the campers. Explain that as the story is read, the campers should choose an emoticon that represents the emotions of the characters at that moment in the story. If they cannot find an emoticon that fits perfectly, they can use their own faces to express the appropriate emotion. Read the story using The Message. Pause frequently to allow campers to choose their emoticons. Discuss along the way, particularly if campers are struggling to discern the emotions. After the story is over, ask campers to choose an emoticon that captures their feelings about this story. Invite them to share. BTW: For a snack activity, prebake cookie pops. Use ready-to-bake cookies, but put a popsicle stick in them before baking. Provide campers with lots of yellow icing or melted yellow candy chips, black icing in a piping bag, and Runts candies or dried fruit to add features. Campers can decorate one or two cookies, and use them as above as you read the story.
Clean Food Blessings #P r a y #Create Why: Mealtime prayers are something campers can take home with them and share with their families. This activity encourages campers to work in small groups to complete a task. It also connects a common camp activity (eating!) with the theme for the day. Supplies: paper and writing utensils How: At many camps, there are fun mealtime prayers. Some are songs and some have motions, etc. In the story of Peter and Cornelius, Peter learned that God had made all food clean (and therefore appropriate for eating). Invite the campers to get into small groups of two/four and write their own mealtime prayers, thanking God for making all food clean. They can be as creative as they want, making songs or rhymes and adding motions. As campers head to meals today, have each group share its blessing and teach it to the others. Be sure that every group gets a chance to demonstrate and teach its blessing. BTW: This activity may be used at other times as well. Have campers come up with a good night or a good morning blessing for the next day. They
may want to come up with blessings before swim time or other camp activities.
be playing which biblical figure. Then tell the story with funny voices and all the flair of a cartoon!
Casting Call Challenge #P l a y #LEARN
Example: Now starring: Jasmine as Peter, Aladdin as Cornelius, Genie as the Angel of God, and Abu as Simon. Let the flying carpet take the role of the blanket of food and call Joppa, Arabia.
Why: Campers are likely to be very familiar with Disney characters and popular fairy tale stories. They will think of Peter and Cornelius’ story the next time they see these characters. How: The challenge is for you to tell the story of Peter and Cornelius using popular contemporary characters from shows and stories. Ask the campers for a suggestion of a favorite fairy tale or wellknown movie. Together, name the characters from the popular story and decide which character will
Afterward, let them choose another fairy tale and tell the story themselves. BTW: This activity is great for counselors and leaders who are spontaneous and silly. You may want to think through some other examples beforehand and be prepared. If you use characters from a Disney movie, try making up a song about the Bible story on the fly to the tune of a song from it.
Older Children
Labyrinth Seed Patterns Drawing the Classical Seven Circuit Labyrinth Step 1: Seed Pattern
Step 6: Loop 5
Step 2: Loop 1
Step 7: Loop 6
Step 3: Loop 2
Step 8: Loop 7
Step 4: Loop 3
Step 5: Loop 4
Step 9: Loop 8 (Finished Labyrinth
Drawing the Classical Three Circuit Labyrinth
Step 1: Seed Pattern
Step 2: Loop 1
Step 3: Loop 2
Step 4: Loop 3
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Step 5: Loop 4
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Make an Origami Butterfly Step 1: Fold a square piece of paper (of any size) into thirds. Photo 1A is how your paper should look after it is folded.
Older Children
1A
1
Step 2: Fold each third that you created in the previous step diagonally. (You may find it is easier to fold the center third’s portion first.) You can add a small piece of clear tape to each side to help the finished piece remain flat. Add thread for antennae or decorate any way you wish. Enjoy your butterfly!
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older Children BIB/THEO OVERVIEW
Day 7:
YOUNGER CHILDREN YOUNGER YOUTH OLDER YOUTH
Together, the Courage to Connect Daily Quick Reference Guide
Scripture Story: Matthew 28
INTERGENERATION Scripture Focus: Matthew 28:19–20
Theological Summary: In order to bless all nations, Jesus calls the community to cross borders and cultures and be willing to be changed by them as well. Campers will: • learn to invite others into a community of fearless faith • understand the value of being a community of faith outside of camp • leave with a connection between camp and home communities • acknowledge fear of being alone, going home, being forgotten
Christian Practices
— Pieces of the Puzzle: #Create Create a puzzle that demonstrates connectedness
— What Happens Next: #LEARN #P l a y Imagine the next part of the story and beyond
— You’re Invited: #P r a y #Serve Pray for fearless faith
— What Means the Most: #LEARN Discern which verse is most meaningful
— Jesus Says: #P l a y Play a game to wrap things up Leader Notes
To prepare, read through the “Biblical and Theological Overview” for Day 7. The story of the great commission is one in which Jesus calls his disciples to continue his mission on earth. He sends them out to explore new places and create new communities. It is scary, but also exciting. Campers may feel similarly. It is important for them to see the connection between their camp community and their home faith community. However, it is important to recognize that some campers may not have healthy, welcoming communities to which to return. Help those campers see that they can use what they’ve experienced at camp to find community.
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“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Worship Practices Cabin Time Create time and space in the cabin for goodbyes. Invite the campers to sign each other’s books, Bibles, t-shirts, etc. Take photos of the group together. Exchange contact information. Honor any rituals, traditions, or inside jokes that have developed over the course of the week. Consider offering superlative awards, making sure that each camper is recognized in some way. Offer each camper a blessing as he or she packs up and departs from the cabin.
Older Children
Song Ideas • “Go Forth and Tell” (hymn) • “Go and Make Disciples” (GroupMusic, 2010) • “Take to the World” (Derek Webb, 2003) • “Lean on Me,” especially the chorus (Bill Withers, 1972) • “I Am the Church! You Are the Church!” (hymn) • “We Are the Church” (Jay Beech, 1988)
Prayer Dear God, we are so grateful for camp and for all that we have experienced this week. We are thankful for new friendships and new insights. We are excited to go home, but we are anxious about leaving. Thank you for giving us Jesus and letting us have a relationship with him. Help us to remember each other and to remember all that we have learned. Thank you for going with each one of us back to our home communities. Help us to share about our camp experience when we return. Through our friend, Jesus, we pray. Amen.
Worship Ideas Answered Prayers
#celebrate
Supplies: pieces of paper, writing utensils, tape In this activity, campers will praise God for answered prayers. Invite campers to write down how God has answered prayer this week, one per piece of paper. Then, have them stick the answered prayers on a wall. If the campers do not
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wish to display their answered prayers, they may fold them up and tape them shut before sticking them on the wall. Sing an upbeat praise song together and thank God for answering prayers.
Prayer Partners Revealed #centering Supplies: poster with campers’ names on it In this activity, the campers will reveal their prayer partners. Have a poster with all of the campers’ names listed on it. Leave space next to the names for the prayer partners to write their names on it. Discuss the importance of these prayer partners and the impact that these prayers have made. Then, invite the campers to come forward one at a time and write their names next to the campers for whom they have been praying. After everyone has come forward, hold hands in a circle and allow each camper to say a prayer for his or her prayer partner. Campers may wish to pray silently and simply squeeze the hand of the next person, signifying that they are done. If possible, share communion during this worship time.
. Story Summary . Just by showing up this week, your campers have affirmed that they are a part of God’s community. They have walked with Abram and Sarai; gleaned with Ruth and Naomi; forgiven with Joseph and his brothers; stood with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; done justice with Esther and Mordecai; and changed with Peter and Cornelius. Now it is time for them to go courageously with Jesus. How afraid the disciples must have been as they watched their friend Jesus be crucified by an angry mob! The events of the passion story are heavy, and each one takes a reader deeper into the stillness of death. But this story is about the morning after. It is the beginning all over again—the morning, the joy of a promise fulfilled. Jesus came and walked with his community and bound them to one another
in love. He showed them that God wants the whole human family to join together as one. So in his final word with the disciples, Jesus charges them to be bold and courageous, to go without fear, together, into a world that needs community. Like your first day together, this is the story that you and your campers are participating in even as you learn it together. You are the fulfillment of God’s covenant. It is good news to be shared to the ends of the earth!
What Happens Next #LEARN #P l a y Why: This activity will be a good one to help campers imagine what might need to happen next in their own lives. Supplies: Bible (optional: costumes and props)
Read “Jesus Is Alive” and “The Good News” from The Children of God: Storybook Bible, Desmond Tutu, Zonderkids, 2010.
• How do you think that the disciples responded to Jesus’ words? What do you think they did next?
• God has done amazing things at camp. How will you respond? What will you do next after leaving camp?
Christian Practices Pieces of the Puzzle
#Create
Why: Help campers visualize the connections that they have made at camp and how those connections will still be part of them when they go back home. Supplies: old children’s puzzle with large pieces (with enough pieces that each child can have one), art supplies How: Give each camper a puzzle piece. Invite them to decorate the front of the pieces to represent themselves, but they must leave the edges clear (so that the puzzle can be put back together). If there are extra pieces, allow campers to decorate another piece that represents a faith community back home. This community may be a church, ministry group, family, etc. When everyone is done and the pieces are fairly dry, put the puzzle back together. Talk about how every piece is different, but it creates something new and beautiful. The campers and their home communities are now connected. BTW: If a puzzle is not available, consider using different colors of play dough or clay to represent the different campers and home communities. Or consider using pipe cleaners to make individual sculptures. Then make one big sculpture out of the little sculptures.
BTW: Perhaps the campers would also enjoy acting out what they plan to do when they leave camp.
You’re Invited
#P r a y #Serve
Why: This activity helps campers think about inviting others into a community of fearless faith. It may be a nonthreatening way for campers to think about sharing their faith. It also offers them a chance to pray. Supplies: generic invitations, writing utensils How: Ask campers to think about someone from home whom they can invite to be part of a faith community. They may invite these people to church, to camp next year, or just to spend time with their families. Then invite them to fill out invitations that they can take home as reminders to talk to these people. After they have filled out the invitations, ask campers to pray for these individuals. If campers do not know what to say, they may say, “Dear God, help me talk to [name] about what being part of a community of fearless faith means to me. Amen.” BTW: Instead of creating invitations, you may wish to have campers offer prayers in another fashion.
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Story Resources
How: Share the story from Matthew 28 with the campers. Explain that these are the last words in Matthew’s Gospel. Invite the campers to brainstorm together about what might have happened next and act it out together. Ask the following questions:
What Means the Most
#LEARN
Why: This activity allows campers who process internally some time to think about this story and discover what it means to them. The sharing is appropriate at this point in the week and encourages community Supplies: Bibles (enough for one for each camper)
Older Children
How: Read the story from Matthew 28 out loud together. Then give the campers a few minutes to reread the story on their own. Invite them each to find one verse or passage that stands out to that camper. It may be the passage that is the most meaningful, teaches him or her something new, tells him or her what he or she needs to do, or one that the camper has questions about. After everyone has had time to read and choose, share together. Then debrief about what stood out. BTW: Consider encouraging campers to do something creative with their verses. Perhaps each camper will want to write his or her verse somewhere special, highlight it in his or her Bible, or create something that will remind him or her of this verse.
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Jesus Says
#P l a y
Why: It’s time to wrap things up, yet this familiar activity reminds campers of the key words of Jesus in the Matthew story. How: This is a game similar to “Simon Says.” In this game, one person acts as Jesus. This person tells the campers to do something by saying, “Go and ___.” If “Jesus” fails to say, “Go and…,” but a camper does the task anyway, that camper sits out until the round is over. Encourage the campers to be creative and give some complex instructions (“Go and put on your bathing suits and jump in the lake”). Make sure that everyone has a chance to play the role of Jesus. BTW: This game may also be used as a clean-up, goodbye activity. A leader can play the role of Jesus and tell the campers to “Go and pack your suitcase,” “Go and sweep the cabin floor,” “Go and say goodbye to the camp director,” etc.
CONTENTS
DAILY OVERVIEW
BIB/THEO STAFF YOUNGER OVERVIEW DEVOTIONS CHILDREN
OLDER CHILDREN
OLDER YOUTH
INTERGEN
DAY CAMP
EXTRAS
Younger Youth BIB/THEO OVERVIEW
Day 1:
YOUNGER CHILDREN OLDER CHILDREN OLDER YOUTH
Together, the Courage to Show Up Daily Quick Reference Guide
Scripture Story: Genesis 12:1—8
INTERGENERATION Scripture Focus: Genesis 12:7–8
“Then the Lord appeared to Abram, and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built there an altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him. From there he moved on to the hill country on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east; and there he built an altar to the Lord and invoked the name of the Lord. Theological Summary: God called Abram out of his comfortable life to create community, and when Abram showed up, God met him there and blessed him. Campers will:
Younger Youth
• know they are connected to one another just by showing up • find camp to be a place they are valued and accepted for who they are • become familiar with surroundings • acknowledge fear of new experiences and rejection
Christian Practices
— Coming and Going: #LEARN #P r a y Claiming sacred space
— Courage to Be Afraid: #P l a y Everyone fears something — Captain Courage: #P l a y #Create God gives us power
— Fears in Hand: #P l a y #LEARN God’s response to our fears
— In Our Footsteps: #Serve #P r a y encourage future campers Leader Notes Campers “showing up” today are the evidence that God keeps promises. Today may be a good day to talk about what it is like to move. Remember that younger youth can handle big topics addressed carefully. Perhaps mention that Abraham’s child Ishmael also received the blessing, now recognized as the Islamic faith. Remember that this is not Abram’s only journey with God. This family will move, following God’s call in their life, traveling into the unknown and even into fearful endeavors. Abram’s journey is one of faith and promises. It is also important to remember that there are multiple covenants with multiple promises made in this portion of scripture. It is important to note that the promise of God’s blessing is with Abraham’s heirs just because Abraham “showed up.”
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Worship Practices Cabin Time Read Psalm 139:7–8 and ask campers to imagine God coming to camp ahead of them to prepare the space. Invite them to share what God knows they need to have a great week. Encourage them to offer a silent prayer of thanks for the day at camp and the days ahead. Read Psalm 139:1–18 to close your time.
Song Ideas • “Lo, I Am with You to the End of the World” (Iona Community) • “In This Very Room” (hymn) • “Holy Ground” (hymn) • “Courage” (Superchick, 2006) • “Stand by Me” (Ben E. King, 1961) • “Perfect World” (Indigo Girls, 2004)
Younger Youth
Prayer Lord, we are here in this space at this time. Open our eyes that we might meet you here. Open our hearts that we might feel your Spirit move around and through us. Open our deepest hiding places so that your light might shine on our darkest fears. Amen.
Worship Ideas Making Our Mark
#celebrate
Supplies: balloons, paint, small bottle, funnel, ladder, large tarp or sheet Prepare ahead of time by filling a balloon for each camper with paint. This is easily done by blowing up a balloon, placing it over a small bottle filled with paint, then tipping the bottle to fill the balloon. Quickly remove and tie. Spread a large sheet across the ground with a ladder on one side. Invite each camper to climb the ladder and say (as loudly as they want), “God called me to this place!” The rest of the camp responds by shouting, “You will be a blessing!” Pass the camper a balloon and invite him or her to throw it at the sheet. Once everyone has had a turn, offer a prayer of thanksgiving for the impact each
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person will have and how that impact will go further than anyone can see. Give thanks for the diversity of people and gifts that will make up the community. Once dry, the sheet can be hung or draped in a common space.
Ripples of Blessing
#centering
Supplies: small rock or pebble for each camper, body of water (optional: words to the song “Perfect World”) Give each camper a small stone, and explain that this will be the campers’ one time to throw a rock during camp. If you have a body of water, gather around that space, or you may use a large basin or portable pool. Invite campers to think about ways they could be blessings to the camp community. When they are ready, invite them to, one at a time, toss their rocks into the water and watch the ripples caused. Observe what happens when ripples collide with others. Other components of worship might include personal testimonials on the ripple-effect others have had in their lives by just showing up. Stories of people having the courage to be present in difficult times or in unknown circumstances would be great. You might use the words to the song “Perfect World” (Indigo Girls, 2004), which talk about ripples made by decisions made and those we choose not to make.
. Story Summary . Abram, born in Ur, married Sarai who could not have children. Abram’s family moved to Haran, but God asks Abram to leave this home. God promises a huge family for Abram and Sarai, which will be a blessing to others. Abram and Sarai go where God sends them. They travel through Canaan, where Abram builds an altar to the Lord, then into some hills by Bethel where they build another altar to worship God. God’s promise to Abram is so big that “all the nations of the earth” will be blessed by it.
Christian Practices Coming and Going #LEARN #P r a y Why: By reflecting on coming to camp, each camper can connect with the scripture story and claim his or her own emotions as the week begins. Supplies: Bible, two sheets of flipchart paper, markers for each camper How: Take your campers on an exploration—walk and invite them to collect rocks large enough to write on. Once you have at least one rock for each camper, move to your primary activity space. Invite each camper to write down something he or she left behind to be at camp on the rock. This might be a possession, relationship, or opportunity. Collect the rocks.
Give each camper a rock (not their original rocks). Invite each to say a silent prayer for the person whose rock he or she holds. Ask campers, one at a time, to read the words on their rocks, then place them in the middle of the group, forming a pile. As each places a rock, ask him or her to share something that he or she is hoping for at camp. Explain that Abram’s altar would have been built by stacking rocks. Say, “By placing our rocks, we form an altar proclaiming that God has met us in this place.” Leave the rocks in this place through your time together, all week if possible. BTW: As rocks are collected, be mindful of creation and camp constructs such as paths and roads. You can add to your altar each day, inviting campers to name places they have seen God in creation or the camp community as they place rocks.
#P l a y
Why: Explore the concept of fear and help campers get to know each other through play. How: Standing together in a circle, ask the campers to strike a pose that looks courageous. Invite all to share something they are afraid of by each completing the sentence, “My name is _____, and I’m brave enough to say that I’m afraid of…” and then striking his or her courageous pose. The rest of the campers affirm that camper by copying the pose and shouting, “Oh, yeah!” BTW: Add a creative element by inviting campers to draw something they are afraid of and burn those drawings on the rock alter created in “Coming and Going.”
Captain Courage
#P l a y #Create
Why: By being silly, we can talk more openly about our fears and how we might find the courage to face them. Supplies: lots of fabric (yards and yards), scissors, toilet paper tubes, markers, construction paper, glue, duct tape, paint, brushes, markers, and any other appropriate art supplies. (If fabric is costprohibitive, you can substitute garbage bags. Remind campers not to sleep in their capes.) How: Ahead of time, cut fabric in large rectangles for capes, with the short ends wide enough that the two corners can wrap around the neck and be tied, and cut toilet paper tubes lengthwise so they can be placed on wrists. Invite campers to discuss what abilities or powers God has given them, or what they would need from God to face their fears. Invite them to create a superhero costume to share their powers or the powers they would need from God. Give each camper a “cape” and two cut toilet paper tubes. Provide scissors, construction paper, glue, paint, duct tape, and other craft supplies. After they are finished creating their costumes, invite them to dress up and share their work. Discuss how God empowers us to meet the challenges before us. BTW: Invite campers to wear their costumes all day long. This could be a great photo op. If time allows, invite campers to create a comic book– style story of Abram’s journey.
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Read Genesis 12:1–8. Invite campers to name things they can imagine Abram and family leaving behind, and write them on a sheet of paper. On a second sheet, make another list—this one of things Abram and Sarai might have been hoping for in a new home. Compare your first list to the words written on the rocks. Reflect on how the campers’ experiences of leaving home compare to Abram’s story.
Courage to Be Afraid
Fears in Hand
#P l a y #LEARN
In Our Footsteps #Serve #P r a y
Why: Use this sensory activity to dig into the power of fears and confront some of the bigger ones people face. This will also help campers think about the courage of Abram’s decisions.
Why: By putting words to paper, campers can name their feelings and expectations while encouraging younger campers who may come with more fears.
Supplies: coffee can with lid, scissors, various small items, marker
Supplies: paper, pens, envelopes
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How: Ahead of time, cut slits in the middle of the coffee can from the middle, outward, so a person can reach a hand inside while being unable to see what is inside. Write the following words about fears on some small items and place the items in the can: “lost,” “poor,” “death,” “humiliated,” “hurt feelings,” “alone,” “failure.” Invite campers to reach into the can, one at a time, and grab an item. Before pulling it out, ask them to share what they can tell about that item just by sense of touch. Based on what they know from touching it, ask them the best thing and worst thing it could be. Invite them to pull out the item and read what is written on it. For each item, ask campers, “How might Abram and his family have faced this fear?” and, “When do people in our world today face this fear?” Finally, ask the campers to reflect on how God supports us when we face this fear. BTW: Be creative with your choice of items. You can also do this activity with the addition of a series of cans—each with different textured items in them, such as pasta, Jell-O, etc. Campers can reach into each of these before grabbing for an item in the final can.
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How: Give each camper a piece of paper and pen to write a note of encouragement to a young future camper. Invite the campers to include how they are feeling, any fears, and what they are most excited about. Allow anyone who is willing to share the letter, then give each camper an envelope. Say a prayer of thanks for the campers who have come before them, and for those who will follow them in the future. Collect the letters and save them for the end of the week. If time allows, let campers review their letters on the last day of camp. Leave them with a staff member who can share them with young campers at a future camp. BTW: With permission, some letters might be used in future camp promotions or sent to firsttime campers in younger age groups to read before traveling to camp.
Younger Youth BIB/THEO OVERVIEW
Day 2:
YOUNGER CHILDREN OLDER CHILDREN OLDER YOUTH
Together, the Courage to TRUST Daily Quick Reference Guide
Scripture Story: Ruth
INTERGENERATION Scripture Focus: Ruth 1:16–18 But Ruth said, “‘Do not press me to leave you or to turn back from following you! Where you go, I will go; where you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die, I will die— there will I be buried. May the Lord do thus and so to me, and more as well, if even death parts me from you!”’ When Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more to her. Theological Summary: Ruth is an outsider who learned to trust Naomi, Naomi’s community, and her God, and when she did, everyone benefited.
Younger Youth
Campers will: • learn the importance of trusting each other • discover the impact of trust on a community • reflect on consequences of broken trust • acknowledge the fear of betrayal
Christian Practices
— Walk the Walk: #P l a y #LEARN Obstacle course of trust — Step by Step: #P l a y #LEARN Visualize our impact
— Who Has Your Back: #LEARN #Serve Ruth’s story—our response
— Trust Charms: #Create #P r a y Crafty reflection
— Trust and Fear: #P l a y #P r a y Play with fear and trust — Free Floating: #P l a y Physical trust activity
Leader Notes Ruth and Naomi’s story is powerful, but there are a few strange quirks to be aware of. Boaz is much older than Ruth, and the “redeemer” concept is not familiar in our modern culture. Also, Ruth can be seen as taking advantage of an inebriated Boaz. Remember that youth are not naïve and may pick up on some of these issues.
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Worship Practices Cabin Time Read Psalm 23:1–4 and invite the campers each to share a time he or she had to trust someone else. Invite each to also share a time when someone had to trust him or her. Allow time for sharing, and encourage each camper to lift a silent prayer of thanks for a person who proved to be trustworthy. Remind the campers that someone may be praying for them. Share a short prayer or reread the psalm to close your time.
Song Ideas
for clarification before passing on the words of the prayer. Lord, you are worthy of our trust. When your people cried in the wilderness, You heard them and responded. Even though we walk in darkness, We will not live in fear. We will trust you like a shepherd. Guide us and comfort us. Lead us to serve others. Lead us to care for others.
• “You Are My Hiding Place” (Selah, 2004)
May we be worthy, Lord,
• “I’ll Be There for You” (The Rembrandts, 1990)
Of the trust you grant us.
• “If You But Trust in God to Guide You” (hymn)
Amen.
• “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” (Randy Newman, 1995)
God, Hear Our Fears
Supplies: paper, pencils, lighter, metal coffee can
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Prayer Lord, trust is hard. Give us the courage to risk, and the strength to risk again when our feelings get hurt. Draw us out from our hiding places and show us the beauty of a community built on trust.
Worship Ideas Walk and Talk with God
#celebrate
Supplies: blindfolds for all campers Invite campers to gather away from the worship space. Place everyone in a line, with hands on the shoulders of the person in front of each. Have adults at the beginning and end of the line, with extra spotters in the middle if needed. The adult in the back will start passing on the words to a prayer, one line at a time, up the line of campers, with each camper repeating them to the person in front of him or her. The adult in the front will guide the campers toward worship. Each camper follows the person in front of him or her while sharing the words to the prayer with that person he or she is following. Invite the first blindfolded person in line to shout out the prayer as loud as he or she can as he or she receives the lines. This is not a game of “telephone,” so campers may ask
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Invite campers to reflect on things they are afraid to trust someone else with. These can be secrets, emotions, or activities. Ask each camper to write this fear on a piece of paper. Ask campers to hold their papers and offer a prayer for the courage to step out of their comfort zones and risk trusting others at camp. Pray: “Let us give God thanks for receiving our fears and being with us, even when we are scared.” Burn the papers in a can as offerings to God. (Punching holes in the bottom of the can will help the fire keep burning, as will some citronella oil.)
. Story Summary . Naomi lived in the land of Moab until her husband and two sons died. She encouraged her two daughters-in-law to go back to their families because they had grown up in Moab and that was home. Naomi’s extended family were Hebrews and lived in Bethlehem, and that was where she was heading. Orpah returned to her family in Moab, but Ruth declared her love and loyalty to Naomi. Ruth promised to not only go with Naomi, but committed herself to sharing their lives together.
Eventually, Boaz invited Ruth to dine with him and his workers. After the harvest season, Boaz offered to take Ruth as his wife. This connected Naomi and Ruth back into the family they had lost when their husbands died. Ruth and Boaz had a child, which meant Naomi’s last days were spent celebrating new life rather than mourning all she had lost. If you follow the future genealogy of this child, you will find a couple of cool relatives, including King David and, eventually, Jesus. Ruth is Jesus’ 29-times-great-grandmother. The reason Joseph and Mary were heading to Bethlehem was because that is where Joseph’s family came from. Ironically, Bethlehem means “house of bread.” Ruth and Naomi went there for food, Ruth met Boaz while gleaning wheat, and Jesus, born in Bethlehem, is known as the “bread of life” (and we break bread to remember his life).
Walk the Walk
#P l a y #LEARN
Why: Help build trust in your group by playing a game that will allow them to compare and discuss the different ways we help each other. Some friends may give advice to solve problems, while others show up to help you face problems. Supplies: blindfolds (one per every two campers, pool noodles, hazard cones, boxes, other “safe” obstacles How: Set up a simple obstacle course using items that cannot hurt anyone. Pair campers and ask one in each duo to wear a blindfold. The camper who can see will guide his or her partner through the course by yelling directions to him or her. You can let campers go one pair at a time, or allow all the sighted campers to yell directions at the same time as their partners navigate the course. If time allows, the campers may trade spots so both get a chance to try the course. However, if you are tight on time, move on to the second part of the activity. Move the course around so that it is a little different, then invite the campers to navigate the course again. This time, instead of yelling directions, ask the campers who do not have blindfolds to walk along with and guide their partners through the course. After everyone has completed the course, spend some time talking about the difference between being told what to do and having someone walk through a difficult task with you. Discuss how bad directions or guidance can impact trust between partners. BTW: If you can build an obstacle course in several sites across the camp grounds, this is a great way to help campers get more familiar with the facility. By using different colors of noodles, boxes, and cones, multiple groups could go through different obstacle courses at the same time, passing each other on trails or walkways. Connect the community by having groups design courses for others to navigate.
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In Bethlehem, Naomi guided Ruth through the customs and culture of the community to help them survive. Ruth was brave and Naomi was wise, but as widows, they were not guaranteed food or protection. Following Naomi’s advice, Ruth practiced a custom called gleaning. She would go out into the fields behind workers and pick up the scraps of grain they missed when harvesting. This is what they used for food. Naomi instructed Ruth to focus on the fields of Boaz, a relative of Naomi’s late husband. While she was gleaning the scraps, Boaz noticed Ruth and instructed his workers to leave extra for her, and to offer her water. This protection and care were a first step to securing a future for the two women.
Christian Practices
Step by Step
#P l a y #LEARN
Why: Help campers see how trust pulls us closer together, or how lack of it keeps us apart. This is a good opportunity for discussion on the depths of trust and betrayal. This activity allows for a conversation on the proportional impact of both. How: Line campers up shoulder to shoulder at one end of a large space. Stand at the other end and read the list below. When campers hear something that would help them trust you more, they move toward you. When campers hear something that would make them trust you less, they move backward. Invite them to move 1–4 steps each time, depending on how much the statement would influence them. • I remember your name. • I give you a gift. • Someone tells you a nasty rumor about me. • I help you with homework or teach you a craft. • I say something embarrassing to you in front of your friends. • I come to one of your activities to support you.
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• I remember your birthday. • I tell a secret you shared with me. • I keep a secret you share with me. • I introduce you to someone famous. • I play a game with you. • I pray with you/for you. • I tell you to change your behavior. • I share a concern about you with your parents. Repeat the game, but take away the step rule. Allow campers to move as far as they feel is appropriate for each item on the list. After playing a second time, ask the campers to discuss their observations in the game. Reflect on which behaviors built or hurt trust the most. Ask the campers how different this experience is from reality, and how you can trust someone after that person has broken trust. BTW: You can adapt this to an auditory activity in which campers say the word “trust” with varying volume and tone. A positive trust-building response would be yelling “trust” with a positive tone. A negative would be whispering it in anger or sadness. You might invite campers to apply these rules to everything said all day, even in free
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time. Imagine someone spreading a rumor and listeners responding with a sad whisper of “trust” and a sigh.
Who Has Your Back? #LEARN #Serve Why: This activity will help campers identify specific people they trust. Youth who can name people to whom they can turn are significantly more likely to do so in times of need. Supplies: paper, envelopes, pens (stamps if needed) How: Read Ruth 1:1–18 together, then use the Story Summary to share the rest of the story. Read Ruth 1:16–18 again and ask the group to identify people in the story that had to trust each other. Give each camper a piece of paper and ask each of them to write one to three names or professions on his or her paper for each question you ask. Ask these questions (allowing enough time after each to the campers to write their answers): • Who would you trust if you were in an accident? • Who would you trust if you had a crush on someone? • Who would you trust if you made a big mistake? • Who would you trust if you had to try something new and scary? • Who would you trust if someone was hurting you? • Who would you trust if you were lost? • Who would you trust if you had questions about God? Go back through the questions and invite campers to share their answers. Talk about what makes those people trustworthy. Reflect on how their experiences are similar to those they read about in Ruth. Ask how are their experiences different? Give each camper a second sheet of paper and invite each to write a thank you note to someone from their answers. You can collect these and mail them for the campers, or allow them to seal the envelopes to take home and deliver. BTW: If you allow your campers a period of time with their cell phones, encourage them to make sure their trusted contacts are in their “favorites”
or “starred” tab. The letters could be great worship offerings for those who are willing to share their personal notes.
Trust Charms
#Create #P r a y
Why: A visual and recognizable (like “BFF” charms) way to get to know one another. Supplies: Craft foam, markers, yarn or jute, hole punch
BTW: These prayers could be the beginning of prayer partners for the week of camp. Campers might try to find a way to experience each word they have a piece of with those they have prayed for. If a camper has the word “sharing,” then maybe he or she could share a snack with someone who has another piece of that word. You could reunite these words later in the week to celebrate the courage to trust that has been displayed.
Trust and Fear
#P l a y #P r a y
Why: Sharing fears is a great way to build trust, and making it part of a game will take some of the pressure off. This game will remind you of the
Supplies: sticky notes (a small stack of about 10 for each camper), writing utensils, timer How: Give each camper a small stack of sticky notes and a writing utensil. Invite campers to draw something they are afraid of on the top sticky note, using simple stick figures and symbols, but no words. Names are not required on drawings. Give campers about one minute to complete their drawings. When time is up, tell campers to pass their stacks to the left. Campers study the drawings they just received, take the top note off, and hide it (under the table or behind their backs). Then using the next sticky note, each camper writes his or her guess of what fear the drawing represented. Give the campers 30 seconds to do this. Again, after you call time, the campers pass their stacks to the left. They again remove and hide the top note and translate the words into a new drawing. This draw-write pattern continues until all the drawings have gone all the way around. The campers then get to read the words or drawings as they came back to them. Some may get it right; others may be completely off track. You can follow this up with a conversation about how people communicate their fears, and what kind of trust it requires to name them out loud. Give each camper a fear drawing and close in prayer, letting each person pray for the person whose fear he or she is holding. BTW: This activity can be made a bit more challenging by doing away with the timer, and have the campers complete their drawings and guesses as quickly as possible. This can create some pile-ups, but is more likely to produce silly guesses and drawings!
Free Floating
#P l a y
Why: Physical trust can be different from trusting someone emotionally. This is a great activity for experiencing physical trust. It is also a fun activity to build community among campers. How: Have campers stand in a circle of no more than 10 people, shoulder to shoulder, facing the center. Invite one camper at a time to step into the center. Ask this camper to stand with his or her ankles and knees together, arms folded across
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How: Brainstorm things people do to build trust or other emotions connected to trust (sharing, risk, helping, truth telling, time together, etc.). Write these words or phrases related to building trust on pieces of craft foam. Cut each piece into two or more pieces, using creative cutting so the pieces end up looking like puzzle pieces. Make sure they can be matched up later. Put holes in the pieces and divide them up evenly so everyone has the same number—but no one has matching pieces in his or her possession. Give each camper a piece of yarn or jute to string his or her pieces onto. Help the campers tie these as necklaces, leaving enough length so the campers can easily look at the pieces on their necklaces. Once all have their pieces, allow time for the campers to walk around and see who has the other parts to match their pieces. Spend some time discussing how time at camp helps campers trust each other and what can be done to deepen that trust. Close in prayer, giving each person a chance to pray for everyone who shares a match to the pieces on his or her necklace. It can be as simple as, “God, I pray for, ____, ____ and ____.”
game Telephone, but with a twist that is fun and silly.
his or her chest, and chin tucked down. This works best with the eyes closed. The rest of the campers position the stronger of their legs behind them for better support, and place their palms up toward the volunteer in the center. Remind the volunteer not to bend, but to stand stiff. When the volunteer is ready, give him or her a gentle push backward toward the waiting circle. Those campers in that area of the circle “catch” the camper with their palms, then pass the person around, never letting the camper come to a complete stop. When the volunteer’s turn is over, say, “Center,” and the group will all work to stand
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this person up straight in the center. Give anyone who wants to volunteer a turn in the center. After everyone has had a chance to be “floated,” reflect on the difference between physically trusting someone and trusting someone with our feelings. BTW: Be sure to give campers the choice to participate in activities like this one. Some might be uncomfortable due to physical characteristics or past experiences. This is okay. Trust your campers to make those kind of choices for themselves. Make sure others don’t shame these choices. No one learns trust by shame.
Younger Youth BIB/THEO OVERVIEW
Day 3:
YOUNGER CHILDREN OLDER CHILDREN OLDER YOUTH
Together, the Courage to Forgive Daily Quick Reference Guide
Scripture Story: Genesis 45:1–15
INTERGENERATION Scripture Focus: Genesis 45:14–15 Then he fell upon his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept, while Benjamin wept upon his neck. And he kissed all his brothers and wept upon them; and after that his brothers talked with him Theological Summary: When Joseph knew it was safe to do so, he showed his forgiveness to his brothers so that the work of God could go on. Campers will: • experience the transformative power of forgiveness in relationships • explore giving and receiving grace
Younger Youth
• discover how forgiveness is communal • acknowledge fear of being taken advantage of/hurt again
Christian Practices
— Provoking Partners: #P l a y Exercise in choosing relationships
— Towers of Courage: #P l a y #Create Building community and frustration — Drama King of Egypt: #LEARN #Create Claiming strong emotions — Rest of the Story: #P l a y #LEARN What happened next?
— You Hearing Me?: #LEARN How we seek forgiveness — Unlimited: #P r a y #Serve Forgiving the worst
Leader Notes Notice that no apology takes place in this story. Forgiveness is about our need to restore relationships rather than a need to confirm blame. Fears of looking weak or being hurt again often keep us from forgiving. Don’t push campers into forgiving something they’re not ready to, but rather help them to see the amazing things God can do with a community through forgiveness.
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Worship Practices Cabin Time Read Psalm 86:5 and ask campers to share something they could have done differently since arriving at camp. Give time for sharing, and encourage each to lift a silent prayer for a person he or she may need to ask forgiveness from. Remind campers that someone may be praying for them. Pray or reread the psalm to close your time.
Song Ideas • “Forgiveness” (Matthew West, 2013) • “Amazing Grace” (hymn) • “The Carpenter” (David Wilcox, 1994) *spoken word • “Let It Go” (Tim McGraw, 2007) • “I Come with Joy” (hymn)
Weight Lifting
Prayer Younger Youth
Lord, grant us both the strength to accept and offer forgiveness. May we know the joy of burdens laid down. Help our communities to use the power of forgiveness to heal the hurts between all your people. Amen.
Bubbling Over
#celebrate
Supplies: soap bubbles, recording of upbeat music, battery-operated player Create a fun worship atmosphere with a skit and staged bubble-blowing experience. One camper begins blowing bubbles until another camper starts popping the bubbles. The blower acts hurt, allowing the popper to apologize and receive forgiveness. The blower then states something he or she did to hurt another camper, walks to where that person is seated, and apologizes to that camper. The first camper blows more bubbles, then passes the bubble solution to the person he or she apologized to, who responds by blowing more. This is repeated multiple times, each sharing how he or she has offended another, apologizing, and then sharing bubbles together. Make sure to practice so everyone knows their parts.
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Then pass out more bubbles so everyone can share in the fun. Invite campers to join in the bubble blowing as you play some upbeat music. Ask campers to do their very best to not pop someone else’s bubbles. If they accidently do, they should try to figure out whose bubble has been broken and ask forgiveness from that person. During this activity, tell the campers that this is also an opportunity to apologize and receive forgiveness for any real offenses they may have committed. Ask some campers to share their apologies or forgiveness statements out loud at this point to make it more comfortable for others to participate. Various sizes of bubbles could add to the fun and symbolize forgiveness between different communities.
#centering
Supplies: Chair, large pieces (at least 1 sq. ft.) of cloth, paper clips, marker, written list of “hurts” This activity will help illustrate the weight of hurts. Ahead of time, cut pieces of cloth and on seven write one letter each so that you can spell “F-O-R-G-I-V-E.” One camper sits in a chair and reads a list of hurts. These do not have to be personal, but can be drawn from common experiences. Examples include: being ignored, forgotten, betrayed, lied to, etc. Take time after each hurt is named for another camper to drape a cloth over the sitting camper’s lap, letter side down. As the list grows longer, the weight of the cloth grows. When the camper has finished naming hurts, allow for a period of reflective silence. After some silence, read Psalm 86:1–7. Other campers will then make statements of forgiveness, corresponding to the shared hurts. For example: “I know that bullies hurt others because they have been hurt. I forgive them.” With each statement, remove a piece of cloth. Begin connecting the pieces as statements continue. Bend and push paper clips through cloth so two pieces are hooked by each clip. Use multiple clips per piece. Arrange the letter pieces to spell “forgive.” This can be draped over a communion table, or hung in the worship space.
. Story Synopsis . We first hear about Joseph in Genesis 37 as a young and arrogant favored child who seems to be spoiled by his father. His jealous older brothers sell him to traders heading to Egypt. His father, Jacob, thinks Joseph has been killed by a wild animal. As dramatic as these events are, Joseph’s life gets even stranger. He is sold to a prominent Egyptian named Potiphar and serves him well. Joseph does so well, he is promoted to head of Potiphar’s home. This goes well until Potiphar’s wife decides part of Joseph’s duties should be sleeping with her. Joseph refuses, she accuses him of attempted rape, and Potiphar throws Joseph in jail.
It is during this famine that Joseph’s brothers come, asking for food. They do not recognize Joseph, and he decides to test them and see if they have become better men. Joseph hides a silver cup in the bags of Benjamin, the youngest brother. After “catching” Benjamin stealing the cup, Joseph has him arrested. Judah, on behalf of the brothers, comes to Benjamin’s defense and Joseph can see the brothers are good men. It is in that moment that our text begins.
Provoking Partners
#P l a y
Why: Campers will experience the fear of reaching out and the need for an apology. How: Divide campers into two groups. Tell one group they are to respond to any physical contact in the activity with, “boo,” “hiss,” or a negative grunt. Tell the second group to respond to any contact with a compliment. Tell the campers that they will be playing bump tag. Everyone pairs up and connects elbow to elbow with a partner. Spread the pairs out in an open space. Split one pair. Make one of these campers “it.” The other is a runner and will try to avoid being tagged. The runner is safe when they “bump” another camper in one of the pairs, grabbing a free elbow. The person connected to that camper’s other elbow must let go and is now the runner. Explain that there will be some “time-outs” along the way. Everyone will find a different partner at each time-out. Start the game and then, after a couple of minutes, yell “time-out” and tell them to find new partners. The person running and “it” also each find a partner. Ask campers to answer a simple question (favorite snack or song, etc.) with their new partner, then link arms and spread out. Assign a new “it” and runner, and start playing again. Repeat this process. Remind campers not to repeat partners. After playing, ask campers what effect attitude had on how they chose partners, and how their motivations changed through the game. Ask campers how this might be like a day at school or other communities. Play another round of the game, but this time, ask everyone to give compliments when bumped. Debrief, asking how this changed the game. BTW: This game could go on for a large portion of the day, impacting campers who are not even participating. If all campers leave the activity committed to giving a compliment every time they make physical contact with someone, it could create a ripple effect in the community. Keeping these rules going while playing “Towers of Courage” could be fun!
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While in jail, Joseph meets two servants of Pharaoh. He interprets their dreams with great accuracy. One of the two, as Joseph predicted, returns to serve Pharaoh, who is also having strange dreams. The servant tells Pharaoh about Joseph. Joseph is summoned and interprets Pharaoh’s dreams as a warning of a great famine. Joseph is put in charge of all Egypt to guide them through the famine.
Christian Practices
Towers of Courage
#P l a y #Create
Why: Introduce the theme of forgiveness through this fun activity that will cause the campers to bump into each other, making everyone’s work more difficult. Living in community requires us to forgive others because we can’t avoid hurting each other. Sometimes we will step on each other’s toes. Supplies: playing cards, index cards, or dominos How: Invite campers to build their own towers. Encourage towers to be as tall as possible. Place the campers in a confined space with limited space to work and move. You want them to accidentally cause trouble for each other by bumping benches, tables, elbows, etc. Note how often someone apologizes or is forgiven. After working under these conditions, invite the campers to combine their efforts and ideas to build one group project. Make their work more difficult by bumping them or the work space. Pretend it is an accident.
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Debrief the experience by asking the campers how often they apologized during the game. Ask them to share anything they wanted an apology for but did not receive. Remind campers that living as a community requires us to be close to each other. Ask the campers how realistic it is to live in a community without forgiveness. BTW: This could become a great group-building exercise as the campers try to work together in a confined space. You can shrink or destabilize their base to make the task of building even more difficult. Invite an intentionally clumsy outside judge to join the activity and add to the chaos.
Drama King of Egypt #LEARN #Create Why: Joseph’s story is a melodrama. Help campers claim the nature of the story and see, name, and claim the depth of emotion on display. Supplies: sheet of flip chart paper, plenty of construction paper, scissors, markers, glue, popsicle sticks or paint stirrers, Bible How: Remind campers that Joseph’s story has lots of twists and turns. Share “Story Synopsis” or tell the earlier portion of the story in your own words. Then have someone read Genesis
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45:1–15 aloud. On the flip chart paper, ask the campers to make a list of emotions they think characters might have felt. Invite campers to show their facial expressions for each emotion. (If surprise and fear are not on the list, make sure to add them.) Provide campers the supplies to make masks out of construction paper displaying the different emotions listed. Make sure they make at least one mask for each emotion. Invite campers to make sound effects for the emotions (“ooh,” “ah,” “gasp,” etc.). When they are done, read Genesis 45:1–15 again, and invite campers to hold up an appropriate mask when particular emotions appear in the text. After sharing the story together, discuss other times they feel these emotions. Ask, “How do we respond to those who hurt or betray us? How do we respond to our own guilt or shame?” BTW: The mask craft can be as simple or elaborate as you want it to be, from paper and markers to papier-mâché. You could share this activity in worship, or save the masks and use them with other stories as the week goes on. The masks might even be a way for campers to claim their own feelings in group discussions.
Rest of the Story #P l a y #LEARN Why: Forgiveness can sound easy at first, but there is a complicated side that this scripture doesn’t include. By reflecting on what we don’t get to hear, we might better understand the events surrounding it. Supplies: index cards and pens How: Read Genesis 45:1–15. Ask campers to imagine what Joseph and his brothers talked about at the end. On index cards, have campers each write a question he or she imagines Joseph or the brothers might have asked. Collect the cards and invite campers to, one at a one, draw a card role-play that question. Whoever draws that card can choose who plays which roles. Make sure everyone gets a chance to participate. BTW: Role-plays might be shared in worship or at a campfire. The questions could also be shared through social media for families back home to reflect on. Different groups might also trade cards so they are role-playing a different group’s questions.
You Hearing Me?
#LEARN
Unlimited
#P r a y #Serve
Why: We can better mend relationships when we understand the ways people try to make amends. Help campers think about the ways people express apologies.
Why: By reflecting on the limitlessness of God’s grace, campers can put their own faults in context and reach out to those who need to know God’s grace.
Supplies: markers and four index cards per camper
Supplies: large sheet of paper (flip chart or butcher paper), markers, envelopes, paper, pens, stamps
How: While you explain that each of the following is a way people ask for forgiveness, have each camper write each way on the index cards (one way per card): • Ask (directly request forgiveness) • Explain (explain why you acted the way you did) • Repent (share how you feel about your actions) • Pay it back (gift or action to make up for behavior)
• Joseph brags about dreams • Jacob gives Joseph special attention and coat • Brothers sell Joseph • Potiphar sends Joseph to prison
BTW: These letters could be shared in worship, or posted online as an “open letter” to someone struggling.
• Joseph tests brothers by framing Benjamin After discussing all the scenarios, ask the campers to reflect on their answers to see how they most comfortably seek forgiveness. Ask campers how they might forgive without receiving an apology. BTW: You can dig deeper by inviting the campers to share some hurts of their own and allow the group to suggest ways people could have apologized. This could also include hurts for which people have blamed the Church or God.
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Share each of the scenarios below from Joseph’s life and ask the campers to identify who needs to apologize. Then ask them to hold up the card that shows the method of apology they think would be most appropriate. Give time for the sharing of examples of how an appropriate apology might have taken place.
How: Invite campers to name the biggest sins they can imagine, and to write them on the left side of a large sheet of paper. For each item on the list, ask the campers to brainstorm a character who might have experienced that issue. You can start with Bible stories and then expand to fairy tales and other fiction. Famous historical figures could work too, but be careful not to use personal names of community members. Write those names next to each sin. Go through the list again and imagine how God might grant forgiveness to a person who had committed each sin. Finally, invite each camper to write a letter to a stranger, sharing one of these messages from God. Offer time for anyone who wishes to share his or her letter with the group. Close by asking each person to say a short prayer for a stranger who might receive such a letter.
Younger Youth BIB/THEO OVERVIEW
Day 4:
YOUNGER CHILDREN OLDER CHILDREN OLDER YOUTH
Together, the Courage to STAND Daily Quick Reference Guide
Scripture Story: Daniel 3
INTERGENERATION Scripture Focus: Daniel 3:28 Nebuchadnezzar said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants who trusted in him. They disobeyed the king’s command and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God.” Theological Summary: When we are called to be different from others and to stand with our community, we will not stand alone. Campers will: • find confidence in community
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• discover the impact of communal worship • find strength in numbers • acknowledge fear of being misperceived
Christian Practices
— Traits and Tells: #LEARN #P l a y Explore actions and symbols — Ours and Theirs: #LEARN #Create Discuss actions of faith
— Nebuchadnezzar’s Air Guitar Band: #P l a y #LEARN Rock out to the scriptures
— All the King’s Men: #Create #LEARN Making of an idol?
— Compromise and Conviction: #P l a y #LEARN How we balance faith — Prayerful Purpose: #P r a y Asking for God’s help
— Slow the Lunch Line: #Serve Notice those who serve the community
— Finding Our Rhythm: #P r a y #Serve Cups game prayer Leader Notes
There are differences between living out your beliefs, or evangelizing and pushing your beliefs on others. In this story, three men simply live out their faith with no intention of causing trouble. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego are not looking for conflict. They simply refuse to back down when it arises.
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Worship Practices Cabin Time Read Psalm 133:1 and ask campers to share how they feel connected to others at camp. Give time for sharing, and then ask them how they might better support others in the camp community. After more time for sharing, encourage each camper to lift a silent prayer for a person he or she will try to better support tomorrow. Remind campers that someone may be praying for them. Pray or reread the psalm again to close your time.
Song Ideas
• “Pues Si Vivimos”/“When We Are Living” (hymn) • “We Are One in the Spirit” (hymn)
• “Lift Every Voice and Sing” (hymn)
• “Sister, Let Me Be Your Servant” (hymn) • “It’s My Life” (Bon Jovi, 2010)
Prayer Hand in hand, with hearts joined in faith, we call to you, Lord. Guide us closer together. Guide us as a community. May the voices of those who stood before us, and the strength of those who stand beside us, give us the courage to face this day. Amen.
Worship Ideas Loud and Proud
#celebrate
This experience is designed to be loud, which may not be typical for this time period. One at a time, ask each camper to say, “My name is _____” loudly. Repeat the process, this time adding, “and my God is ______.” Ask each camper to fill in the blank with a word that describes God. Campers are welcome to repeat what others have said, but each is encouraged to use a word that he or she truly believes. Repeat the activity again, but with everyone speaking in unison. Read Daniel 3:28 out loud. Blend the scripture with the group experience, using the names of the campers in the
Filling the Gaps
#centering
Ask campers to close their eyes and each hold one hand high in the air. Invite each to spread fingers wide and try to remember a time he or she wanted to do the right thing, but felt too alone or weak to take a stand. Ask them each to raise his or her other hand and think about a time when someone supported him or her and helped him or her make the right decision. Invite campers to open their eyes and join hands with those on either side of them. Close in prayer: “Make us one, Lord. When fear grabs hold, may the bonds of faith hold us closer. When fear makes us weak, may we find strength in those around us. When we feel your spirit around us, may we reach out and hold up those around us who are in need of community. Together, may we be the church Christ dreamed of. Amen.
. Story Summary . Despite warning after warning from prophets such as Jeremiah, God’s people found themselves divided. Many stayed in Judah after Babylon conquered them, while others were taken into exile. Those in exile were often leaders, artists, or highly educated. Babylon took those it thought would contribute the most to its society, and this also kept them from causing trouble in the newly conquered kingdom. Among those Jews who were forced to call Babylon home were Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. In their first days living in Babylon, the four men distinguished themselves and proved their commitment to the Lord by the diet they kept and the way they lived. God blessed them for their faithfulness. As part of this blessing, Daniel interpreted a dream for King Nebuchadnezzar and found himself promoted to a place in the king’s court. He asked that his
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• “I Won’t Back Down” (Tom Petty, 1993)
following sentence: “Blessed be the God of ___, ___, ___, …, the God of Abram and Sarai, Ruth and Joseph; the Lord, our God, who will stand with us when we stand together.”
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three friends be given positions of authority and Nebuchadnezzar granted the request. The King’s favor was a direct result of Daniel’s service in the name of God. Ironically, Nebuchadnezzar even claimed that the Lord is God of gods and Lord of kings.
• Professional athlete
• Grandparent
• Priest
• Doctor
That is where our story picks up in Daniel 3. While the three friends end up making quite a scene, it was not their intent. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were just trying to remain faithful to God by the way they worshiped, or, in this case, what they refused to worship. Nebuchadnezzar’s giant golden statue was not something to be worshiped in their religion, and the three friends didn’t feel Nebuchadnezzar had the authority to make them. He was a king, but their commandment came from God. Seeming to forget his previous experience with Daniel and the Lord, the king tried punishing Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. However, being thrown into a giant furnace full of fire failed to end the three and, by the king’s telling of the story, a fourth figure joined them in the fire. After letting them out, Nebuchadnezzar repeated all the great things he said about God earlier, but had seemed to forget.
Now ask them to share what characteristics someone who fits the following categories might have.
Christian Practices Traits and Tells #LEARN #P l a y Why: Help each camper reflect on what makes up his or her personal identity or culture. How: This is an exercise in observation and reflection. Assign each camper one of the following words to act out without any props. (Depending on the size of your group, some campers may have to act out two words, or some words may need to be repeated.) Then, go back over each word and ask how the campers would know someone fit that job title without seeing the person do anything.
• Police officer
• Teacher
• Coach
• Parent
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• American
• Teenager
• Australian
• Christian
Invite them to think about their own identities and what someone might learn about them by observation. What if the person visited their homes? Their bedrooms? Ask, “What things might that person see that would reveal who you are? What practices or behaviors might reveal who you are?” BTW: This could be a fun role-play. Challenge campers to communicate an identity by describing only behaviors, rather than offering visual clues. Be careful not to get caught up in stereotypes. Name them and discuss them if they arise.
Theirs and Ours
#LEARN #Create
Why: Campers will focus on religious identify and reflect on the difference between what is private and what is public in expressions of faith. Supplies: large paper, drawing paper, markers How: Give each camper paper and something to draw with. Invite them each to draw a “Christian,” then to share his or her work with a partner. Invite the group to share their observations from the activity. On a large sheet of paper, in two columns, ask the campers to make two lists. In first list are behaviors or traits that would help them identify someone of a different faith tradition. They should list each trait and the faith tradition it signifies. For the second list, ask them to share behaviors or traits that would help others identify them as Christian. These lists can include diet, dress, language, behaviors, worship, etc. After the two lists are complete, discuss how visible the behaviors and traits of Christians are
to others. Ask the campers, “What is the biggest factor for you personally in your identity as a Christian?” BTW: You could make a list of symbols that identify people as Christian. You could make larger drawings of them for worship, add them to name tags, or decorate your gathering space. See if campers can identify the stories from scripture that inspire the symbols, or share anything else about the origins of the symbols listed.
Nebuchadnezzar’s Air Guitar Band #P l a y #LEARN Why: Share the story in a fun way that will get out some energy and help campers engage the story. Supplies: Bible
BTW: This could be a fun campfire skit, or a way to present the scripture in worship. If time allows, you could expand the conversation by asking campers when in their lives the expression, “Um, we don’t do that,” might be appropriate.
All the King’s Men #Create #LEARN Why: Explore what an idol is by discussing some of the most common in our world today. Supplies: newsprint, scissors, markers, origami hat instructions on page 134 How: Give each camper a sheet of newsprint or large paper and a marker. Invite each to make a
Ask each camper to write something on his or her hat that people are often asked to treat as more important than God. This doesn’t mean it actually is more important, but rather that it is a thing or activity that people often give more time and attention to than they do God. Have each camper write their chosen thing or activity on his or her hat and wear it while you read Daniel 3. When you finish reading, invite the campers to reflect on the word “idol.” Ask, questions such as, “What does it mean? How do we use it? What does it mean in this scripture? How are the words we wrote on our hats idols?” Make a list, including the words on the hats, of common idols in your world today. BTW: Wearing these hats all day could be a lot of fun. Campers could add other words to their hats as they recognize their own decisions to put things before God.
Compromise and Conviction #P l a y #LEARN Why: Connect the concepts of religious culture with the temptation of idolatry through some reflection and role-play. How: Look back at your list of behaviors and traits of being Christian (“Theirs and Ours” activity) and your list of idols (“All the King’s Men” activity). Ask questions such as, “Which of these traits get compromised so we can give attention and energy to things on our list of idols? Which of these get compromised so we can fit in better with others? How do we know which things are okay to hide or let go of, and which ones we have to hold on to? When is it okay to compromise, and when do we have to stand our ground as Christians? Use the following role-play scenarios to help explore the line between compromise and conviction: • Someone asks a friend to attend a worship service at a different Christian Church. • Someone asks a friend to skip church to hang out at his or her house. • A leader asks a new member to swear an oath to join a club.
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How: Explain to the campers that they have two ways to participate in the reading of this scripture. The first is to respond to the listing of instruments (horn, pipe, lyre, trigon (a percussion triangle), harp, and drum) by pretending to play an instrument of any kind and making loud noise with their imaginary instrument till the reader holds up his or her hand. The second is responding to the king’s request for their worship by saying, “Um, we don’t do that.” This will come soon after the playing of music, and the reader will signify the moment by pointing at the campers. Read Daniel 3 for the campers, holding up your hand to stop the imaginary music as needed, and pointing at them to cue their response of, “Um, we don’t do that,” after verses 5,7,14, 15, and 30 (end of text).
paper hat using these instructions found on page 134.
• Someone receives inappropriate pictures of another student at school from their best friend, who encourages that person to post them on-line. • Someone invites a friend to attend a club that is only for people who share the same ethnic background. • A coach calls a practice on a religious holiday and threatens to bench or cut anyone who doesn’t attend. Ask the campers to share times they felt challenged to participate in activities that would compromise their identities as Christians.
Stand and form a circle, linking arms or holding hands. Invite each camper to ask for God’s help in being the person and the people God calls him or her to be. Campers can be general or specific in their requests (for example, “Help me not tease others to fit in”). BTW: This could be a good way to discuss the Christian practice of testimony or confession of faith, where we tell another person about a time we fulfill God’s call in a particular time and place. This can be done through personal sharing or, if campers are not comfortable talking about it, they can participate by private journaling.
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Repeat the role-plays above, altering each so that the person being asked to make a decision is now a group of three being asked to make the decision together. After you finish, invite the group to discuss how the support of others changes the experience.
Slow the Lunch Line
BTW: These are intentionally “shades of gray” questions. Responses may vary according to conviction, denomination, or upbringing. Allow room for differing opinions. Many of these could be used in a worship or campfire setting. You might also invite campers to share their role-plays with another group of campers. These would be fun to video and share (with permission) on-line to show what happens at camp.
How: Invite campers to discuss how the staff fits into the camp community. Remind them that the people who cook are part of this community, but are often separated by their schedules and also a literal barriers such as walls, doors, and a serving counter. Ask the campers to brainstorm ways to make all the staff feel affirmed and appreciated by the camp community.
Prayerful Purpose
#P r a y
Why: Connect the concepts you have discussed and lift up the challenge of being people of God in prayer. Supplies: large paper and marker How: Ask the campers to make a list of the worst consequences they might face for not compromising to fit in. These might include bullying, shame, loss of power or popularity, etc. Invite the campers to think about stories in the news in which people risk even more to express their faith. Ask, “Where are people risking the loss of power, money, or influence for their faith? Where are people putting their own lives at risk for what they believe? How are we connected to these people? What traits do they have that mark them as Christians?”
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#Serve
Why: It is easy to talk about community, but often difficult to see who is left out. This conversation helps affirm those who serve the community, and also creates a greater awareness of separation.
BTW: Campers could do something different every day to affirm camp staff, even beyond food service. This could also be a week-long project, with campers working on a larger expression of thanks and connection.
Finding Our Rhythm #P r a y #Serve Why: Many of your campers are familiar with the “Cups” game rhythm. It is a wonderful community builder and camp tradition. You’ll find that your campers who have known how to play the game for years will naturally slip into a teaching and sharing role with those who don’t. It is a spirit to treasure and nurture. This activity will also give the “old-timers” a new challenge to learn. Supplies: a plastic cup for each camper and leader, poster board, marker How: Set out enough plastic cups for everyone to have one. Copy the introduction and prayer
below on a large poster board, and place this somewhere prominent. If the campers question you about what to do, either point to the sign or sit down with them and begin playing. As groups get the hang of the rhythm and can pass their cups in a circle, invite them to join other groups who are at a similar level. Continue until everyone is in one big circle. At this point, pause long enough to invite everyone to start again with a steady pace. If you know the rhythm of the Cups Game, find someone who doesn’t and teach them. When everyone can do it in a circle, passing cups, add this prayer. Start S-L-O-W-L-Y. Dear Lord, give us strength ^ for this day.// Ev-ery voice, we come to pray.
Change comes, friends be-tray ^ tears will flow // through it all, with you we go.// Bless com-mun-i-ty ^ hand in hand // live in love as best we can. (The words are divided line by line to fit the rhythm of the game.) BTW: If there are campers who are struggling and becoming frustrated, you could invite them to work with you to build the world’s tallest cup tower. You may find it challenging to refrain from giving verbal instructions. Try to trust the oral tradition and see what happens. It is important to make sure ahead of time that at least someone present knows the “Cups Game.” If no one does, you can find tutorials on YouTube.
Lifting hearts and our ^ minds as one// with you God, we face what comes.//
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Make a Newspaper Hat
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3 Step 1: To make a basic newspaper hat, fold one newspaper page in half horizontally. (If you want to make a large hat, use two newspaper pages, and fold it in half vertically.) With the fold at the top, fold the top corners in to the center. Tape the points down.
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Step 2: Fold up the bottom edges. Step 3: Tuck in the corner edges and add tape to hold them in place. If you want, trim your hat with pom-poms or tissue paper fringe. Put your hat on and wear it with the points at the front and back or to the side.
Younger Youth BIB/THEO OVERVIEW
Day 5:
YOUNGER CHILDREN OLDER CHILDREN OLDER YOUTH
Together, the Courage to Do Justice Daily Quick Reference Guide
Scripture Story: Esther 4
INTERGENERATION Scripture Focus: Esther 4:13–14; 8:6 Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, “Do not think that in the king’s palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews. For if you keep silence at such a time as this, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another quarter, but you and your father’s family will perish. Who knows? Perhaps you have come to royal dignity for just such a time as this.” Esther 8:6 [Esther said:] “For how can I bear to see the calamity that is coming on my people? Or how can I bear to see the destruction of my kindred?”
Campers will: • understand that their choices can have positive effects on the community • identify and address injustice • expand their understanding of community to a global scale • acknowledge the fear of failure
Christian Practices
— My Stand: #P r a y Sharing and praying about issues
— Follow Me: #P l a y #LEARN Creating a call experience
— Such a Time as This: #LEARN #P r a y Spiritual support of leaders
— Persuasion: #P l a y Winning hearts and changing minds
— Best Case/Worst Case: #P l a y #LEARN Role-play the good and bad — Puppet Protesters: #Create #Serve Creations speaks out
— The Doctor Is In: #Create #LEARN Quiet, quirky activism Leader Notes
Esther is an oddity in scripture in that God isn’t a personified character in the story, but only known through the community identifying as the people of God. God doesn’t give direction or have a direct messenger. This is actually a more relatable scenario for most of us today as we seek God’s guidance through community. Today is a great day to help campers focus on how the choices they make for each other help embody God. See if you can find each of the previous days’ themes in Esther’s story.
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Theological Summary: Esther took a risk to defend God’s people, because she trusted God’s covenant with her community.
Worship Practices Cabin Time Read Psalm 10:17–18 and ask campers to share a time someone stood up for them. This could be at camp or back home. Ask, “When have you stood up for another person?” Give time for sharing, and encourage them to lift a silent prayer for those who have worked for justice on their behalf. Remind campers that someone may be praying for them. Pray or reread the psalm to close your time.
Song Ideas • “Let There Be Peace on Earth” (hymn) • “What Does the Lord Require of You?” (hymn) • “The Stand” (Hillsong United, 2006)
Prayer Younger Youth
Lord, give us the strength to stand when we see injustice. Give us the courage to speak up, step up, and stand out. Amen.
Worship Ideas #celebrate
Supplies: paper, pens, large sheet, paint of different colors, one brush per color, wet-wipes, towels Ask each camper to choose an important issue and write it down, along with one sentence explaining why it is important. In worship, invite campers to take turns standing up on their seats to say, “I speak for [insert issue] because [insert sentence of explanation].” This can be just a few campers or many, depending on available time. Invite other campers to stand in solidarity when they hear an issue they believe is important, or shout, “Amen.” The original reader of the issue then steps to the front and paints that issue on a large sheet. Try to have each issue written in a different color. Provide a time for all to come forward and place hand or thumb prints on the sheet. Invite campers to place a print, using the color the issue is written in, for each issue he or she will commit
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Be Like…
#centering
Introduce four historical characters to the campers, one at a time. Between each introduction, ask the campers to reflect on these questions, then close in prayer. • How is this person similar to me?
• “If I Had a Hammer” (Peter, Paul, and Mary, 1962)
Standing in Prayer
to praying about for the next year. Campers may pick more than one. Close in prayer for the issues shared and for those whose courage will inspire you to make a difference.
• How is this person different from me? • What does this person’s life teach us about God and community? • How does this person’s life challenge or inspire me? Nelson Mandela—Man of deep faith who kept his faith private while focusing on his work of reconciliation. Grew from aggressive radical to reconciling leader of South Africa. Rosa Parks—Practiced her faith at home and attended church. She responded to her arrest on a segregated bus with calm and wit rather than screaming or violence. Sojourner Truth—Born a slave, but found freedom. She changed her name to honor her faith. She spoke publically against slavery and worked for women’s rights. Oscar Romero—Priest in Central America who believed in the rights of all people. He was an advocate to governments and churches on behalf of the poor and persecuted.
. Story Summary . During the time when many of God’s people were in exile, a time when Babylon had been conquered by Persia, and the exiles now lived under Persian rule, King Ahasuerus of Persia became angry with Queen Vashti. The queen refused to come when summoned, and the king was so angry he banished her and put out a royal decree that all wives should obey their husbands. You might think that such political drama in Persia’s royal family wouldn’t matter to the Hebrew people, but soon those in exile would find their lives intertwined with this royal ruckus.
Unfortunately, one of the king’s royal officials, Haman, couldn’t care less. As the representative of the king, Haman expected everyone to bow to him and pledge obedience. Mordecai thought this was idolatry and would not bow. In revenge, Haman convinced the king that there were people in the country who did not respect the king’s power. Haman gave no names or specifics but convinced the king of the danger they presented. The king gave Haman the power to have all of the Jewish people killed. Esther learns of this plot through Mordecai, but is scared to speak to the king. She remembers Vashti’s banishment, and would also need to admit that she is Jewish. She would be risking her own life. Mordecai and Esther speak about her fears and her potential to save God’s people. Eventually, Esther takes the risk--but in her own way. She wines and dines the king and, along the way, Esther lifts up the faithfulness of Mordecai, and eventually the injustice of killing her people. Esther also exposes Haman’s deception. The story ends with Haman being hung on the very gallows he had prepared for Mordecai.
My Stand
#P r a y
Why: Help campers make the connection between caring about important issues and the work required to make a difference. Campers will also practice the acts of testimony and prayer that are part of advocacy. Supplies: cardstock paper and markers How: Invite campers each to write an issue they care about on a piece of cardstock. Ask the campers to share the issues they selected, then place their cardstock on the ground. Challenge the campers to stand on one leg with one foot on their cardstock. Invite campers to take turns telling each other why they care enough to stand up for their issues, while not putting their other feet down. Make sure everyone remains standing on one foot as the campers listen to each other. If they struggle, you might allow them to reach out to other campers for balance. After everyone shares, offer a time for questions, allowing campers to question each other about their various issues, but a camper can only participate if he or she is still standing on his or her card on one leg. Adult leaders may also ask questions to dig deeper into the issue or to better understand a camper’s commitment to an issue. Once everyone has shared, discuss how hard it was to stay on one leg, and how hard it can be to keep standing up for some issues. Reflect on why it is personally worth it to some people, compared to others. Discuss how far the campers think someone should go to support or advocate for an issue, and the role of other people to support someone in that effort. Close by asking each camper to stand on another camper’s piece of cardstock and offer a prayer for that issue and for the camper who has stood up for that concern, asking God to give that camper the courage to keep standing up for that issue, and others, as needed. BTW: You could easily adapt this to a game, challenging campers to stay on their cards, but make sure they are situated close enough to touch each other.
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A nationwide search for a new queen puts Esther, a Hebrew girl, in the spotlight. Esther, adopted daughter of her older cousin Mordecai, is selected as the new queen. There was no background check, and Esther did not tell anyone about her family’s background or beliefs. Esther’s family connections initially prove useful, for Mordecai overhears a plot to kill the king and passes on a warning through Esther.
Christian Practices
Follow Me
#P l a y #LEARN
Supplies: Bible, two large pieces of paper, markers
Why: “Call” is a word used often in the Church, and it doesn’t just apply to clergy. Discerning when we are called, and when to step up and lead, can be frightening and confusing. This activity creates an opportunity for one to step up, and for all campers to reflect on the experience.
How: Read Esther 4 as a group and ask the campers to identify all the characters mentioned. This can be individuals or groups. Write the characters on a large sheet of paper. Next to each, write what they did to help save (or, as in Haman’s case, not save) God’s people. Ask the campers to reflect on the importance of each person or group’s role. Pay attention to spiritual contributions such as prayer and fasting. On a second piece of paper, invite the campers to make a list of leaders in their communities and in the world who need their prayers. Take time to pray for these people by name or by position.
Supplies: blindfolds for each camper How: Blindfold each camper, then guide them one at a time into a line. Ask each camper to put his or her hands on the shoulders of the person in front of camper. Instruct the campers to stay connected this way. Quietly remove one camper’s blindfold, then instruct the group to move to a different space in the camp. The camper without a blindfold is free to give direction and guide the group, but do not directly tell the camper this, and do not instruct him or her to do so unless the group is failing. At that point, if that camper does not step up to lead, tell the campers that one of them has been given a gift and is welcome to help.
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Once everyone is at the destination, discuss the experience. Pay attention to the different experience of the one called to help the rest. Invite the campers to reflect on times when they felt called to step up and help others in need, or ask for examples of people they have learned about who stepped up to help others. Ask the campers how people might know they are called to step up and lead. Spend some time reflecting on the role a leader plays in a community and how a community comes to trust (or distrust) someone who takes a stand for them. BTW: This could be done in varying sizes of groups. With a larger group, you might unblindfold a few people and see who speaks up, and reflect on how those people work together or against each other. You can also tell the group that one of them has been given the destination and ask the group to trust that person’s leadership.
Such a Time as This #LEARN #P r a y Why: Help campers see the role of communal support, especially spiritual support, for those who lead and take stands on important issues.
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BTW: A list of leaders to pray for could be collected and used in worship. Prayers could also be shared on-line or even mailed to people who work in corresponding jobs.
Persuasion
#P l a y
Why: Persuasion is a part of advocacy, and deciding which issues to address is important. Help campers explore their own priorities and reflect on how they persuade others. Supplies: index cards, marker How: Beforehand, write the following phrases on index cards: “pizza toppings,” “becoming group leader,” “the best show on TV,” “most important Bible story,” “importance of recycling,” “confronting racism” (or create some of your own). Let campers take turns drawing a card, and trying to convince the group of his or her opinion. After campers have offered their persuasive statements, invite the campers to reflect on the different types of topics discussed. Discuss how people prioritize important issues and decide which ones can be ignored. Ask the campers which issues discussed were spiritual issues. Invite campers to reflect on how they are most persuaded (facts, feelings, jingles, humor, etc.) to pay attention to something or change their minds. BTW: Consider staging this activity as a game show. Groups of campers could compete, offering different answers or opinions on the same topic.
Best Case/Worst Case P l a y #LEARN Why: Being an advocate can be intimidating. Help campers reflect on the possibility of failure, along with the potential for making a difference. How: Invite campers to brainstorm the best and worst case scenarios for each of the situations described below. Ask them to think about the role of individuals in each, then work with other campers to act out both potential outcomes. You can invite the same campers to role-play both sides of the scenarios, or have different groups present each perspective. • A community is grieving over a school shooting and a security guard is being blamed for not responding faster. • Students gather to talk about a bully who is spreading rumors and intimidating other students. No one reports him because his mom is the principal.
• One child in a neighborhood is physically abused at home. All the kids have seen her bruises, but no one talks to anyone about it. After the presentations, ask campers to discuss what factors dictated the outcome. Reflect on how fear of failure keeps us from acting in some situations, and how to overcome those fears. BTW: These scenarios could be transformed into skits for worship or a campfire time. Having an expert on each of the issues come visit the camp could create more conversation and introduce campers to an advocate. Conversation could go beyond the issue to the person’s hopes and fears as he or she advocates for his or her cause.
Puppet Protesters #Create #Serve Why: Camp is a great place to reflect on issues that impact the environment. Help campers claim protecting creation as a cause and remind them that God calls us to speak out. Supplies: cell phone that can take pictures and video, googly eyes, glue, paper bags and markers (optional: sticks and leaves)
BTW: The PSA created by the campers can be shared through social media or sent to parents to see what campers are discussing at camp. The characters could also be used in worship.
The Doctor Is In #Create #LEARN Why: Not all advocates stand in front of crowds or pass petitions. Help campers see how an historical justice advocate shaped the way children see the world. Supplies: Dr. Seuss’s Butter Battle Book, The Lorax, and Yertle the Turtle How: Provide copies of Dr. Seuss’s Butter Battle Book, The Lorax, and Yertle the Turtle. Divide campers into three groups and have each group read one of the books. Provide time for each group to report back, sharing what their book was about. Ask the campers what historical events or issues each book might have been about (Cold War, environment, World War II) and what the book is trying to teach. Invite the groups each to pick a different issue and write their own short Dr. Seuss–style story to teach about that issue. Rhymes and made-up words are welcome. BTW: Any of these books could be used in worship, shared at a campfire, or read in cabins before bed. A Dr. Seuss–themed party using these characters would be a fun community celebration toward the end of the week.
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• A reporter posts pictures of a community in Africa that needs a new well. Theirs was destroyed in a recent war fought over control of minerals used in cell phones.
How: Ask the capers to brainstorm what issues the trees and other natural parts of our camp landscape might be concerned about. Help the campers name issues that impact nature and the broader environment. Invite campers to make puppets by either using paper bags and drawing faces or whole bodies on them with markers, or by using sticks and leaves that have fallen to the ground. Provide some googly eyes and glue to help campers create their characters. Once they have created their puppets, invite campers to imagine each character as the spokesperson for an environmental concern. Work as a group to combine the characters to make a Public Service Announcement (PSA) about caring for creation. Take pictures or make a video that can be shared with others to help share the PSA.
YoungER Youth BIB/THEO OVERVIEW
Day 6:
YOUNGER CHILDREN OLDER CHILDREN OLDER YOUTH
Together, the Courage to Change Daily Quick Reference Guide
Scripture Story: Acts 10
INTERGENERATION Scripture Focus: Acts 10: 44–45 “While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard the word. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles.” Theological Summary: Sometimes a community has to change its plans to be faithful to God’s story, rather than just doing what the community has already done before. Campers will: • learn that community adapts to change from inside and outside
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• notice that change is inevitable • celebrate and share change • acknowledge the fear of the unknown
Christian Practices
— Reverse and Repeat: #P l a y Old games – new ways
— Hypothetical Change: #LEARN #Create How would you change? — Change-ometer: #P l a y #P r a y Measuring our changeability
— Setting the Table: #LEARN A heavy helping of change
— Back in My Day: #LEARN #P r a y How the world has changed — PSA Play: #P l a y #Create Listening to our own advice Leader Notes It is often difficult to remember that before this story and Paul’s subsequent testimony, the Gentiles were not welcome as full members of the faith community. Cornelius shows us that some believed but were still understood as “other.” Now everyone is welcome—Jews and non-Jews alike. This same tension arises with many divisive issues in the modern Church.
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Worship Practices Cabin Time Read Psalm 46:1–2 and ask campers to share a time their lives changed. This could be at camp or back home. Ask how God might help us with change. Give time for sharing, and encourage them to lift a silent prayer for those who have helped them face changes. Remind campers that someone may be praying for them. Pray or reread the psalm to close your time.
Song Ideas • “Change My Heart Oh, God” (Vineyard, 1999) • “Spirit” (Hymn) • “Waiting on the World to Change (John Mayer, 2006) • “Dare You to Move” (Switchfoot, 2000) • “New Song #40” (Andra Moran and Josh Elson, 2000)
Prayer Open our eyes to what you are doing next, Lord. Open our hearts to new possibilities. Open our hearts to new emotions. Open our lives to new relationships. Open us up and send us out into a beautiful unknown future where you will meet us. Amen.
Close with a prayer of thanksgiving for the different ways Christians worship and offer praise to God.
Prayers for Change
#centering
Supplies: Slips of paper, pencils, table, white tablecloth Give each camper a small piece of paper and a pencil. Invite campers to write down something they wish could change in their church. Campers then bring their slips of paper up front and place them on a table covered with a white tablecloth. Have some campers surround the table, taking the edges of the tablecloth in their hands. Have these campers raise it up together, then lower it back down. Draw out a few pieces of paper and read them one at a time. Say, “for these visions of change, we give you thanks, Oh God.” Repeat this process a few times, depending on the time you have available. Close with a word of prayer, asking God to help us face change with courage and patience. Finally, give each camper a slip of paper to reflect and pray over as they leave. It does not have to be their own. They can simply pray for the change someone else wishes for.
Worship Ideas The Right Way
#celebrate
Invite two groups of campers to sing the same song but with different words or motions. Stage an argument between the two groups as each tells the other it needs to be more comfortable with change. Invite two campers to read the same scripture from different translations. Stage an argument between the two campers as each tells the other they need to be more open to change. Invite two campers to lead the Lord’s Prayer. Stage an argument between the two over “debts and debtors” or “trespasses.” A third voice could argue for “sins” or more modern language.
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• “Changes” (David Bowie, 1999)
Read Acts 10: 34–35 between each portion, or save it for the end.
. Story Summary . The Law has been passed down from generation to generation in the Hebrew community. Priests and parents taught children that the laws that kept their people alive in the wilderness gave them an identity in the Promised Land. The Law has shaped their culture and faith since it was delivered to Moses after the exodus from Egypt. The Law includes rules for living in community, personal behavior, cleanliness, and safety. While most people have heard of the 10 Commandments, they are only the beginning of the Law, which is made up of 613 commandments total. Peter and the other Disciples were Jewish, like Jesus. They knew the Law and kept it, including in their diet. Certain foods were not to be eaten and were called “unclean.” Other foods were “clean”.
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In Acts, Peter and Cornelius are brought together by messages from God. Cornelius believes in God but is not Jewish. Peter, raised in the Jewish faith, is a disciple of Jesus and leader in the early church. While messages from God bring them together, it is a vision of Peter’s that brings about change. Peter sees a sheet, filled with animals that were considered unclean, and is invited to take the animals for food. Peter protests, but his conviction is challenged by a voice from God. Soon, Peter meets Cornelius and sees lots of other Gentile (non-Jewish) people respond to God’s love. Peter sees that the Holy Spirit is present in their lives. Suddenly, the meaning of the vision is clear. Peter is called to change his beliefs and accept that God welcomes all people. Peter calls for those who have received the Holy Spirit to be baptized. This is a major change for the early Church and was one of the first steps to sharing the story of Jesus with all people.
Christian Practices REVERSE AND REPEAT
#P l a y
Why: Change is often a personal preference, and that preference is rarely consistent. Help campers begin exploring their own feelings about change. How: Play an old game with revered rules. “Red light, Green light” is an easy choice because it requires no planning or set-up. Also, it is easy to flip the rules. Simply have campers line up across an open space with one volunteer as the traffic director at the far end. When they say “red light” people run toward them. When campers hear, “green light,” they must stop. Those who do not stop must start over. After playing, spend some time talking about how hard it can be to do things in a different way. Ask campers to share things they like to stay the same and things they like to change. BTW: A reverse game day could happen campwide. Running the bases backward in kickball, or shooting a basketball through the bottom of the hoop, could be a fun challenge. Beyond games, campers could line up backward, or even eat dessert first at dinner. Mix things up.
HYPOTHETICAL CHANGE #LEARN #Create Why: Reflect on how forced change impacts a group and experience the struggle of changing as a group. How: Read the following scenario to the campers and ask them to complete the task included. You are members of a local congregation and have received official notice from “the powers that be” that your church must pick a new name. While you are still connected to the same larger church community, and the membership of your church is the same, a new name must be selected, and you are the group selected to make that decision. Choose a new name for the church and design a new logo. Once the campers have wrestled with this task, spend some time reflecting on how they felt about being forced to change. Ask how such a change would be received by their home church. Reflect
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on what would happen if “the powers that be” made the name change for the church. BTW: Keep in mind that not all of your campers have experienced a home church, let alone witnessed its political side. You could make this a campwide project by amending the scenario to be about the camp. Groups of campers could each propose a new name and logo. You can adapt this more personally by explaining that some campers must have new names and invite groups of campers to work on choosing their new names.
CHANGE-OMETER
#P l a y #P r a y
Why: Help campers reflect on how easily they make change and what issues in their local church are challenging.
Invite campers to look around and see how far they moved compared to others, then gather everyone to reflect on the experience. Ask them which choices were easy and which ones required some thought. Challenge campers to think about how their own comfort with change compares to their congregation’s level of comfort with change. Use your list of change issues from the game as a prayer list. Invite campers to share a word of prayer for each issue. These prayers can be for their local congregations, for people they know, or for themselves as they face change. BTW: Consider inviting campers to make lists of changes that challenge churches or other community groups, and have other groups of campers do this activity based on their list.
#LEARN
Why: Allow campers to claim the ways change has shaped their personal experience of church while reflecting on what challenges those changes may have created. Supplies: paper, pencils, flat sheet or large square of cloth (4 feet or larger), markers How: Have campers make a list of things that distinguish their church tradition from others. Encourage them to think about how baptism, communion, and other sacramental moments are celebrated. Who leads worship and what are they called? Help them name things that are special or unique to their tradition. Read the Day 6 Story Summary, then invite different campers to take turns reading Acts 10 out loud. Offer a time for campers to share their thoughts on the story. Remind the campers that our understanding of church and Christian community has changed a lot since this story took place, but it was one of the first big changes. Invite campers to write distinguishing things about their churches on a large piece of cloth. Encourage them to write big so their words can be easily seen, even from a distance. Now, invite them to add other things that are part of church today that could not have been imagined by the ancient church (microphones, projectors, modern instruments, air conditioning, etc.). Invite campers to surround the cloth once everything is written. Together, lift it into the air and bring it back down. Pick one item written on the sheet and discuss how that change might have happened in the church and what concerns people might have had at the time. Repeat this process, raising and lowering the sheet and then discussing a new topic. BTW: You could lead this into a discussion about what makes us separate ourselves by denomination or congregation. Challenge campers to affirm the oneness of the Church Universal. Consider using the sheets or fabric to decorate in worship or as tablecloths at a meal. This could be a great conversation starter for campers at mealtime.
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How: Line campers up shoulder to shoulder on one end of a large space. Ask them to move forward one to three steps depending on how willing they would be to change each item you list. Share common parts of church life or communal life and invite them to respond by stepping forward. Here are some examples: Time of worship, where youth meet, who the minister is, where to sit in worship, order of worship, color of the building, ethnic make-up of the congregation, instruments used in worship, where to attend camp.
SETTING THE TABLE
BACK IN MY DAY
#LEARN #P r a y
Why: Change is not a new thing. Help campers reflect on what changes in the past have created the reality they live in today and how those changes came about. Supplies: large sheet of paper, markers How: Ask the campers to brainstorm a list of things that are different in the world from when their grandparents were youth. Help campers think about what was going on in the world 40 to 70 years ago. Write the differences on a large sheet of paper, forming a list. Once the list is complete, reflect on each item, asking campers to discuss how the change happened. What people, groups, or other influences made the change possible? Which changes are good? Which are bad? Invite campers to discuss whether all change has to be good or bad. Can change just be neutral?
Younger Youth
Close with a time of prayer for those whose courage to show up, risk, forgive, stand together, and do justice has shaped our world today. Invite campers to each pray for a different item on the list, or just go in a circle and invite each person to offer a prayer of thanks for one thing on the list. BTW: You could role-play some of the changes. For example, segregation ended thanks in part to Rosa Parks. Campers could act out that moment of change. These could be shared in worship or in a campfire setting.
PSA Play
#P l a y #Create
Why: Help campers think about making changes in their home congregation and equip them with some simple wisdom to guide the process. Supplies: Video camera (optional), paper, pencil How: Invite the campers to brainstorm advice they would give the congregation when it comes to making changes. How do you make change while paying attention to everyone’s feelings?
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Challenge the campers to take their advice and form it into a Public Service Announcement (PSA). These can be acted out or recorded with a camera. It is best to plan out the full PSA, write down anything that will be spoken, and then practice it a couple of times before recording or performing. Remember, a PSA is brief and simple. Taking complicated ideas and making them into simple statements can be difficult. If you make a video, it can be shared easily with the larger camp community. It can also be shared with local congregations as a voice from youth about the importance and complexity of change. BTW: Multiple groups of campers could act out their PSAs for worship. Another option is to let other adults or campers watch the PSA, then make suggestions on ways to change it. If you have a budding artist, you could use a whiteboard to make an info-graphic. Allow campers time to decide if they like the change suggested, or to reject that change.
Younger Youth BIB/THEO OVERVIEW
Day 7:
YOUNGER CHILDREN OLDER CHILDREN OLDER YOUTH
Together, the Courage to Connect Daily Quick Reference Guide
Scripture Story: Matthew 28
INTERGENERATION Scripture Focus: Matthew 28:19–20 “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Theological Summary: In order to bless all nations, Jesus calls the community to cross borders and cultures and be willing to be changed by them as well. Campers will: • learn to invite others into a community of fearless faith
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• understand the value of being a community of faith outside of camp • leave with a connection between camp and home communities • acknowledge fear of being alone, going home, being forgotten
Christian Practices
— The Pulse: #P l a y Play a connection game
— Passing Fancy: #P l a y #P r a y Connecting and claiming community
— Fear Not: #LEARN #P r a y God’s message of courage
— Hushed Up?: #LEARN #P r a y When faith is silent Leader Notes
Matthew’s version of the resurrection story has a lot of action packed into a few short verses. We get the discovery of the tomb, a natural disaster, a message from an angel, a conspiracy story, and a commissioning of the disciples all in one chapter. The chapter ends with Jesus’ words of promise to be with them. We claim those words as a promise to us, especially as we leave camp and return home.
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Worship Practices Cabin Time Read Psalm 30:10–12, and ask campers each to share one thing he or she has learned at camp. Ask how this learning might change how he or she does things at home. Give time for sharing, and encourage the campers to lift a silent prayer for those back home whom they might invite into a community of faith. Remind campers that what they experience at camp is not supposed to stay at camp. Encourage them to live it out as they go. Pray or reread the psalm to close your time.
Song Ideas • “Reach Out and Touch” (Dianna Ross, 1970) • “Bind Us Together” (Bob Gillman, 1977) • “Rainbow Connection” (The Muppet Movie, 1979) • “I Am the Light of the World” (hymn)
Younger Youth
• “Called as Partners in Christ’s Service” (hymn) • “If We Are the Body” (Casting Crowns, 2003)
Prayer Go with us, God. Send us out, send us home. Go with us, God. Send us as a community so that we confront the fears of this world together and share your love with all people. Amen.
Worship Ideas Leaving an Imprint
#celebrate
Supplies: long dowel rod, paper bowls, various colors of paint, wet-wipes, lawn clippers or other cutting device Place a rod in the ground and provide bowls of paint. Invite each camper to choose a color, dip a thumb in, and make a thumbprint on the rod. Say a prayer of blessing. Invite campers to think of the impact others at camp have made on them. Invite them to share a symbol of that impact by giving and receiving thumbprints. This can be on arms, faces, or other safe places. This could also be done on a camp shirt. Be sure to affirm the option to not receive a print on the body by providing cardstock as an alternative to skin or shirts.
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While campers are sharing prints, take the rod and cut it into enough pieces to share with each camper. The width of your dowel rod will determine what you need for cutting. Pass out pieces of the dowel rod to each camper as you close worship.
All Times and Places
#centering
Supplies: Small slips of paper, pencils, metal can, charcoal, lighter Poke holes around the bottom of a can, and light charcoal inside so the flame is visible at the top. Give each camper a small slip of paper and a pencil as campers enter. Once everyone is gathered, stand by the can and note that Christ has been visible in this week, in this time, and in this place. Invite campers to write about something they are afraid of as they leave camp. This can be anything from a fear of leaving friends to facing an old problem. Read Matthew 28:5–7, and invite the campers to bring their slips forward, placing them in the fire. As the smoke from the burning papers continues to rise, announce to the campers that Christ’s presence goes ahead of them, into all times and all places. Read Matthew 28:18–20, then invite campers to silently reflect on how God might help them each face the fear he or she placed in the fire. Close with a song and prayer for courage.
. Story Summary . Some faithful women waited until the first day of the week, when the Sabbath day had ended, to go to visit Jesus’ tomb. It was as early as they could go, at the crack of dawn. Suddenly, the ground shook and the tomb was rocked. Amazingly, the earthquake wasn’t the most surprising event of the morning. The stone that had been placed in front of Jesus’ tomb had been moved, and an angel was sitting on it as if it were a big rock throne. Was the earthquake caused by the angel rolling the rock? Did the quake help the angel get the stone moving? No one cared. There was an angel sitting on a huge stone and an empty tomb behind it.
It seems that the women and the angel were not alone. Guards oversaw the events and reported what they had witnessed. A conspiracy was hatched to cover it up, but clearly that didn’t work. Later, Jesus finally appears to his disciples. They worship him, and Jesus sends them out to continue his work and promises to be with them in all times and all places.
The Pulse
#P l a y
Why: Have some fun together while reflecting on the impact you can have when you have the courage to share the faith you have received. Supplies: chairs (one per camper, plus one), Frisbee or small ball How: Divide campers into two even teams. Each team sits together in a row, back to back with the opposing team. At the end of the rows of chairs, place an extra chair facing the campers with a simple item such as a Frisbee or ball on the seat. Have team members hold hands. Make sure the two campers sitting closest can reach the item with their free hands. The team members on the other ends of the rows each hold one of the leaders’ hands. Tell campers they are to squeeze the hand of the person next to them when their hand is squeezed, passing it on. The last person in a row, when he or she receives a squeeze, uses his or her free hand to try to grab the “prize.” Once everyone is in place, the leader squeezes the hands he or she holds to start a “chair reaction.” The team that “pulses” the fastest will grab the prize first. Each person will get to take a turn at the front of the line. Keep score to see which team gets the prize the most times. Afterward, ask campers how the sharing of God’s love is passed and received. Invite the campers to think about what experiences at camp have touched them and how they will pass that on when they go home. BTW: Consider repeating the activity, but remove the prize. Instead of just squeezing the hand of the next person, each camper will pass on the words received from the previous person. The leader will squeeze the first person’s hand in each row and say, “The courage to…” and insert the final part of the name of the theme for Day 1. Repeat for each daily theme.
Passing Fancy
#P l a y #P r a y
Why: Affirm the connections made with the community and the individual campers through words of affirmation and a prayer of blessing. Supplies: small ball, yarn
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Words of comfort came first, as the angel told them not to be afraid, as if that was possible. Next came words of wonder. Jesus was gone, raised from the dead. Then came a command, an opportunity to do something with all the energy swirling inside them. The angel told them to go and tell the disciples.
Christian Practices
How: Stand in a circle together and take turns tossing a small ball back and forth around the circle, from one person to another, but no one should receive the ball twice. Once everyone has touched the ball during the tossing, pause play and ask the campers to repeat the process, tossing the ball to the same person, but calling out that person’s name before tossing the ball. Then pass the ball around once again, but this time ask each camper to share something he or she has learned about the person he or she is passing the ball to. You can repeat this step, with campers calling out something else they have learned about the “receivers,” if time allows. Now replace the ball with a ball of yarn. Have campers pass the ball of yarn, just as they passed the ball, but holding on to one end of the string as the pass the ball. This will create a web of yarn in the center of the group. Close in a prayer of thanksgiving for the connections through relationship visible in the web.
Younger Youth
BTW: You could do the yarn portion of this activity twice, using blue and green balls of yarn to symbolize the earth. Invite campers to place the yarn down on the ground and use tape or popsicle sticks to hold the yarn while campers reflect on how the ends of the earth might be impacted by their connections.
Fear Not
#LEARN #P r a y
Why: Let the story of Jesus’ resurrection guide you through a reflection on the week and some prayerful conversation on going home. Supplies: Bible How: Read Matthew 28 as a group. Ask campers what they were afraid of, either while coming to or while at camp. Read Matthew 28:5 again and ask the campers what helped give them courage at camp. Ask the campers to reflect on what lessons they will take home from camp. Read Matthew 28:10 again and ask the campers what fears they still need to face in order to share God’s love with others. Ask the campers to reflect on what life at home will be like after camp. Read Matthew 28:19–20 again and ask the campers how God might be calling them to live out Jesus’ message.
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BTW: Campers could write their final answers about God’s calling on their lives on index cards and share them in a closing worship experience. This could be a great way to commission the community to live out their camp discoveries at home.
Hushed Up?
#LEARN #P r a y
Why: Help campers connect the fears of the past to those we face today, and face the tension between a public and private faith. Supplies: large sheet of paper, markers, index cards, pencils, Bible How: Ask the campers to reflect on reasons people keep their faith private or things that keep people from sharing their faith openly. Write their answers on a large sheet of paper so everyone can see them. Read Mathew 28 together, then reread Matthew 28:11–15. Ask the campers to share their thoughts on these verses. Help them understand the narrative flow. The “Story Summary” may be useful here. Invite the campers to reflect on their list and the text to see how their fears of sharing faith might be similar or different from the Jewish leaders’ fears. Give each camper an index card and pencil and ask each to write, “I will not let my fear of _____ keep me from _____,” and fill in the blanks with his or her own answers. The first blank is a fear that keeps him or her from sharing his or her faith, and the second is something he or she feels is important to his or her faith, but often doesn’t happen. This can be an action the camper commits him- or herself to as he or she goes back home. BTW: These cards could be shared in worship, or traded with prayer partners who would take them home and pray for those people all year long.
CONTENTS
DAILY OVERVIEW
BIB/THEO STAFF YOUNGER OVERVIEW DEVOTIONS CHILDREN
OLDER CHILDREN
YOUNGER YOUTH
INTERGEN
DAY CAMP
EXTRAS
older youth BIB/THEO OVERVIEW
Day 1:
YOUNGER CHILDREN OLDER CHILDREN YOUNGER YOUTH
Together, the Courage to Show Up Daily Quick Reference Guide
Scripture Story: Genesis 12:1-8 (NCV)
INTERGENERATION Scripture Focus: Genesis 12:7-–8 (NCV) The Lord appeared to Abram and said, “I will give this land to your descendants.” So Abram built an altar there to the Lord, who had appeared to him. Then he traveled from Shechem to the mountain east of Bethel and set up his tent there. Bethel was to the west, and Ai was to the east. There Abram built another altar to the Lord and worshiped him. Theological Summary: God called Abram out of his comfortable life to create community, and when Abram showed up, God met him there and blessed him. Campers will: • know they are connected to one another just by showing up • find camp to be a place they are valued and accepted for who they are • become familiar with surroundings • acknowledge fear of new experiences and rejection
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Christian Practices
— Community Building: #P l a y #Create Build with sticks
— Scripture Walk: #LEARN #P r a y Walk Abram’s path
— Why Am I Here?: #LEARN Contemplate God’s purpose
— Theme Song: #P l a y #Create Celebrate God’s faithfulness Leader Notes This week, we will explore what it means to live in Christian community (how it develops, what it offers, what it requires, and how God uses it) by looking at the community that God decides to build in Genesis 12, starting with Abram’s willingness to show up where God commands. For more on why God calls out Abram, check the Bible Project’s video on Genesis 1—11 (www. jointhebibleproject.com). If possible, let your campers watch it too. Like Abram, your campers have also answered a call by showing up. They will build community together, so today is also about them feeling safe, welcome, and present at camp. What do they hope to experience in this community? How will they connect while they are here? Keep these questions in mind and look for opportunities you have to help them connect in community with one another.
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Worship Practices Cabin Time When you are all together in the cabin, use these discussion starters to help build cabin community while helping the campers to learn from the examples of people who have exemplified the different days’ themes: Each day ask your campers to share who in their communities have shown them how to live out that day’s theme, telling them that these can be people at camp who did something that day that they really felt illustrated the idea, or people from their larger communities of faith back home. Encourage them to look out for examples, and don’t forget to be thinking of your own answer. Be on the lookout especially for ways you can lift up your campers. Ask, “Who in your community has modeled for you what it means to show up in their faith?”
Song Ideas • “Canaan Bound” (Andrew Peterson, 2007) • “I Will Follow” (Jon Guerra, 2013) • “Pilot Me” (Josh Garrels, 2011) • “Here Am I, Lord, Send Me” (Josh Garrels, 2003)
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• “Earnestly, I Seek Thee” (Aaron Gillespie, 2011) • “The Master’s Calling” (Thad Cockrell, 2008)
Prayer Almighty and ever-present God, you who have called us into community this week, be in us and work through us as we seek to build a community together that will be a blessing to each of us, to others, and—mostly—to you. Amen.
Worship Ideas Connectedness
#centering
Talk with your group about the connections found between members in a community: similar experiences, dreams, hopes, fears, callings, and so on. Holding hands in a circle, have each person
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complete the sentence: “I am connected to [name of person on left] because…” After one revolution around the circle, go back the other way.
Community Altar
#celebrate
When Abram showed up and saw that God was there with him, he built an altar to God to mark the place as sacred. This is your group’s chance to do the same. Before worship, talk with your group about what an altar is and what they think an altar should have. Ask each of them to think of an item that he or she thinks should be part of your community’s altar, and to bring it with him or her when you meet for worship. Take an inventory for yourself of what the campers will bring, so that you can help them brainstorm and locate those items and so that you will know what to bring to help round out the building of the altar (e.g., table, cross, candles, cloth). Then prayerfully have your group assemble its altar, with each person sharing why he or she brought his or her item. After the altar is complete, have the campers “offer” their thanks and hopes for the coming week at the community altar.
. Story Synopsis .
Christian Practices
Genesis can be best understood in two parts. The first part is the prequel, about the origin of everything. The second part focuses on one family’s story. Abraham is the “Big Daddy” of this clan, and we read all about four generations of his descendants after him. The first eleven chapters teach us that:
Community Building #P l a y #Create
• God created the cosmos & humanity. • Adam and Eve, the first humans, made cataclysmic choices and got booted from the Garden. • Their son Cain killed their son Abel. • Civilization became wicked. • Noah, his family, and a numerically select group of animals were spared from a massive flood in order to restart creation. • God “confused” human speech by turning one language into many, then scattered all people throughout the world, because humanity tried to build a tower to the heavens. The rest of the book then becomes a family saga, with stories mostly about the Abrahamic family. These are the stories of Abraham and Sarah, Isaac, Rebekah, Leah, Jacob, Rachel, and their complex family systems. Here are the details for today’s passage:
(Adapted from Shmoop.com)
Supplies: found sticks How: Instruct your campers each to find a stick on the ground (not off a living plant) that he or she thinks represents him or her. Have each camper share why he or she chose the stick. Use this time to establish ground rules about talking and listening by making sure the campers pay attention to each other and don’t comment while others are speaking. Have them use the sticks to build a variety of structures together: the tallest structure, the sturdiest structure, and a structure similar to a building on the camp grounds, etc. Discuss lessons they can take from the exercise in building a faith community. Look for instances that illustrate this idea that will impact their experience of God and community this week. BTW: If your group is large, consider doing this activity in smaller groups, challenging them to outbuild one other in the categories you use (but the real winners are those who build community best while building their structures).
Scripture Walk #LEARN #P r a y Why: Campers will experience the day’s scripture in a personal way. It will help them process feelings of leaving home to come to camp and think about it positively. It will show them what their new Christian community has in common with Abram’s. Supplies: Bible, paper, markers, cards for each camper with Genesis 12:4–6 on them How: Beforehand, copy Genesis 12:4–6 on cards (one per camper), and set up a path that it is familiar to your campers and long enough to allow them to walk it by themselves at their own pace. If possible, start it where they were dropped off, have the middle by someplace central to the
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• God sends Abraham to Canaan and promises him two things: a thriving lineage and land (or lots of kids and a place to put them for generations).
Why: In this activity, your group will build together. It gives the campers a chance to tell about themselves and learn about others while giving the community a chance to begin to form.
life at camp, and end it somewhere important to your week. Before traveling the trail, read them today’s scripture and talk with them about how and why God wanted to build this community through Abram—highlighting that God required much of Abram and also promised him much. Pass out paper and markers and have them draw representations of all they left to come to camp, and then have them share some of those things with the group. Tell them they are going on a journey with the day’s scripture. Give them directions for the path. Tell them to walk in prayer with their paper, silently considering all they left behind and what can be gained from doing so. Reread verses 1–4 and dismiss them single-file onto the path with their papers and the scripture cards. At the end, read verses 7–8. Ask about their feelings at having to leave things behind. Ask how Abram might have felt leaving his county and family—everything he knew—and why he went anyway. Tell them that they have already accomplished the first part of community by showing up, by being faithful as Abram was faithful, and that the same promise that God will meet them in community and bless them through it is still alive. Pray for one another that your community will be present at camp.
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BTW: If you want, before reading the scripture would be a good time for your campers to watch the Bible Project video for Gen. 1-11. If you are doing a “Community Altar” later during a worship time, the campers can keep their papers for now and have a chance to offer those things to God later on the altar for the sake of the new community God is building.
Why Am I Here?
#LEARN
Why: This activity shows your campers the further possibilities of God’s promise by inviting them to think about how God might already be using the choices they make and how God’s promise to Abram can be realized in their lives. How: To begin, assign different locations that inspire excitement and fear. Some examples: roller coaster, zip line, snake pit. Have the campers
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imagine they are in that place and think about what might have brought them there. Then have them answer four questions: 1. Why am I here? (Answers could be imaginatively created stories or as simple as, “I’m here to ride a roller coaster.” Either is okay.) 2. What scares me about it? 3. What excites me about it? 4. What can I gain from it? It would be best for you to model the activity first, and let them choose your place. Remind them of what Abram may have felt in a new place. Have campers also answer the same four questions for where they currently are (at camp). Remember to model this yourself, including the part God played in calling you to camp. BTW: Try having them put themselves in the shoes of historical people in intimidating situations. Here are two examples, showing the range of depth you can go with this activity: You are LeBron James at the free throw line in the seventh game of the NBA championship, down one point with 1.2 seconds to go. You are Harriet Tubman returning to the South to help guide other slaves north.
Theme Song
#P l a y #Create
Why: This activity gives your campers a chance to creatively celebrate that, when Abram showed up for God, God showed up for Abram as well. It also gives them a chance to be ridiculous together, hopefully knocking down some barriers in the process. How: Tell your campers that a TV network has decided to turn Abram and Sarai’s life in Canaan into a sitcom and needs a theme song. They are looking for a song that highlights Abram and Sarai moving to Canaan despite difficulties, God meeting them there as promised, and all that this will lead to in the coming episodes. If your campers are not familiar with shows with lyrical theme songs, be prepared to explain the narrative purpose of theme songs. Sing them as an
example. It’s what you’re asking them to do; show them how fun it can be! BTW: Challenge them to create a promo for the show. Or challenge them to create a skit from the pilot episode. Have them decide if they’ll use a laugh track!
You could give them songs from actual shows to adapt. If you want to play examples of these theme songs rather than sing them (though, where is the fun in that?), you can go to televisiontunes.com.
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Day 2:
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Together, the Courage to TRUST Daily Quick Reference Guide
Scripture Story: Ruth
INTERGENERATION Scripture Focus: Ruth 1:16–18 But Ruth said, “Do not press me to leave you or to turn back from following you! Where you go, I will go; where you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die, I will die— there will I be buried. May the Lord do thus and so to me, and more as well, if even death parts me from you!” When Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more to her. Theological Summary: Ruth is an outsider who learned to trust Naomi, Naomi’s community, and her God, and when she did, everyone benefited. Campers will: • learn the importance of trusting each other • discover the impact of trust on a community • reflect on consequences of broken trust
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• acknowledge fear of betrayal
Christian Practices
— Trust Inventory: #LEARN #P r a y Looking at who you trust
— Perfect Confidant: #Create #LEARN Trustworthy infomercials — Faith Walk: #P l a y #Serve Trusting in action
— Circles of Trust: #LEARN How trust builds community
— Unhappy Endings: #P l a y #Create Untrusting skits
Leader Notes: Have your campers’ names memorized today. Youth feel more known, loved, and part of community when people know their names. Yesterday, we used Abram’s example to talk of the first step in creating community: showing up. Today, we will begin to talk about qualities needed to develop strong Christian community, beginning with Ruth’s example of trust. While looking at the story, don’t ignore the trust shown by others in the book and revisit yesterday’s story to see how Abram and Sarai showed trust. Be sure to keep up with how the stories are connected. The “line” that runs through these stories runs through the community you are presently building with your campers.
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Worship Practices Cabin Time Continue cabin community with the following discussion starter: “Who in your community has modeled what it means to ‘trust’ God in community and faith?” Remind the campers to look for examples to share, and also be thinking of your own, as well as looking for ways that you can lift up your campers.
Song Ideas • “God’s Got It” (Old Crow Medicine Show, 2006) • “There’s A Light” (Liz Vice, 2014) • “Consider the Ravens” (Dustin Kensrue, 2007) • “I Will Trust Thee” (hymn) • “How Firm a Foundation” (hymn)
Prayer God, you who have called us into community this week, help us to trust one another and be the type of people who are worthy of that trust as we seek to build a community worthy of your calling and the trust that you have placed in us.
Trust Meditation
#centering
Building off yesterday’s scripture, spread your group out so each camper is in his or her own space. After preparing the campers by requesting them to be in prayer over their responses, ask the questions below, leaving time for contemplation between. (Keep in mind that the questions are personal ones that do not have right or wrong answers.)
— You are one of Abram’s slaves. He comes to you and says, “God has told us to leave our country, to leave our family, so we are going. You are coming with us.” What would trust look like if you had no choice? What would it take for you to trust him in that? What if rather than demand you come with them, Abram frees you?
Bring to the Table
#celebrate
Supplies: table, paper tablecloth, markers This exercise will help your students better understand the practice of “gleaning.” Remind your campers of the practice as found in Ruth. While gathered around a table covered with a disposable paper tablecloth, tell your campers to write on it all the things they can think of that they have in abundance in their lives: physical things (food, clothes, etc.) but also less tangible things (humor, positivity, friends). Encourage them to go beyond the first things that pop in their heads, and tell them to say a prayer of thanks as they write each one. After everyone has finished writing, have your group walk around the table. As a camper sees something he or she feels he or she lacks, have the camper tear that bit out for him- or herself, saying a prayer of thanks for how God provides. After everyone is done looking and tearing, have the campers surround the table once more, spreading out what they have received so that the new pattern of the tablecloth covers the table again. In closing, point out to them that part of being in Christian community is trusting that God will provide for where we are lacking through that community.
— You are Abram. God comes to you and says, “Leave your country, leave your family, and go where I show you.” Could you trust God enough to do that? What would it take for you to trust God? — You are Sarai. Your husband, Abram, comes to you and says, “God has told us to leave our
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Worship Ideas
country, to leave our family, so we are leaving.” Could you trust Abram enough to go along? Would you?
. Story Synopsis . Our story opens as a famine in Bethlehem forces Elimelech and his wife, Naomi, to move to Moab with their two sons. They live there for about ten years and their sons marry local girls, Ruth and Orpah. Life is good, for a while. One by one, Elimelech and his two sons die, leaving Naomi, Ruth, and Orpah without men and in need of help. Naomi decides to head back to Bethlehem and her daughters-in-law pack their luggage to join her, but Naomi begs them to stay behind. While Orpah decides to stay in Moab, Ruth pledges her devotion to Naomi, forsaking her god and her people to be part of Naomi’s life. In Bethlehem, things are not good. Naomi feels down and Ruth is reduced to gleaning (or gathering the leftovers) in the fields. There, she runs into a well-known rich man named Boaz. He takes a liking to her and gives her all kinds of “sweet” gleaning privileges. Boaz is also a relative of Naomi’s late husband, which is important because it means, as family, he has a certain obligation to marry Ruth and provide for her as family.
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When Naomi hears about Boaz and what a good guy he is, she hatches a plan for Ruth to snag him as a husband. She tells Ruth to visit Boaz at night and lie at his feet. Ruth does what her mother-inlaw asks, and Boaz is pleased to see that the cute woman from the fields is interested in him. He tells Ruth that he would love to marry her, but that there’s another with even closer ties to her in-laws. Boaz sets out to meet the man and we wait to find out with whom Ruth will end up. As it turns out, the other relative is interested in buying some land Naomi has, but not so interested in taking her daughter-in-law as his wife. So a deal is struck—the relative renounces his claim on Ruth so Boaz is free to marry her. Wedding bells ring; everyone is happy. Soon they have a son, which makes Naomi very happy. The women in town name the baby Obed and— surprise—he’s the grandfather of King David! Talk about a happy ending. (Adapted from Shmoop.com)
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Christian Practices Trust Inventory
#LEARN #P r a y
Why: This activity has your campers look at the part trust has already played in their community and think about its importance going forward. It encourages them to think about why and how they trust. This helps them learn the give and take of trust. Supplies: copies of the “Trust Inventory” handout on p. 159) for each of your campers, pens, Bibles (have campers bring their own) How: Instruct your campers to think of Ruth’s story. Hand out the “Trust Inventory” worksheet and review the directions with them, asking them to think about people in their lives whom they trust in the ways the characters in the book of Ruth trusted each other, as well as some who trust them in those ways. After they are clear on what to do, give them time to prayerfully fill out the sheet. The handout includes summaries of certain verses from the book of Ruth with each trust relationship. This is a good time for them to bring their own Bibles to the activity and to read the different passages as they do it. After they complete the handout, use the questions at the end of today’s Daily Guide to lead a discussion. BTW: If you don’t have handouts, you can do this activity by reading the questions one at a time and having your campers share their answers, being sure to give them time to think about each one. If you are doing it this way, be ready to share your own answers first.
Perfect Confidant
#Create #LEARN
Why: This activity gives your campers a chance to stretch their creative muscles again by thinking beyond the goal of simply being trustworthy to how they can become trustworthy. Supplies: paper, pens How: Break your campers up into groups of five. Tell campers that they are to design the “perfect confidant” and then come up with a short infomercial to market their confidant to others.
They need to convince their “consumers” of the trustworthiness of their confidant by giving examples. After they have worked out their ideas on paper, have each group perform their infomercial as a skit for the rest of the campers. BTW: To spice up the activity, throw in an added surprise element for each group by randomly assigning them objects, phrases, or celebrities they must work into their infomercials. Maybe it must feature Taylor Swift, Santa Claus, or someone from your faith tradition, or maybe they have to use a microwave somewhere in it, or maybe they have to incorporate a phrase such as “don’t cry over spilled milk.”
Faith Walk
#P l a y #Serve
Why: This activity gets your campers out and active as they exercise their trust in one another, requiring they put into practice the idea of trust they’ve been talking about all day. Supplies: blindfolds for all but one of your campers
As the leader of the community, your main goal is safety during this activity. If you must step in to
Afterward, discuss the importance of trust in the activity and what lessons they can glean from it about how trust should work in a community of faith. You can also acknowledge that your group only mimicked blindness and talk with them about how people who are actually blind might need trustworthy people around them. BTW: If you have campers who cannot participate in a literal faith walk, try a virtual one. Set up an imaginary course ahead of time in your head. It allows you to add in things they would not have had to deal with in the real world—such as lava or the dentist. Line up as before and give your group a description of the starting point and their goal point. From this point, talk only to the “leader,” giving him or her a constant description of the path ahead of the group (and whether or not they may be headed into a virtual tree or stream). As the leader gives instruction, the line must do motions to show they all responded (leaning left for left turns, leg lifts for big steps, swimming strokes). If not everyone does the right motion, make a point to remark on it (“Billy just walked into a tree”) and deduct points.
Circles of Trust
#LEARN
Why: Campers will be analyzing the scriptural communities you have looked at so far to think about the part trust plays in the development of community in general, but also especially in the establishment of God’s community. Supplies: Bibles, large sheets of paper, markers How: Break the campers into small groups of three. Make sure each group has a Bible, a large sheet of paper, and some markers. Tell each group that their job is to trace the relationships in the book of Ruth through the cause and effect of trust and the impact that any relationship of trust had on the community. Starting with Ruth and Naomi, they should write names on the sheet and take short notes as they ask themselves: “Why does Ruth trust Naomi? Why does Naomi trust Ruth? What comes from this relationship of trust?” Have them draw a circle around Ruth and Naomi’s trust when done.
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How: Remind your campers that this is an exercise in trust and that that means they have to trust each other, but also must be worthy of each other’s trust, so they should not take that lightly. Each will take a turn in leading the rest of the group as they try to complete a course together as a community. Set up a destination for the walk, far enough away that each camper has a chance to lead the group. Have all but one of them stand in a line with arms out and hands on the shoulders of the person in front of each, and blindfold those in line. The nonblindfolded “leader” of the group must direct them toward the goal using only his or her voice. The line should not do anything unless told by the leader. Make sure the leader realizes that he or she is responsible for leading the group to the goal and for keeping them safe from harm. After the first leader leads for a minute or so, have that camper stop the group. Take the blindfold from the first in line and put it on the old leader, guiding them to the back of the line and letting the new person lead. Repeat until the goal is reached.
keep someone safe, do so. Otherwise, trust your campers.
Each time they get to a new person in their answers, they should write down the names of the new person and the previous person with which they are in relationship (in this case, Ruth or Naomi), circle the pair, and draw a line from the previous circle to the new relationship. For example, if they decide that Ruth trusts Naomi because she was married to her son, Mahlon, and has seen her as a good mother and Naomi trusts Ruth because she was married to Mahlon and she has seen her as a good wife, they would analyze each relationship with Mahlon in two separate circles. If they also decided that—as one of the results of this trust—Ruth meets Boaz, then they would analyze that relationship, and so on. Challenge them to find all the relationships in Ruth, including in Ruth 4:11–22. After they finish the Ruth story, bring them together to share their findings. As they share, ask them: “How did community enable the characters’ trust of one another, and how did trust enable their community?”
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BTW: You could also have them do the same with Jesus and his time on earth, having them use their personal knowledge of the gospels and the begets from Matthew 1:1–16 to see on an even larger scale how the trust of each of those previous characters has played a part in the whole story of the Bible. Lastly, you could have them analyze their own communities and talk with them about their connections to the larger story.
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Unhappy Endings
#P l a y #Create
Why: In this activity, your campers get a chance to creatively examine the impact of trust by thinking about what happens when it is not present. Also, if you have recently done the “Circles of Trust” activity, a somewhat serious undertaking, it gives them a chance to be imaginative and a little goofy. How: Assign campers different scenes or meetings within Ruth’s story to reimagine in skit form as they might have happened had the characters not trusted one another. Here are some scenes you can pull out: Naomi, Ruth, and Orpah living together as widows in Moab; the people of Bethlehem seeing Naomi return with a strange woman; Naomi and Ruth trying to survive in Bethlehem; Boaz’s workers finding Ruth gleaning in his fields; Boaz asking Naomi’s kinsman about his claim. Assign them different genres in which to play the different scenes (soap opera, suspense thriller, action, romantic comedy, etc.). BTW: If you have the time and the group for it, you can put the many skits together as one giant reimagining of the story of Ruth.
Trust Inventory As you read each question, consider the people from all areas of your life and write in the name of the person that best fits that question. You may use a person for more than one, but the exercise will work better if you try to match a different person to each line and don’t leave any questions blank. *Orpah trusts Naomi’s advice and returns to her people. (Ruth 1: 11-15) 1. Who is the Naomi to your Orpah? Whom do you trust to help you know what decisions to make and how to direct your future steps?
2. Who is the Orpah to your Naomi? Who trusts you to give them advice about situations affecting their future? *Ruth trusts Naomi to lead her rightly and Naomi trusts Ruth to be loyal and care for her. (Ruth 1:16-18)
3. Who is the Naomi to your Ruth? Whom do you trust to take care of you and to have your best interests at heart?
4. Who is the Ruth to your Naomi? Who trusts you to have their back in a tough situation?
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*Boaz trusts Ruth because of how he has seen her treat Naomi and Boaz earns Ruth’s trust by his treatment of them. (Ruth 2:11-16)
5. Who is the Ruth to your Boaz? Who has proven themselves trustworthy to you by how you have seen them treat you and those you love?
6. Who is the Boaz to your Ruth? Who has earned your trust by treating you well when they had no obligation to do so?
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Trust Inventory Leader Guide Hand out the “Trust Inventory” worksheet and review the directions with them, asking them to think about people in their life whom they trust in the way the characters in the book of Ruth trusted each other, as well as some who trust them in those ways. After they are clear on what to do, give them time to prayerfully fil out the sheet. The handout includes verses from the book of Ruth with each trust relationship. This is a good time for them to bring their own Bible to the activity and to read the different passages as they do it. When done, bring them together and use the following discussion questions to guide your exploration of trust: 1. What characteristics do you see the people in questions 1, 2, 5, and 6 having in common? 2. W ith questions 1, 2, 5, and 6, how did your trust in those people begin? Have you always trusted the people in those questions? If not, what changed to allow you to trust them? 3. Of those you said you trust (1, 2, 5, and 6), who is it easiest for you to trust & why? 4. What do you think the people in 2 and 4 see in you that allows them to trust you? 5. U sing the examples of the characters from Ruth and the people you trust, what could you do differently so that all those in your life saw you as “trustworthy” as those in 2 and 4 do? 6. L ooking over these trusting relationships, where do you see God in them? What part do you think God plays in trust between people?
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7. L astly, looking at the people in your trust inventory, what relationship do you see between trust and community?
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older youth BIB/THEO OVERVIEW
Day 3:
YOUNGER CHILDREN OLDER CHILDREN YOUNGER YOUTH
Together, the Courage to Forgive Daily Quick Reference Guide
Scripture Story: Genesis 45:1-15
INTERGENERATION Scripture Focus: Genesis 45:14–15 Then he fell upon his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept, while Benjamin wept upon his neck. And he kissed all his brothers and wept upon them; and after that his brothers talked with him. Theological Summary: When Joseph knew it was safe to do so, he showed his forgiveness to his brothers so that the work of God could go on. Campers will: • experience the transformative power of forgiveness in relationships • explore giving and receiving grace • discover how forgiveness is communal • acknowledge fear of being taken advantage of/hurt again
Christian Practices
— Sibling Rivalry Tag: #P l a y #LEARN Chasing what others have
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— Epilogue: #LEARN #Create What if there’s no forgiveness?
— Broken Scavenger Hunt: #P r a y Look for hurt and healing — Invictus: #P r a y #LEARN Mandela’s example
— Step by Step: #LEARN #Create A process to forgiving — First Person Feels: #Create In someone else’s shoes
— And God’s Over Here, Like…: #P l a y #Create God and forgiveness Leader Notes Yesterday was about trust building community, but what happens when trust is broken by someone in community? How do we react, either as one hurt or one who caused hurt? How can forgiveness sustain community? Where will God come in on forgiveness? All these will be discussed today in the story of Joseph forgiving his brothers. Forgiveness is difficult; be sensitive to this. Your campers have varying experiences and attitudes on it. Be prepared to hear and accept their stories, keeping in mind the first part of forgiveness is simply not letting our lives be defined by our hurts. Notice this story’s place in the larger story of God’s community and consider showing (especially if you used the first part) the second Bible Project video from Genesis (www.jointhebibleproject.com) to reinforce the idea of what God can do through our forgiveness.
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Worship Practices Cabin Time Continue cabin community with the following discussion starter below. Remind the campers to think of examples to share, and be thinking of your own answer, while also always looking for ways that you can lift up your campers. “Who in your community has modeled for you ‘forgiveness’ and the impact it can have on one’s life with God and in community?”
Song Ideas • “Joseph ‘N’ His Brudders” (Louis Armstrong, 1946) • “Mandela” (Dream Junkies, 2014) • “Forgiveness” (Matthew West, 2012) • “Forgiven” (Pilgrim, 2013) • “Don’t Forget His Love (Psalm 108)” (Ellie Holcomb, 2014) • “Amazing Grace” (hymn)
Prayer Forgiving God, help us to not let hurts done to us define the lives we lead, to seek your will through our hurts, and to learn to forgive as you so freely do for us as we live in community with others.
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Worship Ideas List of Grievances
#centering
Supplies: newsprint paper, pens This activity gets your campers to look at their lives through the prism of forgiveness. Give them paper and pens. Assure them that no one will see what they write. Tell them, while yesterday was about trust, today is about what to do when trust is broken. Have them spend time thinking of ways they have hurt others and writing those on the left sides of their papers. Then have them write the hurts that have been done to them or things they’ve forgiven or might need to think about forgiving (because we can’t tell someone when they’re ready to forgive) on the right sides. Close by having them look over all they wrote for where God is in their lists.
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If you do this in the morning, have them keep their papers so they can think about them as they go through the day’s activities.
Burial of Grievances
#celebrate
Supplies: newsprint paper, pens, shovel If you’ve not already done the #center activity above yet, begin your #celebrate time with it. Gather around a hole in the ground. (If you have time, let your campers dig it after you explain why you’re all there.) Remind them the first step in forgiveness is not letting their lives be defined by their hurts. Acknowledge that they may not be ready for the other steps, but that they can help each other take the first step by all burying their lists. Have them place their lists in the hole and cover them with dirt. Read Genesis 50:15–20. Tell them, “The question may be, ‘What do you do now?’ and like Joseph, Nelson Mandela, and others, you should go forward freely, allowing yourselves to be used by God, trusting God to use your hurts for good.”
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Story Synopsis .
In his family, Joseph is the golden child. In exchange for being the “pet,” he gets some major bling in the form of a multicolored coat (or, in some translations, a fancy coat with sleeves). If that weren’t enough to make his brothers hate him, Joseph is also a dreamer and he has dreams in which his brothers bow down to him. And, oh yeah, Mom and Dad bow down too. Every teen’s dream and every sibling’s nightmare, right? Joseph’s brothers take matters into their own hands by selling their pesky little brother into slavery, but luckily for Joseph, he’s got the Midas touch. Even in slavery, he rises to the top of the household slaves. And then, after being falsely accused of sleeping with his master’s wife and locked away in prison, he gets to be top dog, keeping the joint ship-shape and looking out for the other members of the chain gang. In prison, Joe discovers yet a new talent: he can interpret the dreams of others. This eventually buys him a “get out of jail free” card and a ticket into the lap of luxury as Pharaoh’s VP, a position through which he saves Egypt from its own Great Depression.
(Adapted from Shmoop.com & Sparknotes)
Sibling Rivalry Tag
#P l a y #LEARN
Why: This game gets your group moving and gives you a way to begin talking about forgiveness while introducing the relationship of Joseph to his brothers. Supplies: bandanas How: Give each of your campers a bandana to hold (or anything that won’t accidentally hurt them or someone else). Split into two groups, one as older “siblings” and the other as younger “siblings.” Tell them when they are tagged, they must give up all bandanas they have to the person who tags them, the catch being that there will be periods of time when only older siblings can tag people, and another when only younger siblings can tag. During their tagging time, “olders” can tag other olders (in addition to youngers), and vice versa for “youngers,” but only if they can tag members of their same group on the back. Start with older siblings tagging first, and switch every few minutes. Afterward, gather for discussion. Remember, it is not important who won the game. What is important is the lessons you bring out from the game, so look for instances you can use in discussion time. Find out which campers live with siblings and which do not, then go through the following questions: • (For those who live with siblings): “Why do siblings fight with each other?” • (For those who do not live with siblings): “What do you think of the idea of sibling rivalry? How do you make sense of it (if it makes sense to you at all)?” • “After a fight with your siblings or anyone in your family, what happens next? Are you quick to forgive one another?” • “Is forgiveness hard within your family? Why?” • “Whom do you find harder to forgive: those in your family or those unrelated to you?” • “What good does it do to forgive others?”
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In the end, Joseph’s dreams as a teenager come true. During a terrible famine, his brothers come to him to buy grain and, not recognizing him as the teenager they threw into a pit, they bow down to him while he refrains from revealing his identity. Joseph toys with his brothers to test their character, first throwing them in jail and then sending them back to Canaan to retrieve their youngest brother, Benjamin. They return with Ben, and Joseph continues his game, planting a silver cup in Ben’s satchel and threatening to make him his slave when the cup is discovered. After Judah offers himself as a slave in exchange for Benjamin, Joseph reveals his identity and persuades his brothers to return to Egypt with Jacob, who, overjoyed, moves to Egypt and lives with his whole, large, extended family of seventy.
Christian Practices
BTW: If your group is big, try adding a third group of “middle” children. You could also play this game in the pool with rings.
Epilogue
#LEARN #Create
Why: This activity gets your campers to examine the impact of Joseph’s decision to forgive his brothers on the larger community. Supplies: one per camper—Bibles, pens, paper How: Begin by reviewing the story (use the “Story Synopsis” or, if you have an especially goofy group, use Louis Armstrong’s “Joseph ‘N’ His Brudders”). Relate for your campers the connection of this community to the previous stories of the week (Abraham, to Isaac, Jacob and his sons; Boaz from the line of Judah) and ask them to brainstorm on all that came from this one act of forgiveness by Joseph. Read Genesis 50:15–20, in which Joseph forgives his brothers again after Jacob has died and they are so afraid that they offer themselves as slaves to him. Joseph’s response highlights his recognition of God using him for good, and how his forgiveness continues to allow God to reveal God’s purpose to continue building the community of reconciliation with people.
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Then hand out Bibles, pens, and paper, and tell each camper to go back in the story to chapters 44 and 45, when Joseph confronts his brothers, and then write an epilogue to the story as if Joseph had not forgiven them. After they present their epilogues, end the activity by asking, “So what good does forgiveness do? Why did the brothers misunderstand Joseph’s forgiveness?” BTW: If you listened to Louis Armstrong’s short retelling of the story, have your campers do their epilogues in the same singing/rhyming way.
Broken Scavenger Hunt
#P r a y
Why: This activity helps your campers look at the correlation between brokenness and healing and the part forgiveness can play in them. How: Have your campers go out for some alone time, thinking about all they’ve talked about
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and to find something broken (or that had been broken). When they find something broken, they are to stop and consider how it might have been broken, what it might have taken to break it, and then what it would take to heal it. And if it has healed, what helped to heal it, and what would happen if it never healed? Regroup after some time. If they can do so without causing more breaking, have them bring the items they found to the group and share what they found and thought about. Talk with them about the lessons in their observations about forgiveness and its impact on us, asking, “How might being hurt be like being broken? How do you think forgiveness is like healing?” Some may bring back natural things, such as sticks or chipped rocks. Some may bring unnatural things, such as a piece of glass. Look for ways to use these things in discussion: Living things have to heal to keep growing; glass bottles can only be healed with the help of others or by being recycled and becoming something new. Close by asking, “So, now, why do you think we forgive?” BTW: You could make this a group walk and hold group discussions as you discover broken things. If you’ve already done the #centering worship activity, now would be a good time to have your campers look back over their lists, asking themselves how they could help to heal things on their lists.
Invictus
#P r a y #LEARN
Supplies: laptop and Internet connection, or movie player and the movie Invictus (note: recognizing that many facilities do not use digital media as part of their programming, consider using excerpts from the book that this film is based on, Playing the Enemy: Nelson Mandela and the Game That Made a Nation by John Carson Why: Looking at Nelson Mandela and his forgiveness brings Joseph’s model of forgiveness closer to the lives of your campers, to a time and place they recognize more easily. How: If you have on-line/video capabilities, take advantage of the story and scenes from the movie Invictus (2009), starring Morgan Freeman as
Nelson Mandela. Do some research on Mandela’s life and share his story with your campers, making a special point to include his efforts staging the 1995 World Cup in South Africa. There are then a couple of scenes you can watch online at the “Movieclips” channel at YouTube: “Reconciliation & Forgiveness Begin Here” and “Time to Build Our Nation” work great. Ask your campers the following questions: “How does Mandela’s life parallel Joseph’s? How were the choices before the two of them similar? How did their acts of forgiveness affect their communities?” As pairs, pray for each other to seek to follow the example of both Joseph and Mandela. BTW: The poem “Invictus” by William Ernest Henley is one that Mandela read in prison. It is about not letting one’s past or circumstances define the person, in much the same way that the campers should choose to not let their hurts define them by choosing forgiveness. At YouTube, you can find a clip from the movie titled “Invictus—A Poem That Inspired a Nation.”
You could use either song, or both, as an opportunity for your group to talk about their own experiences of having trust broken or betrayed, the effect those things had on their community, and if it might be time for forgiveness and how that might alternately affect their community.
Step-by-Step #LEARN #Create Why: This activity moves your campers beyond thinking about why to forgive to begin thinking
Supplies: pens, paper How: Divide into groups. Tell the groups you are going to give each group a task to accomplish, but their goal is not to accomplish the tasks— it’s simply to lay out a step-by-step process that someone could follow to complete that task. Examples could be: build a table, clean a pool, play a game of Monopoly. After the groups finish writing their instructions, have them share with each other, and give other groups a chance to see if they can find any flaws in the processes. (For instance: If building a table began with sawing lumber, another group might ask, “How did you get the lumber?”) Do a few rounds until they get the hang of it. Then challenge the groups to come up with a step-by-step process for forgiving someone. Tell them to think about the example of Joseph (and Nelson Mandela if you used that activity) and all that would need to happen for them to forgive. Have each group share and then, as one community, put together a final plan from all that they come up with. BTW: You could play the step-by-step group part by having the groups bid on how many steps it would take them to do the activity. Let the one with the lowest bid name their steps. If you do it this way, just make sure they do not limit their steps when thinking about forgiveness. Finally, have your campers name the steps that Joseph took to forgiveness.
First Person Feels
#Create
Why: This activity challenges your campers to look at the Joseph story from the perspective of different people in the tale, encouraging them to think about how to respond after trust is broken (whether their trust was broken or they were the ones to break another’s trust). Supplies: Bibles, pens, paper How: Begin by acknowledging that they all will be hurt and cause hurt, and that they all will have incidents on both sides of their ledgers. Explain: “It is important to think not just about how we can forgive, but also how we can respond while
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To add another level, here are two songs that could enrich Joseph and Mandela’s stories for your campers. The song “Mandela” by Dream Junkies uses Mandela as an example of forgiveness that releases us from the hurts that hold us. After listening to the song, have each member of the group talk about a personal incident and work out in his or her own way how forgiveness fits that experience. The other song is “Forgiveness” by Matthew West. If you use this song and have the capability for video, there’s a two-part video at YouTube of the “The Story Behind the Song.” It tells the true story of a woman forgiving a man who killed her daughter in a drunk-driving accident and their current work together.
about how to forgive by looking at the process of how things are accomplished.
waiting to be forgiven.” Break into small groups, and assign each small group a different character at a specific time in the story of Joseph and ask them to answer these questions as that character in that instance: “How do you feel? What do you have to forgive or be forgiven for? What must you do to reach that forgiveness?” When they have completed this task, have the campers reassemble in one large group and have each small group recap their situation for the large group and share their findings in the first person, beginning with, “I feel…” Examples: Joseph first sees his brothers again (Gen. 42:1–8); Judah sees Benjamin accused of stealing and taken as a slave after he promised his father nothing would happen to him (Gen. 44); Benjamin finds the silver cup in his bag (Gen. 44); Reuben finds Joseph gone from the pit (Gen 37:18–29); Judah sells Joseph into slavery (Gen. 37:18–29); one of Joseph’s brothers hears his dream (Gen. 37:1–9). BTW: If you have an ambitious and dramatic group, challenge them to turn their findings into a giant family therapy session or a talk-show appearance by Joseph and his brothers.
And God’s Over Here, Like… #P l a y #Create Older Youth
Why: This activity takes advantage of a meme— a well-known Internet message—that your campers are probably familiar with to get them to think about God’s feelings on forgiveness and how those compare with their own. Supplies: paper, pens How: Give your campers sentences to complete that describe some of their feelings about forgiveness: what makes it difficult, how it affects community, and how community can help reach forgiveness. Tell them simply to fill in the sentences honestly, nothing else. Some samples sentences you could use: • I find it really hard to forgive when… • Forgiving someone who hurts a friend of mine is… • When friends tell me I should forgive someone who wronged me, I… • I think I should be forgiven when…
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After they complete the sentences, collect their papers and redistribute them, telling the campers that this was only the first step of finishing the sentences. On the papers they now have, they should add, “And God’s over here, like…,” to each statement, and finish that sentence by writing how they think God would respond to those feelings on forgiving others and being forgiven. Example: I find it really hard to forgive someone when they treat me like I don’t exist. And God’s over here, like…“Yeah, tell it to my son. No, really, he’ll listen.” BTW: Instead of redistributing the sentences, you could read aloud the sentences most conducive to the activity and see which of your campers can come up with the best finish. Or you could have your campers do the second part of the activity in pairs and add visuals to the completed “meme.” While one reads the first part of the sentence, the other displays the Snapchattype freeze frame to accompany what’s said. Then, that camper reads the second part while the first does the accompanying freeze frame.
older youth BIB/THEO OVERVIEW
Day 4:
YOUNGER CHILDREN OLDER CHILDREN YOUNGER YOUTH
Together, the Courage to STAND Daily Quick Reference Guide
Scripture Story: Daniel 3
INTERGENERATION Scripture Focus: Genesis 12:7–8 Nebuchadnezzar said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants who trusted in him. They disobeyed the king’s command and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God.” Theological Summary: When we are called to be different from others and to stand with our community, we will not stand alone. Campers will: • find confidence in community
• find strength in numbers
• discover the impact of communal worship
• acknowledge fear of being misperceived
Christian Practices
— Stand and Deliver: #P l a y #LEARN A game to test resolve
— Emotions in Motion: #LEARN Interacting with the story
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— Modern Day: #Create #P l a y The story in today — Musical Trios: #P l a y A game to stand together
— People Table: #P l a y Physically supporting each other
— Analogy Finder: #LEARN #Create Showing understanding by teaching — Common Character: #Create Similarities of strong communities
Leader Notes Over the past two days, talking about trust and forgiveness, we have explored some things needed in Christian community to allow God to work in and through that community, but what is that work? If we have shown up and discussed what we need to live in community, what do we then do as community? Today, we begin an exploration of habits of strong Christian communities, beginning with “standing.” As Christians, what do we stand for? What do we stand against? And how does community help us stand? We’ll use the example of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego for this. Make sure to relay how their story affects the larger story of God’s community—how their example of faithfulness, a faithfulness not dependent on outcome (check out their response to Nebuchadnezzar), helps strengthen God’s community and can do the same for our community today.
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Worship Practices Cabin Time Continue cabin community with the discussion starter below. Remind the campers to think of examples to share, and be thinking of your own answer. At this point in the week, be looking for who among your campers is not being lifted up as much and find ways you can build them up. “Who in your community has modeled for you how to ‘stand’ for what’s right, to ‘stand’ for God?”
Song Ideas • “Shadrach” (Louis Armstrong, 1952) • “Stand” (Bebo Norman, 1999) • “The Resistance” (Josh Garrels, 2011) • “Rock of Habitation” (Ellie Holcomb, 2014) • “I Am His Child” (hymn) • “My Hope Is Built” (hymn)
Prayer
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Strong and constant God, you who have called us into community this week, help us to find the courage to stand for what we believe, for what we think is right, and for what you have shown us is true. And when we struggle to find that courage, help us to find it in you and to be it for each other. Amen.
Worship Ideas Standout Meditation
#centering
This meditation will help your campers to see “standing out” as a possible positive instead of a negative. Begin with them settled, undistracted, and in a prayerful mood, their eyes closed and their ears focused on your voice. Ask them to imagine they are standing alone in the center of a circle of people looking at them and pointing at them. Ask them to think about why those people are doing so and then how it feels to stand out in that way. Next, tell them to imagine they are standing in the center of the circle again, but they are not alone now—Jesus stands with them while others still look and point. Ask them to think
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now about why those people are doing so, and then how it feels to stand out with Jesus by them. Lastly, tell them to imagine they are standing in the center of the circle again. Jesus now stands among those in the circle around them; the campers are alone again, but it is because Jesus has asked them to stand there. The others still look and point at them. Ask them to think now about why Jesus wants them to stand there, what he wants them to stand for, what they would be willing to stand for if he asked, and then how it feels to stand out in this way.
Standing Testimony
#celebrate
This activity celebrates God’s action in the lives of your campers. Have your group come up with a simple rhythm to which they can all sing the chorus below (based on scripture quotes). (Or if you feel they are capable, have them come up with their own words for the chorus.) Then have them each share times in their lives when they’ve felt God’s presence standing with them and have everyone sing the chorus between each testimony. “Our God whom we serve is able. None other can deliver. God is with us in the fire When we stand next to the Giver.”
. Story Synopsis . Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego’s story is a lot like Daniel’s story—whose book we find them in. They stick to their principles despite crazy circumstances. Their real (Hebrew) names were Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah (Dan. 1:7), which mean, respectively, “God is gracious,” “Who is like God?” and, “God has helped.” Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego mean, respectively, “Command of the Moon God,” “Who is what Aku is?” and “Servant of Nabu.”(Nabu is the Babylonian god of wisdom, and King Nebuchadnezzar’s favorite god.) While we usually talk of Daniel by his Hebrew name and not as “Belteshazzar” (his Babylonian name), we usually call Shad & Co. by their Babylonian names. Why? Um, because those names sound cool. As another epic Hebrew trio, The Beastie Boys, realized a couple of thousand years later when they rapped “We’re just three emcees and we’re on the go: / Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego.”
But back to the fire. When Nebuchadnezzar is about to throw them into the furnace for refusing to worship his golden statue, they say, “If our God, whom we serve, is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire, and out of your hand, O King, let him deliver us. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods and we will not serve the golden statue that you have set up.” Now that’s standing on faith. And—much to Nebuchadnezzar’s surprise—they are not alone in the fire. Nebuchadnezzar is in shock and lets them out, suddenly spouts proGod-of-Israel talk, and even gives Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego promotions. (From Shmoop.com)
Stand and Deliver
#P l a y #LEARN
Why: This activity will start your campers thinking about what’s worth standing for and what’s not, and the pressures that come from standing for something. How: To introduce the day’s theme, begin by giving your campers two or three options in different categories, and have them sit in different areas to match what they truly think is best of those options. (So, if you chose ice cream and gave them choices of vanilla, chocolate, or strawberry—those who think vanilla is best might sit to your left, chocolate in front of you, and strawberry to your right.) Then tell them which of the options you think is best and that everyone in that section “wins.” Then call out individuals in the other sections one at a time to stand up and give them a choice: they can defend their position with a complete 40-second argument and maybe sway you…or they can simply change, join your side, and “win.” After you’ve played for a while, discuss with your campers what it felt like to have to stand out among their peers, what they found easiest to do in that situation, and what made it easy. Ask what it felt like to compromise what they really believed, or what it felt like to stand for what they believed. BTW: Depending on where you want the discussion to go, you can put more pressure on those called to stand for their side by requiring they give their cases in rhyme. You could also switch things up from time to time by letting your campers pick the categories or by even making one of them the leader whom everyone else will try to be like.
Emotions in Motion
#LEARN
Why: This activity gives your campers the opportunity to look at this act of faithfulness in a real way by examining the emotions of the men who stood for what they believed in. It will also give you some insight into the fears and worries of your campers when they think about standing.
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So what’s so great about these guys? Well, they survive being put into a furnace as punishment for staying true to God. Also, they stick with Daniel and refuse to adopt a nonkosher Babylonian diet, surviving only on water and vegetables, which ends up making them wiser and way healthier than everybody else.
Christian Practices
Supplies: Bible How: First, read through the story once. Explain that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego would have felt a lot of different emotions as events unfolded. Split your campers into small groups and assign each group certain emotions (such as anger, fear, love, joy, sadness, pride, indignation, courage, or hope). Tell them to think about places in the story when Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego would have felt that emotion, and read the story again. This time, when your campers hear one of those places, have that group raise their hands to pause you and share with the other groups what emotion Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego would be feeling there, why they would be feeling it, and what or who was the source of those feelings. Depending on your different groups, this may take some prodding from you at the outset of the story, so don’t be afraid to take a pause yourself as you wait for them to think about their emotion. Here are some key story points to look for: seeing the statue for the first time, being told to worship it, being tattled on, confronting the king, seeing others worship, answering the king, watching the fire be built up, being thrown in, being called out, listening to king’s decree, and being given promotions.
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BTW: To add some fun to the activity, have the groups each come up with a sound and accompanying facial expression to represent their emotion and let them use that to pause your reading of the story. Also, to make sure all your campers are thinking about each of the emotions involved in the story, after each group talks, ask the other groups if they agree with the assessment, being sure to answer why or why not. Remember, there aren’t really right or wrong answers here, just opportunities for discussion.
Modern Day
#Create #P l a y
Why: This activity takes the story out of “Bible times” and puts it right into the world of your campers, asking them to identify what standing in that way would mean for them today. How: Have your campers re-imagine the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego’s faithfulness
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to God in a current way, coming up with a skit to show how the story might have gone down in their high school with a problem they might actually face—an opportunity in which a teenager of today would actually have to stand for God or bow to pressure. Tell them to make sure they include the fear that would go into it, the reasons they would have to do it, the consequences that might come of it, and where God would come in to stand with them. BTW: If you’ve just done the “Emotions In Motion” activity, have them stay in their emotion groups as they all work together on the skit, challenging them also to work in their given emotion (along with sound and facial expression, of course). You could also have your campers play the skit as if it took place on a specific TV show. Here are some that take place in or around a school: Pretty Little Liars, Gossip Girl, Glee, Community, Boy Meets World, Saved by the Bell.
Musical Trios
#P l a y
Supplies: music player, musical recordings Why: This game will introduce your campers to the idea that there is strength in numbers—that they can help each other take a stand. How: First, have your campers mill around, making small talk as if they are Jewish people in the time of Nebuchadnezzar, right after he has just put up his statue. At random times, play music (like maybe Louis Armstrong’s “Shadrach,” especially if you already listened to his Joseph retelling). When they hear the music, they are to get into groups of threes as quickly as possible, elbows linked. Those who don’t fit into groups of three (or those last to do it), must sit down. Continue until only one of group of three is left. BTW: You may find it necessary to institute a rule that the same three people cannot be a trio twice in a row, either resulting in them all having to sit down or having to hastily make a new trio. You could also make this a large, all-day activity by playing the song at different times throughout the day, having those that were previously eliminated sit down immediately upon hearing the song.
People Table
#P l a y
Supplies: 4 armless chairs Why: This activity furthers the idea of how we can use one another in community to help us each stand for what we believe by giving the campers a physical example of the lesson. How: Divide your group into fours. Set up four chairs so that the front of each chair faces the right side of another. Have one group sit so that their legs are over the left sides of the chairs. Instruct them to each lay back until their shoulders are supported by the legs of someone else in the square. Remove the chairs from underneath them and see which group can hold this position the longest, or simply set a goal for each group to reach. Afterward, discuss with your campers what it took for each of them to stay up. BTW: If your group is overly competitive with one another, remind them that the goal is to simply see which group can “support” each other best, and that having the best physically sound structure is not necessarily the point.
Analogy Finder
#LEARN #Create
Why: This activity gets your campers to think critically about how the figures in the story used each other to stand for what they believed. It also gives the campers a chance to exercise their leadership and communication skills by giving them a chance to teach, rather than just sit back and learn. Supplies: Bible How: First, begin by reading the scripture again, telling your campers to listen specifically for how Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego needed and
While campers share their thoughts, make sure you’re looking out for how the rest of the group is supporting them in the effort. While giving examples of how to help one another stand in community, you want to be sure your group is not a bad example of it. BTW: If you’ve read the “Story Synopsis,” or were alive and listening to popular music in the ‘80s and ‘90s, you know that the Beastie Boys referenced Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in their raps. You can spice up this teaching activity by having your campers do this activity in trios, and deliver their lessons in rotating old school rapping fashion, like the Beastie Boys. You could also make it into a guessing game by having the campers share first what they are using for their analogies and seeing if others can guess how they are going to say these show the lesson.
Common Character
#Create
Why: This activity gets your campers to continue to look at the week as one whole story of community, seeing how that community has helped each other to stand through stress and pressure. How: Divide your group into three groups. (You could even name them after Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego). Assign each group one of the previous days of the week and tell them to find the things that the characters in that day’s story have in common with the characters in today’s story.
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After you’ve done the four chairs, you could also do a large group sit. Have your whole group stand in a tight circle, shoulders brushing each other on both sides. Have them all turn to the right so that each is facing another’s back and tell them to all sit on command. This is also an excellent exercise to join in with your campers, so that you too face the consequences of it succeeding or not.
supported one another in taking their stand. (If you have just done the “Musical Trio” or “People Table” activities, relate back to those activities to get your campers thinking along the right direction.) Tell your campers that it has fallen to them to teach their fellow campers and their community, about how community can help them to stand for what’s right—they are each to come up with an analogy to teach the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (how they supported each other, trusting in God and standing together despite pressure) and then present it to their fellow campers. (If they need an example, an easy one to use is a tripod.)
For instance: Abram did as God said and God showed up for him; likewise, today’s trio was faithful to God, and God was with them in the furnace, etc.
BTW: To make things more interesting, assign specific settings for these chance meetings to occur: a coffee shop, the bus station, thrift store, zoo, state fair, etc.
Then have each group come up with a skit about if characters from those days met somewhere and spontaneously realized all they had in common (like when you see someone who’s wearing the same kind of t-shirt you are, or has the phone you have).
If you did the “Stand and Deliver” activity earlier, you could also have each group include one of those categories into their skits, having the characters come together or maybe even disagree over the options from one of your used categories.
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older youth BIB/THEO OVERVIEW YOUNGER CHILDREN
Day 5:
OLDER CHILDREN
Together, the Courage to Do Justice Daily Quick Reference Guide
YOUNGER YOUTH
INTER- Scripture Story: Esther 4 GENERATION Scripture Focus: Esther 4:13–14; 8:6 Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, “Do not think that in the king’s palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews. For if you keep silence at such a time as this, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another quarter, but you and your father’s family will perish. Who knows? Perhaps you have come to royal dignity for just such a time as this.” [Esther said:] “For how can I bear to see the calamity that is coming on my people? Or how can I bear to see the destruction of my kindred?” Theological Summary: Esther took a risk to defend God’s people, because she trusted God’s covenant with her community. Campers will: • understand that their choices can have positive effects on the community
• expand their understanding of community to a global scale
• identify and address injustice
• acknowledge the fear of failure
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Christian Practices
— Switch Up: #P l a y Observation game
— Spontaneous Melodrama: #P l a y #LEARN Acting the story
— A Time Such as This: #LEARN #P r a y God using you where you are — Service Project: #P r a y #Serve Doing justice for real
— Freedom Tag: #P l a y The more hands, the better
— Who Are Yours?: #LEARN #P r a y Who keeps you accountable?
— Super Friends: #P l a y #Create Friends fix problems Leader Notes
Yesterday, we explored standing for faith. Today, we question if standing is enough. In today’s story, Esther had a choice, from her position, to not get involved, but as part of God’s created community, did she really? Could she have been true to God and her people if she had not acted? Likewise, in our previous stories, many were in positions of comfort and didn’t have to act. But would they have been true to God and community if they had not? And what part does community play? How does it keep us accountable and support our efforts? How can community help your campers do the justice that God calls them to do?
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Worship Practices Cabin Time Continue cabin community with the discussion starter below. Remind them to think of examples to share, and be thinking of your own answer, while also looking for opportunities to praise those campers who might be feeling neglected or ignored. “Who in your community has modeled for you what it means to ‘do justice’ for God and for community?”
Song Ideas • “Jah Work” (Ben Harper, 1997) • “Hands on Fire” (Joshua Rosen, 2011) • “Do You Feel” (The Rocket Summer, 2007) • “Change This World” (Propaganda, 2011) • “Let There Be Peace on Earth” (hymn) • “Lord, You Give the Great Commission” (hymn)
Prayer
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Caring and compassionate God, you who call us into community, open our eyes so that we can see the needs of those around us, move in our hearts so that we will be compelled to act, and enable our hands so that our work will be worthy of the call you place on our community.
Worship Ideas Progressive Prayer
#centering
This prayer practice gets your campers to pray with each other, for each other, for community, and for those beyond the week’s community. Take it as far as you would like. Have your campers begin in private prayer for themselves and for what God is telling them this week. After a time, have them move to pairs and pray for each other. Then have them move to groups of three and pray for your group of campers as a whole, their direct community that week. Then, in groups of four, have them pray for the camp. In groups of five, have them pray for their local or hometown
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area(s). In groups of six, for the Christian body at large. In groups of seven, for the world.
Empty Containers
#celebrate
Supplies: napkins, markers, some food containers This prayerful offering gets your campers to think about what they can give back in their relationship with God. There’s a saying that “you should never return an empty container”—the idea being that, when someone gives you a container of treats, returning the container to them is a chance to return the favor as well. First, spend time in celebration with them, naming all that God has given them. (If you’re comfortable with it, have snacks in the containers to pass around while doing this. But if you do, only have enough that the containers eventually empty.) After this, ask the campers: “So what will you do for God who has provided for you? What of yours will you give in return? And since we can give to God by giving to God’s created people, who will you give it to?” Encourage them to think specifically about their lives and try to name specific needs within their own communities for which they can help provide, and have them write those things on the napkins (have extra on hand so they’re not limited in the number of things they can “give”) and place the napkins in the containers.
. Story Synopsis . The Book of Esther begins as the queen of King Ahasuerus snubs his request to meet with her. Being an unstable fellow, he divorces her and needs a new queen. Esther, a pretty, young (secretly Jewish) orphan raised by her cousin, Mordecai, is among the young virgins chosen for consideration to fill the role of new queen. She wins favor with Hegai, who was in charge of the harem and, eventually, with the king, becoming queen. Also, Mordecai uncovers a plot to kill the king, and tells Esther, allowing her to warn the king in time and earn major “Brownie points.” But when Mordecai refuses to bow to the evil counselor Haman, Haman hatches a plot to kill all the Jews in the Persian Empire. It basically consists of him going to the king and saying, “I think we should kill all the Jews in the Persian Empire.” And the king, who doesn’t know his own queen is Jewish because Esther kept it secret, says, “All right.” The threat against the Jews is imminent. Mordecai wails outside the palace gates wearing sackcloth and spurs Esther to action. She fasts for three days, because she’s worried she’ll be executed if she visits the king unannounced.
And then, at the second banquet, Esther drops the bombshell: the edict wrangled from the king is a death sentence to her and her people. She begs for the king’s mercy. Enraged, the king asks who would do such a thing. When Esther says it is Haman, the king decides to punish Haman by hanging him on the same gallows he built
(Adapted from Shmoop.com)
Christian Practices Switch Up
#P l a y
Why: This game places importance on observation and gives a way to talk about noticing things you don’t usually, equipping campers to identify injustice. How: Split campers into at least two groups, about six a side, lined up facing each other, each camper 8–10 feet from his or her opposite, so the campers can see all of the other team. Have them observe each other for a minute, then turn so they face away. Each team then changes one thing on only one person on their team (tucking in a shirt, removing a ring, etc.). Make sure they don’t change anything by accident or habit (like pushing up sleeves or brushing hair behind an ear). Have teams turn back and try to pinpoint the one thing the other team changed. Afterward, discuss with your campers what made the game hard and what was required to succeed in the game. BTW: You could make it harder by letting them change more things, but make sure you put a definite number on it so the guessing teams know how many changes to find.
Spontaneous Melodrama #P l a y #LEARN Why: This reading gives your campers a chance to live out Esther’s tale some, while bringing the idea of “doing justice” into a setting closer to the lives of your campers. Supplies: Bible, copies of “Esther & the Cool Kids” (p. 179) for all the campers and yourself
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It turns out he is mellow and pleased. He offers to give whatever she wants. She asks for him and Haman to come to a banquet she is preparing that day. After that one, she asks for their attendance at another banquet on the following day. Meanwhile, Haman builds a huge gallows to hang Mordecai and visits the king in good spirits. The king asks him how one should honor someone who served him well. Haman, thinking the king means him, says that guy should have a parade, so the king—remembering Mordecai saved his life— orders Haman to honor Mordecai and lead him in a parade.
for Mordecai. The Jews are rescued by the king’s corrective proclamation that, when they are attacked, they have the right to violently defend themselves. Mordecai is made into the king’s new counselor and “Purim” becomes an official Jewish holiday to celebrate.
How: After you’ve gone over the scripture story, use the spontaneous melodrama, “Esther and the Cool Kids,” found on p. 179. A spontaneous melodrama is a skit performed on the spot as the narrator reads it. Campers fill the roles and do as the narrator says. If the character dances, the camper dances. If the character speaks, the camper speaks. The narrator controls the pace, reading so that the action is clear to the actors and the audience. Take your time, read loudly, and don’t be afraid to repeat things if the actors don’t catch on initially to what they’re supposed to do. In casting, look for those not afraid to act in front of the rest of the group, and who won’t have trouble being heard. “Over”-actors are who you’re looking for, but don’t be afraid to take a chance on a willing someone who might surprise you. There are four main parts you’ll need volunteers for. The rest of the group will fill in various audience roles, from sound effects to action, as in the case of the two plotters (and you can just point to people on the spot for those). Here are some discussion questions you can use afterward: • Where does fear come into the story? • What is the source of Esther’s fear? • If she does as Mordecai asks, what does she stand to lose? What does she stand to gain? • Why do you think Esther chooses to act?
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• Do you think Esther could have not acted and still been a true member of that community? Why or why not?
campers to re-enact what they saw as closely as possible.
A Time Such as This
#LEARN #P r a y
Why: This activity challenges your campers to think critically about their own positions in life and the opportunities they might provide, and to notice injustices that might be occurring around them every day. Supplies: paper, markers How: Talk with your campers about how today’s theme relates to yesterday’s, about the things that they decided they want to stand for. Mordecai tells Esther that she may have come to her position “for just such a time as this.” Ask your campers to begin looking at the positions they occupy in their own lives in that regard, as if maybe God wanted them there to fulfill God’s purpose. Whether a camper is an athlete, a musician, or even an unpopular kid, what if God wants to use that camper right there for God’s purpose? Assuming that to be true, have the campers think about how God could use them in their positions, how they could not just stand for God but do for God, and—using Esther and Mordecai’s example— how they could go about doing those things? Have them each draw a portrait of him- or herself in that position and write on it the things God might want to use him or her for. Let each camper share with the group. Then have the campers exchange portraits and pray for the person on that page to be equipped to accomplish those things.
• Esther needed Mordecai to point out the trouble her people were in. Why do you think Esther was not aware of the trouble herself?
BTW: If you’re doing the “Super Friends” activity later, these two add-ons would be good.
• What parallels do you hear in the story to your own life?
To add flair, have them draw their self-portraits as mild-mannered aliases alongside the heroes God wants them to be (as Esther became a hero to her people).
• Do you think you could not act when you knew of an injustice being done to God’s people and still be a true member of God’s community? Why or why not? BTW: Work the discussion directly into the melodrama by calling “freeze frame” at pivotal times in the story, having the actors freeze and asking the questions of the audience then. You could also continue the idea of observation from the “Switch Up” game by having counselors act out the melodrama once and challenging the
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Have your campers create a sign, like the Bat Signal, that God could flash every time God needed them to spring into action.
Service Project
#P r a y #Serve
Why: Doing a service project, especially on this day, helps drive home the point that justice is something we must actually do, not just talk about.
Supplies: whatever is necessary to complete chosen service project
someone, and what it felt like to be confined, then freed.
How: Today’s theme of justice presents an excellent opportunity to do a service project. These can be hard if you can’t leave your camp, so look for a local soup kitchen that might let you prepare food at camp and take it over later, a local school program for which you can put together back-to-school kits, or a local nursing home for which you can do prayer cards. At the least, have someone from a program come in and talk about what is done through that program and the general need for volunteers or supplies. Also, check with your church’s local structure to see if it has a mission coordinator that you could talk to about organizations in its home communities.
BTW: If you have a large group or want to change things up, create more teams. You could also allow teams or players to create alliances to free each other.
BTW: Whatever you find, spend time before and after the activity, as the community of Esther, in prayer for the effort—praying that your work be God’s work and bless those it will help. If you have trouble finding something, here’s a link to a variety of kits you could prepare: http:// www.umcor.org/UMCOR/Relief-Supplies. They require buying supplies, but you can then put them together at camp.
Freedom Tag
#P l a y
Supplies: two buckets, bunch of small items to collect (cotton balls or such) How: Divide into two teams. Scatter the items over the playing area. Create two smaller areas opposite of each other within the playing area. Teams begin in these areas and try to collect as many items as they can until they’re all picked up, but one person can only carry one item at a time until it is placed in the team’s bucket. While campers are collecting, they can also tag members of the opposite team. When someone is tagged, that person goes to the other team’s area. They can be freed from that area if tagged by a teammate. After the game, talk with your campers about when the game was easiest, the decision-making that went into whether to grab an item or free
Who Are Yours?
#LEARN #P r a y
Why: This is an introspective activity on accountability to one’s community that encourages your campers to think about people in their lives who can help identify needs and how to help. Supplies: Bible How: Review the scripture, asking your campers to focus on Mordecai’s importance in the story: namely, that it was Mordecai who recognized the trouble of the Jewish people and drove Esther to action by telling her some hard truths. Have them think about who the Mordecais are in their lives, the people willing to share hard truths with them and point out things they may not see. Discuss what makes someone a Mordecai, how often they listen to or seek out those people, and how they might live differently once they pinpoint the Mordecais in their lives. One of the reasons Mordecai could tell Esther about the need for her to act, beyond being a trusted family member, was because he was already doing what he could for their people. He recognized need in his community and acted on it, so it was easier for Esther to listen to him and see they both had a responsibility to their community. Move from them thinking about the Mordecais in their lives to a discussion on just who is in their community, who are their people, and what responsibility they have. BTW: If you previously did the “A Time Such as This” activity, have the campers draw figures representing the Mordecais in their lives on the opposite side of the papers, as “teams of Mordecais.” Let each camper give his or her team
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Why: This game introduces the idea that you can accomplish more with greater numbers than you can doing things by yourself.
If you used the “freeze frame” bit in the melodrama, use it here also. Call out “freeze frame” at random times, and anyone who moves after you call it must go to other team’s area. Call out “go” to resume play.
a name, and—just as the campers prayed for the portrait on the other sides of the papers—have them pray for those on these new sides. As additional conversation, have them contemplate what Mordecai’s reaction might have been had Esther not succeeded, how he would have treated her, and, by extension, how we should handle it when our efforts do not have the desired effect.
Super Friends
#P l a y #Create
Why: The discussion part of this activity helps illustrate the great benefit that comes from doing things as community, not as individuals, while the skit part of it has your campers work together in thinking about how to solve some of the problems they see. How: Your campers are probably somewhat familiar with DC Comics’ Justice League, either from cartoons or the movies that have been leading up to the coming Justice League movie sometime in 2017. Superman, Batman, Aquaman, Wonder Woman, the Flash, Green Lantern—
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all of these comic book heroes are more than capable of solving problems on their own, so what do they gain by being together? What more can they accomplish? And what lessons are in that for us as Christians? Have your campers create skits showing the Justice League coming together to try to solve one of the problems talked about today (one personal to their community, or maybe one that came up during a service project). BTW: If you have access to on-line videos, consider showing your campers some of the old “Super Friends” videos. There are many, including PSAs that show the Super Friends and youths doing things together. For extra entertainment in the skits, turn them into spontaneous musicals by shouting “show stopping number!” after campers deliver interesting lines. After it’s yelled, the actors must break from the skit to perform a musical number, the title of which is the line just spoken.
Esther and the Cool Kids (The Story of Esther) Characters: X (Xerxes), Morty (Mordecai), Esther, Ham (Haman), Crowd fills in other roles There was once a town named Susa, and in Susa, as in all towns, there was a high school. The coolest guy at this high school was so cool that no one even called him by his full name, he was simply known as X. X was captain of the football team, the basketball team, the rowing squad, and even the gardening club. He was super cool, and he knew it. And so did all those who looked upon him. His cool showed in his walk. His cool showed in the way he said, “Hello.” His cool showed in the way he texted. His cool even showed in the way he shook hands with people he met—creating elaborate handshakes on the spot, always with the other person trying to match perfectly his every move so they wouldn’t be found out to be uncool. Basically, X ruled the school. And he was happy in his rule, except for one thing—he had just broken up with his girlfriend. The end of their relationship had not made him happy, so he was on the lookout for a new girlfriend.
But Morty had a younger cousin named Esther, and everyone—cool or not—could plainly see just how pretty Esther was. A single flip of her luxurious hair caused boys to faint. Esther’s incredible good looks did
After X and Esther started dating, some began to suspect that X was maybe not as cool as they used to think. Morty happened to be standing by one day when he heard two people making fun of X and his new girlfriend. Morty told Esther, who in turn told X, and those two plotters were ostracized from the school and eventually forced to transfer. Now X’s righthand man in the school was a guy named Ham, so named because of the great show he liked to put on any time the attention was on him. He loved to have people look at him. In class, he was always answering the simplest of questions with the biggest of words, distracting from the teacher by telling jokes or standing and dancing on his chair. Yes, he loved attention, and he loved to hear people laugh at his jokes and say “ah” in deference to his brilliant remarks. Yet, there was one who never laughed at his jokes and never seemed impressed with his genius. Morty never reacted to Ham’s showy behavior, and this angered Ham deeply. He decided though that he was too important to simply take his anger out on Morty. He decided instead that all of the new kids— Morty’s whole entire awkward family—would have to suffer. So one day, Ham went to X and said, trying to sound important, “What’s up with all these new people, X? They’re weird. And strange. And they don’t even do cool things like you do. I think we should get rid of them, and then we’ll go get some pizza… My treat.” As he heard the offer of “free pizza,” X, previously bored, perked up and said, “Okay.” And, as X dreamt of pizza,
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Meanwhile, on the other end of cool, was a guy named Morty. Morty and his extended family were still new to the school, having been forced to relocate to the town of Susa due to circumstances beyond their control. Morty and his family, as far as the rest of the school were concerned, were very uncool, so much so that the other students sometimes booed him when he entered the room. The way Morty dressed was uncool. The way Morty spoke was uncool. And the way Morty laughed was really uncool.
not escape the attention of X either and, not knowing how uncool she actually was because she was related to Morty, he took her as his new girlfriend.
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quietly mumbling his favorite toppings, Ham rubbed his hands together in wicked delight and laughed fiendishly. So word spread around the school in a hurry—the new kids had to go. Soon, the whole school was talking about how the new kids were going to be kicked out of school, because X had deemed them uncool.
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When Morty heard this, he was distraught. He fell to his knees, tore at his clothes, threw his head back, and shouted, “No.” (A real, long ‘no,’ like in a movie where something bad happens and it starts raining really hard.) Esther saw this and asked him what he was doing. Morty was so upset he could hardly speak, so he told her what had happened using only single words in between his cries of grief and then asked her to go to X and ask him to spare their uncool family. Esther was immediately frightened. Trembling, she explained how no one told X what to do— because to do so was to risk being found out as uncool. Morty stood and said to her, “What do you think will happen when X finds out you’re one of us? You must help your people. Who knows, maybe the reason you were chosen as his girlfriend was for just such a time as this.” Esther pondered what Morty said, thinking over all the comforts she had known since becoming cool, since becoming X’s girlfriend. Could she risk being uncool again? Could she risk being found out as always uncool? Maybe, she decided, but she could not risk the well-being of her family, so she determined to go to X on their behalf. She asked Morty to have their entire family fast and pray to God for her and she did the same. Three days later, Esther saw X and Ham in the hallway and walked up to them slowly, feeling the weight of her people’s hopes on her back. Upon seeing Esther, X’s face brightened as she approached him as if in slow motion—Ham’s face, on the other hand, soured, as this meant attention was being taken off of him. X fell on his knees in front of Esther, taking her
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hand, and recited an impromptu love poem in her honor. As he finished, he said, “Esther, my girl, anything you ask- I will give you.” She blushed. He spoke again, “Oh, by the way, I couldn’t sleep last night thinking about those two nobodies who were making fun of me. How did you find out about them?” She told him it had been Morty who had overheard them talking about how he might actually be uncool and had wanted to make sure he knew about it. “Well,” said X, “I shall have to meet this Morty. He sounds like a cool guy.” Ham stepped back as if slapped. ‘Not Morty!’ he thought, as X asked Esther again, “Now what did you want from me, my love?” Esther coyly stood before X, fluttered her eyes and spoke softly while twirling her hair, “My dear X, if you are pleased with me, my only wish is that you let me be cool. Indeed, that you let all my family be cool, including Morty—whom you just said you’d like to meet and thought was pretty cool already. Someone is trying to conspire to have us all labeled as uncool and expelled from school.” “What!?!” yelled X. “Who would do such a thing?” “He would,” said Esther, raising one accusing finger dramatically in the direction of Ham, who put his hands up in feigned ignorance, saying, “Who? Me? Why, I ne… Wha… No… You… Me… Uh….” As the entire school leaned in to see what would happen next, craning their necks to get a better look, X spoke two words in the deepest voice he could muster with all the gravity of a judge holding court or a reality show judge giving their overblown opinion, “Not. Cool.” The surrounding mob gasped. They grabbed Ham and carried him away as he wept and cried. In his place, X made Morty his right-hand man and, together they ruled the school.
Older Youth BIB/THEO OVERVIEW
Day 6:
YOUNGER CHILDREN OLDER CHILDREN YOUNGER YOUTH
Together, the Courage to Change Daily Quick Reference Guide
Scripture Story: Acts 10
INTERGENERATION Scripture Focus: Acts 10:44–45 While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard the word. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. Theological Summary: Sometimes a community has to change its plans to be faithful to God’s story rather than just doing what the community has already done before. Campers will: • learn that community adapts to change from inside and outside • notice that change is inevitable • celebrate and share change • acknowledge fear of the unknown
Christian Practices
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— New Sport: #P l a y #Create Changing the rules
— Peter on Trial: #LEARN The right or wrong of Peter
— Better Drawings: #Create #LEARN Making better but still true — The Un-Relay: #P l a y Community changes how we move
— Changing Nature: #LEARN Nature’s example
— Rules of Order: #Create #LEARN How to go about change Leader Notes The past couple of days, we’ve talked about habits of Christian communities. Today, we’ll explore what to do when our “habits” get in the way of a growing relationship with God, the goal being that faithfulness to God’s desire for our community is more important than what we’ve become used to doing. This is not easy for everyone. It wasn’t easy for those in today’s story from Acts. Peter and the new Christians (all Jewish to this point) had to take a hard look at what it meant to be Christian. The important questions for us are: “What impact did this change have on God’s community?” and “How did it extend God’s promise?” But change is hard. Always. Be sensitive to the feelings of your campers as they work through this idea of change and the willingness to change if it’s called for. Make sure you embody a positive way to grow while talking with them about ways God might be calling them to grow or to change.
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Worship Practices Cabin Time Continue your cabin community with the discussion starter below. Remind the campers to think of examples to share, and be thinking of your own answer, while also looking for opportunities to praise those campers who might be feeling neglected or ignored. “Who in your community has modeled for you what it means to ‘change’ as God directs us, to honor both the tradition and the movement that comes with living in community by being faithful first to the legacy of God’s call?”
Song Ideas • “For Once in My Life” (B. Reith, 2012) • “Zion & Babylon” (Josh Garrels, 2008) • “Mansions” (Burlap to Cashmere, 1998) • “Born Again” (Robert Randolph & the Family Band, 2013) • “Take Time to Be Holy” (hymn) • “Contentment” (hymn)
Prayer
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God who has called us into community this week, help us not be so attached to our habits that, in doing so, we ignore the new ways that you move in and among us. Help us be open to how our community, which is really your community, will change with time and growth.
Worship Ideas Timeline of Change
#centering
Supplies: large sheet of paper, markers This activity leads your campers to prayerful gratitude. On a large, long sheet of paper, draw a timeline showing years from birth to the campers’ current ages. Tell your campers to think about ways they’ve grown and changed over the years (not physically, but lessons they’ve learned, ways their attitudes about things have grown, and ways they’ve matured emotionally and spiritually). Have them think about people in their community who sparked those changes and
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how God has used those changes in them since. Using markers, as they think of those things, have them write down the persons/events that taught them the lessons at the right ages on the timeline, saying prayers of thanksgiving to God for both the lessons and the people or events that helped them grow through those lessons.
Community Offering
#celebrate
Supplies: altar, offering plate, paper, pens This worship activity brings the week’s idea of community being part of God’s covenant into more focus. (If you built an altar at the beginning of the week, use it for this exercise.) Assign some of your campers (or pairs of them) different characters from the week (such as Abram, Sarai, Joseph, Judah, Ruth, Naomi, Boaz, Esther, Mordecai, Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, Cornelius, or Peter). Allow a few minutes for campers to write the strengths of the characters on the paper. In the order you have studied the characters this week, have the campers go to the altar as those people, stating the name and what he or she brings to add to the community that God is building, as he or she lays a paper it is written on in an offering plate sitting on the altar. As the “biblical figures” finish, tell your campers it is up to them to continue this community. Have them repeat the exercise by each using his or her own name and gifts, going first yourself to model for them what it means to give to community.
. Story Synopsis . In Caesarea, there’s a Roman centurion named Cornelius. He’s a Gentile, but he observes Jewish customs and prayers. One day, while he’s praying, an angel of God tells him to send men to Joppa to get Peter. Cornelius is a little freaked, but he sends two of his slaves and a soldier right away. (You don’t mess around when God gives you divine directive.) Meanwhile, in Joppa, Peter is on the roof praying when he gets a little hungry and sees a vision of a sheet being lowered down from the sky with all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds on it. God tells him to go ahead, kill one and eat it. Nice try, Lord, Peter tells the Almighty. I don’t eat unclean foods. I keep kosher all the way. The voice tells him again, “Seriously? I just told you it was fine. What God has made clean, you must not call profane.” Peter hears this three times and the vision disappears.
(Adapted from Shmoop.com)
New Sport
#P l a y #Create
Why: This activity helps your campers get used to the idea of change by having them play a traditional sport in a new way, forcing them to think about why the sport is currently played the way it is. Supplies: necessary items for the sport chosen How: Divide your group into two groups and choose a sport that most people know the general rules to, something like basketball or soccer. Have the two groups come up with rules that they would like to add or remove from the sport. Tell them the rules can be anything as long as they pass the purpose of rules—to allow everyone a fair chance to play. You will serve as the judge of whether or not a rule passes, looking out for changes that may inhibit someone’s ability to play fairly. Then play the sport with the new rules. BTW: Another way to do this would be to begin the sport in a normal fashion and then add or take away rules as the game goes on, so that the sport would evolve as the campers play it. To add some depth to this activity, research how the rules of a popular sport have changed over time and talk with your campers about why those changes may have taken place and whether or not they made the sport better. For instance… American football used to award five points for field goals and four points each for touchdowns and conversions; in basketball, three fouls in a row by one team once equaled an automatic basket for the other team; a batter in baseball used to be able to call for a high or a low pitch, and soccer players used to be able to punch the ball with a fist (though not hold or carry it).
Peter on Trial
#LEARN
Why: This activity challenges your campers to think critically about what Peter does in the day’s scripture and to closely examine the radical change in his thinking that occurs through the story. Supplies: Bible
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Just then, Cornelius’s men come looking for Peter. God tells Peter that there are some guys searching for him and he should go meet them. Peter meets the guys, they talk, and Peter agrees to go with them to Caesarea (things are pretty simple when they’ve been pre-okayed in vision form). When Peter gets there he explains that, while it’s against Jewish law for Jews to associate with Gentiles (Who knows what kind of weird Gentile germs they could pass on?), Peter decided to come because God showed him in a vision that he shouldn’t go around labeling things as unclean. Good takeaway. Cornelius tells Peter about his vision and asks Peter to tell him whatever it is that God needs him to hear. Peter tells him that God doesn’t play favorites. Jew? Gentile? God is cool with whatever your background is because he’s “Lord of all.” Peter gives a quick backstory about Jesus (lived, died, rose again), and the Holy Spirit falls on everyone who hears him. The Gentiles in the group want to be baptized and, because of his vision, Peter sees no reason why they shouldn’t be.
Christian Practices
How: Start by reading the scripture and then tell your campers that you’re going to put Peter on trial for his decision to accept and baptize the Gentiles. Designate half of your group as the prosecution. They will represent the Jewish early Christians and take the viewpoint that what Peter did was wrong because of how it went against their traditions. The other half will be the defense. They will defend Peter’s actions as just and correct and of God. But be sure to tell them that everyone’s goal is to get to the root of why Peter did what he did, what authority he had to do it, and the resulting impact on others and their community, which is God’s community. They should frame their cases in that regard. Allow each side to have opening statements, call witnesses (either one another, or other available individuals), cross-examine witnesses, and close their arguments. You will need to serve as judge so you can keep things running in order. Afterward, ask them what they feel the right decision is to reach. BTW: If you want, you could also delegate a third group as the jury, instructing them to listen to the arguments impartially and objectively and to reach a verdict based just on how the case was presented by the two sides.
Older Youth
It may add some interest if you can bring in pastors or others with theological background who are familiar with the story to serve as the witnesses in the trial (particularly as Peter, Cornelius, and as other early Christians of the time).
Better Drawings
#Create #LEARN
Why: This activity encourages your campers to think about change as an agent for improvement, even in church, while also encouraging them to think critically about the consequences of change and how to discern whether something is true or not to its purpose. Supplies: paper, markers How: Have your campers draw a traditional version of an item on one side of a paper. Then have them turn their papers over and each draw that same item as he or she would to make it better, limited only to the constraints of his or her imagination. Then let the campers share with
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each other what they have done. Do this a few times with a few different subjects (things such as a car, house, school), then have them do the same activity with church. Go back to the first subject they drew and discuss with them what elements the subject must have in order to truly be that thing, what must it have and what must it do (for example, they might decide: a car must have wheels, must have an engine, and must be able to move). Then examine the changes they made to “better” those things to see if any of their changes effected whether the subject still fits within their definition (what it must have and what it must do in order to be that thing). Finish by examining their ideas of church (what a church must have and be and do) and examine whether or not their changes to the church take away from its mission or help the mission of the church. Then have them put Peter’s action through the same test and talk with your campers about what this exercise might mean for their acceptance of change within their own church and community. BTW: If you have a large concrete area, try this activity using sidewalk chalk, letting your campers draw the “better” version right onto the first drawing. Or, if you do not have drawing supplies, use a large open space to let your campers take you on virtual tours of their ideas, showing where things would be in an imaginary 3-D environment.
The Un-Relay
#P l a y
Why: The purpose of this activity is to get your campers to think about how community is constantly changing as more and more people are added to it, and to introduce the idea that the most successful communities are those that learn to adapt to change best. Supplies: items needed for obstacle course How: First, set up an obstacle course of sorts. It does not need to be a physical, army-type gauntlet to run through. It may simply be a list of tasks to complete (unwrap candy, load a backpack, make a bed, etc.). Your campers will then have to work as a group to finish the course (if you have a large number, divide into multiple groups). One of the
campers begins the course by him- or herself. As each leg of the course is completed, a new camper joins the already active camper, holding hands (the group not being able to move unless they are connected that way). They can then only use the hands that are free to perform the tasks on the course. This continues until, by the end of the course, every camper is active and involved. Afterward, discuss with the campers what made the activity hard and what was required of them to be successful in the course. BTW: To make it more difficult, as each new person is added, make him or her face the opposite direction from the person who was added before him or her. Another way to do this is with Legos. Build a structure that the group must duplicate and add people at different times as they are building it.
Changing Nature
#LEARN
Why: This activity encourages campers to look at something that is always changing to see what lessons they can glean from it to apply to their own constantly changing communities.
Then ask them what lessons are there for your group in a community that is always changing, how you all can work together to make change a good thing, how change can strengthen community, and what you should avoid in changing that might hurt your growing community. BTW: You could also do this activity by dividing your campers into small groups of two or three and sending them out to look for evidence of change, having them report back to the other groups on what they find, or do the activity
To add to this activity (or if you don’t have a lot of nature near you), have the campers do the same thing looking through history books or old maps. It could be world history, local history, or even church history.
Rules of Order
#Create #LEARN
Why: This activity moves your campers beyond the idea of change’s inevitability to thinking about how a body can go about change in a way that is respectful and positive. Supplies: large sheet of paper, markers How: First, review the scripture of the day and the issue at hand in the passage. It may seem clear to us now what the right thing to do was, but it would not have been so back then. A lot of people would have been confused at the new idea of what it meant to be Christian and who could be Christian. Many would have likely disagreed with it. So how do we as a community come to a place that allows all of us to talk about change? Tell your campers that their job is to come up with a list of rules for Christians to follow in discussing and instituting change within the community. You may want to give them some background on “Robert’s Rule of Orders” as helpful information. You may also want to remind them of the purpose of rules if you previously did the “New Sport” activity. After they have established their rules, give them a silly (or serious, if you believe your campers to be mature enough) resolution to decide on and let them play out how it would work within their rules. For example: “French fries have gone on too long and we will now only have parfaits as side items to our hamburgers.” BTW: Have your campers discuss resolutions about the camp. “To make breakfast optional or not? To rename the camp dog or not?” And so on. You might also consider having someone from your church structure to come in during this activity and talk about the church’s current way of going about change.
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How: Take your campers on a hike and instruct them to look for how the environment has changed and is changing right before them. Tell them to look for evidence of that change. This could be “nice” things (such as the smoothing of rocks in a stream), but also other things (like the breaking of branches). After your hike, ask them about all that they noticed. Ask them about the difference in the changes they noticed and what makes something a good change versus a bad change.
throughout the day while on the way to different areas.
older youth BIB/THEO OVERVIEW
Day 7:
YOUNGER CHILDREN OLDER CHILDREN YOUNGER YOUTH
Together, the Courage to Connect Daily Quick Reference Guide
Scripture Story: Matthew 28
INTERGENERATION Scripture Focus: Matthew 28:19–20 “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Theological Summary: In order to bless all nations, Jesus calls the community to cross borders and cultures and be willing to be changed by them as well. Campers will: • learn to invite others into a community of fearless faith • understand the value of being a community of faith outside of camp • leave with a connection between camp and home communities • acknowledge fear of being alone, going home, being forgotten
Christian Practices Older Youth
— Go and Seek: #P l a y Game of going out
— Guards vs. Disciples: #LEARN Which is more needed?
— Portrait of a Disciple: #Create #P r a y Know a disciple by what they do
— Motivational Speaker: #P l a y #Create Get excited to go Leader Notes
Today’s the last day of camp. Use this opportunity to challenge your campers to use all they’ve learned this week to transform and strengthen their home communities. Find a way to make clear to your campers that they are now the keepers of the community we’ve been talking about all week. From Abram to Joseph to Ruth to Esther to Jesus to Matthew, it now falls to them to go forth and make community—to show up, to be trustworthy, to forgive, to stand, to do, to grow, and to connect others to God’s community. Today is about connection: our connection to each other and our willingness to connect to others, thereby connecting them to God. Help your campers understand that Jesus is calling them, in his great commission, to be an active part of God’s promise to bless all nations. In leaving camp,they become God’s promise lived out in the world, and God promises to meet them there.
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Worship Practices Cabin Time Bring closure to your cabin community by having a time for your campers to gather and share one last time over the discussion starter below. You could also send notes home with them about how you’ve seen the week’s theme of Fearless Faith in them over the week. “Who in your community has modeled for you what it means to ‘connect’ in community, not just connecting with people but also connecting those people to God’s community?”
Song Ideas • “Gloria (All God’s Children)” (Paul Colman, 2005) • “If We Can Get Together” (Joshua Rosen, 2011) • “We’re All in This Together” (Old Crow Medicine Show, 2004) • “Healing Song” (Bebo Norman, 1999) • “Walk Down This Mountain” (Bebo Norman, 1999) • “We Are One in the Spirit” (hymn) • “Jesu, Jesu, Fill Us with Your Love” (traditional, Ghana)
Community Pledge
#celebrate
Supplies: large signs with the words indicated below on them This activity will help your campers think about the work before them when they head home. Set out large signs on the ground that echo the week’s themes so that they sound like pledges (for example: show up, be trustworthy, live in forgiveness, stand up and stand out, do justice, change and grow, connect community). Have your campers each write out one-sentence pledges specific to him or her onto each sign that he or she will attempt to carry out back home, initialing next to his or her pledges. If you have a large concrete area, you could also do this on sections rather than signs, with sidewalk chalk.
Older Youth
Prayer
each person answers the question, the rest of the circle should respond by echoing Jesus’ words saying, “Do not be afraid; I am going ahead of you.” Then go back around the circle, having each camper answer this question: “Where does God want you to go upon leaving camp today?” As each person answers the question, the rest of the circle should respond by saying, “There, you will see me. Go, and remember I am with you always.”
God of always and everywhere, you who have called us into community this week and now out into community away from this place, help us not to forget the lessons you have shown us and work in us so that we can be a blessing for you just as we have been blessed by you, so that we can take on the mantle of the community of promise that you have created and connect others to it, forever growing your community where we go. Amen.
Worship Ideas Jesus Replies
#centering
This a simple, prayerful activity that will help your campers prepare for leaving camp. Gather your campers into a circle. Go around the circle, having each camper, in turn, answer this question: “What are your fears in leaving camp today?” As
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. Story Synopsis . Jesus was born to a virgin. He grew up a carpenter and a youth very interested in the happenings of God’s church on Earth. Eventually, he gathered some people together and set about three pretty incredible years of ministry. He taught. He healed. He loved. And then he was put to death by the authorities. But just as he said he would, three days later, he rose again. Now Jesus is planning on heading home to his Father in heaven, where we’re guessing he’ll get a pretty sweet welcome party. However, before he exits the scene, Jesus has one more thing to do: pass the ministry torch on to his disciples. Throughout Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus says he came mainly for the Jewish people. It’s like he tells the Canaanite woman, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Right. But now Jesus is looking to branch out. In the last lines of Matthew’s Gospel, he gives one final command to the eleven remaining in his posse: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations.” That’s all nations. Including the Gentiles. That’s Matthew setting the stage for the future growth of the church right there.
Older Youth
Matthew’s Gospel is the only one that features this “great commission” at the end. It’s also the only one that instructs the disciples to baptize people “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Fun fact: These are the words that are still used in most Christian baptisms today. (Adapted from Shmoop.com)
Christian Practices Go and Seek
#P l a y
Why: This game introduces the idea of going out to bring others into community. How: In this game, two of your campers will be seekers competing against each other. Everyone else hides. On command, seekers go find hiders. As they find one, that hider becomes another seeker for that seeker’s side and finds others. As all are found, they can choose to become seekers for whoever finds them. When back together, they stand with who found them to see which “side” has the most seekers. (Since some may find a “perfect” hiding place, set a time limit rather than playing until all are found.) After playing a few times, discuss how the line of community operated in the game: how each seeker traced back to the first, and how each person had a choice upon being brought into that “community of seekers” of whether or not to continue to bring others in. BTW: Don’t be afraid to play this game with large groups of campers over large areas if you have adults to help you manage. The benefits of large groups are larger communities at the end, campers having more opportunity to seek others, more opportunity for campers to seek together, and the confusion that may come as the campers re-gather into their communities could lead to interesting revelations on who is part of your community and how communities are related. You can also play this game so it shows the growth of community in a more obvious way by having campers join hands with seekers who find them.
Guards vs. Disciples
#LEARN
Why: This activity helps campers discover the importance in a disciple’s job of reaching out to others. Supplies: pens, paper How: Review the day’s passage. In it, there are guards and disciples. Talk with your campers
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about what makes a guard a guard and a disciple a disciple, and what similarities and differences they have in relation to their jobs in a community. In small groups, have the campers create lists of pros and cons for each to determine what the campers think a community needs more of to continue thriving.
BTW: If you previously did the “Timeline of Change” worship activity, consider using the back of that for your group to do this portrait together, adding to the discussion how the ways they’ve changed can help them be disciples and how others who have connected them with Christ can provide examples of discipleship.
Discuss what each would look like in today’s world—how a guard would behave, how a disciple would behave—and what the campers believe they are called to be.
You could also have them each partner with another camper to trace their facial profiles onto the papers and then cut out the outlines.
BTW: If your group enjoyed activities such as “Stand and Deliver, “Peter on Trial,” or “Rules of Order,” you could make this a debate between guards and disciples. If your campers enjoyed acting better, have them create short “A day in the life of…” skits that show differences between a guard and a disciple in their effect on a growing community in modernday settings.
Portrait of a Disciple #Create #P r a y Supplies: paper, markers Why: This activity gets your campers to think specifically about how Jesus’ great commission applies to them. Supplies: pens, markers, paper
When done, tell them they’ve successfully drawn portraits of themselves as disciples. Discuss with them how this is so, how it’s those people and places that make them disciples. Have them share some of their “portraits” and help each other think of how to reach out to the people or places shared. Finish by praying over each other’s “portraits.”
Why: This activity encourages your campers to see leaving as an opportunity to live out what they’ve learned. Supplies: pens, paper How: Review the week’s themes and the biblical figures used to teach them. Discuss with your campers how they’re not only a realization of God’s community but also the continuation of that very same community, that God promised to bless all nations through Abram and—by following Jesus’ call to bless all nations—they become living extensions of God’s promise. Have them choose one of the figures from the week to bring forward today to give a motivational speech to excite everyone as they leave camp and continue building on God’s community (think pregame speech from a coach or motivational sales meeting), trying to work in specifics and quotes from that figure’s story. BTW: To get more campers involved in presenting the “motivational speaker,” turn the speeches into a pep rally, having the other campers do a cheer based around the speech. If you do a pep rally, try adding more things from the week to help get your campers excited about their call: a visit from a Super Friend, some quotes from Nelson Mandela, the reappearance of one of the “Perfect Confidants,” the inventor of a sport giving rules for disciples, a repeat performance of a rapping trio from Day 4, having everyone sing along to one of Day 1’s theme songs as God calls the camp away to a new place. It could be many things; let your imagination go wild.
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How: Hand out a sheet of paper to each camper, telling them they are each going to draw a portrait of him- or herself as a disciple, but first he or she needs to write on one side of the paper the specific people and places he or she thinks God is calling him or her to connect with and bring into community. It doesn’t matter whether it’s nice or orderly writing, only that he or she fills up the sheet. It may even be that the campers don’t write anything, but draw representations of all they’re called to.
Motivational Speaker #P l a y #Create
CONTENTS
DAILY OVERVIEW
BIB/THEO STAFF YOUNGER OVERVIEW DEVOTIONS CHILDREN
OLDER CHILDREN
YOUNGER YOUTH
OLDER YOUTH
EXTRAS
DAY CAMP
Intergenerational
BIB/THEO OVERVIEW
Day 1:
YOUNGER CHILDREN OLDER CHILDREN
Together, the Courage to Show Up Daily Quick Reference Guide
YOUNGER YOUTH Scripture Story: Genesis 12:1—8 OLDER YOUTH
Scripture Focus: Genesis 12:7–8 “Then the Lord appeared to Abram, and said, ‘To your offspring I will give this land.’ So he built there an altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him. From there he moved on to the hill country on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east; and there he built an altar to the Lord and invoked the name of the Lord.” Theological Summary: God called Abram out of his comfortable life to create community, and when Abram showed up, God met him there and blessed him. Campers will: • know they are connected to one another just by showing up • find camp to be a place they are valued and accepted for who they are • become familiar with surroundings • acknowledge fear of new experiences and rejection
Christian Practices
— What’s My Job on the Journey: #P l a y #LEARN Campers imagine a journey together — Show Me the Way: #P l a y Follow-the-leader blindfolded
— Document Our Journey: #Create Artwork about campers’ experiences — Show Up for What?: #P r a y #Serve Progressive prayer walk
Intergenerational
Leader Notes This is a story about God’s blessings of goodness and abundance. This story is not about Abram receiving monetary riches and property for “showing up” to God’s call. It’s about Abram receiving God’s spiritual blessings. Emphasize Abram and Sarai being part of something new, a new people taking part in a whole new way of life. It is a great adventure, and it is a beginning of our religious heritage. Be sure to connect the blessing of Abram with the campers’ courage to show up. By just coming to camp, God’s blessing is made real! Be sure to let your young campers know what you want them to call you and that you are so glad they had the courage to come to camp. It is important for young campers to learn each other’s names, and playing a “name game” is a good way to accomplish that.
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Worship Practices Cabin Time This is the first day of camp, possibly the first day for this group to be with each other. When you come together in your cabin or your dorm, discuss what everyone is feeling, coming to this new place. What are you excited about? What do you hope for the week? How might this experience be like the Abram story?
Song Ideas • “Here I Am, Lord” (hymn) • Children, Go Where I Send Thee (traditional) • Father Abraham (traditional) • In This Very Room (hymn) • Stand by Me (Ben E. King, 1961) Prayer: God, in this time of beginnings, we are listening that you might speak to us. We hope that when the time comes that you ask us to move, we answer. We hope we will be brave enough to show up, for you, O God. Amen.
Worship Ideas We Will Show Up
#celebrate
Words for Our Doubts
#centering
Supplies: posters from “Show Up for What?” activity, markers or paint This worshipful illustration should create a nice bookend to the activity “Show Up for What?” Have posters displayed where campers can see them. Consider playing a song that fits the subject matter to provide background. Have one person read aloud the doubts and fears that campers wrote on the posters. Consider also reading commonly known doubts offered by biblical characters when called by God. As the doubts are recited, another person approaches the posters and writes assuring quotes from scripture (“The Lord is my Shepherd,” “I will be with you till the end of the ages,” “I will bless who you bless,” etc.). Be sure the writing is large and legible enough to read. You could prepare scripture quotes ahead of time and let campers pick a scripture to cover the doubt. If you have enough participants, consider having two people stationed at each poster. Multiple people reading the doubts at once could contribute to the feeling of chaos and uncertainty that happens in times of doubt. As the writers of scripture finish, the doubts settle and one voice offers the reassuring quotes until there is silence.
Intergenerational
Select a leader for a joyful call and response prayer. Instruct the camp to respond to each statement with “WE WILL SHOW UP!” The leader then speaks a list of many statements that relate to scripture, Christians practices, and the camp week. Feel free to switch back and forth from serious to fun statements.
gravy for breakfast…!” List many statements for the call and response to build the energy— at least 20.
Examples: “When we are asked to travel to a new land…,” “When someone is in need of food…,” “When it is time to eat breakfast…,” “When it is difficult or scary…,” “When someone needs a friend…,” “Even if it’s raining…,” “For the people who are hard to love…,” etc. It is important for the leader to deliver this prayer with the proper spirit. This should be a prayer of excitement and energy, motivating the group. Include statements unique to your camp experience (for example, “When it’s biscuits and
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Christian Practices What’s My Job on the Journey #P l a y #LEARN Why: This activity will help campers imagine what it must have been like for Abram and his family to set out from their home to an unknown land. It will also give a picture of what is require to set out on a trip like that, and that showing up as the church then usually gives us an important purpose. They will also get to know each other’s gifts and strengths. Supplies: cards with list of jobs (see suggestions below) How: Ask groups to imagine they will be taking a journey together on foot as Abram and Sarai did. Either frame it as if they are in the Abram story, or map out an actual geographical location that is 800–900 miles from you (the estimated distance Abram traveled), and inform the group they will be traveling there. Pass out an index card with a job for the journey to each camper. Have the campers discuss how they would feel about being responsible for that task throughout the 900-mile trip. Then allow campers to swap cards to designate roles more appropriate to each group member’s skills and interests.
Intergenerational
Discuss how campers would feel about taking such a leap of faith, leaving their homes to go to a new place they may not know, and what they thought about in the activity they may not have thought about before. Suggested jobs: shepherd, tailor, tent builder, cook, butcher, camel keeper, childcare provider, cobbler, guard, nurse, altar builder, scribe, navigator, teacher, launderer, and imagine your own! BTW: To add to the activity, display a map of the route. Decorate the area with props such as tents, pots, pans, etc.
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Preschool adaptation Instead of using index cards for the jobs of the journey, play a version of the “I am going on a trip and going to take a (an) ___.” Form a circle, and each young camper will offer a suggestion of what he or she needs for a long trip. Encourage them to think what Abram would need to take and what jobs would need to be done.
Show Me the Way
#P l a y
Why: Campers will experience what it is like to follow someone else, to not know where they are going or why. Like Abram, they must trust that the person leading has something good in store for them. This will also allow campers to explore some of the camp. Supplies: blindfolds How: Begin at a central point (outside is preferable). Have each camper take a moment to look around and chose a place within sight he or she thinks is interesting, but doesn’t say it aloud. Then, taking turns, one camper from the group leads the rest, blindfolded, to the place he or she has chosen. Upon arrival, the camper explains why he or she wanted to lead everyone there, and then it will be the next camper’s turn. Discuss what it felt like to walk with your sight limited and how that is similar sometimes to following where God calls us. BTW: Have extra help available as safety watch to make sure blindfolded campers avoid obstacles and changes in terrain, especially if they are elderly or have trouble walking. The more challenges you have in this regard, the smaller you want to make your operating area.
Preschool adaptation Because young campers may be intimidated by blindfolds, a “follow-the-leader” walk/game will work well, with the adult being the leader and setting the parameters. Allow younger campers to select the destinations.
Document Our Journey
#Create
Why: This is a way for campers to begin bonding together as a group, and charting the story of their journey through the week. Showing up for this week of camp can be compared to Abram showing up to follow God’s calling to a new land. Supplies: poster board, crayons, markers, poster paints, pencils, tape How: Campers create a visual diagram of what their journey was like to get them to camp, drawing themselves and their journeys, illustrating the places, prominent sites, and parts of a story that developed along the way. Have campers remember the hypothetical journey they took in “What’s My Job on the Journey,” and remember experiences from “Show Me the Way.” Each camper can illustrate his or her own journey, or they can created a shared art project with everyone giving input. The art projects, telling the adventure story of the group, can be posted somewhere where the rest of the camp can see. BTW: These posters could be used throughout the week to represent the camper groups. They could be added to each day, and at the end of the week, tell the whole week’s story. You could use long sheets of newsprint and make a timeline.
Preschool adaptation Young campers may first need to discuss what they have seen and heard before they draw their journey. Accept all forms of art, from scribbles to masterpieces, and be sure that an adult puts the young camper’s name on his or her work.
How: Prepare ahead of time for this activity by writing individual hopes in the center of each poster board. Use hopes you may have for the group during their time together, such as, “Get closer to someone I didn’t know well,” “Pray together,” “Open up about something that’s been troubling me,” “Forget about things going on at home,” “Try something I’ve never done before,” etc. Form groups of three to five campers. Ask groups to travel to each station and members of the group discuss among themselves how these hopes might be challenging, why it would be good to accept the challenges, and how they might need to encourage each other to accomplish the tasks. They brainstorm challenges or things that could get in the way of accomplishing the goal. Campers can write doubts and fears associated with each challenge that come up in discussion. Before leaving a station, ask campers to spend time together in prayer, sitting a little longer with the thoughts of the joys and fears that come with showing up for God’s callings. Take turns offering the prayer. BTW: Use the posters later in worship, where the doubts and fears are written over with words of reassurance from scripture.
Preschool adaptation Older campers may need to be reminded that they are modeling good Christian behaviors. Encourage them to use simple consolations such as, “I’m sorry that happened to you,” or “I will keep you in my prayers.”
Why: This activity encourages groups to more prayerfully consider what it means to show up as a church when God calls, and puts this into the context of the camp week. Groups still participate in the act of travelling, and, at each stop, discover something important that could shape their week. In discussion, campers get a chance to share particular challenges that make them uncomfortable, giving the group an opportunity to comfort and support.
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Show Up for What? #P r a y #Serve
Supplies: 6-10 pieces of poster board or newsprint; markers, pens, or pencils
Intergenerational BIB/THEO OVERVIEW
Day 2:
YOUNGER CHILDREN OLDER CHILDREN YOUNGER YOUTH OLDER YOUTH
Together, the Courage to TRUST Daily Quick Reference Guide
Scripture Story: Ruth Scripture Focus: Ruth 1:16–18 But Ruth said, “Do not press me to leave you or to turn back from following you! Where you go, I will go; where you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die, I will die— there will I be buried. May the Lord do thus and so to me, and more as well, if even death parts me from you!” When Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more to her. Theological Summary: Ruth is an outsider who learned to trust Naomi, Naomi’s community, and her God, and when she did, everyone benefited. Campers will: • learn the importance of trusting each other • discover the impact of trust on a community • reflect on consequences of broken trust • acknowledge fear of betrayal
Christian Practices
— Naomi Monologue: #LEARN #P r a y Naomi introduces theme and story
Intergenerational
— Tell the Ruth Story with Pop Songs: #LEARN #P l a y Ruth story with singing
— Prized Possession Show and Tell: #LEARN #Create Trust new friends
— Whom Do You Trust?: #Create #LEARN Craft project showing who campers trust — Ruth Monologue: #LEARN #P r a y Ruth tells what happened next
— Thank the Ones You Trust: #Serve Writing letters to people campers trust
— Trust Run: #P l a y Get moving out of your comfort zone
— Build a Church Together: #P l a y Group initiative constructing church buildings Leader Notes: As you emphasize the importance of trust in session and worship, clarify the danger of trusting everyone. For children especially, make it clear that though it is important to trust, we must be wise about who we trust, and acknowledge that sometimes when people trust, they will be hurt. Developmentally young campers may be in the stage of parallel play, meaning each will play on his or her own beside each other. They may not be ready to work with each other.
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Worship Practices Cabin Time As a cabin, create a cabin motto and set of rules that will bind you together. Come up with a cabin chant, and decide on rules (serious and funny) that represent your cabin group. Create a logo or cabin crest to display on your wall. Discuss how Naomi, Orpah, and Ruth had to develop a sense of identity in order to become a community. Offer a prayer of thanksgiving for the blessing of being allowed to discover who you are as a community.
Song Ideas • “I Will Follow You,” (Chris Tomlin, 2010) • “For the Widows in Paradise, For the Fatherless in Ypsilanti” (Sufjan Stevens, 2003) • “I’ll Be There for You” (The Rembrandts, 1990) • “If You But Trust in God to Guide You” (hymn)
Organize photos of church life to run in a slide show. Put together inspirational images that represent all the facets of being a church together—specifically images that represent the ways people trust as a church. Take pictures throughout the day to include in the slide show, and you will make it both personal and global. Use a PowerPoint slideshow, or print out the photos and have someone stand holding the stack, dropping a picture at a time to reveal the next one. While the slide show is scrolling, have some repeatedly slowly recite Ruth’s vow to Naomi: “Where you go, I will go. Where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God,” throughout the slideshow.
Ruth, Naomi, Boaz Skit That Goes Viral #celebrate Supplies: costumes for skit
Prayer God, there is so much in the world to be afraid and suspicious of. May we let go of our fears and learn to trust. May we trust the wise. May we trust the brave. May we trust the innocent. May we trust that, as we speak to you, you hear us. May we trust love. May we trust compassion.
Put on a simple skit that will require just a little action and the same three-line dialogue throughout. If you did the “Naomi Monologue,” activity, bring back the same Naomi and Ruth, and designate a Boaz. Re-enact scenes from the Ruth story. • Naomi is about to leave, but Ruth grabs her arm and says, “Where you go, I will go. Where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God.”
God, give us courage—courage enough to trust you.
• Ruth and Boaz are getting married, and Boaz says the lines to Ruth.
Worship Ideas
• Naomi enters and repeats the lines to Ruth and Boaz.
Images of Church Life
#centering
Supplies: digital camera, compatible computer with PowerPoint and electronic pictures of church life on it, computer projector, and screen (or, a digital camera with electronic pictures of church life on it and a compatible color printer)
Then the characters look out to the “congregation.” They break the fourth wall, and walk out among the crowd and begin telling each of them the line, “Where you go…” If you think the group will be comfortable enough, have the characters then encourage the congregation to get up and repeat those lines to each other as well.
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May we trust mercy.
• Ruth goes to Boaz at the end of gathering grain and repeats those lines to him.
Christian Practices Naomi Monologue
#LEARN #P r a y
Why: In emphasizing the trust and connection between Ruth and Naomi, and later Ruth and Boaz, we skip the pain that sets up this story. However, understanding the hardships helps us understand how great the acts of trust are. That these characters are mourning and unsure of their next meal adds urgency. In praying together, campers connect the Ruth story to contemporary stories of famine and loss. Supplies: biblical-looking costume for Naomi How: Launch the camp into the story of Ruth and the theme of trust. Naomi tells part of her story. She will ask the group to pray with her, opening the session. Use the script found on page 199 at the end of today’s Daily Guide for Naomi’s Monologue. BTW: Use Naomi again for the #centering worship skit.
Tell the Ruth Story with Pop Songs #LEARN #P l a y Why: This activity connects generations through music of different eras. Campers of all ages share music with other ages—acting goofy, singing songs from every decade. Supplies: Ruth Story Reader (with Ruth chapter 1, or other story resource), paper/pens
Intergenerational
How: Campers form groups based on a musical decade (’60s, ’70s, ’80s, ’90s, etc.). Campers choose whichever decade appeals most. Read through the story together and generate a list of emotion words. Divide into decade groups. Instruct each group to list a song or two from their decade that corresponds to each emotion on the list. As the story is read, the reader comes to these emotion words, points at the decade group of his or her choosing, and that group must stand up and enthusiastically sing a line from their song that corresponds to the emotion. It is acceptable
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to change the words to match gender or character names. (For instance, when Ruth refuses to leave Naomi the reader may read, “Devotion,” point at the ’60s group, and they might stand up and sing, “I love you, I love you, I love you, and where you go, I’ll follow, I’ll follow, I’ll follow.) There will be multiple times in the story where emotion words will be used, giving each group a chance to go at least once. This also encourages campers to examine emotions in the story of Ruth through contemporary lenses. This helps an ancient story be more relatable.
Preschool adaptation Because of their age, young campers may have difficulty distinguishing songs from different decades and may need some explanation or substitutions of types of songs. Use recent songs popular from Disney movies, nursery rhymes and action and motion songs. For example, Let it Go (from the movie Frozen), Jack and Jill Went Up a Hill and The Grand Old Duke of York (action and motion nursery rhymes). Play the “Opposites Game” using some emotion words, for example, “I say UP, you say DOWN,” “You say HAPPY, I say SAD.”
Prized Possession Show and Tell #LEARN #Create Why: This activity illustrates the difficulty of trust, especially with important parts of our lives. It also is bonding to share these important things with each other. Supplies: enough modeling clay or play dough for all campers to share How: Begin by asking each camper to visualize his or her most prized possession. Of the “things” he or she has, what has the most value? Continue by having each camper use the clay to make a model of his or her most prized possession. It may be miniature or life-sized (if the actual possession
is small). Ask campers to tell about their prized possessions and why they are important. Ask campers to imagine having to give those objects to others to care for. They have no idea if the objects would be safe from harm. End by asking if one camper would try to choose someone in the group to trust with his or her prized possession. That person accepts the model, then chooses a person to trust with his or her prized possession, until everyone has someone else’s treasure. BTW: Remember that this may be the first time campers are meeting some members of the group. It’s okay for people to be timid about trusting strangers. This activity may very well help campers take the first step in developing new close friendships.
Preschool adaptation Discuss what to do with the play dough before giving equal amounts to each young camper. Remind them not to eat or put dough in their mouths and not to mix colors. Young campers may need guidance understanding what a prized possession is. Ask them to think about what things are important to them, or what would “break their hearts” if they lost it. Give examples.
Whom Do You Trust? #Create #LEARN
Supplies: cardstock, magazine cut-outs, or printed pictures of famous people and common occupations, glue, tape or Velcro strips, scissors, paper, marker How: Have pictures of easily identifiable people from common occupations whom people interact with daily. Include some pictures of famous people. From the non-famous people, choose some who look trustworthy and some who may
Have them cut out the pictures and glue them to card stock, then cut around the outline of the person’s picture. Attach tape to the back of each character. Have two sections on the wall, indicated by signs reading: “We Trust” and “We Don’t Trust.” Campers then attach figures to the section of their choosing. Lead discussion on why campers chose as they did and what would happen if their opinions changed. Switch the pictures to the opposite section and discuss what would happen if you couldn’t trust the characters you trust. Also discuss what would happen if you trusted the ones you don’t, and how life might be different if you could trust them.
Ruth Monologue #LEARN #P r a y Why: Ruth’s monologue offers another angle on trust. Naomi demonstrated how trust is difficult to enter into. Ruth’s monologue shows how it is difficult to trust in the midst of troubles, and how it is natural to struggle with trusting others, especially as hard times persist. Supplies: costume for Ruth How: Ruth offers a monologue and prayer the way Naomi did. Find the script for Ruth’s monologue at the end of today’s Daily Guide, page 199. BTW: Use the same Ruth in the #celebrate worship idea
Thank the Ones You Trust
#Serve
Why: In this activity, campers get more personal, examining their trust. They’ll express thanks to trustworthy people in their lives and be encouraged to show appreciation, even to those they spend a small amount of time with (camp people). Supplies: paper, pens How: On separate papers, campers list people they trust in their regular lives and people at camp. After they have made their lists, have campers write the ways they trust these people. This may require discussion and help articulating if there
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Why: This activity encourages campers to examine who they trust and don’t trust and asks them to envision worlds where there is less trust or more trust, and where trust is rewarded. Campers may also discover reasons they have for trusting or distrusting. It might be a uniform, a person’s looks, or common cultural stigmas—offering insight into the fair and unfair ways we trust.
not. Distribute the pictures among campers and have them choose people they trust and people they don’t.
are young campers. Next, have campers write why they trust these individuals. Each camper then chooses one person from his or her life and one from camp and then writes a letter to each, thanking each person. Have campers include ways they trust these people and why. Deliver the letters to camp people during the week. BTW: Add a #create element to this activity by designing and decorating note cards. Share thankyous with camp people at a closing worship or end-of-the-week gathering.
Trust Run
#P l a y
Why: This is a fun activity to get people moving and out of their comfort zones. This can lead to discussions about giving up control and trusting others with their safety. How: Participants running without their hands free to shield themselves must trust that group members will move their arms in time. Campers make two lines facing each other an arm’s length apart. Everyone puts one arm straight out at eye level. A volunteer then puts his or her hands behind his or her back and travels through the middle of the two lines. Each person in line raises his or her arm out of the way, just before the volunteer runs into it. The motion of the group will resemble “the wave” at sporting events. The volunteer is instructed to go through as quickly as he or she feels comfortable. BTW: Campers could walk at first, then let them choose how to move: run, walk backward, skip.
Build a Church Together
#P l a y
Intergenerational
Why: This activity will serve as group bonding and a lesson on how members of the church must trust each other. Supplies: blindfolds; Lincoln Logs, Tinker Toys, Legos, Building Blocks, or other construction-type toy How: Divide into pairs (one group may have three). Give each pair materials to construct a building. Instruct them to build a church together. The only people allowed to touch the materials and assemble them are blindfolded. They will each have a partner who can see to instruct him
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or her on how to build the church, and each guide will coordinate with other guides on the design for their church. Have partners switch places midway through the activity, with the guides becoming the blindfolded workers and vice versa. When all the groups are finished building, spend time looking at all the churches, observing their similarities and differences. Discuss what is difficult about the activity and how it is like working together in real life. Also discuss the role trust plays, and how the challenge becomes more difficult if you can’t trust each other. BTW: Be sure that everyone has a chance at both building and instructing. You could ask two pairs to join together and repeat the activity with more elaborate structures.
Preschool adaptation Use an action song, such as Avery and Marsh’s I am the Church, to help teach the process of building a church together.
NAOMI
RUTH
Monologue
Monologue
Nothing can bring you to your knees like hunger. My husband and I were born in Bethlehem. It was our home. But when there is no food, not even home feels good. My husband, Elimelech (eee-LYM-uh-lek) was not rich enough to find food, so he took me and our boys to Moab, where we would have food. It is hard to go to a land that is not of your people. They do not speak like you. They do not worship the god you worship.
When you first promise to trust someone, it is an exciting thing. It is easy to say you will always stand by someone. I want to be strong enough to stand by Naomi. At the time, I had nowhere else I had to go; I could not imagine leaving her.
Still, we made a life in Moab. My sons found wives. Our family grew. Then Elimelech died and we were very sad. But I had my sons. But sadness followed me. It has only been a few years since I lost my husband, and now both of my sons are dead too. I cannot earn wages because I am a woman. I will tell my sons’ wives to leave me, so they can start over and find new husbands. I will go back to Bethlehem, but there is still a famine.
Have you ever promised to do something, then realized it would be harder than you thought? Naomi and I have traveled so far, and it is so hard for two widows to find work and food. Do you ever worry that your best might not be good enough for the ones you love? I wonder every night if it might be better for Naomi to trust someone else—that I might not be good enough. I have met this man, Boaz, and he is a kind man, much wealthier than Naomi and me. I have gathered grain in his field that is left over and he has not run me off. I wonder if he might take care of us.
I know I must find someone to trust, but now when all news seems to be bad news, I feel like the only person I should trust is myself. I have felt so much hurt, I don’t want it again.
But he could also hurt me if he wanted to, and no one would care. What if I lose another husband? I don’t know, but Naomi says I should ask Boaz to take care of us, and I told her I would follow her. Boaz seems like a good man, and I know Naomi is a good woman. I will do this, and hope that God is with us.
I wonder, could we pray?
I wonder if we might pray together.
Prayer
Prayer
Oh, Lord, I pray for the hungry people of the world. I am hungry right now: hungry for food, hungry for the love that has left me. I am scared, Lord. I am scared that hungry people may not get the food they need. I am scared that if I trust anyone, I will hurt again.
Lord, I pray that I am strong and brave enough to keep my promises. I do not want the people I love to be hurt. I do not want us to be hungry anymore. Guide me to trust people who will work for good.
Amen.
I pray that everyone who is having difficult days will find someone they can trust. I pray that we all come together to help one another, to give food to the hungry, healing to the sick, mercy to the victims, peace to the hurting. God, it is scary to trust, but it is scary to be alone too. May my trust be rewarded with your goodness. Amen.
Preschool adaptation Be sure to distinguish Ruth from Naomi by costume.
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Lord, I pray I may trust you again. I pray I may trust your people. Lord, please, may the powerful show mercy, and those who call me friend not abandon me.
Intergenerational BIB/THEO OVERVIEW
Day 3:
YOUNGER CHILDREN OLDER CHILDREN YOUNGER YOUTH OLDER YOUTH
Together, the Courage to Forgive Daily Quick Reference Guide
Scripture Story: Genesis 45: 1–15 Scripture Focus: Genesis 45:14–15 Then he fell upon his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept, while Benjamin wept upon his neck. And he kissed all his brothers and wept upon them; and after that his brothers talked with him. Theological Summary: When Joseph knew it was safe to do so, he showed forgiveness to his brothers so that the work of God could go on. Campers will: • experience the transformative power of forgiveness in relationships • explore giving and receiving grace • discover how forgiveness is communal • acknowledge fear of being taken advantage of/hurt again
Christian Practices
— Joseph’s All-Natural Puppet Show: #Create #LEARN Tell the story with paper dolls
— Who Needs Forgiveness?: #LEARN Examine ways Joseph characters need forgiveness — How Hard Is This to Forgive: #P l a y Evaluate the difficulty to forgive
— Carrying Grudge Boxes: #Create #P l a y Create and carry boxes
— Laying Down the Shield: #P l a y Drop your shield in the drop-off box
— Forgiveness Billboards: #P r a y #Serve Create messages of forgiveness to display
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— Who Can the Church Forgive?: #LEARN #P r a y What the church can forgive
Leader Notes: Although these activities strive to illustrate how difficult the process of forgiveness can be, it is important to re-emphasize that people should not be made to feel ashamed for being unable to forgive. It is key to emphasize how forgiveness can be a crucial piece of the healing process, but should not be manipulated into causing further victimization. You can focus on the good it does a community to forgive, or how communities grow out of forgiveness. Young campers will take you literally. Use polite talk and words that are kind with campers such as, “Please,” “Thank you,” and “You’re welcome,” and they will reciprocate. Set the example and expect the same from all the camping community. Use positive reinforcement to insure positive results.
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Worship Practices Cabin Time Take this time to talk about forgiveness. The group has likely spent a lot of time together today, and has likely had moments that weren’t perfect. Ask the group: • Where did you see or feel forgiveness today? • Are there things you’d like to ask the group to forgive? • What are places and situations you think the church could help with forgiveness?
Song Ideas • “Oh Happy Day” (traditional) • “Freely, Freely” (hymn) • “Ordinary Love” (U2, 2014)
Prayer God, it is not easy for us to forget the wrongs in this world. We have trouble letting go of the pain that has come to us. We have trouble getting past the times we have caused pain. God, we ask for your grace in this time—that we will stand as one church ready to let go of the grudges we carry, that our pain won’t define us, and that we will rebuild, together.
Worship Ideas Forgiveness Passing of the Peace #celebrate
pockets as a reminder, and holding their papers where the words can’t be seen by others. As each person approaches someone else without talking, he or she will turn his or her sign around to show the other person the message of forgiveness, and they may exchange smiles, high-fives, hugs, or whatever is comfortable.
Prayers of Forgiveness
#centering
Supplies: Sandy or dusty flat space (optional: sticks) Prepare for worship in a place that has sand or loose, dusty ground. Campers are going to use their fingers or a stick to trace words in the ground. Begin by reading the first part of the story in John 8:1–9. Ask campers to find places on the ground where they can trace words or pictures— these can be things that they want to be forgiven for, or simply doodles that they make as they think about sins or things they want to let go of. Then tell them the end of the story from verses 10 and 11, saying, “Jesus asks you, ‘Has any one without sin condemned you?’” Allow them to answer if they wish. Then say, “Jesus said, ‘Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and from now on do not sin again.’” Tell them to brush away what they have traced in the dirt. Close with a prayer of thanksgiving.
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Supplies: pocket-sized index cards, sheets of paper, markers or crayons Pass out an index card and writing instrument to each camper. In a prayerful spirit, have each person write on his or her index card something for which he or she seeks forgiveness. Spend a moment in silent prayer, during which each person is encouraged to sit with his or her card. Then pass out a sheet of paper to each camper. Have each person write a general message of forgiveness that he or she would like to say to the world on the paper so it is visible. Then begin an activity similar to passing of the peace, in which campers mingle, carrying their cards safely in their
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. Story Resources . “Joseph Is Sold into Slavery” and “Joseph Feeds and Forgives” are the titles of the Joseph story in Children of God Storybook Bible, pp. 24–27. Each has a piece of artwork to accompany it that is very dramatic.
Christian Practices Joseph’s All-Natural Puppet Show #Create #LEARN Why: Creating representations of the story’s characters, campers will identify more with them. The story will be more memorable because each camper will have spent more time with one of the characters. Supplies: Small items found in nature, markers, popsicle sticks, scissors, hot glue gun, googly eyes, construction paper, other craft items (pipe cleaners, felt, etc.) How: Make a list of all the characters in Joseph’s story. Use things found in nature (pinecones, acorns, rocks, fallen bark) to make stick puppets of the characters in the Joseph story. Write the character’s name on a popsicle stick and hot glue it to the character. Help younger campers with hot glue. Decide which characters to include, depending on how much of the story you choose to tell.
Intergenerational
Read the story of Joseph’s reconciliation with his brothers as campers, behind a table, act out the story as it is read. You might want to use Milton’s Family Story Bible, or Spark Story Bible to tell the story. BTW: If nature items are not available, this activity could easily be done with other craft supplies. Keep these puppets for the “Who Needs Forgiveness” activity. Hang them in your meeting space and label them.
Who Needs Forgiveness?
#LEARN
Why: Campers should grasp that all people do things they aren’t proud of that contribute to conflict. This emphasizes that we all make
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mistakes, but that we all need to be forgiven and reconcile. Supplies: small sticky notes or strips of paper and tape, writing utensils, puppets from previous activity How: Campers re-examine the Joseph story and determine which characters need forgiveness and for what. Ask who in the Joseph story has done something needing forgiveness. Hang the puppets created in the “Joseph AllNatural Puppet Show” activity along the walls. Have campers write down on Post-It notes what various characters may want forgiveness for, and post the comments next to the appropriate puppet on the wall. BTW: If you have people who enjoy performing and making people laugh, you could have them recreate the “Joseph All-Natural Puppet Show” with characters melodramatically stating what they need forgiveness for.
Preschool adaptations Use small paper sacks (biodegradable) to let each young camper make an individual puppet. Have the Joseph character already cut out and ready for the leader to glue to the sack. Plan ahead to watch an older campers group’s puppet show at your site or theirs. If time allows, let campers make another puppet of themselves so the Joseph puppet can have a conversation hand-to-hand and face-to-face with the camper.
How Hard Is This to Forgive? #P l a y Why: This activity examines how our ideas of forgiveness differ. Different campers will respond differently to different acts. Responses may vary based by personal experience. Supplies: None, or (for alternate option) paper, crayons/markers How: Campers express how difficult certain acts are to forgive, using nonverbal responses. Someone calls out an act, then campers respond
on a scale of “Easy, Sorta Easy, Sorta Tough, Tough.” Instruct campers to slap their hands on their laps to show how difficult it would be to forgive something: a very slow slap means easy to forgive, and the faster the slap, the more difficult. Emphasize that no one should talk during this activity except the person calling out each act. Sample Acts: • “Saying someday you will bow down to me” • “Eating the last piece of cake that you really wanted” • “Eating the cake after hearing you say you wanted it” • “Running over your pet” • “Pushing you so you fall down in front of people” • “Accidentally spilling spaghetti on your favorite shirt” • “Telling a secret you made me promise not to tell” • “Kidnapping you and selling you to an Egyptian caravan” • “Stealing something very special to you” • “Hurting someone you love when he or she was a kid, so it still bothers him or her” Discuss why certain acts were easy or tough to forgive, and if anyone was surprised by their responses. Because responses are nonverbal, sharing isn’t dominated by the older or more articulate. Visuals or noises should present feelings in a fresh way. • Create signs for responses, raising the sign that corresponds to the answer for each statement. • If it’s easy to forgive, stay seated. As it seems more difficult, stand taller and taller, and raise hands high for the most difficult acts to forgive.
Preschool adaptations Stress the importance of forgiveness by explaining why statements such as “I’m sorry,” “Are you OK?” and “I promise not to do that again” are necessary in an
Discuss how good it feels when the hurt person accepts your apology. Emphasize that apologizing and being forgiven does not mean you can hurt someone again.
Carrying Grudge Boxes #Create #P l a y Why: Ideally, participants will spend a lot of time decorating these boxes. It will be important to give the group plenty of time, so each camper feels ownership of his or her boxes. This illustrates how when we do not forgive, we harbor negative feelings throughout the rest of our lives. If they build up, they can slow us down from the other places we need to go. Those who spend a lot of time on their boxes may have more trouble getting rid of them, while those who don’t take decorating seriously will have no trouble moving on. Note that the more time devoted to these boxes, the more difficult it will be to leave them behind. Supplies: cardboard boxes, markers/crayons, construction paper, glue, magazines, scissors How: Campers each get as many boxes as they can carry at once. Instruct campers to think of things that make them angry, hurt, or sad, and to decorate the boxes in ways that portrays those feelings. Each box represents a different time. If you’re short on time, you might just have them write feeling words with markers on the boxes, but it’s more effective to take time on this activity. After the campers have completed decorating the boxes, inform the group they are going somewhere at camp to do something new, and the group must carry all their boxes there too. During the trek, it may happen that campers accidentally drop boxes and have to stop to pick them up and restack them. Their arms may get tired, and they will likely have to adjust their loads frequently, or change the ways they walk. Explain how this relates to carrying grudges and resisting forgiveness. When you arrive at your destination, encourage campers to destroy their boxes. There might be a camp fire or a recycling
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BTW: Alternate ways express to answers:
apology by the one asking for forgiveness.
bin to drop the boxes in, or they could be used to make pulp for homemade paper (instructions available online). Be creative. Discuss how campers felt carrying their boxes. Discuss the unique things that happened in each group and how those occurrences relate to how people forgive or don’t forgive. BTW: Alternate Plan Note: If there is a large group, it may be difficult to get enough boxes for this exercise. If so, break into small groups and designate one person from each group to carry all the boxes for the group. Determine ahead of time the number of boxes one person would have difficulty carrying, and provide that number to each group. If the group is still too big, designate one person in the entire group to carry all the boxes, and have the small groups decorate one or more boxes each. With this method, require the whole group to stay together with whoever is carrying the boxes. This will slow the group down and cause frustration similar to each camper carrying boxes. It might also open up ideas about how a person in a group who cannot let go of something affects that whole group. Look for a specific reason for the travel besides just the illustration. If possible, plan for this activity just before the next scheduled camp event. It will also be important to discuss that forgiveness is normally not as easy as tossing a box in the fire, but it does start with deciding you can’t hold onto the feeling anymore, and that means giving something up.
Intergenerational
Laying Down the Shield
#P l a y
Why: A great hot day activity. This activity demonstrates how difficult and confusing it can be to let go in the act of forgiveness. The blindfolded campers may rely on their shields to keep them dry. Once it is time to drop their shields, it may be difficult for them to let the shields go and trust the guides. This activity illustrates how withholding forgiveness seems to offer protection from emotional hurt, but also keeps you in defense mode. Though it may be scary and you risk getting hurt again, it allows
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you to see a bit more clearly and understand those around you a little better. Supplies: blindfolds, umbrellas, drop-off box (waste basket, box, etc.), several oscillating garden sprinklers How: Set up an obstacle course of sprinklers. Like a gauntlet, it should be difficult, but not impossible, to get from one side to the other without getting wet. Campers will be paired; one wears a blindfold and carries an umbrella, the other is the coach who can only guide him or her using his or her voice. While the blindfolded camper tries to get to the drop-off box, the coach will advise him or her where to move. If the camper gets wet, he or she has to go back to the start line. The coach directs the blindfolded camper’s steps as well as when, where, and how to drop the shield in the drop-off box. Once the camper has successfully dropped his or her shield in the drop-off box, he or she may take off the blindfold and use his or her own sight to navigate back through the gauntlet to the start line. After all the blindfolded campers have accomplished this, switch roles, moving sprinklers to make a new course for the new group. After everyone has had the chance to experience both roles, have campers discuss how difficult it was to be blindfolded, and how difficult it was to let go of the shield. Connect the act of forgiving someone who hurts us with dropping the shield. BTW: If you don’t have sprinklers, this activity can be done with hoses, with campers “oscillating” them. Be careful on wet grass.
Preschool adaptations Be sure and allow time for free play in the sprinklers. Your youngest campers, who can’t necessarily play on a team, will enjoy water play with buckets, tubs and cups. Always supervise all water play.
Forgiveness Billboards #P r a y #Serve Why: This activity will allow campers each to share a time he or she wanted forgiveness. Campers will then imagine how that feels for
other people and offer messages of forgiveness to them. Campers may realize others feel the same way they do, and by sharing these messages, they can help someone else feel forgiven. Supplies: paper or blacktop, writing utensil or sidewalk chalk, tape (if using paper) How: Have campers share times they wanted forgiveness. Discuss what it felt like. After everyone in the group has shared, spend some time in prayer, asking God for forgiveness. After the prayer, ask campers to recall something they hoped people or God might say to them to feel forgiven. Write these messages on paper and tape them around camp, or use sidewalk chalk on camp blacktop. BTW: Some campers may have problems coming up with the right words, so have simple phrases ready to use, such as, “You are forgiven,” “You are still loved,” etc. Consider using these signs later during worship or bringing them in later in the week to remind campers of forgiveness.
Who Can the Church Forgive? #LEARN #P r a y Why: This activity takes forgiveness from a personal act to a corporate act the whole church takes part in, broadening the scope from personal relationships to the societal level. Campers will grapple with how complex forgiveness becomes when a group of people are called to forgive.
how one act of forgiveness can affect others. You will probably have to write out more sticky notes as you go as you think of more people affected. Discuss how, as a church, Christians offer God’s forgiveness to everyone. Discuss why these people might want forgiveness, why it might be hard for the church to forgive them, how forgiving these people brings a change for good, and what the church could do to show these people forgiveness. BTW: Another option is to use your denominational or church affiliation’s resources to discuss how the broader manifestation of that church has explored, struggled, and forgiven “officially” in its synod and assembly resolutions. Here are just some websites at which you can read about current issues (this will require a bit of research on your part, but it is worth it): United Church of Christ: http://synod.uccpages.org/resolutions/index.html Christian Church (Disciples of Christ): http://www.disciples.org/GeneralAssembly/ Business/tabid/511/Default.aspx#Resolutions United Methodist Church: http://www.umcmission.org/Find-Resources/ New-World-Outlook Presbyterian Church (USA): http://www.pcusa.org/resource/assembly-brief-221general-assembly-2014/ Brethren: http://www.brethren.org/ac/statements/ Episcopal Church: http://www.episcopalarchives.org/e-archives/blue_book
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Supplies: sticky-notes and markers, Bible, newspapers, news magazines How: First, from Joseph’s story in the Bible, make a list of individuals and groups of people in the story who are in need of forgiveness. You can use the sticky notes to make “flow charts” of forgiveness. In other words, who else might one act of forgiveness affect? When you have done that, using the newspapers and magazines, find some contemporary or historical situations in which people have been in need of forgiveness. Repeat the “flow chart” activity with these situations. Call attention to
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YOUNGER CHILDREN OLDER CHILDREN YOUNGER YOUTH OLDER YOUTH
Together, the Courage to STAND Daily Quick Reference Guide
Scripture Story: Daniel 3 Scripture Focus: Daniel 3:28 Nebuchadnezzar said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants who trusted in him. They disobeyed the king’s command and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God.” Theological Summary: When we are called to be different from others and to stand with our community, we will not stand alone. Campers will: • find confidence in community • discover the impact of communal worship • find strength in numbers • acknowledge fear of being misperceived
Christian Practices
— Three-Dimensional Figures: #Create #LEARN Use homemade figurines for storytelling — Should You Rather…: #P l a y #LEARN Use your discretion, not your desire
— We Work Faster Together: #Serve Do a helpful deed as a team
— Stand Together Graffiti Wall: #P r a y #Create Share what you will stand for
— How Would You Stand Up?: #P l a y An improv game with surprise characters
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— Tell the Story through Touch: #LEARN #P l a y Sensory storytelling
— Prayer in Numbers: #P r a y Join your voices together
Leader Notes: It is important to point out that standing up together does not always exempt us from pain, or even death. The story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego is not included to tell campers that if they stand up for what they believe in, fire won’t burn them. What should be emphasized is the willingness to endure anything before compromising beliefs that are important. Young campers may take today’s story quite literally, so you may need to reinforce rules about fire. Young campers need to know never to start a fire on their own, or play in a fire, even with sticks; let an adult leader be the fire person (Smokey the Bear fire safety song and games available at National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences website). Young campers might not have been able to work together earlier in the week, but by the fourth day they may be more comfortable in that role.
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Worship Practices Cabin Time Ask campers if they have made new friends outside of their “cabin mates” in the last few days. Discuss how they have gotten to know each other, and why it may be difficult to develop relationships with people who appear to be in “different circles.” Talk about how Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego behaved as they did because they had a group identity that allowed them to know themselves and develop relationships with people different from them.
Song Ideas • “They’ll Know We Are Christians,” (hymn) • “I’ll Stand by You,” (Pretenders, 1994) • “This Little Light of Mine,” (traditional)
Prayer God, we come to you, knowing how easy it is to do what everyone else does, and how hard it is to stand up and be who you made us to be. We pray that when the time comes for us to stand up, we will know it. We pray that when we know we should stand, we stand. And, we pray that when we stand, we do not stand alone. Give us courage, God, that we may bring change to this world through how we live our lives.
Worship Ideas
The light is passed, with each new person adding his or her voice, until the entire group is holding a lit candle and singing. Walk across camp as a group, continuing to sing, carrying candles, lighting the dark together. Note: If using candles would be unsafe, ask everyone to bring a flashlight. Everyone holds his or her flashlight turned off. The first person holds two flashlights, and passes one lighted one to the next camper. The next camper holds the lighted flashlight and lights his or her own, and then hands his or her own lit flashlight to the next person, who lights his or her flashlight and gives it to the next person. At the end, no one is holding his or her own flashlight, all having shared their lights with others.
Campfire
#centering
Supplies: campfire, extra kindling Gather around the campfire together, spending time watching the fire and feeling its heat. Tell the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego again, and emphasize the moments in the story involving fire. Add a log or set of branches to the fire when you come to these moments so that the fire changes, growing or falling back, crackling. Talk about Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego’s willingness to brave the fire to do what they believed in. Offer some time of silence to meditate on these thoughts and feel the fire. Begin singing, “They’ll Know We Are Christians.”
Singing Candlelight Prayer Walk #celebrate Supplies: taper candles with guards (for all campers), match or lighter (optional: flashlights) Gather in a dark place—a room with the lights down or outdoors at night. Have a song leader begin singing “This Little Light of Mine” solo, as he or she lights his or her candle. The leader then
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Amen.
lights the candle of someone next to him or her, and that person begins singing as well.
. Story Synopsis . The ancient city of Babylon in which Daniel’s story takes place was one of the largest cities of ancient history. The book of Daniel takes place during the reign of King Nebuchadnezzar, historically known to have presided over Babylon during a period of significant construction. Many towers, monuments, and even the Hanging Gardens of Babylon are accredited to him. Daniel’s story reflects on the struggles of maintaining Jewish community and identity when in a foreign place. In the story, it is quite clear that the Hebrews were a minority whose belief in only one god was a strange concept to the majority. On one occasion, King Nebuchadnezzar demanded that his “wise men” decipher a dream he had without him telling the details of the dream. They are unable to do so, but God reveals to Daniel both the dream and the interpretation of the dream. When Nebuchadnezzar hears of this, and Daniel tells him that it was not he, but “The God of gods” who knew and revealed the dream, Nebuchadnezzar proclaims that the god of the Hebrews is indeed the Lord of kings. (The dream itself was interpreted to mean that Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom would fall into the inferior hands of another king, it would become divided when people of different cultures married, and then God would establish a kingdom that couldn’t be destroyed.)
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Conveniently, Nebuchadnezzar forgets this learning and his own conversion when, in chapter 3, he has a golden statue built and requires all subjects to bow to it. Such an act of idolatry contradicts the first of God’s commandments to the Hebrew people, “You shall have no gods before me,” and the second, “Do not make for yourselves an idol; do not bow down before them or worship them.” Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego choose to honor their tradition, their people, and God by refusing to conform to the demands of a foreign king that conflicted with God’s commands, even though, as it turns out, the punishment for disobedience is death. The three are given a last chance to conform, but
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they respond, “Even if our God doesn’t save us from this death, we will not worship this golden statue.”
Christian Practices Three-Dimensional Figures #Create #LEARN Why: This visual will make the story come alive in interesting ways, even though the figures are in place. It is a 3-D picture that also tells the story. When campers craft the figures and the scene on the table top, there will be more investment in the activity and everyone should be more interested. Something this low-fi is a novelty and it becomes interesting and even mysterious to people. The goal of these figures is to illustrate the story’s mysteriousness. Supplies: clay, candle, table top How: Participants will create small figurines to represent characters from the story. Create a King, Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, Babylonian people, and the king’s guards. There can also be figurines for important props like the golden statue. Have some sort of fire you can keep on a table top, such as a candle. For the purposes of this activity, the idea is to keep the figures small (all fitting easily on a table top), and do not worry about making them ornate. Just give each figure enough difference that you can distinguish who is who. When the figures are completed, gather the group around the table top, and begin telling the story. Whenever a character enters the story, bring the character onto the table top, positioned as the character should be in relation to the others. These characters are not meant to be puppets or be part of any action scenes, so don’t have characters physically interact like action figures. The only movement should be when characters are introduced, when they move closer or farther from each other in the scene, and when they leave and so are taken off the table. (Also take the guards off the table when they are killed.)
BTW: There are many alternative options by which to make figures, including wood-working, paper-mâché, origami, or rock painting.
Preschool adaptations Instead of building a three-dimensional picture, which may be difficult for young campers to manipulate, you may wish to play Kim’s Game, which gives players the opportunity to improve observation skills. Based on Rudyard Kipling’s book Kim, players are shown a tray or other area that has a number of random objects placed on it. The tray is then covered, and players are asked to remember what they have seen.
Should You Rather… #P l a y #LEARN Why: The traditional version of this activity asks people to stand up for what they prefer in front of everyone and offer reasons. This version will make it more challenging, moving beyond preferences to things that faith requires of the campers. It is also a good way for group members to get to know each other better. How: Campers are asked if they would rather do X or Y, and the Xs all go to one side of the room, while the Ys go to the other. Prepare “Would you rather…?” questions that will be divisive in different ways. For example: “Would you rather go to the beach or mountains? Watch TV or go to a movie?”
After finishing the activity, discuss when it was easy and when it was difficult to decide what to do. Discuss how peoples’ decisions were influenced. BTW: There are many “Would you rather…?” resources on-line if you run into writer’s block. People may have very different answers in the “Should you rather…?” part. Allow people to express their understandings without judgment.
Why: This can be a powerful lesson, especially to young people, about how there is strength in numbers. If a large group of people pour out support, difficult tasks can be accomplished faster. This will also illustrate, in action, the church collectively standing for love and service. Supplies: any materials or tools needed to complete the chosen task How: Coordinate with the camp director some sort of activity that would normally take a long time, that could be shortened by many hands. As a group, complete the task. Allow a camp representative to explain how long the task would normally take. If possible, surprise the camp worker who would normally complete the task. BTW: Capture the group work on film, making a visual reminder, and labeling it “Together, the Courage to Stand.”
Preschool adaptations Activities for young campers may need to focus on playrelated tasks. Stress the importance of working together when picking up and putting away toys, etc. Use moments between activities to reinforce this concept. Say, “remember how we helped ___ with ___? Now we are going to help ___ with ___.”
Stand Together Graffiti Wall #P r a y #Create
Why: This activity allows campers to actually identify the specific issues in their lives for which they feel compelled to stand up and possibly seem different from the rest. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego’s story may lack immediacy and seem unreal to the campers because they will likely not find themselves in a story like it. Here, campers can share contemporary stories more relatable to their culture and everyday life. Writing concerns and challenges on the “graffiti wall” could make them more resonant and lasting with each person and the group. It could help accountability and encouragement among members of the church to stand up and create solidarity together.
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After they get the hang of it, it’s time to ask them, “Should you rather...?” You can base your questions on the biblical commandments, Christian beliefs, and your own denominational foundations. Example: “Should you rather forgive someone once and only once, or offer forgiveness again and again?”
We Work Faster Together #Serve
Supplies: poster board or banner paper, tape, markers, crayons, paint, paintbrushes
unusual sort of person to be appearing in that scene, whose “type” is drawn from a hat.
How: Have campers discuss things in their lives that they have felt called to take stands on. Discuss why it might be scary to do that, and the worry of being different than others.
Suggestions for the third person personas cowboy, extra-terrestrial, cave man, president, disc jockey, Kung Fu master, drill sergeant, pirate, exercise instructor
Hang on the wall of your meeting space a poster from floor to ceiling and write, in large bold letters, “We Stand For…” After discussion, have campers write on this “graffiti wall” together those things they shared with each other, however they would like to represent them. (If using paint, be sure it will not bleed through onto the wall. Consider using cardboard.)
The scene begins, then freezes. The third actor comes in once the conflict is established, and the third actor’s persona is drawn from the hat. So when the third actor enters a scene in which a student is being bullied, if “cowboy” is drawn from the hat, he or she must try to stand up for what is right as a cowboy. Unfreeze.
When everyone has had a chance to write, gather together as a group in front of the wall, maybe sit or kneel together, and spend time in prayer for the strength to stand for these things together as the church. During the prayer, you may choose to read aloud each thing that has been written. BTW: Leave the graffiti wall up for the rest of the week and encourage campers to add as they are reminded of new ideas, or just to decorate the existing graffiti. Remind campers that there may be people who stand for things that they wouldn’t. Teach them that, as a community, we must learn to live with differences and ask them to remember that in sharing these things, they are blessing a person, not condoning a belief.
How Would You Stand Up?
#P l a y
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Why: This is a fun activity to get campers up and moving, exploring times they must stand up for what they believe in. This allows campers to be funny but still address issues the group sees as times they have to stand up for and be heard as Christians. This is an improv activity that asks campers to imagine standing up for what is right, with a humorous angle. The leader asks for three volunteers, then asks the audience to suggest a scene in which someone might need to stand up for something important. How: The leader chooses a suggestion and assigns “regular” roles to two of the actors (for instance, a student and a bully). The third actor will be the one who stands up for what is right. However, the person will be an
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After acting out several scenes, discuss how those situations are difficult in real life and what more realistic ways of standing of for right look like. BTW: Distribute slips of paper beforehand and allow campers to come up with their own off-thewall character stand-ins.
Tell the Story through Touch #LEARN #P l a y Why: This activity will connect the campers to the story in a new way. Rather than just concentrating on the plot and action, they will be connected to objects within the story that will help them have a more sensory encounter with the story. The campers will connect to the details in the story in a fresh, new way. Supplies: small statue, musical instrument, rope, candle or hairdryer, cloth, lump charcoal or leftovers from a campfire (optional: bags, blindfolds) How: Tell the story through the sense of touch, encouraging campers to touch items that are passed around that relate to the story. Have campers encounter each item primarily through touch by either blindfolding them, having them close their eyes, or by having the items shielded from sight in a bag. Pass each item in order and tell part of the story that corresponds to it — Feel the cold statue, similar to the one Nebuchadnezzar built and commanded all his people to kneel in front of.
— Feel the instrument. The king had musicians set up at the dedication of the statue. When they played, the people were expected to kneel. — Reach down and touch the floor beneath you. If you can, press your knees to it. Imagine all the people kneeling to the floor—while Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego did not. — Feel the rope. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were tied up and led to Nebuchadnezzar to be punished for standing up against his command to worship the statue. — Feel the heat. The furnace to punish the three men was hot enough to kill some of the king’s guards. (Have helpers walk around with the heating object to avoid burns). — Feel this cloth. When Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out of the fire, their clothes were not burned. There was not even the smell of fire on them. — Feel the coals from the fire. After the fire had burned out, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were still alive, and were honored by the king. Discuss how feeling the items as the story was told changed campers’ perspectives on the story. Have campers share if they thought of anything new during the activity. BTW: You could invite different groups to each bring one of the items for this activity, and then do this activity during worship time.
Prayer in Numbers
#P r a y
Why: This prayer should be a reminder of how a group of worshipers can make an experience more powerful. Campers will experience the feelings of being in unison, saying the prayer and changing volume together, and they will also experience the power from hearing all their voices loudly proclaiming a sacred prayer or creed. Supplies: copies of chosen prayer or hymnal, if necessary How: Say a prayer or creed together, starting quietly, but increasing in volume as it progresses. Instruct campers that they will pray together. Choose a prayer or creed common within your church tradition (Lord’s Prayer, Apostle’s Creed, etc.). The leader will instruct the group to begin with a whisper, and each time the leader prompts, the group will gradually get louder and louder, until at the end, the group is saying the prayer with booming, powerful voices. The leader should model how loud to increase the volume each time and could also use hand motions, starting low to the ground, and then raising the hand with each volume increase. It would be wise to have a copy of the prayer and mark places to increase the volume so it is gradual and consistent.
Preschool adaptations
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Instead of blindfolding, play a sensory game such as “I spy with my little eye something that…makes music.” Or, you may want to use a “sensory box,” which is easily made from a shoebox and lid. Cut a hole in the end just large enough for a child’s hand to fit through, and place an object inside that is interesting to feel and identify – a piece of bark, a feather, etc.
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Day 5:
YOUNGER CHILDREN OLDER CHILDREN YOUNGER YOUTH OLDER YOUTH
Together, the Courage to Do Justice Daily Quick Reference Guide
Scripture Story: Esther 4 Scripture Focus: Esther 4:13–14; 8:6 Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, “Do not think that in the King’s palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews. For if you keep silence at such a time as this, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another quarter, but you and your father’s family will perish. Who knows? Perhaps you have come to royal dignity for just such a time as this.” [Esther said:] “For how can I bear to see the calamity that is coming on my people? Or how can I bear to see the destruction of my kindred?” Theological Summary: Esther took a risk to defend God’s people, because she trusted in God’s covenant with her community. Campers will: • understand that their choices can have positive effects on the community • identify and address injustice • expand their understanding of community to a global scale • acknowledge the fear of failure
Christian Practices
— Tell the Story with Public and Private Media: #P l a y #LEARN Fun skit of book of Esther — Justice in Esther: #LEARN Discussion of justice by book of Esther characters
— World Justice Travel: #LEARN #P r a y Learn and pray for places needing justice
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— Change Savings Boxes/Jars: #Create #Serve Decorating containers for change
— Orphan, Widow, Alien, and Jesus: #LEARN #P r a y Connecting biblical themes with now — Superheroes: #P l a y #Create Personalized superheroes to fight injustice
— Build Aid Kits: #Serve #P r a y Making kits to aid world-wide relief
Leader Notes: In discussions of justice, we must talk about terrible actions and conditions and walk the line of not frightening campers, but also not shielding them from injustice. The book of Esther stirs up complex issues. There is relief that Esther’s people are not exterminated, but the story ends with another set of deaths, sanctioned by the king. Even Esther’s rise to prestige is troubling, considering Esther is just a young girl/woman when she is made to be the king’s wife. If campers are ready for this discussion, it is a tale of how justice is a complicated exchange of power, and how power is not always used responsibly and mercifully. The concepts of courage and bravery are understood by young campers, but justice and fair play may take more explanation. This is a great day to play dress-up as a super hero!
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Worship Practices Cabin Time
Worship Ideas
Talk about real-life “superheroes” in your world. Think of places and times in which people are experiencing injustice and try to name some of the people who are truly “superheroes” trying to do justice. Discuss what their “super powers” are and how you could help them in their quest for justice.
I Was Hungry…
Song Ideas • “The Servant Song” (hymn) • “Redemption Song” (Bob Marley and the Wailers, 1980) • “What Can One Little Person Do?” (Sally Rogers, 2000)
Prayer God, there is injustice everywhere, every day. It is easy to be wrapped up in our lives, in our tasks, in our own hunger. May we not be blind to those who have been hurt. May we see the hungry who have not been fed, victims who have not been comforted, the innocent who are prisoners, the abandoned who have not found a home, strangers who have not been befriended, those who mourn alone.
Amen.
Supplies: recording of inspirational music, portable battery-operated player, cardboard signs, thick markers Act out scenes of justice based around the actions of the sheep in Christ’s parable of the sheep (Mt. 26:35–36). Actors act out feeding the hungry, giving water to the thirsty, taking care of the sick, clothing the naked, welcoming the stranger, and visiting the prisoner. Play an inspirational song in the background. After all the scenes have been acted, the actors return to the stage and reveal cardboards signs that say, “I was hungry and you fed me,” etc., as applicable to the scene those actors portrayed. The actors turn, smiling to each other and the crowd, and leave the stage, walking into the congregation to the back, and then the front, of the room, showing the sign to each person and smiling with the joy of one who has received justice.
For a Time Such as This
#centering
Supplies: list of names of all campers In a prayerful time, offer up all of the places and groups of people mentioned during the day’s lessons. Then, repeat the phrase, quoted from Esther, “Who knows, _____________? Maybe you were put here for just such a time as this.” With each repetition, say the name of one of the campers in the blank after “Who knows…,” as if Mordecai is imploring each camper specifically to use his or her gifts to bring about justice for those in need. Repeat the phrase until you have used each camper’s name with the quote.
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God, may we stand together to bring right where there is wrong; may we offer love, hope, and light where there seems to only be fear, despair, and darkness. May your light shine through us, to the ones from which it has been hidden.
#celebrate
. Story References . Esther’s story is a long one, but it reads something like a fairy tale. There are several resources that do a good job summarizing the story. You may want to choose one or two appropriate to the ages of your campers to give chapter 4 context. For younger children and families: The Family Story Bible, Ralph Milton, John Knox Press, 1997. Courage, Esther!, Carolyn Nystrom, Moody Press, 1998. Esther…The Girl Who Became Queen, Veggie Tales, 2000 (DVD). For older children, younger youth: The Story of Queen Esther, Jenny Koralek, Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2009. Esther’s Story, Diane Wolkstein, Morrow Junior Books, 1996. For an audience of youth and adults, try reading through the whole story. Set aside 3045 minutes for this.
Christian Practices Tell the Story with Public and Private Media #P l a y #LEARN Why: This method will introduce the story through forms of communication people are familiar with, and tell it in a way that helps people see themselves within the story.
Intergenerational
Supplies: Esther skit (p. 217), way to display text conversation (projection screen or posters) How: Tell the story of Esther through vignettes in two parts, news reports in ancient Persia, and personal correspondences between Esther and Mordecai (like text messages). The news report could be done as a live skit, a taped report shown on screen, or a recorded radio report. Recruit someone to read the script in news style. The correspondence is texts between the two main characters. This can be done by paper letters, e-mails, text messages, social media wall posts, voice messages, or any combination.
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The key is to illustrate a larger public view of these events, views of two people impacted by the events throughout, and how those forms of viewing the event inform one another. This could encourage conversation to view current events through different lenses. BTW: This skit comes in four parts, so it could be divided up and spread throughout a day or more—setting up cliffhanger moments, encouraging curiosity.
Preschool adaptations Help younger campers take part by giving them roles such as king’s guard or Esther’s handmaid.
Justice in Esther
#LEARN
Why: These conversations will encourage campers to examine the complexities of justice in society. In most cases, it can be argued that every Esther character is acting out of some sense of “justice,” but there are some situations in which one person’s justice is unjust to another set of people. Supplies: Bibles How: Campers will examine characters in Esther and pinpoint times when they acted for justice, and when they may have worked against or slowed justice. Have campers discuss the main characters in the book of Esther: King Ahasuerus, Esther, Mordecai, and Haman, and each of their actions. Consider assigning each group just one character each for more in-depth conversations. Have campers report back to the larger group what their findings were with each character. BTW: Campers may struggle with what “justice” really means. This offers an opportunity to discuss the ending of the book of Esther if you include it in the lesson, and to find out what the campers make of the king’s solution of Jewish retaliation against their assailants.
Preschool adaptations Never assume that young campers have an understanding of words or stories. Have other words ready for words and concepts such as “justice,” “injustices,” “solution,” “assailants,” “retaliation,” etc.
World Justice Travel #LEARN #P r a y
Change Savings Boxes/Jars #Create #Serve
Why: This activity educates campers on injustices around the world. Campers will consider ways churches might work in these areas and how their own churches should address these issues. Taking part in prayer together for these areas will bring campers into another important act of the church in regard to injustice.
Why: This activity encourages support of justiceseeking agencies. It reminds campers that these organizations need support and empowers them to make a difference with what they have left over, as Boaz did—allowing Ruth to gather his leftover grain. This activity fosters a connection among campers, specific areas, and relief organizations on an intellectual and artistic level.
Supplies: large world map, info sheets for places in need, strings, tape or thumbtacks How: Ahead of time, research countries experiencing injustice. For several countries, do short write-ups that explain the injustices, with backgrounds on the countries to paint pictures of life there. Explain where the countries are geographically on the info sheets. Spread a large world map on the floor or attach it to the wall. Share the prepared info sheets among the groups, and have them discuss the areas and the differences and similarities they have with home. After becoming more acquainted with a country, let younger campers locate it on the map. Then have them attach the corresponding information sheet to the edge of the map and connect a string to its location on the map using tape or thumbtacks. After this has been done for all info sheets, return to groups and have them discuss what they would do if their church was in each country to work for justice. Conclude by praying that the affected people in these countries find justice, and that churches will help resolve the injustice.
How: Campers decorate jars or boxes for change collection for relief organizations. Campers choose photos or maps of areas experiencing injustice that they would like to help. If using glass jars, have them cut out pictures, apply a thin layer of craft glue to the fronts of the pictures, and glue them to the inside of their jars, facing out. Have them create collages of pictures. If using craft boxes, have them follow the similar steps, only gluing the pictures’ backs to the outside of the boxes. When the glue has dried, campers can use them store change for whichever causes they choose. BTW: Have a list of relief organizations with a range of justice issues available for campers who may not be sure what injustice they want to help eradicate. Offer descriptions and information on how to donate.
Orphan, Widow, Alien, and Jesus #LEARN #P r a y Why: This activity will acquaint campers with those from scripture whom the church has historically been called to help. They are likely victims of injustice, and making these ancient connections to modern-day victims will help campers understand scriptural teachings in a practical way. The campers will use Christ’s words to guide them on how to pray for comfort, which should offer appropriate attitudes with which to approach these issues. Supplies: index cards, writing utensils, strips of paper with quotes from Christ
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BTW: Leave the map up throughout the week to encourage continued prayer for these areas and allow campers to read about the countries other groups looked at. Encourage campers to add places they would like to highlight that have not been mentioned. Leave a battery-powered candle glowing nearby to represent how you should constantly be in prayer for places experiencing injustice. You may find denominational resources about how your church is actually working for justice in these places.
Supplies: glass jars or wooden craft boxes, scissors, craft glue, pictures/maps from countries where aid-workers are fighting injustice, magazine/newspaper clippings that illustrate these areas
How: Campers will be introduced to the recurring scriptural theme of the orphan, widow, and alien, and will identify modern-day incarnations in contemporary life. Campers will use the words of Christ to pray for justice. Throughout Jewish law and Christ’s teachings, the orphan, widow, and alien are mentioned as groups deserving special care and assistance from the people of a region. Have campers discuss why these groups are singled out. Discuss the needs of these groups, and have the campers expand their visions of them for modern-day interpretation. For instance, a child of parents who aren’t equipped to support the child might have the same problems as an orphan, or someone who has been abandoned by his or her spouse could have the same problems as a widow. Have campers think of people in their lives who experience the lack of a strong parent, a partner to live with, or a stranger in a strange land. Have each camper write the name of such a person on an index card, and then write orphan, widow, or alien on the opposite side, depending on which applies. You may choose to do this activity with families sharing one card. When cards are complete, have campers place them on an altar or the floor in front of the worship space with the name facing down. Distribute strips of paper with quotes from Christ found on page 217 at the end of today’s Daily Guide.
Intergenerational
Have campers choose a particular quote they feel Christ might be saying about the person on the index card. Then campers bring up the strips of paper, pray for the persons on their cards, and place the strips of paper on top of the corresponding cards. BTW: Allow campers to add their own favorite quotes from Jesus if they have any that they think of.
Preschool adaptations Using a familiar superhero (Superman, Wonder Woman), role-play situations that give young campers the opportunity to make choices about whom to help. Have a screened selection of comic books to help get the role-playing started.
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Superheroes
#P l a y #Create
Why: This is a fun way to think about fighting injustice in a way that is familiar to anyone who enjoys pop culture. This activity can also prompt discussion about what is realistic in these scenarios and what isn’t, offering a different perspective on the idea of justice and how it can be carried out by the church. Supplies: superhero costume materials (capes, masks, etc.), white T-shirts, poster board, crayons, markers How: Create camp superheroes to fight injustice. Begin by having groups revisit earlier conversations about injustice and choose one particular injustice that really resonated in their discussion. Instruct groups to pinpoint a superpower that would enable someone to really help with that injustice, and then create a superhero around it. Groups choose one person from their group to dress as that superhero. They will name the superhero, come up with a motto, and design a superhero costume. If you have enough time, encourage groups to be creative and come up with an origin story for the superhero’s powers, show how the superpowers work, and even come up with an arch nemesis for the superhero. Then have groups show their superhero and the superhero story to the camp. BTW: This is a great photo opportunity, and anything created with this activity can be displayed for the rest of the week or used in camp role calls, etc.
Build Aid Kits
#Serve #P r a y
Why: This activity combines awareness of a group in need with education on how to serve them. Campers will be connected with people and situations they may not know about. They will also be educated on a simple way to serve around the world. Supplies: specific supplies required for the aid kit you choose How: Assemble aid kits for people in need. Disaster relief organizations have many different types of aid kits, such as flood buckets, first-aid kits, or sanitary kits for all types of people facing hardships from natural disasters to refugee situations.
Ahead of time, choose a relief organization (The American Red Cross, World Vision, your denomination’s relief organization) and find their lists of aid kits (usually on their website). Get all the supplies required, and have them ready for the campers to assemble. Choose where the kits will be sent and tell the story of the area and what its people are going through. Find personal accounts, if possible, to help connect the campers to the people they are serving. When the kits have been assembled, take part in a ceremony of prayer for sending out the kits. Have campers bring the kits up silently and place them at an altar or the front of the room. Pray over the kits that they will make a difference in the lives of people in need. BTW: Be ready to share research and contact information for the organization you use and the area you serve, in case groups want to continue helping when they go home. If you are worshiping in the same meeting room, incorporate the aid kits and representations of the place you are helping into the altar to remind campers during worship.
Quotes from Christ ✃ ✃ ✃
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Your sins are forgiven.
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Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Newscast 1: Hello, this is ________________ for Channel 3 Eyewitness Persia: Today’s top story: A Queen has been deposed. Palace sources report that King Xerxes ordered Queen Vashti to come to his banquet hall so she could, quote “display her beauty to the people and nobles.” It seems Queen Vashti refused his majesty’s request. After consulting the wise men, Xerxes issued a decree that Vashti is quote “never again to enter the presence of King Xerxes.” A search is underway to fill the royal position. Many have speculated who Vashti’s replacement will be, but our sources tell us Xerxes will name Esther his new queen in a press conference tomorrow from the palace balcony. Little is known about the new queen, but we will bring updates as the story unfolds. IM/Text conversation 1: Esther: UNCLE MORDECAI! STOP WHAT YOU’RE DOING RIGHT NOW! THIS IS HUGE!!!!!!!! Mordecai: What is it, little one? Are you hurt? Are you in trouble? Esther: I’M GONNA BE QUEEN! I’M GONNA BE QUEEN! I’M GONNA BE QUEEN! Mordecai: I always said you were pretty enough to be a queen. Are they being nice to you? Esther: It’s gr8! I get beauty treatments every day and the king says he likes me better than anyone else. Mordecai: You didn’t tell them you were Jewish, did you? Esther: Of course not. I promised. Mordecai: Good. I’ll let you get back to the palace. I’ll come visit soon. Esther: K Newscast 2: Breaking News from Channel 3 Eyewitness Persia: Tonight, the plot to overthrow a king. We have just received news of a thwarted plot to kill our great king Xerxes. Sources say two of the king’s eunuchs were overheard at the king’s gate
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Let the one without sin cast the first stone. Blessed are those who mourn for they will be comforted. Do not judge, so you will not be judged. Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Let the children come to me and do not stop them. I am with you always, until the end of the age. The last shall be first, and the first shall be last.
Telling Esther’s Story
planning the assassination. The two men were turned in by a bystander who happened to be sitting near the gate as they plotted. We have just received word the man’s name is Mordecai, but we cannot confirm his ethnic origin or if he has any family. In unrelated news, King Xerxes has promoted Haman the Agagite above all officials. We’ll have more from his palace reception at 10 o’clock. IM/Text Conversation 2: Mordecai: Esther can you talk? Esther: How are you still awake? Mordecai: I don’t have time esther. Is anyone in the room with you? Esther: No what’s going on? Mordecai: I think i’m in trouble. Haman wanted me to bow down to him. Esther: Please tell me you bowed down. You don’t want him angry. Mordecai: How could I bow down? It is wrong. I cannot bow down to any man. Esther: You are so stubborn. Do you want to get killed? The guard is coming. gtg. Newscast 3:
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Tonight on Channel 3 Eyewitness Persia: A new law that aims to kill an entire people. Today Haman placed the king’s seal on a law that will quote “destroy, kill, and annihilate all the Jewish people.” The law will go into effect on the 13th of the month of Adar. On that day, all are called to be ready to kill anyone of Jewish heritage and plunder their goods. When Hamar was reached for comment, he declined to mention a specific instance that caused such a swift and brutal enactment, except that quote, “their laws are different, and they do not respect the king’s laws.” Our sources tell us that Haman is funding this mass execution with his own money. With this proclamation, all Jewish people in Babylon are praying for a miracle. Back to you. IM/Text Conversation 3: Mordecai: Esther you have to help us!
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Esther: What can I do besides get myself killed along with you? Mordecai: Do you think doing nothing will save you? Esther: If I speak to the king when I have not been called to come, i could be killed. Mordecai: What if you were put here just for this time to save your people? Esther: I must be crazy. K. I’ll help. But you better get everyone you know and start fasting and praying now. I need all the help i can get. Mordecai: Thank you child. Thank you so much. Newscast 4: We’re back with Channel 3 Eyewitness Persia. Tonight, a royal law reversed. In a rare change of heart, King Xerxes has called off the destruction of all Jewish people scheduled for the 13th of Adar. Palace officials say the King’s choice was prompted when Esther, who many believe is the king’s favorite, revealed that she in fact is a Jew, begging the king to spare her people. And in an ironic turn of events, top palace official Haman was executed today on the very gallows he had fashioned for assassination whistleblower Mordecai. Sources within the palace report that Mordecai angered Haman, inciting Haman’s plan to wipe out all of his people. Mordecai, meanwhile, has recently been honored by King Xerxes for saving his life and has now been given the king’s signet ring that once belonged to Haman. Optional, if you want to address the Jewish retaliation More violence has ensued in the province due to the king’s latest letter sent by courier to every city allowing the Jewish people to quote “take revenge on their enemies.” It seems that though the Jewish people will not be wiped out, peace will have to wait to come to Persia just a little longer.
I’m __________________ for Channel 3 Eyewitness Persia.
Intergenerational BIB/THEO OVERVIEW
Day 6:
YOUNGER CHILDREN OLDER CHILDREN YOUNGER YOUTH OLDER YOUTH
Together, the Courage to Change Daily Quick Reference Guide
Scripture Story: Genesis Acts 10 Scripture Focus: Acts 10:44–45 While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard the word. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. Theological Summary: Sometimes a community has to change its plans in order to be faithful to God’s story rather than just doing what the community has already done before. Campers will: • learn that community adapts to change from inside and outside • notice that change is inevitable • celebrate and share change • acknowledge fear of the unknown
Christian Practices
— Change the Rules Kickball: #P l a y Unconventional game of kickball
— Tell the Story with Homemade Pictures: #LEARN Slide-show tells scripture — Baking Soda and Vinegar: #Create Experiment that blows up balloon
— Change in Nature Photo Hunt: #LEARN #P l a y Nature hike to find change — Amazing Grace Story: #P r a y #LEARN Story of well-known hymn — Time Machine: #P l a y #LEARN Go back to the past
— Body Parts of Change: #P r a y Prayer for personal changes
Leader Notes: This scripture is a great example of changes in the early church, but if the context isn’t understood, the power of the story is lost. For this story to resonate, the campers must understand that through diet, circumcision, and generally avoiding interactions with other people, Jews set themselves apart and understood this as the law of God. To realize the power of the moment, the campers must understand that Peter felt called by God to do things he had previously felt called by God not to do. As a result, Christianity was opened to everyone. This allowed its spread beyond Israel, and is probably the reason you and I even know the name Jesus. What changes are weighing on the campers’ hearts that could affect the future? Young campers need to change activities often, while at the same time they need consistency and routine. Be clear when changing activities and connect it to the theme. Ask campers to notice what is different, what changed, from the last activity.
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— Stories of Change: #LEARN #Serve Sharing testimonies of change
Worship Practices Cabin Time Read the story of the rich, young ruler (Mt. 19:16– 22). Discuss why the ruler went away sad. What did the ruler not have to change? What did Jesus ask him to change? Why would this have been difficult? What would be difficult for you to give up that you don’t truly need?
Song Ideas
campers to consider how they have grown up and changed over the years. Ask campers to stand as they feel led, and share changes that they are thankful to God that have happened. BTW: In lieu of technology, you could ask campers to bring with them to worship pictures of themselves as babies or young children, and share how they have grown and changed.
• “Lord, I Want to Be a Christian” (hymn)
Write My Name on Change
• “Man in the Mirror” (Michael Jackson)
Supplies: markers, pieces of poster board
• “Spirit of the Living God,” (hymn)
Have several pieces of poster board laid out on the floor. Ahead of time, write a different statement on each that campers might want to be said about themselves if they change as they hope to, such as: “They stand up for people who have no one.” “They are the greatest listeners.” “They told me just what I needed most.” “I trust them like the sunrise.” “They are my vision of peacefulness.” “I can tell God is shining through them.” “They will love you no matter what you’ve done.” “They give more than they have to.” “They care about people and life more than things.” Feel free to come up with your own.
• “We Are One in the Spirit” (hymn)
Prayer God, we are afraid of what we do not know. We want to be better, we want to grow, but we also want safety, we want to know what will happen when we make a choice. Make us wise enough and brave enough to change, when change is needed. Growing is change; Learning is change. May the only thing we really care to keep constant be your love, God. Amen.
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Worship Ideas Oh, How We’ve Changed
#celebrate
Supplies: computer, computer projector, screen, Internet connection, recording of appropriate music Find a slideshow on YouTube in which a parent has made a video of pictures taken every day of a child’s life, charting how he or she grew. Play a song during the show that has to do with growing or changing. After showing the video, invite the
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Have campers walk the room, reading each one, and have each write his or her name on one or two of the posters that most capture what he or she hopes people might say about him or her. Have campers pray about what changes need to happen in their lives—about what they need to overcome to be surer those things can be said about them.
. Story Summary . This Bible story stands alone well. However, you may still want to remind campers of the context of Acts. Remind them that it is a record of the earliest Christian community and shows some of the struggles that we still face today. Give them context for the characters of Simon-Peter, Simon, and Cornelius. You can help this story come alive and make sense by researching the housing structures of the first century. This list of events will be used in the activity “Tell the Story with Homemade Pictures.” It is an easy way to understand the sequence of the story. 1. There was a man named Cornelius, a centurion. 2. He was a devout man, praying daily and generously giving alms. 3. One day he has a vision of an angel of God. 4. He starts at the angel in terror.
Christian Practices Change the Rules Kickball #P l a y Why: This activity demonstrates how change can be frustrating. Those used to a specific set of rules may have issues playing under new ones. Some may blame lack of success on rule changes. Campers can look at how changes, whether they make sense or not, are often uncomfortable because they break us out of routines and comfort zones. Supplies: kickball, bases, playing space How: Play kickball, but periodically pause the game to change the rules. Change in ways that reverse the standard rules or add absurdity and chaos to the game. Suggestions:
5. The angel tells him to meet Simon Peter.
• Run the bases backward (third-second-firsthome).
6. Cornelius calls his servants to go to Peter.
• Instead of running, players hop.
7. Peter was up on the roof praying and got hungry.
• Swap players from teams.
8. He has a dream in which many different animals are lowered. 9. He hears a voice saying, “Get up and eat” (dangle a fork and knife from string). 10. Peter looks confused. 11. Peter still looks puzzled, and Cornelius’ men appear. 12. The Spirit tells Peter to welcome them. 13. The men explain.
15. Peter tells him to get up, he’s only a man; they explain how they have been brought together. 16. Peter explains that, “Things are changing,” to a crowd. 17. The Holy Spirit falls on everyone. 18. Peter says baptism shouldn’t be withheld; everyone is welcome.
• Outfielders must dance between plays, or the other team gets a run. • The roller (pitcher) must sing as he or she rolls, or the other team gets a run. • Swap scores periodically. • Make foul balls fair/fair balls foul. • Base runners can run anywhere they want while the ball is in play, out of the base path. • Switch the kick ball for another type of ball (football, Nerf, giant inflatable). • Base runners must prance, waving their arms like birds. BTW: You could allow each kicker on their turn “at bat” to change one rule. This might be a good activity to do early in the day.
Preschool adaptations Young campers may not be familiar with the generally accepted rules of kickball, so leaders may need to substitute a different game, including games they may
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14. Peter and Cornelius meet; Cornelius falls down to worship.
• Change the number of outs per inning.
have been playing throughout the week. Try ChangeThe-Rules Tag or Duck, Duck, Goose—something they know the rules to well. If they do play kickball, be sure to use a beach ball or softer ball.
Tell the Story with Homemade Pictures #LEARN Why: Visual aids help this story resonate more clearly. It can be a difficult story to comprehend or realize the importance of. Seeing still shots will allow campers to picture it more clearly. Supplies: computer with PowerPoint, template of a PowerPoint slide show, computer projector, screen, props/costumes for actors in slides, digital or instant camera How: With leadership or camp staff, take staged pictures of the story of Peter and Cornelius to accompany the reading. Make the pictures overdramatized and funny. Use the list in Story Summary to design the image for each slide. After telling the story using the slide show, discuss the times of Peter and Cornelius and the cultural rules in place. Help campers realize how remarkable it was for Peter to associate with a Gentile, and how the rules about eating and cleanliness factored into Jewish culture. Discuss contemporary practices that may compare. BTW: This slide show would make a great feature of worship. You can allow the groups to recreate the scenes themselves.
Baking Soda and Vinegar
#Create
Intergenerational
Why: This is a fun activity that should intrigue younger campers and delight science geeks. It’s a demonstration on how substances can change to something completely new in the presence of the right substances. It’s an illustration of how even though change can be scary and difficult, it can produce cool, important changes that we might not have imagined. Supplies: bowl, baking soda, vinegar, empty plastic bottles, small funnel, balloons How: Experiment with vinegar and baking soda. Begin by combining a bit of vinegar and baking
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soda in a bowl, so campers who don’t already know will see that it fizzes. Baking soda is a base and vinegar is an acid, and when they come together there is a chemical reaction. Stretch an uninflated balloon. Place the funnel in the balloon opening and pour enough baking soda to fill it halfway. Pour a half cup of vinegar slowly into a plastic bottle. Carefully pull the opening of the balloon over the mouth of the bottle. Try not to let any baking soda initially fall into the bottle. Holding the balloon opening firmly around the mouth of the bottle, lift the balloon so the baking soda falls through the opening into the bottle and mixes with the vinegar. The combination of the baking soda and the vinegar creates carbon dioxide. The gas expands, filling the bottle before also inflating the balloon. Discuss how, when some things come together, they change to something new. Ask if campers can think of other things that change when they come together. Talk about the ways Peter and Cornelius changed when they came together, and times they have changed when they joined someone or something else. BTW: You could invite the scientifically minded among you to demonstrate other chemical changes that produce surprising reactions. Try putting tarnished pennies in salsa!
Change in Nature Photo Hunt #LEARN #P l a y Why: This activity will get campers outdoors, exploring the natural world. It will also demonstrate how change is constant and crucial in creation for life to persist. Since the church is a living, breathing thing, make the connection that it must also change to remain relevant as the world changes. Supplies: (optional: cameras, cell phones, or other photo-taking devices) How: Groups walk outside to observe places in nature where change occurs and is crucial to life. Instruct campers to look at things in nature that go through great transformations and have them take pictures or capture “brain snapshots.” Obvious examples include caterpillar-butterfly,
tadpole-frog, and seed-tree, but encourage campers to be creative. When campers gather as a large group, have them recount what they saw (or show pictures if you used that option). Discuss what life would be like for these things and the campers if they did not change, as well as the benefits of change. BTW: If you chose the picture-taking option, you could print the photos out and display them throughout the day and in worship, or have campers act out the change (be a caterpillar and then turn into a butterfly).
Amazing Grace Story #P r a y #LEARN Why: This discussion illustrates how the church has expanded to include more people. In the time of Peter, the church was a small group of Jews. It quickly grew to encompass Gentiles, even though that would have been forbidden in earlier times. The larger church, over time, often realizes it needs to evolve to take on issues it has not considered before, beginning when issues weigh on the hearts of its members. Supplies: hymnals or song sheets of “Amazing Grace,” background material on the life of John Newton
Together, sing “Amazing Grace,” and, as you sing together, think about the ways God brings about change in the hearts of people and the church. BTW: Find pictures of Newton, as well as drawings of slave ships, and print them out to display. This will help illustrate further all the things that may have been weighing on Newton as he wrote the words to “Amazing Grace.”
Preschool adaptations Help young campers identify the reasons Newton needed to change. Who were his actions hurting? Who was being left out? How did he learn this?
Time Machine
#P l a y #LEARN
Why: This exercise points out how change is constant through human history. Groups will see how even religion has changed over time as humans and culture have changed. Campers will realize that change has fostered growth over time, but has also caused destruction. They may realize that change comes by embracing new ideas, or even returning to old ones as they become relevant again to the times at hand. The prop of the time machine will make history more fun, giving campers a way to visualize going back in time. They can make their group’s storyline for visiting the past and get more into the activity. Supplies: index cards, pen, “time machine” made from refrigerator boxes (or any other large boxes you can lay your hands on), scissors or other cutting implement, markers, and whatever other decorations you choose
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How: Ahead of time, familiarize yourself with the life of John Newton, writer of “Amazing Grace.” Share his story with the campers. Newton was an Englishman who was forced into the Royal Navy. When he left the Navy, he became part of the Atlantic slave trade. During his time as a slave trader, he encountered a storm that battered his ship so hard that he cried out to God for mercy. Although he continued trading slaves for several more years, the moment in the storm was a point of spiritual conversion for him, and eventually he deeply regretted his involvement in the slave trade. Newton went on to become ordained in the Church of England and would later write “Amazing Grace.” He also wrote about the horrors of slavery and his regrets of having been part of it. He was a mentor to William Wilberforce, who played a leading role in the abolition of slavery in England.
Discuss how change comes to people and the church. Look at Newton’s life and his spiritual journey from dark places to writing an iconic hymn. Talk about the church’s relationship to slavery over time—how slavery is mentioned frequently in biblical times without qualms, how many slaveholders were devout church members in the U.S., and how change built in the church to oppose slavery.
How: Ahead of time, prepare index cards (one for each of the groups you plan to break into), each with a different time period, and information about that period, listed on it. Also create a time machine with an entrance and an exit from large cardboard boxes and decorate it with markers, foil, Christmas lights, or whatever else comes to mind (or have the group build it with you at the beginning of the activity). Have groups go through the time machine, one at a time, and when they come out, give them a card with a period from history that they will discuss as a group. Each group will get a different time period. The card will describe life at the time. Groups will discuss all the ways life was different. After groups have finished discussing among themselves, reform into the large group and have each group tell the other campers about their time period, and what their discussion of it yielded. Point out how people have changed and what they had to do to get to the way they live now. Discuss which changes groups are glad we have made and which ones might not have been for the better. Be sure to come back to the present time when you finish. BTW: If you want to go all out, have period costumes for campers coming out of the time machine, so they fit in their time period.
Stories of Change
#LEARN #Serve
Intergenerational
Why: Having someone share a personal story will offer a powerful connection to the members of the group. Hearing the story will also offer a contemporary example of how change comes for people emotionally and spiritually, just as it did in scriptural times. A story from someone campers know and respect may have deeper resonance. Supplies: paper, markers How: Recruit someone to tell an inspirational, personal story of a time he or she changed something he or she believed in because of an experience, as Peter did. If there has been a lot of small group work this week, consider leaders in each group telling a story.
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Find out prior to the session if anyone has a story with a powerful meaning, and if the person (people) would be willing to tell the story (stories). After hearing the story (stories), encourage campers each to write a story about a time he or she changed in a way that he or she is glad about. Have the campers write what happened and why it was good. Encourage campers to decorate their sheets. When finished, have campers mingle, exchanging sheets with each person they pass. Call “time” randomly, and campers will keep whatever sheet they are left with to take home and use for inspiration. BTW: Taking home stories of change reminds them that, though change can be scary, they will often look back, and see that it helps growth. They can see this through their fellow campers and apply it to themselves.
Preschool adaptations This would be a good activity to do as family-unit groups. Each family-unit would have a story to talk about and take home.
Body Parts of Change
#P r a y
Why: This activity gets campers moving and thinking about methods of change to make the world better. Many may have something weighing on them that they want to do something about. This activity puts an image to the many different words we have to bring about change. Supplies: cards with body part pictures How: Ahead of time, prepare the “body part” cards below on index cars by drawing the body part and writing the corresponding text. Spread cards out over the floor. Have campers walk around, looking at cards, and reading what each card represents. Tell them: “Choose a body part card that represents the way you most want to be better for other people, but leave the card where it is so others also have the opportunity to choose it if they wish”
Hand – Help people, offer a hand Foot – “Walk” with people, understand them Brain – Think of solutions Ear – Listen Heart – Care more about people Mouth – Speak up for people Flexed Arm – Be strong when people need it Eye – Notice what is going on around you
and foreheads are good places. Either use oil (olive oil, baby oil) or just a finger to mark the sign of the cross. They can say, “Christ be in your hands and in your helping, Christ be in your mind and in your thinking, Christ be in your feet and everywhere they go.”
After everyone has chosen a body part, have campers gather with any other people who chose that body part, and then share with each other why they chose that body part. Then have the whole group pray a prayer together that corresponds to what that body part represents. BTW: It can be very powerful for campers to actually bless one another’s bodies. Hands, feet,
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Intergenerational BIB/THEO OVERVIEW
Day 7:
YOUNGER CHILDREN OLDER CHILDREN YOUNGER YOUTH OLDER YOUTH
Together, the Courage to Connect Daily Quick Reference Guide
Scripture Story: Matthew 28 Scripture Focus: Matthew 28:19–2 “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Theological Summary: In order to bless all nations, Jesus calls the community to cross borders and cultures and be willing to be changed by them as well. Campers will: • learn to invite others into a community of fearless faith • understand the value of being a community of faith outside of camp • leave with a connection between camp and home communities • acknowledge fear of being alone, going home, being forgotten
Christian Practices
— Web of Yarn: #Create #P l a y Create webs to illustrate connection
— Church Connection Talk Show: #P l a y #LEARN church organizations on a talk show — People I Can Talk To: #LEARN Lists of people to connect faith with — Walk to the Edge of Camp: #P r a y End-of-week walk
Intergenerational
Leader Notes As your last day, today will be a powerful, emotional day for campers. Regardless of how well the week has gone, you need to send campers forth equipped to apply their experiences to the outside world. Jesus gave the disciples a blessing and a mission to go out and connect with the world. If they had not, we might not be involved in this conversation. In the same way, today’s lesson should help campers be prepared to take whatever they gained this week into their church, home, work, and school lives. Emphasize to young campers that they are the future campers and even leaders. Be sure to ask them to come back next year!
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Worship Practices Cabin Time
Worship Ideas
As you begin to pack, have each camper share with the others one important thing he or she brought with him or her that he or she is making sure to pack, and why it is important, and also share something he or she found here that is important that he or she is packing to bring home. This can be something tangible, or an idea or discovery.
Slide Show
Song Ideas • “Walk Down This Mountain” (Bebo Norman, 1999) • “Pass It On” (hymn)
Prayer God, we are at the end of one journey and the beginning of another. We pray that as we travel, we hold tight to the things we’ve shared this week—to the laughter, the words, the friendly hands. As we leave, we pray that we vigilantly search for ways to take those feelings home, to take action when we return, that we may, through connections made to God and people here, make even more connections, that this entire world might be connected together through God’s love.
Supplies: digital camera with pictures from the week, compatible computer with slideshow program, computer projector, screen, Bible (optional: appropriate musical recording, portable battery-operated player) This is an activity recounting the week, helping campers realize their connections to God and each other during the time. Put together a slideshow using pictures taken during the week with a digital camera. Consider playing music in the background. As the slide show progresses, read the day’s scripture from Matthew, with particular emphasis on the closing paragraph and the focus verses.
Remembering, Sending Forth #centering Supplies: A list of important words and phrases from the week of camp, appropriate musical recording, portable battery-operated player Gather a list of words and phrases from your week of camp that will resonate with the campers. This can include inside jokes, quotes, favorite scriptures, camp landmarks, camper names, activities, or anything else that helps represent the week campers have shared. Play a song that will serve as background and encourage a prayerful, reflective tone. Read these phrases and words, periodically repeating the words from Matthew: “Go therefore and make disciples,” and “I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
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Amen.
#celebrate
. Story Resources . Notice the repetition in this story of two simple key phrases, “Do not be afraid,” and “Go!” These phrases alone can sum up your sending forth of campers into the world! Remind campers of the relationship of this story to the celebration of Easter, the time Christians everywhere celebrate the good news that Christ is risen.
Christian Practices Web of Yarn
#Create #P l a y
Why: This activity offers visual representation of connections among people. It will be complex and beautiful to see webs strung up around the room. Distance can be difficult as campers leave, especially if they have made strong breakthroughs during the week. The webs will be images representing connections in campers’ memories. Supplies: balls of yarn, obstacles such as chairs, tables, trees How: Form webs with yarn illustrating your connections as a church. Depending on the size of your group, gather into one, or several smaller groups around the room. Have the groups form into circles, facing inward, and give one member of each group a ball of yarn. He or she will throw it to someone else (not simply pass it to the left or right), that person will throw it to someone else, and this should continue until a web of yarn has formed in the middle of the group.
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Complicate the activity by having the groups form their various circles around one or more different obstacles that they must form the webs around. After this, discuss how it is more difficult to connect when things stand between you. Thinking about going home, what will stand between them connecting with camp friends and others? Have someone start at the “final end” of a web (where the yarn runs into the ball) and follow it back, trying to untangle the line and put it back into the ball without dropping the yarn. Discuss how strong connections are difficult to undo
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once they are created, and encourage campers to share the strong webs in their lives and difficult experiences they’ve endured. BTW: You could cut the yarn with scissors and give each person a length of it to tie around his or her wrist.
Church Connection Talk Show #P l a y #LEARN Why: This is a fun way to illustrate many ways the church is connected. Campers will see these organizations exist in the church and do important tasks for the world. Campers will realize more deeply how the church as many parts works together, and the importance of sharing the responsibilities. Supplies: previously prepared research, “talk show set,” theme music recording, portable batteryoperated player, talk show host suit How: You will need to do some prep work for this to happen. Ahead of time, research church organizations and gather names and descriptions of ministry organizations within a church, denomination, or the entire church proper. Examples include: camps; relief organizations; neighborhood centers; food pantries; missionaries; colleges; and rural, youth, children’s, senior, and prison ministries. Either print information out, or make a summary sheet for campers. Assign each group a specific ministry organization and let them become experts in their group. Let groups know what order they will be interviewed in and begin the show. Assign someone the role of a talk show host to ask a list of pre-planned questions, such as, “What can you tell us about your organization?” “What exactly do they do at this place?” “Who do they help?” “How can we help this place out?” and, “How can we contact this place if we want to do more?” Be sure campers know these questions, so they will know what to research. Discuss which organizations interested campers most. Ask which organizations campers knew before and which were new discoveries. BTW: The more this activity is played like a real talk show, the more exciting it will be. Have the host dress up, move furniture into the room, and
play talk show music. If you have a particularly studious group, you could give them the assignment to do the research for this earlier in the week.
People I Can Talk To
#LEARN
Why: When campers have a “mountaintop” experience, going back to regular life is often disorienting, and campers may not transition their faith lives from one to the other. This activity encourages campers to name people they will connect with to make this transition and apply what they felt and learned at camp to life at home. Supplies: paper, pens/pencils How: Campers will each make a list of people they can share questions and realizations with after leaving camp. Have campers discuss what they have learned at camp, and changes they want to make going home. Have campers list people they feel comfortable, or want to feel comfortable, sharing with. Offer them categories such as: • S omeone I got close to at camp I want to stay close with • Someone to talk to when I have questions or struggles • Someone to reach out to I don’t know well now • Someone to pray for each day • Someone to tell I appreciate more • A good friend I can pray with Encourage campers to take these sheets home and remember to reach out and connect when they need someone to share thoughts and concerns with.
Preschool adaptations The leader or an older camper may need to serve as the recorder for the young campers.
Walk to the Edge of Camp #P r a y Why: Campers are aware this is the last day, but seeing the very edge of camp and the outside world on the other side will offer a visual to connect to those thoughts. Campers may feel like the disciples felt, walking with Jesus to where he would tell them goodbye. Supplies: candle How: Take campers to the farthest edge of camp property to illustrate the act of leaving, and recall today’s scripture. Make the walk a substantial one, taking a round-about path if camp property is small. Carry a candle or other symbol with you as you walk. Upon arriving, point out to campers that they are standing at the edge of camp property. Very soon, they will cross the line and go into the rest of the world. Draw comparisons to Matthew 28, in which Christ parts with the disciples after a series of powerful moments. Discuss high points from camp and what the week has given campers to take home with them. What do they feel Christ wants them to do as they stand at the edge of camp, preparing to leave? The carrying of a candle or other symbol should add a feeling of importance to the act of walking, helping campers ponder the week and its meaning. As campers share their callings, they will feel like disciples: given a mission, being sent out by Christ to do good work. BTW: Driving a dowel with a hammer into the ground, you could mark this furthest spot as a beginning of the new journey. Campers could each tie a snip of the yarn from the earlier activity, “Web of Yarn,” to the dowel to claim the journey together.
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BTW: The camp could mail or e-mail each these lists at a later date to remind the campers of their pledges during the week. Think of ways to help reconnect campers with their church—especially those who seem more comfortable in a camp setting than church at home.
Creating artwork of the persons they can trust may help young campers focus on their answers. Leaders or older campers can label figures in the artwork. Ask permission to make some notes on the back of their work about their explanations of their artwork. Rather than trying to “guess” what something is, ask for the camper to tell you what is happening in their picture.
CONTENTS
DAILY OVERVIEW
BIB/THEO STAFF YOUNGER OVERVIEW DEVOTIONS CHILDREN
OLDER CHILDREN
YOUNGER YOUTH
OLDER YOUTH
INTERGEN
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Arts and Crafts Night Star Gazers Best for days 1 and 3
Why: Abram and Sarai must have spent a lot of time gazing at the stars trying to imagine just what God meant by God’s promise to them. This is a good time for us to look and imagine too. Supplies: old slide frames, black construction paper, straight pins, print-out of constellations, black electrical tape, large strong flashlight, squares of felt for each camper (size must be larger than the slides), pencils How: Pop open the old slides and replace the film with black construction paper of the same size. Have the campers choose a constellation to copy onto their slide Write the name of the constellation on the edge of the slide. Lay the drawn slide on the felt and use a pin to poke holes in the paper where the stars are. Allow campers to make as many constellations as they choose. Then, in a dark tent or cabin, project the constellations they have made onto the ceiling by placing the slide on top of the flashlight. Use the electrical tape to mask off the parts of the light around the slide so that only the light through the slide is projected. See if the campers can recognize and name the constellations. You can have the campers write their names on the slides and make pinholes in the patterns of their names, so they can be a part of the star projection too. BTW: After looking at the stars in the tent or cabin, head outside and see if you can find the constellations in God’s sky. Also check for the Delta Aquarids Meteor shower in late July and the Perceids meteor shower in mid-August!
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Bottle Weaving Best for Day 1 Why: Ruth must have used something to gather the grain into when she gleaned in the fields. Your campers will need something to gather their found treasures into as well! Supplies: Clean two-liter bottles, scissors, yarn, ribbon, or even long grasses How: Ahead of time, cut the two-liter bottles (or have each camper cut his or her own, if the campers are old enough to safely do so). The bottles should be cut in the following way: Cut off cap end so that what is left is a cylinder with a bottom. Then cut the sides in strips down to the point where the bottle begins to curve in to the bottom. Cut an odd number of strips about ½ an inch wide (still attached to the bottom). This is your weaving base. Have the campers each select a yarn color to start. Instruct them: “Tie the yarn onto one of the strips and push it down to the bottom base, as close as possible. Weave the yarn in and out around the bottle. Colors may be changed by cutting off one color and tying on another color. When the weaving gets within 2 inches of the top tie off the yarn.” Then either you or the campers can cut the ends of the strips into points and fold them over the highest level of yarn and tuck them into the yarn lower down. BTW: Most any recyclable plastic container can be used in this way, and the shape can be changed by pushing out as you weave or pulling in tighter, or by modifying the shape of the strips. Consider using a shaped cola bottle just for fun and see what happens and what shape it takes.
DAY CAMP
Chalkboard Craft
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Best for Days 1, 6, and 7 Why: Joseph forgave his brothers. It was, in a way, like washing off a blackboard. Supplies: 1/8 inch or 1/4 inch medium-density fiberboard (MDF board, available at home improvement stores), one for each camper (You can choose the size somewhere between 8 x 10 and 11 x 14), primer, acrylic paint in various colors, stick. Small paintbrush, dry, non-sanded grout, measuring spoons (1 tsp. and ½ tsp.), cups, sponge brushes, stirring stick, permanent marker, ribbon, scissors, chalk, plastic wrap. How: Precut the MDF and drill two holes at the top for a hanging ribbon. Prime the MDF so it is ready to paint. Premark cuts at 1/3 cup level. This is the maximum amount of paint campers should need. Measure 1 1/2 teaspoons of the non-sanded grout and put in each mixing cup. It is very fine and will make a mess, so do it where there is good ventilation. Pour 1/4 cup of paint into the cup of the color of the camper’s choice. They can mix colors but suggest that they mix only two colors. After that the color gets really muddy. Stir. The consistency will be slightly lumpy still. The grout is very fine, so when it is brushed on, it spreads out and isn’t noticeable at all. Apply with a sponge brush. You will need between one and three coats. Plan to paint one coat, play a game, paint another coat, play another game and then put on a final coat. You can cover the cups of paint and the brushes with plastic wrap between coats. Have the campers choose a ribbon and tie it as a hanger. As with any chalkboard paint, you will need to prep the surface once it is completely dry by rubbing a piece of chalk across the entire board (easiest if you turn the chalk on its side). Then erase completely, and it’s ready to go.
BTW: If you want to make this a several day project you can do the chalkboard paint on one day and then decorate or paint on a frame the second day. It is easier to purchase blackboard paint but it is more expensive and it does not allow for the creative choices of your campers, as well.
World Class Window Hanging Best for Days 2, 6 and 7 Why: It is messy, creative, wild, and fun for all! It also serves as a prayer reminder. Just like the people of Israel prayed for Esther to have strength, other world leaders need our prayers for them to have the strength to do as God calls them to do for the people of the world. Supplies: white glue, shallow bowls, skeins of green and blue yarn, scrap yarn of many colors, scissors, waxed paper, print-out of globe, tables, newspaper, easy access to water How: Cover tables with newspaper. Place one copy of the printed-out globe on paper for each camper, and cover it in waxed paper. Put glue in shallow bowls and dilute with water – 1 part glue to 1 part water. One bowl of glue solution to every two or three campers. Cut a piece of blue or green yarn and dip in the glue mixture. Pull yarn through two fingers to scrape off excess glue. Use the yarn to outline the globe and the continents. Try to make sure that all the yarn is connected to the outside row of yarn so that when it dries it will all be connected. Reinforce the top edge with one or two extra pieces of yarn where the hanger will be. Then, using the other colors, the campers may add other designs, flowers, fish, hearts or just decorative squiggles to fill in the spaces. Once they have finished let the whole thing dry on a flat surface. Once dry, peel off the waxed paper, add a string to the top edge and hang in a window to remind the campers to pray for all the people of the world, not just the ones they know. BTW: You may choose to skip the world map part and just let them make designs on their own that help them remember the story of Esther. However, there will be some children who will need a starter
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Extras idea. So make sure you have suggestions and even outlines for them. You may have a child who has an aversion to sticky stuff on their hands. Encourage them to try or partner them with a helper.
Shared Drawing Best for Days 1—7
Why: This is a fairly sophisticated exercise in sharing space, creative ability, and flexible thinking. It is hard to allow others to draw on your work, to tell your story and to take over when you leave off. But that is what the disciples of Christ have always had to do as they pass the story of Jesus, the Christ, from generation to generation. This is an opportunity to play with that idea. Supplies: Large papers, crayons, markers, timer How: Lay out one paper per camper. Ask the campers to begin to draw a picture of anything they would like to draw, but to not tell anyone what they are drawing. Give them one minute. When a minute has passed, have the campers move one place to the right to the neighbor’s drawing. Ask them to add to the drawing. Give them one minute to draw and then have them move again. Keep going like this until they make it back to their own drawing. Give them 5 minutes to finish the drawing and then ask them to share. See if they can tell you the story of their drawing. BTW: This will be harder for some than for others. It might be that you will need to give the campers an opportunity at the end of this activity to start and finish their own artwork. This should smooth some of those nerves jangled in the activity. You may choose to do this on a sidewalk with sidewalk chalk. If you do, you can let them wash away the art at the end and start over.
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Make an Impression Necklace Best for Days 6 and 7 Why: When Jesus asks us to go out into the world to tell the Good News, we are to leave an impression. The impression in this activity is one that the campers can keep or give away as a gift of their week at camp. Supplies: Polymer clay (any color will do); acrylic paint; small circle, square, rectangle or triangle cutters (look in cake decorating supplies); rolling pin or smooth cylindrical water glasses; paper towels; water; waxed paper; cookie sheet; access to an oven; round coffee stirrers How: Have the campers collect small leaves or flowers they think are interesting. Give each camper a small piece of clay about the size of a gumball. Have them roll out the clay on waxed paper. When it is almost as thin as a quarter, place a leaf or flower on top of the clay and roll over it to make an impression. Peel off the object and use one of the cutters to cut out the favorite part of the print to make a pendant. Punch a hole in the clay with a coffee stirrer to create hole for a chain or string to make the necklace. Ball up the excess clay to make another print. Place on the cookie sheet and bake as per instructions on the clay packaging. Once the clay has cooled choose a color of acrylic paint and paint over the printed side of the pendent. Then, with a damp paper towel, gently wipe off the excess paint, leaving the color in the ridges of the print impression. When it is dry, hang on a string or chain as a necklace. BTW: This is another craft that can be done over two days. It can be paired with another craft or a game or other activity.
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Spiritual Disciplines Together, the Courage to Act:10 Practices of Christian Community
Christian community has existed for two thousand years. We are part of that community— we are family across time and place. Over these years, the family has collected a number of family traditions that we call Spiritual Disciplines. We add our own practices to the unending praise of God. When we practice the things that our ancestors found to be helpful; to show devotion, to serve others, and to strengthen courage, we honor what has come before, and give to what is to come. Try some of these disciplines in your worship or among offerings for special activities.
Washing Feet Best for Days 1, 2, 3, and 7. John 13:1–17. Why: Jesus washed the disciples’ feet as an example of humility. When we wash each other’s feet it helps us to experience humility by serving, but also by being served. As Peter shows us, we also have to be humble enough to be served. Supplies: a pitcher of water, a small basin, a fresh towel for each participant. How: Have participants sit in a circle in chairs as they are able with their shoes and socks off. The leader goes first, pouring a small amount of warm water from a pitcher over another person’s feet, catching the water in the basin, and then drying the person’s feet with a fresh towel. That person would then wash someone else’s feet in a similar fashion until everyone’s have been washed. BTW: Some may be nervous or embarrassed about foot odor. Let them know ahead of time so they can put on fresh socks, or choose to do this activity just after a swimming time with water from the pool.
Prayer Walk/Praying Stations Best for Days 1, 4, and 6. John 17: 11-23 Why: As we make a symbolic journey from place to place we can pray that God will help us all to stand together as one and support each other in love. Supplies: Identifiers such as plaques or flags for each station, a list of current, and historical Christian communities that need encouragement or support. How: Select several locations (no more than 10–15) where it might make sense to stop and pray, such as a nice tree or near a garden. Make sure all locations are accessible to all the participants. Identify the locations by placing a symbolic item, sign, or symbol there. It can be as simple as a flag with a word written on it. The locations can represent individual congregations the participants come from, cities or states, regions of the world that need prayer, etc. You might also include biblical stations such as Egypt before Israelites were released, the wilderness where Israel wandered, or the prison at Ephesus when Paul was there. Participants can walk silently together from station to station contemplating the lives of their brothers and sisters and praying for them out loud at the station or repeating the Lord’s Prayer or another appropriate prayer. BTW: You could laminate the tags at each site to make this a path to last through the season.
Giving Testimony Best for Days 2 and 7 Why: Sharing a testimony generally includes three important parts: a) reflecting on one’s life, b) sharing it with others, and c) listening to others’ testimony. It is a very communal event that is transformative for the teller and the listeners. Supplies: Writing utensils, paper, some individual preparation time.
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How: Leaders invite everyone to reflect and prepare a testimony even if not everyone is comfortable sharing it or will want to share it in a different place. Provide participants with some time and writing supplies to make notes as they reflect on significant ways God has worked in their lives directly or through relationships. It can be helpful to ask them what part of their life journey would be most helpful to others to hear. Making notes in advance can help participants really reflect as well as manage their own time so that they can participate by listening as well as talking. Set a short period time daily for participants to share with each other, or perhaps at one time period designated just for sharing.
day (or week or another period of time) with gratitude. It is important that gratitude frames our self-examination. Third, ask participants to pay attention to all of their feelings about the day, especially any which stick out or require attention. Fourth, participants can choose one moment, issue, or feeling from the day and focus prayer on it, offering it to God. Finally, ask participants to imagine what is next, looking forward to spending the next day with God and imagining what God might do in the next day. Conclude with a simple prayer.
BTW: Sharing may be difficult for some participants and some may choose not to share, or to share with one person or a select group at another time. Some may choose to share with less verbal methods such as creating an art piece or playing a song. Help each participant find his or her best means of communicating if you can.
Breaking Bread - Love Feast
Examen Best for Days 3, 5, and 6 Why: Examen is a practice of paying attention to how you as a person are a member of the Body of Christ. You can become aware of the effect you have on others, and discover ways you can grow and change. Supplies: Bible for leader. How: Read Psalm 139, especially verses 23–24 or Psalm 51, especially verses 10–12. This is a version of the daily five-step examen by St. Ignatius Loyola. Participants should be seated comfortably in a way free of distractions. First, the leader will give thanks to God for God’s presence in that day and in that moment and then give the participants time to become aware of God’s presence. While there may be need for some guidance, silence is important, and each step will need a little bit more silence than the next. Second, ask participants to review their
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BTW: This is a great exercise at the end of the day or right before bedtime.
Best for Days 2, 4, and 7 Why: Based loosely on John Wesley’s Love Feast celebrations, this is a celebration that unites us with the whole Christian community. It is an accessible practice, especially in an ecumenical environment. Although different manifestations of Church have many different ways to celebrate the Last Supper, this is one that celebrates the blessing of Pentecost, being moved to live our entire lives with one another. Supplies: One loaf of bread, Bible How: The leader or someone else reads aloud 1 Corinthians 12:12–26. Participants should be seated comfortably in a circle. Before eating, the leader can offer just two or three sentences about recognizing the gifts of every member of the Body of Christ and encouraging participants to think of other gifts represented in that circle, especially the ones that are not always obvious. The leader then will take a large chunk of bread (worth several “servings”) and pass it to a participant while saying a word of thanks for how that person has been a gift. It is recommended that the leader pay special attention to any member of the group whom others may not view as gifted or someone who has made a recent breakthrough in relating to God or to others. That member of the circle
Extras will then tear off a small piece to eat and pass the larger piece forward along with words of appreciation for the next person’s giftedness, and so on. The circle can keep going, and people may go out of turn once everyone has been offered the bread and given a chance to offer it to someone else. Read Philippians 1:3–11 to conclude. BTW: In case of food allergies, another simple singular piece of food from which most should be able to eat, for example, would be a plate of sliced watermelon or other fruit. While there should be enough for people to have plenty, the food is ultimately not the focus.
Prayers of the People Best for Days 4 and 5 Why: This helps to create an experience of sharing our prayers together as one instead of just listening as one person prays in a group. It can be done as one longer time of gathering daily in each group, or incorporated into the general worship of the campers. Supplies: Paper, pens or pencils, candles optional. How: Traditionally there are five categories for communal prayers: a) The whole Church and its members and mission, b) the nation you are in and its leaders, c) the welfare of the whole world, d) the concerns of the local community, and e) those who are ill, oppressed, suffering, or are in trouble. Participants can take time to list the specific things they would like to pray about and write them in brief phrases or sentences. Then each person can read his or her list of items to pray for and after each item is read, the group will say together, “Lord hear our prayer.” If the setting and age level are appropriate, light a candle as each camper offers their list. BTW: Participants can be encouraged to be specific in their prayers. For example, they may want to pray in general for the Church in Europe, or a specific region or congregation in Africa, or a specific need that a Church in Asia might be experiencing, i.e., illness, hunger, or persecution.
Singing Together Best for Days 1, 4 and 7 Why: Camp usually provides many different opportunities to sing. However, we aren’t always aware of how singing together can create community among those who are singing. Supplies: Familiar songs, instruments optional. How: Sing a single song to begin and/or end small group time or at the beginning or ending of each day. Choose a song or have the small group choose a song that communicates something they aspire to during camp. If percussion and other musical instruments are available, use them. BTW: Try a good old-fashioned hymn sing. Let campers have hymnals that has songs campers know, and one at a time, sing a verse of everyone’s favorites. This is especially good to connect congregational life with camp life.
Passing of the Peace Version A is Best for Day 1, Version B is best for Day 3 Why: The Passing of the Peace is something that some traditions do every time they have communion. There is also a version of it that some traditions do to emphasize times of practicing forgiveness and reconciliation. Supplies: For the ritual of forgiveness a cross of any size and a box of adhesive bandages and a Bible, for the regular ongoing passing of the peace, just a Bible How: In the regular ongoing passing of the peace (A), read John 14:27 and then say, “Let us offer each other a sign of peace.” Then campers will shake hands or show another appropriate sign of affection (like giving a high five) and say, “The peace of Christ to you,” “Peace be with you,” or just, “Peace of Christ.” This is a great way to start a small group time and/or end it if done regularly. It can also be a great habit of greeting each other around camp.
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Extras The second version (B) of this is done at times when participants want or need to practice specific acts of forgiveness. A cross may be in front of, or off to the side of, the group where people can address it together. Read Matthew 18:21–35 and/or Matthew 5:23. A time of singing, silence, or quiet prayer might be appropriate. First encourage campers to think of some forgiveness they might need to seek within the group of people who are present. Then encourage participants to think of someone who is not present but from whom they need to seek forgiveness. When ready, the camper can take an adhesive bandage from the box and ask someone present to accompany her or him to the cross. There the camper can admit as much desired about the need to ask for forgiveness and if appropriate, ask that person for forgiveness. That person may or may not be ready to offer forgiveness or may not be the person from whom forgiveness is sought. However, both can go to the cross and place the bandage on the cross together and pray for peace with each other or for whomever forgiveness is needed and then return to the group. BTW: Remember that this is an event of worship for everyone present, even leaders. Leaders’ participation in the event can be a model for campers to feel comfortable. No one should be forced to participate.
Discerning Questions Best for Days 5, 6, and 7 Why: The asking of questions in a group is a practice is central to some Christian groups. The asking of questions and not having to answer them can be difficult space for some people. After a lesson about standing together or doing justice, it can be natural for some participants of all ages to have questions. In some cases it can be helpful to answer those questions. In other times, or in designated times, it can be good to offer questions as prayers to God without trying to answer them immediately. Supplies: Bible
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How: Begin by reading Deuteronomy 4:29 and/or Proverbs 8:17. Let the participants know they are going to spend time just asking God questions, or just “wondering” out loud. Invite campers to ask questions about what they think of the lesson that day, or to ask God how they should respond to what they are learning. The leader may choose to repeat some or all of the questions and preface it with “Lord, help us understand….” or, “Lord, we ask of you…” Allow time for silence and resist the urge to answer questions. Allow the questions to become prayers instead of being only curiosities. Conclude by reading Jeremiah 29:12–14. BTW: This discipline is great for younger and older campers alike. You may find that the younger campers are more comfortable than the older campers at allowing questions to remain unanswered.
Writing Letters Best for Days 4 and 5 Why: Have you ever noticed that two-thirds of the New Testament is composed of persuasive letters? We “speak the truth in love” to show compassionately our faith in humanity’s ability to step away from brokenness and into wholeness with God. This is a simple exercise of taking a stand with a group, or working for justice even while still at camp. Frame the exercise with prayer and treat it prayerfully. Supplies: Paper, utensils, envelopes, stamps, addresses to related to issues or a single access to the Internet to look up addresses (for the leader). How: Read Proverbs 31:8–10. Perhaps participants have already identified an issue they feel strongly about (see Discerning Questions). If not, a few minutes can be dedicated to discerning some issues that important to participants, who can then take some time to write a letter to a public official, a company, a church leader, a neighborhood representative, a person in a position of power, a friend who needs encouragement, a church group, or other religious or social groups who made need support or encouragement. Ask participants to write
Extras from their hearts and to say things plainly and honestly, speaking the truth in love. Find the addresses to the organizations or individuals to which they are writing. Seal and stamp the envelopes, say a prayer over the stack of envelopes, let the campers know you will mail them, and then actually mail them as soon as possible.
BTW: This is another multi-age accessible project. While older campers will learn from finding ways to articulate their beliefs, younger campers will learn that their words matter to the world. If you have Internet access, you may want to view a Kid President video on YouTube for inspiration for children and adults to make a difference.
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Games
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Action! Best for Days 1, 6, and 7 Why: Have some fun while exploring the vocabulary of our faith. Supplies: Note cards, pens, or pencils How: Ask campers to write verbs associated with Church on note cards but not to share their verbs with others. They may write as many as they want. Collect them all and eliminate duplicates. You may want to add a few of your own if there are some obvious things missing (worship, pray, help, etc.). Divide the campers into two groups and play a game of charades, with teams taking turns drawing one of the note cards to act out. Be sure to take time after each word to discuss what it means and how the campers feel about that part of Church life. Remember, some words may be negative or uncomfortable to the campers. For example, someone may write “argue” if that happens at their church a lot. Don’t be afraid of honest conversation. BTW: This game could be played all at once, or one round at a time through the week. It could also be a great all-camp activity with performers on stage and the audience guessing.
Mission Possible Best for Days 1, 3, and 5 Why: This is a great way to get campers to practice the act of affirmation and naming of gifts. Encourage campers to make this a regular part of their life in community, at camp and at home. Supplies: Tokens (e.g., buttons, clothespins) How: This game is played throughout the day. In advance, give simple tokens (clothespin, button, etc.) to members of the camp community, campers and staff. Explain to the campers that their mission is to affirm the gifts they see in others. Tell participants they are to give a token
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to someone as they tell them what gift or gifts they see in them. Have them bring any collected tokens with them to a specific meeting time. You can either declare a winner, or debrief and continue playing. To extend the game, simply give out more tokens. At some point, stop and debrief the experience. BTW:You can adapt this game, requiring campers to give away collected tokens if someone affirms them or names their gifts. This can result in a community-wide outbreak of competitive complimenting.
Bowling for Change Best for Day 6 Why: Sometimes the best serious conversations start with play. If the conversation doesn’t go far, you still had fun. Supplies: Bottles, cans or other items that could serves as bowling pins, a ball, sticky notes, something to write with How: Set up an outdoor bowling alley by collecting bottles, cans, or other items that could serve as bowling pins. Stand up 10 of these items as pins in a triangle shape on the ground. Choose a ball to use for the activity. The smaller the ball, the harder the activity. You could change balls along the way. Ask the campers to name problems that the Church hopes to solve in the world and write these on sticky notes and place them on the pins. Ask the campers to brainstorm gifts the Church possesses to help make a difference. Write these on the ball (or just list them if you can’t really write on the ball). Have fun bowling, letting campers take turns trying to knock down the pins. If you have time, play a full 10 frames, keeping score, and letting campers take turns resetting the pins. Try to find some time to talk about how different “splits” might be similar to Church life. For example, what happens when (like a “split” in bowling) we see two problems and can’t solve both?
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BTW: Groups of campers could make their own bowling sets, then trade with other groups. An allcamp bowling alley could be set up with multiple sets and lanes going at the same time. Let campers award one another superlative bowling trophies, “The Great Gutter Guru Award,” etc.
Circle of Influence Best for Days 1, 2, and 3 Why: This is a great way to get to know your group without asking a single question. Observe group dynamics and tendencies among campers to lead, follow, etc. Supplies: None How: Ask the campers to stand in a circle, connected palm to palm with the person on either side of them. Instruct them to maintain contact with the person on either side at all times and to not speak. Once everyone has these ground rules, invite them to imagine a place they might take the group. Do not instruct them to go anywhere. Simply give them a moment to imagine. Now, tell the campers they have 5 minutes. Give no further direction. You may remind them of the ground rules, but give them no direction or clarification. Let the group negotiate the gray area in their own way. If you have time, debrief the experience. Ask the campers about things they noticed about their dynamics, then add some of your own. BTW: After doing this activity with a small group of campers, you could create an obstacle course for groups to compete against each other with a time penalty for breaking contact or talking.
That’s Not Nice Best for Days 3, 4 and 7 Why: The value of this game is pure silliness and good, clean fun. Enjoy! Supplies: None required, can use playing cards to select “It”
How: Have campers sit in a circle with one person secretly designated as “it”. This can be done by drawing cards or by the leader selecting while everyone’s eyes are closed. The goal of “It” is to eliminate everyone from the game. This is done by sticking their tongue out. If someone sticks their tongue out at you in this game, you must immediately stop talking and are out. For everyone else, the goal is to find and name the person who is “It.” If a camper sees “It” stick his or her tongue out, they say, “That’s not nice…” and say the camper’s name. If a camper is in the middle of this and “It” sticks their tongue out at him or her, he or she must stop speaking. Another camper must then start the phrase over if he or she want to catch “It.” Campers may not close their eyes for this activity. The game ends when “It” is caught or everyone else is eliminated. BTW: Try playing with a larger group, beyond the confines of a circle. The game could go on all day. Campers could have a bandana or sticker on them which they remove when out. This way everyone knows who is still in the game.
Songfest Best for Days 2 – 7 Why: Share some songs in a fun way. Bonus points encourage campers to focus on spiritual songs, so this is a great chance to hear some new songs or some old favorites. Supplies: None How: Divide campers into teams of four to six people. Explain that they will be singing songs as part of a competition. The leader will call out a word and point to a team. Someone from the team must sing a song that starts with that word or has that word in the title or chorus. The leader points to each team, challenging them to sing a different song. Once all teams have sung, the leader starts back with the first team and repeats the order. Make sure someone is keeping score! BTW: You might turn this into a brainstorming session, drawing from songs used in the game for a worship service. Other songs could be played at meal times, or other gatherings.
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Bible Words
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Can be used any or every day Why: Help campers get to know their Bible a little better by playing a game based on the names of the different books. Supplies: Paper and pencil for each camper, whiteboard or big piece of paper or posterboard How: Give each camper a piece of paper and a pencil. On a whiteboard, or larger piece of paper, write “GENESIS” and ask the campers to make as many words from those letters as they can in 30 seconds. Give them a chance to share what all they come up with when time is up. Repeat this for more books of the Bible. You might want to give less time or more time based on the number of letters in each book. You can make this as short or long as you have time for. BTW: This could be used (a few books at a time) each day with the reward being a cool title, such as “Scripture Scrambler” each day, and a challenge for other campers to defeat her or him the next day, or next round.
One Body Race Best for Days 4, 6, and 7 Why: Give the campers an experience of working together in a fun way. Supplies: Paper and pencil How: Divide campers into teams of three, with two acting as the “legs,” and one acting as the “eyes.” Choose a distance or destination for the race. This can also be done as a simple obstacle course. Line the teams up with the “legs” carrying the “eyes” between them. Blindfold the “legs,” then share the destination with the eyes by writing it on a piece of paper so the “legs” can’t overhear it. Finally, say “go!” Afterward, spend some time debriefing and ask the campers what different parts make up the “body” of the Church and how they can best work together.
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BTW: You can make the obstacles more complicated by including activities that involve moving or stacking items, then add more blindfolded team members to be “hands.” This might even include a community meal time, sitting as a “body” and making sure each person gets fed (by the hands, guided by the eyes).
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Multiday projects Why Just Tie When You Can Batik Dye? This project will take about 3 days.
Why: Put a fun new spin on your tie-dye projects. This simple version of the ancient Indonesian art enables your campers to write phrases, names, or specific designs on their tie-dye. Make T-shirts, bandanas, prayer flags, and more. Supplies: clean, white, pre-washed 100 percent cotton T-shirts, bandanas, kitchen towels, or fabric squares; Elmer’s Blue Gel school glue, one per three campers (important for it to be blue gel); water; acrylic paints or fabric dye; baby food jars or small disposable bowls, paintbrushes; masking tape and permanent marker; clothes line; newspaper or cardboard, spray bottle filled with water. How: Lay fabric flat. If a shirt, put newspaper or cardboard between the fabric layers. You can place a thick-lined pattern under the top layer to trace, or invite campers to make their own individual designs. Label the shirts with masking tape and have campers write their names on the tape with permanent marker. Using the glue right out of the bottle have them draw lines slowly on the fabric. Move the shirts to a place where they won’t be disturbed for 18 hours to dry completely. If you are tie-dying the shirts, you can tie-dye them as you normally do now, being careful to not make any folds too tight and saturating them with color. To continue to batik dye, mix acrylic craft paints with equal parts water in small baby food jars or disposable bowls. Put several clean layers of newspaper between the layers of cloth, and have the campers paint in their designs as they would a coloring book. This is a very forgiving process, so even splatters and drips will come out looking good. To encourage colors to run together, spray fabric with water from a spray bottle. To keep colors pure, allow to dry between colors. Allow front painting to dry before painting the back. Cover the shirts with color. Move the shirts
someplace to dry undisturbed for another 12-18 hours. Hanging them on a clothesline will help the colors to diffuse if that’s the look you want. Finally, allow the shirts to soak in warm water for a couple of hours or wash in small batches in a washing machine on hot. Dry on a clothesline. BTW: You could print scripture quotes from several of the Bible stories from the week for campers to trace on their shirts. “Your people will be my people and your God my God,” “I am called for such a time as this,” “Remember, I am with you always,” or “Do not be afraid! Go!” would make great quotes. Or use the theme, “Fearless Faith; Courage in Community” or the name of your camp and year. Note: for stranger safety, it’s best not to print the names of campers on young children’s clothing.
Style-a-Dial: Make a Sundial This project will take 1 to 2 days. Why: Consider the movement of the characters from our stories this week. Abram and Sarai traveled from the eastern part of Babylonia to the Jordan River. Ruth and Naomi traveled from Moab to Bethlehem, Peter traveled from Joppa to Caesarea. Time and location relate to each other. There are lots of ways to make a sundial. You might want to put one in chalk on a basketball court or set one in stone in a garden. This would be a great project to start on Esther’s story day (Day 5) and tie it to “for such a time as this…” A sundial can also be made small out of paper and can be done as part of a unit of astronomy tied to Abram and Sarai’s story (Day 1). Supplies: Depending on which style of sundial you choose to make, you will need measuring tape, magnetic compass (or phone equipped with GPS), a level plot of ground, sidewalk chalk, stones, dowels or straight sticks as a gnomon (serves as an hour hand). This website: http:// analemmatic.sourceforge.net/ will allow you to calculate your sundial based on your zip code, season, and the desired size of your sundial. How: Decide if you are making a permanent sundial installation or a chalk one that will wash
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Extras away. Determine the size of dial, and how you would like to read it. A couple of options include using a stick in the ground to cast a shadow over the hour (called a gnomon) or allow a camper to use his or her own shadow to determine the time. You will need to do some work ahead of time to get the measurements precise. Allow younger campers to paint stones with numbers on them, while older campers who enjoy math or measuring can help make calculations. Teach all campers a few ways to find out where North is, including using a traditional compass, a map, or the GPS on a phone and be sure to stop by the site at night and find the Polaris, the North Star, to confirm. Remind your campers that for thousands of years, the stars in the heavens have been the most reliable source to find your way around. You can find many online tutorials to help generate ideas for your sundial. BTW: Allow your campers to check several times each day to see if their sundial is working well. This activity can help campers truly experience the joys of living “tech free” for a period of time. Help them to realize that the things that they depend on technology to do for them have natural options as well.
Make Rock Candy This project will take 5 or more days. Start early in week. Why: This several-day activity can tie in to our theme several ways. Use each day to notice what is happening with the candy and tie it to the lesson. Courage to Show Up: Mixing the water and the sugar seems like all it will produce is syrup, but the process has to start somewhere! Courage to Trust: The first day of observation, you may not see much crystal growth and you’ll have to trust that the candy will grow. Courage to Forgive: The slow growth of the crystals can be a bit disappointing, and some may break when you are checking them.
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Courage to Stand: Notice that the crystals need other crystals to form onto. The more there are growing, the more they are able to grow! Courage to Do Justice: Notice that not everyone’s crystals are growing at the same rate. Some may have no crystals at all. Others have many. Help campers think of ways to change the experiment that will produce more consistent results. Courage to Change: When growing on a string or stick isn’t working, you may have to take the crystals out to help them grow another way. Courage to Connect: Before going home, allow campers to trade their crystals with one another, so each will have a bag full of different colored crystals. Supplies: (per 3 campers) 3 cups granulated sugar, 1 cup water, saucepan, spoon, 3 tall narrow glasses, 3 kebob skewers, clothespins, food color, flavors (vanilla, peppermint, coconut, citrus extracts work well), paper napkins, trays How: Dampen skewers and roll them in a bit of dry sugar. Set aside skewers to dry. Mix 3 cups of sugar and 1 cup water in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Stir until solution begins to boil and becomes clear. Remove solution from heat. Suspend skewer over glass using a clothespin. Balance the clothespin across the top of the glass so that the stick doesn’t touch the bottom. Slowly pour the solution into the glass. Allow campers to choose a flavor and a color, place a couple drops of each into the glass. Cover with a paper towel or coffee filter and place in an area that won’t be disturbed. You can check growth every day, but be careful not to disturb the crystals too much. If ants or bugs may be a problem, place the glasses in trays with a half-inch of water and replace the water every other day. If, after the second day, you see NO crystal growth, you may want to empty the glass, reboil the solution and add a few tablespoons more sugar. By the fifth or sixth day, you may want to take the sticks out of the glasses and lay them flat on trays lined with wax paper. Use a fork to fish out any larger crystals, and pour them on top of the crystals on the stick. Let your campers taste some
Extras of the crystals. Allow the stick to dry for a day. In the end, put each camper’s crystals in a plastic ziptop bag with their name on it.
BTW: Remind the campers that they started with many small grains of sugar, like each of them showing up on the first day of camp, but that camp has changed them day by day, and made them into a new thing: a community!
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Science and Nature Projects A Garden of Delights This project will work well on any day.
Why: A sensory garden on your campground will be a great resource for all your campers. Instead of a vegetable garden, a sensory garden is a place to relax and enjoy creation and can be a go-to place for prayer and meditation, as well as play and even work! Supplies: Dirt, plants, birdhouses, bird feeders, water source, garden tools, etc., whiteboard and marker or paper and pen How: Consider all the senses God has gifted you with. Push yourself to think beyond the five senses we normally list. Consider your sense of time, adventure, joy, hunger, wonder, awe, anger, mystery, and humor. List those senses on whiteboard or paper and challenge your staff and your campers to think of a gardening activity that would help them explore a chosen sense. For example, butterflies are part of God’s creation that help us to notice change and the passage of time. Plant flowers that will attract butterflies (lilacs, milkweed). Hummingbirds offer delight and awe. Find a hummingbird feeder craft and allow campers to make one to take home and one to leave. Older campers may enjoy a sense of adventure building a water feature or fountain. Remember making mud pies? Giving campers young and old permission to play in the dirt can help foster a sense of freedom. Collect large rocks from around camp and let campers stack and build with them to offer a sense of accomplishment and patience. Plant lambs’ ears to touch, geraniums to smell, bamboo or tall grasses to listen to. BTW: You should expect your sensory garden to grow and change over time. Pick a less-used area of camp with room to expand. Invite volunteer adult groups to create a greenhouse for winter
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storage of plants or to make a prayer walk or labyrinth around the garden.
Outnumber the Stars This project is done at night and can be repeated several nights. Why: The covenant God makes with Abram and Sarai is that their family will outnumber the stars in the sky (Genesis 15:5). This activity will encourage your campers to see their place in the universe as part of the fulfillment of God’s covenant with Abram and Sarai. Supplies: Cloudless night sky, telescope (optional), star chart, pen or pencil How: Begin to explore the night sky. If you have done the activity Night Star Gazers in Extra Crafts on page 230 you will have begun to name constellations. Once you help your campers learn a couple of constellations and recognize patterns in the sky, allow each one to identify “his or her own star.” Have them communicate with one another which star is theirs, and point it out to the others in the group. Using a star chart, write down each group member’s name by the star. If you want, you could use stars from many constellations, and once you’ve named them, make a new constellation by connecting the dots. Name your constellation, and tell a story about it. You could have your constellation tell one of the Bible stories from the week or a story of something fun that actually happened to the group that week at camp. BTW: Encourage your campers to find their constellation each night and in their “own” night sky when they return home. They can even name stars for their friends and family members.
Make Seed Paper Best for Days 2, 3, and 7 Why: This hands-on science project has a special message, spreading seeds spreads love! The paper you create can be used in several different projects including “List and Burial of Grievances” from Worship Ideas, Day 3 on page 162 in the Older
Extras Youth materials and “You’re Invited,” Day 7 in the Older Children materials. Supplies: white paper scraps (this can be junk mail, office recyclables, newspapers. Be careful to remove staples and plastic windows from envelopes. Do not use paper that has a shiny surface), bucket (may get ink from recycled paper on it), shallow plastic bin or large baking pan, embroidery hoops with mesh window screening stretched in it, old towels, blender, flower, herb or vegetable seeds (the flatter, the better). Optional: Cookie cutters, hole punch. How: Have campers rip all the paper into tiny shreds. Put shreds into bin and cover with warm water. Allow paper to soak for several hours or overnight. Fill half of the blender with the mushy paper pulp and add fresh water to fill it the rest of the way. Blend until smooth and silky. Fill the tub or baking pan one quarter full of water. Pour the blended paper pulp into the tub or baking pan. Slide the embroidery hoop under the paper pulp and bring it up slowly through the water, catching the pulp on the window screen. Repeat until the paper covers the surface of the hoop. Place the hoop with the paper onto a dry absorbent towel and sprinkle the wet surface with seeds. Gently press the seeds down, pushing the water onto the towel. Fold the towel over to a dry spot and gently press again. When the towel has absorbed most of the water, flip the paper out of the frame and onto wax paper or a smooth towel and allow to dry completely. Remember, the paper needs to dry quickly or else the seeds will begin to sprout! If it is a sunny day, place the paper outside to dry on concrete or even the roof of a car. When dry, paper can be written on (the smooth, seedless side) or cut into shapes.
Thresh and Winnow Best for Day 2 Why: Much of Ruth’s story takes place on the threshing floor. This was where the harvesters would whack the sheaves of cut wheat against the ground to separate the stalks from the grain. After this, the wheat would be winnowed; it would be tossed into the wind, and the wind would blow the stalks and the husks from the grain. The grain was heavy, so it would fall to the ground, where the parts of the plant that were worthless would blow away from the threshing floor. Supplies: magnifying glasses, garden clippers or scissors, (optional: confetti and mini chocolate chips or sunflower seeds in a napkin or bandana) How: Let campers go on a hike to collect samples of several kinds of grasses and weeds. Be careful of poison plants and thorns, and use this opportunity to teach your campers how to identify dangerous plants. Look for grasses that have gone to seed (grown tall enough that they have tufts of seed at the top). Let them use magnifying glasses to see how the seeds are attached to the stalk. Challenge them to find the most efficient method of separating the stalk from the seeds (grain). Let them pick them apart, whack them on the ground, stomp on them or use any other method they might devise. BTW: A fun snack idea to complement this would be to mix sunflower seeds or mini chocolate chips (or both) together with paper confetti, and teach the campers to winnow by gently blowing as they toss spoonfuls over a napkin. There will be “chaff” for them to clean up after the snack!
BTW: An alternative to the embroidery hoop is to press the paper pulp into metal frame cookie cutters until flat and dry. This will make thicker paper that would work well as a gift tag or ornament.
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Table Talk On the next few pages are conversation starters, with one set for Younger and Older Children and Intergenerational camps and the other set for Younger and Older Youth. Use these questions to prompt theme-related and fun discussion during meal times, down times, or as time fillers. Use the questions in whatever way best serves the needs of the group. If the discussion goes down a different path, be open to that and allow the campers to be creative and explore ideas together.
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Younger and Older Children and Intergenerational Day 1: Together, the Courage to Show Up
• Share about a time when you had to do something that you did not want to do, but it turned out okay in the end.
Younger and Older Children and Intergenerational Day 1: Together, the Courage to Show Up
• If Jesus were here right now, what would you like to ask or tell him? • If you could rename yourself, what would you like to be called? Why?
Younger and Older Children and Intergenerational Day 1: Together, the Courage to Show Up
• What is the best group (team, club, etc.) of which you have been a part? What made it special? After sharing, choose who will share next. Start with the camper who traveled the farthest to get to camp.
Younger and Older Children and Intergenerational Day 2: Together, the Courage to Trust
• How do you know when you can trust someone? What characteristics do trustworthy people have?
Younger and Older Children and Intergenerational Day 2: Together, the Courage to Trust
• If you could travel to any place in the world, where would you go? Whom would you take with you? What would you do there?
Younger and Older Children and Intergenerational Day 2: Together, the Courage to Trust
• Name a place where you feel close to God. Go in alphabetical order by middle name. • If you could make one rule that everyone in the world had to follow, what rule would you make? Why?
Younger and Older Children and Intergenerational Day 3: Together, the Courage to Forgive
• What is your favorite family memory? Start with the camper who has the most siblings. • How does your family know when you are in a bad mood?
Younger and Older Children and Intergenerational Day 3: Together, the Courage to Forgive
• Imagine that you have broken something important and no one saw. What would you do?
Younger and Older Children and Intergenerational Day 3: Together, the Courage to Forgive
• Recall a time when you saw someone you had not seen in a long time. What was it like?
Younger and Older Children and Intergenerational Day 4: Together, the Courage to STAND
• What does it mean to be a hero? Name someone whom you view as a hero.
Younger and Older Children and Intergenerational Day 4: Together, the Courage to STAND
• Imagine that you see a friend crying. What do you do? • If you had a million dollars, what would you do with it? Why?
Younger and Older Children and Intergenerational Day 4: Together, the Courage to STAND
• Name something that you would never, ever sell, no matter how much someone offered to pay you for it. What makes it so special?
Younger and Older Children and Intergenerational Day 5: Together, the Courage to Do Justice
• Tell about a time when you or someone in your family helped someone else—a friend, a neighbor, someone at church, or even a stranger.
Younger and Older Children and Intergenerational Day 5: Together, the Courage to Do Justice
• Imagine that you are a character from a Bible story. Have others guess who you are. You may act the character out or answer questions. After someone guesses correctly, share why you chose that person. Ask someone to go next. Younger and Older Children and Intergenerational Day 5: Together, the Courage to Do Justice
• Share about a time when something good happened, even though you didn’t expect it. How was God involved? • If you could have any superhero power, what power would you have? Why? How would you use it to help others?
Younger and Older Children and Intergenerational Day 6: Together, the Courage to Change
• Take a look at your surroundings. If you could change anything about them, what would you change and why?
Younger and Older Children and Intergenerational Day 6: Together, the Courage to Change
• Name something that you wish you had more time to do. • Who is the bravest person you know? How do you know that he or she is brave?
Younger and Older Children and Intergenerational Day 6: Together, the Courage to Change
• Have you ever learned something from someone who was different from you? Maybe you learned about a new food or tradition. Share what you learned.
Younger and Older Children and Intergenerational Day 7: Together, the Courage to Connect
• What was the best invitation that you ever received? What made it so special? • Imagine that you are Jesus. What would you like to say to the person next to you?
Younger and Older Children and Intergenerational Day 7: Together, the Courage to Connect
• Pretend that you are meeting someone who has never heard anything about Jesus. What do you say?
Younger and Older Children and Intergenerational Day 7: Together, the Courage to Connect
• Come up with positive, kind words that describe each camper at the table that start with the letter of their first name (for example, “Sunrise Sara,” for the camper who likes to wake up early). Choose words that will help you remember your favorite (or silly!) qualities about each camper.
Younger and Older Youth Day 1: Together, the Courage to Show Up
• Ask the person to your left to share about a time when he or she was afraid or nervous to show up for something. How did it turn out? Would they do it again?
Younger and Older Youth Day 1: Together, the Courage to Show Up
• You must choose to be at one of the following places. Which do you choose and why? A) a quiet, personal retreat, B) a large, rowdy youth group gathering, C) a small group Bible study
Younger and Older Youth Day 1: Together, the Courage to Show Up
• What is one of your greatest fears? What might be necessary to help you conquer your fear? • Name the thing that you like most about yourself.
Younger and Older Youth Day 2: Together, the Courage to Trust
• Has God ever answered one of your prayers? Share about that time. • If you could make one rule that everyone in the world had to follow, what rule would you make? Why?
Younger and Older Youth Day 2: Together, the Courage to Trust
• If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go? Why? Who would you want to go with you? After sharing, choose who will share next. Start with the camper who traveled the farthest to get to camp.
Younger and Older Youth Day 2: Together, the Courage to Trust
• Imagine that God just sat down at the table and invited you to ask one question. What would you ask? Then, God asks you one question. What would God ask?
Younger and Older Youth Day 3: Together, the Courage to Forgive
• Has anyone ever made fun of you for your faith? How did it make you feel? • What do you like most about your family? Why? Start with the camper who has the most siblings.
Younger and Older Youth Day 3: Together, the Courage to Forgive
• Recall a time when you did something wrong. How did you feel? How did it make others feel? What, if anything, did you do to make it right?
Younger and Older Youth Day 3: Together, the Courage to Forgive
• Imagine that your best friend hurt your feelings. What would it take for you to forgive him or her?
Younger and Older Youth Day 4: Together, the Courage to STAND
• Name someone you truly admire. What makes this person so admirable?
Younger and Older Youth Day 4: Together, the Courage to STAND
• Tell about a time when you had the opportunity to help someone and didn’t. What, if anything, would you do differently now?
Younger and Older Youth Day 4: Together, the Courage to STAND
• What is something that you truly treasure? What makes it so special? • If you could have a superpower, what power would you choose? Why?
Younger and Older Youth Day 5: Together, the Courage to Do Justice
• What does the phrase, “Love thy neighbor” mean to you? • Name someone whom you view as a true leader. What makes him or her a good leader?
Younger and Older Youth Day 5: Together, the Courage to Do Justice
• Imagine that someone gives you $100,000, but they tell you that you must spend it all on others. How would you spend it? Why?
Younger and Older Youth Day 5: Together, the Courage to Do Justice
• Name a justice issue you care about a lot. Why do you care about this issue so much? What can you do to help?
Younger and Older Youth Day 6: Together, the Courage to Change
• If you could personally witness any event in history, which event would you choose? Why?
Younger and Older Youth Day 6: Together, the Courage to Change
• Imagine that you could live in another country for one year for the purpose of learning about that country, its people, traditions, faith stories, etc. Which country would you choose? Why?
Younger and Older Youth Day 6: Together, the Courage to Change
• Has there ever been a rule that you felt needed to be broken or challenged? Did you break it? • If you could change one thing about your camp experience, what would you change? Why?
Younger and Older Youth Day 7: Together, the Courage to Connect
• Imagine that someone asks you what your faith means to you. How would you respond?
Younger and Older Youth Day 7: Together, the Courage to Connect
• Has anyone ever shared their faith with you? Was it effective? Why or why not?
Younger and Older Youth Day 7: Together, the Courage to Connect
• Share about a time when Jesus seemed especially close to you. • When did you laugh the hardest this week?
CONTENTS
DAILY OVERVIEW
BIB/THEO STAFF YOUNGER OVERVIEW DEVOTIONS CHILDREN
OLDER CHILDREN
YOUNGER YOUTH
OLDER YOUTH
INTERGEN
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Day Camp Day Camps Continue to Expand Welcome to the resources for day camp. Many camps are expanding their program to include weeklong day camp alongside of their traditional camping model. Churches, too, are reaching out to families by providing day camp to their communities. This ministry provides a much-needed service to parents and families. But providing many weeks of Vacation Bible School-type activities can be taxing and expensive. Therefore, we have adapted our daily camp resources into a format that can be used in a longer term environment. In these materials, you will find each scripture is broken down to provide five days of materials. Each week corresponds to one day from the Daily Guide materials. You can use each week’s chart to help you shape your day, or you can use your own format. The guide will help you develop your day to include welcoming games, Bible story time, quiet time, a morning and afternoon activity and a weeklong project. As with all of our resources you can adapt these materials to the exact specifications of your ministry.
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Week 1
Together, the Courage to Show Up Plan Your Week
Use the grid below as an example to help you create a visual plan for your week. (You will want to list your own schedule and write in your choices.) Select activities from the various listings below; feel free to add others of your own creation, as well. Event
Monday
Welcome (p.263) Bible Story (p.264) Early Activity (p.265) Quiet Time (p.267) Late Activity (p.267)
Daily Song
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Captain Courage
Step-By-Step
The Journey Ahead
We Are Connected
Scripture: Genesis 12:1-8
Story Cards The Great Family by Jerome Berryman
The Dot by Peter Reynolds
Marvin K. Mooney “Abram Trusts God,” Would You Please Children of God Go Now? by Dr. Storybook, by D. Tutu Seuss
Create our Journals
Painted Stones
The Dot Activity
We will Go!
What’s My Job on the Journey
Table Talk & Journal time
Rest, Read & Journal time
Table Talk & Journal Time
Rest, Read& Journal Time
Table Talk & Journal Time
Fears In Hand
Walk the Walk
Ripples of Blessing
Trust Charms
Bottle Weaving
Walk and Talk with Blessings God
Use your favorite from “We Will Go”
We Are Connected
Begin Chalkboard Craft
Continue Chalkboard Craft
Continue Chalkboard Craft
Continue Chalkboard Craft
Continue Chalkboard Craft
Father Abraham
I Will Call Upon the Lord
You’ve got a Friend in Me Randy Newman
We Are Standing On Holy Ground
Children, Go Where I Send Thee
Closing Hand Pile Prayer Devotions (p.269) Weeklong Project (p.271)
Tuesday
One Body Race
Leader Notes To prepare, read through the “Biblical and Theological Overview” for Day 1. The Abram story is about a community that was called by God to leave a comfortable place and go to an unknown place so that a new community could come into being. They did as God asked and, when they did, God showed up and blessed them. This is what is happening at camp this week, as well. Individuals are called to leave their comfortable lives and become a new community. Trust that God will show up and bless those involved.
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Welcome Use these activities during get-to-know-you time. Be aware that you may need to be flexible as campers arrive. Advise your staff to introduce campers to each other and to use this time to watch for group interactions, gauge energy levels and encourage those who may need it.
Captain Courage
#P l a y #Create
Why: By being silly, we can talk more openly about our fears and how we might find the courage to face them. Supplies: lots of fabric (yards and yards), scissors, toilet paper tubes, markers, construction paper, glue, duct tape, paint, brushes, markers, and any other appropriate art supplies. (If fabric is costprohibitive, you can substitute garbage bags. Remind campers not to sleep in their capes.) How: Ahead of time, cut fabric in large rectangles for capes, with the short ends wide enough that the two corners can wrap around the neck and be tied, and cut toilet paper tubes lengthwise so they can be placed on wrists. Invite campers to discuss what abilities or powers God has given them, or what they would need from God to face their fears. Invite them to create a superhero costume to share their powers or the powers they would need from God. Give each camper a “cape” and two cut toilet paper tubes. Provide scissors, construction paper, glue, paint, duct tape, and other craft supplies. After they are finished creating their costumes, invite them to dress up and share their work. Discuss how God empowers us to meet the challenges before us. BTW: Invite campers to wear their costumes all day long. This could be a great photo op. If time allows, invite campers to create a comic book– style story of Abram’s journey.
Step-by-Step #LEARN #Create
Supplies: pens, paper
Then challenge the groups to come up with a step-by-step process for forgiving someone. Tell them to think about the example of Joseph (and Nelson Mandela if you used that activity) and all that would need to happen for them to forgive. Have each group share and then, as one community, put together a final plan from all that they come up with. BTW: You could play the step-by-step group part by having the groups bid on how many steps it would take them to do the activity. Let the one with the lowest bid name their steps. If you do it this way, just make sure they do not limit their steps when thinking about forgiveness. Finally, have your campers name the steps that Joseph took to forgiveness.
The Journey Ahead #LEARN #P l a y Why: This activity may help campers identify with Abram and Sarai and realize how much courage it would have taken for them to go where God was calling them. This is also a way for campers to work together and get to know one another. Supplies: Bible, 2–3 small duffel bags, various practical objects (food items, bandages, flashlights, Bibles, bottles of water, ropes, etc.) How: In this activity, campers will engage with the story and imagine what it might have been like to be Abram and Sarai. Read the story from Genesis 12:1–8. Then, put the campers in groups of 3–5 and give each group a bag. Ask them to pack their bags based on what would be most useful for a journey to the unknown. After the bags are
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Why: This activity moves your campers beyond thinking about why to forgive to begin thinking about how to forgive by looking at the process of how things are accomplished.
How: Divide into groups. Tell the groups you are going to give each group a task to accomplish, but their goal is not to accomplish the tasks— it’s simply to lay out a step-by-step process that someone could follow to complete that task. Examples could be: build a table, clean a pool, play a game of Monopoly. After the groups finish writing their instructions, have them share with each other, and give other groups a chance to see if they can find any flaws in the processes. (For instance: If building a table began with sawing lumber, another group might ask, “How did you get the lumber?”) Do a few rounds until they get the hang of it.
packed, imagine a scenario that could have taken place during Abram and Sarai’s journey. Narrate the scenario, giving the campers challenges to overcome. Make some challenges simple, such as fixing a hole in a pail. Make others more challenging, such as a sick child or a lost sheep. Give each group an opportunity to work together to imagine a way to overcome the challenge, using the items in their backpacks. And then come back to the larger group to explain their solution. BTW: To get the giggles going, you can add some ridiculous items to stretch their imagination: kitchen utensils, a flower, swim trunks, a kazoo… It may be preferable to use Berryman’s The Great Family instead of simply reading from the biblical passage.
We Are Connected!
#P l a y
Why: This activity will help campers get to know one another and make the point that they are all connected to one another. Supplies: play dough of various colors (enough for each camper to have a good bit), sealable plastic bag for each camper
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How: In this activity, campers will introduce themselves and understand that they are connected to one another. Give each camper some play dough. Ask the campers to mold their dough into things that represent them. Invite each camper to share about what he or she has made. Then, explain that each of them is unique and special, but they all came together at camp to make a new group. Invite the campers to come forward one at a time and give their play dough back to you. As they do so, clump all of it together (taking care not to mix the colors together too much), creating a new, big, colorful ball. Then, explain that just as each camper contributes something to the group, each one also receives something from the group. Give each camper a piece of the big ball. Allow the campers to put the play dough in a container or plastic bag and take it with them as a reminder of their connection to one another. BTW: Recipes for homemade play dough are available online or you may want to use clay.
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One Body Race Why: Give the campers an experience of working together in a fun way. Supplies: Paper and pencil How: Divide campers into teams of three, with two acting as the “legs,” and one acting as the “eyes.” Choose a distance or destination for the race. This can also be done as a simple obstacle course. Line the teams up with the “legs” carrying the “eyes” between them. Blindfold the “legs,” then share the destination with the eyes by writing it on a piece of paper so the “legs” can’t overhear it. Finally, say “go!” Afterward, spend some time debriefing and ask the campers what different parts make up the “body” of the Church and how they can best work together. BTW: You can make the obstacles more complicated by including activities that involve moving or stacking items, then add more blindfolded team members to be “hands.” This might even include a community meal time, sitting as a “body” and making sure each person gets fed (by the hands, guided by the eyes).
Bible Story At the beginning of the week, gather the campers together and read the week’s scripture from the Bible. As the week goes on, you can reinforce the Bible story by reading from different suggested story Bibles. The activities and resources listed below will offer you some alternative ways of telling the Bible story.
Story Cards
#LEARN
Why: This is a short story to tell, but a long story to have lived through. Moving around the table will help the campers get a sense of the movement of this story. They know what it is like to have a warm, cozy home with everything they need. Most of them have not lived long-term out of a tent. They will begin to understand that Abram and Sarai must have trusted God with their whole hearts to have followed God away from such a wonderful home. Making the link to the campers’ courage to leave their homes this week and to live in a new place will help to make the link that God is with them too!
Supplies: deck of cards, Bible story How: Sit at a table large enough for all the campers to join around you. Begin to build a house of cards. You may make several small houses. If they fall over, just calmly rebuild. Don’t say what you are doing until everyone is seated and listening. Explain that you are recreating Abram and Sarai’s home. Point out places for animals, spots for guests to stay—rooms that are important. State that it is a great place to live because it has everything one would need, and family and friends are near. Then…tell the story of God’s call to Abram. Slowly take down the card buildings and pack them into the card box. Wonder aloud how Abram and Sarai would have felt to leave behind so comfortable a home. Wonder aloud just how much they must have trusted God to move away. Let the campers respond as they will, helping to answer your ponderings. Then get up and move to another place at the table and take out just a few cards and build a small tent. Talk about Abram and Sarai traveling, and what it must have been like to live in a small tent. Wonder if the tent they lived in was like the cabin/tent the campers are staying in for the week. Then pack up the cards again and move to another place at the table. Build the small tent again. Then tell about the time that Abram and Sarai traveled following God. Wonder aloud how it must be to trust someone you cannot see. Then stop, listen intently, and then tell of the changing of Abraham and Sarah’s names and the huge promise God made to them. BTW: If you are doing something interesting like building card houses, campers will always be drawn to you! If you do not have cards for this, you can use sticks or stones to outline home spaces.
Other Story Resources • The Dot, Reynolds • Marvin K. Mooney, Seuss • Children of God Storybook Bible, Tutu • Family Story Bible, Milton • Complete Guide to Godly Play, Berryman
Use your morning activity time to reinforce the Bible story. It is a good time to get campers engaged in a project or game.
Create Our Journals Each day, campers will be allowed time to record their thoughts, hopes, drawings and such in their journals. You can choose to make these easily by folding five to ten sheets of paper together with a sheet of construction paper on the bottom and stapling them in the middle. Allow campers to put their name on the front cover and decorate them however they like. To make the journals more elaborate you can punch holes in the edges and weave a ribbon through them or use brads. For multi-week use, add more paper.
Painted Stones
#Create #LEARN
Why: This activity gives campers the opportunity to share how they see themselves and to make a mark on the camp. It gives campers time to listen and talk to each other and begin to trust that they will be liked in this new place. Supplies: hand-size stones (one for each camper), acrylic or latex paint, brushes (optional: glitter, glue, google eyes, yarn) How: Have each camper choose and decorate one stone to represent him- or herself. While campers are working, encourage casual conversations. Tell them about how Abram and Sarai left their home because God asked them to move to a new place. Mention that they were probably scared. Tell the campers that Abram and Sarai placed stones in a pile as an altar, a place to worship God. Explain that the stones helped them to remember that God was with them and that they were safe in God’s love. BTW: Once the stones are finished, you can place them as markers along the path to your cabin or gathering place. This will claim the space for the campers. Your campers may wish to move them from place to place through the week as they feel more at home at camp. Say a prayer of thanks that God is with you all and that you are a part of God’s promise, just like Abram and Sarai.
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• The Great Family, Berryman
Early Activity
The Dot
#LEARN #Create
Why: This activity may give campers the courage to be present and take risks. The nonthreatening art project may help campers feel included and capable. This is also an opportunity to acknowledge fears. Supplies: The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds, paper, paint, paintbrushes How: In this activity, campers will discover what it means to have the courage to show up. Invite campers to look and listen as you read The Dot. Then, debrief: • Why do you think that Vashti did not want to participate in art class at first? • What finally gave Vashti the courage to make her art? • Do you have any fears about being at camp? What are they? Vashti was afraid of making art because she thought that she was not a good artist. But, when she got the courage to take one small step, she bloomed into a great artist. Discuss with the campers the importance of them having the courage to show up at camp and seeing where it takes them. Allow the campers to create their own Vashti-style art. They may want to make dots, squiggles, lines, spirals, etc. Be sure that the campers sign their artwork. Put it on display. BTW: Instead of paint, you can use markers, crayons, or colored pencils.
We Will Go Split campers into groups so that each group has an adult leader, and ask campers to make a list of activities that God might call them to. They can list serious or fun statements. To help get them thinking, ask them to name the hardest good things for them to do. Have leaders record the list for campers who are non-writers.
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When groups are finished listing (10-20 items) invite each group to shout out one of their statements, and everyone will respond to each statement with “WE WILL GO!” Go from group to group until you have read all the statements. Feel free to switch back and forth from serious to
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fun statements. Ex.: “When we are asked to travel to a new land...,” “When someone is in need of food...,” “When it is time to eat breakfast...,” “When it is difficult or scary...,” “When someone needs a friend...,” “Even if it’s raining...,” “For the people who are hard to love...,” etc. It is important for the groups to deliver this with the proper spirit. This should be a call and response of excitement and energy, motivating the group. Include statements unique to your camp experience (for example, “When it’s biscuits and gravy for breakfast...!”
What’s My Job on the Journey #P l a y #LEARN Why: This activity will help campers imagine what it must have been like for Abram and his family to set out from their home to an unknown land. It will also give a picture of what is require to set out on a trip like that, and that showing up as the church then usually gives us an important purpose. They will also get to know each other’s gifts and strengths. Supplies: cards with list of jobs (see suggestions below) How: Ask groups to imagine they will be taking a journey together on foot as Abram and Sarai did. Either frame it as if they are in the Abram story, or map out an actual geographical location that is 800–900 miles from you (the estimated distance Abram traveled), and inform the group they will be traveling there. Pass out an index card with a job for the journey to each camper. Have the campers discuss how they would feel about being responsible for that task throughout the 900-mile trip. Then allow campers to swap cards to designate roles more appropriate to each group member’s skills and interests. Discuss how campers would feel about taking such a leap of faith, leaving their homes to go to a new place they may not know, and what they thought about in the activity they may not have thought about before. Suggested jobs: shepherd, tailor, tent builder, cook, butcher, camel keeper, childcare provider, cobbler,
guard, nurse, altar builder, scribe, navigator, teacher, launderer, and imagine your own! BTW: To add to the activity, display a map of the route. Decorate the area with props such as tents, pots, pans, etc.
Quiet Time Every day, allow your campers some quiet “downtime.” You may want to provide campers with books, craft supplies, paper, or manipulatives such as clay or action-figures. Encourage your campers to reflect upon and connect with the weekly story and theme. You may allow some quiet cooperative games like mancala or cards, but encourage discussion between campers by using the Table Talk questions. Be sure to allow campers ample time to clean up their work before moving on to the afternoon activities.
Table Talk Use these questions to invite campers into conversation about the theme. Use them over one or more of the meals or create a conversation station during one of the activity rotations Consider using this for one or more of the days in the week.
Younger Campers: • Share about a time when you had to do something that you did not want to do, but it turned out okay in the end. • If Jesus were here right now, what would you like to ask or tell him? • What is the best group (team, club, etc.) of which you have been a part? What made it special? After sharing, choose who will share next. Start with the camper who traveled the farthest to get to camp. • If you could rename yourself, what would you like to be called? Why?
Older Campers:
• You must choose to be at one of the following places. Which do you choose and why? A) a
• What is one of your greatest fears? What might be necessary to help you conquer your fear? • Name the thing that you like most about yourself.
Journal Time 1. Why would Abram build a rock tower to God wherever God spoke to him? 2. Tell about a time that you’ve been lost or wandering and how you found your way to safety 3. What would you do if God told you to leave your friends for a place you’ve never been? Why? 4. When have you had to try something new you thought you wouldn’t like but you wound up liking it? 5. If God told you, “I’m going to turn your family into an entire nation,” what would you expect to happen? 6. Draw what it would look like if you packed up all your possessions and family and set out across the desert.
Rest and Read Here are storybooks to read aloud for quiet time, perhaps after lunch. Or use them during worship time: • Swimmy, Leoni, • Marvin K. Mooney, Seuss • The Dot, Reynolds • Oh the Places You’ll Go, Seuss • Once Upon a Time, Daly
Late Activity Fears in Hand
#P l a y #LEARN
Why: Use this sensory activity to dig into the power of fears and confront some of the bigger ones people face. This will also help campers think about the courage of Abram’s decisions. Supplies: coffee can with lid, scissors, various small items, marker How: Ahead of time, cut slits in the middle of the coffee can from the middle, outward, so a person
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• Ask the person to your left to share about a time when he or she was afraid or nervous to show up for something. How did it turn out? Would they do it again?
quiet, personal retreat, B) a large, rowdy youth group gathering, C) a small group Bible study
can reach a hand inside while being unable to see what is inside. Write the following words about fears on some small items and place the items in the can: “lost,” “poor,” “death,” “humiliated,” “hurt feelings,” “alone,” “failure.” Invite campers to reach into the can, one at a time, and grab an item. Before pulling it out, ask them to share what they can tell about that item just by sense of touch. Based on what they know from touching it, ask them the best thing and worst thing it could be. Invite them to pull out the item and read what is written on it. For each item, ask campers, “How might Abram and his family have faced this fear?” and, “When do people in our world today face this fear?” Finally, ask the campers to reflect on how God supports us when we face this fear. BTW: Be creative with your choice of items. You can also do this activity with the addition of a series of cans—each with different textured items in them, such as pasta, Jell-O, etc. Campers can reach into each of these before grabbing for an item in the final can.
Walk the Walk
#P l a y #LEARN
Why: Help build trust in your group by playing a game that will allow them to compare and discuss the different ways we help each other. Some friends may give advice to solve problems, while others show up to help you face problems. Supplies: blindfolds (one per every two campers, pool noodles, hazard cones, boxes, other “safe” obstacles
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How: Set up a simple obstacle course using items that cannot hurt anyone. Pair campers and ask one in each duo to wear a blindfold. The camper who can see will guide his or her partner through the course by yelling directions to him or her. You can let campers go one pair at a time, or allow all the sighted campers to yell directions at the same time as their partners navigate the course. If time allows, the campers may trade spots so both get a chance to try the course. However, if you are tight on time, move on to the second part of the activity. Move the course around so that it is a little different, then invite the campers to navigate the course again. This time, instead of yelling directions, ask the campers who do not have
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blindfolds to walk along with and guide their partners through the course. After everyone has completed the course, spend some time talking about the difference between being told what to do and having someone walk through a difficult task with you. Discuss how bad directions or guidance can impact trust between partners. BTW: If you can build an obstacle course in several sites across the camp grounds, this is a great way to help campers get more familiar with the facility. By using different colors of noodles, boxes, and cones, multiple groups could go through different obstacle courses at the same time, passing each other on trails or walkways. Connect the community by having groups design courses for others to navigate.
Ripples of Blessing
#centering
Supplies: small rock or pebble for each camper, body of water (optional: words to the song “Perfect World”) Give each camper a small stone, and explain that this will be the campers’ one time to throw a rock during camp. If you have a body of water, gather around that space, or you may use a large basin or portable pool. Invite campers to think about ways they could be blessings to the camp community. When they are ready, invite them to, one at a time, toss their rocks into the water and watch the ripples caused. Observe what happens when ripples collide with others. Other components of worship might include personal testimonials on the ripple-effect others have had in their lives by just showing up. Stories of people having the courage to be present in difficult times or in unknown circumstances would be great. You might use the words to the song “Perfect World” (Indigo Girls, 2004), which talk about ripples made by decisions made and those we choose not to make.
Trust Charms
#Create #P r a y
Why: A visual and recognizable (like “BFF” charms) way to get to know one another. Supplies: Craft foam, markers, yarn or jute, hole punch
How: Brainstorm things people do to build trust or other emotions connected to trust (sharing, risk, helping, truth telling, time together, etc.). Write these words or phrases related to building trust on pieces of craft foam. Cut each piece into two or more pieces, using creative cutting so the pieces end up looking like puzzle pieces. Make sure they can be matched up later. Put holes in the pieces and divide them up evenly so everyone has the same number—but no one has matching pieces in his or her possession. Give each camper a piece of yarn or jute to string his or her pieces onto. Help the campers tie these as necklaces, leaving enough length so the campers can easily look at the pieces on their necklaces. Once all have their pieces, allow time for the campers to walk around and see who has the other parts to match their pieces. Spend some time discussing how time at camp helps campers trust each other and what can be done to deepen that trust. Close in prayer, giving each person a chance to pray for everyone who shares a match to the pieces on his or her necklace. It can be as simple as, “God, I pray for, ____, ____ and ____.” BTW: These prayers could be the beginning of prayer partners for the week of camp. Campers might try to find a way to experience each word they have a piece of with those they have prayed for. If a camper has the word “sharing,” then maybe he or she could share a snack with someone who has another piece of that word. You could reunite these words later in the week to celebrate the courage to trust that has been displayed.
Bottle Weaving Why: Ruth must have used something to gather the grain into when she gleaned in the fields. Your campers will need something to gather their found treasures into as well! Supplies: Clean two-liter bottles, scissors, yarn, ribbon, or even long grasses
Cut off cap end so that what is left is a cylinder with a bottom. Then cut the sides in strips down
Have the campers each select a yarn color to start. Instruct them: “Tie the yarn onto one of the strips and push it down to the bottom base, as close as possible. Weave the yarn in and out around the bottle. Colors may be changed by cutting off one color and tying on another color. When the weaving gets within 2 inches of the top tie off the yarn.” Then either you or the campers can cut the ends of the strips into points and fold them over the highest level of yarn and tuck them into the yarn lower down. BTW: Most any recyclable plastic container can be used in this way, and the shape can be changed by pushing out as you weave or pulling in tighter, or by modifying the shape of the strips. Consider using a shaped cola bottle just for fun and see what happens and what shape it takes.
Closing Devotions Every day, wrap up your day with a short time of devotion. In addition to the resources listed here, you may want to turn to the Daily Guides Worship Practices for suggested prayers and songs. Though time sometimes runs out and devotions can “slip off your radar,” at least give the campers a moment to thank God for the day. You could use a repeated phrase to signal that your time has come to a close by shouting in one voice, “Together, we have the courage to Show Up! Amen!”
Hand Pile Prayer
#P r a y
Why: This prayer reinforces name recognition and gives everyone time to think of something he or she is thankful for. Supplies: non-permanent marker How: Write the name of each child on the back of his or her right hand. Ask the campers to form a circle… Either standing or sitting works. Then begin the prayer, asking God to bless the people whose names appear in the circle. As each one places his or her hand, have the group prayerfully say the name written on the hand. Place your hand in the middle with your name visible, and
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How: Ahead of time, cut the two-liter bottles (or have each camper cut his or her own, if the campers are old enough to safely do so). The bottles should be cut in the following way:
to the point where the bottle begins to curve in to the bottom. Cut an odd number of strips about ½ an inch wide (still attached to the bottom). This is your weaving base.
invite the others, one by one, to place their right hands on top of yours. Then after all are in the pile, have each remove his or her hand, one at a time, as they each state something he or she was thankful for during the day. BTW: Some children will not want to say anything… Give them permission to say “pass” if they cannot think of something to say. Remember: prayer is not a test of mental quickness or courage to speak up when one is uncomfortable. It is an opportunity for conversation with God.
Walk and Talk with God #celebrate Supplies: blindfolds for all campers Invite campers to gather away from the worship space. Place everyone in a line, with hands on the shoulders of the person in front of each. Have adults at the beginning and end of the line, with extra spotters in the middle if needed. The adult in the back will start passing on the words to a prayer, one line at a time, up the line of campers, with each camper repeating them to the person in front of him or her. The adult in the front will guide the campers toward worship. Each camper follows the person in front of him or her while sharing the words to the prayer with that person he or she is following. Invite the first blindfolded person in line to shout out the prayer as loud as he or she can as he or she receives the lines. This is not a game of “telephone,” so campers may ask for clarification before passing on the words of the prayer. Lord, you are worthy of our trust. When your people cried in the wilderness, You heard them and responded. Even though we walk in darkness, We will not live in fear. We will trust you like a shepherd. Guide us and comfort us. Lead us to serve others. Lead us to care for others. May we be worthy, Lord,
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Of the trust you grant us. Amen.
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Blessings
#centering
Supplies: sand, anointing oil In this activity, the campers will be blessed for their week at camp. Take the campers to an area with sand (beach, sand pit, etc.). (If there is limited sand access, consider doing an adjusted version of this activity at night under the stars, so that they can be used instead.) Explain that God promised Abram he would have as many descendants as there were grains of sand on the beach, and that he would be blessed in order to be a blessing. God kept that promise, and now the campers are also blessed to be a blessing. Invite the campers to touch the sand and think about this promise. During this quiet time, ask each camper if you may bless him/her. Then, take some anointing oil, place a bit on the camper’s forehead or on the back of the hand and say, “You, [name], are blessed to be a blessing.”
We Will Go Use your favorite phrases from We Will Go in the Early Activities
We Are Connected!
#P l a y
Why: This activity will help campers get to know one another and make the point that they are all connected to one another. Supplies: play dough of various colors (enough for each camper to have a good bit), sealable plastic bag for each camper How: In this activity, campers will introduce themselves and understand that they are connected to one another. Give each camper some play dough. Ask the campers to mold their dough into things that represent them. Invite each camper to share about what he or she has made. Then, explain that each of them is unique and special, but they all came together at camp to make a new group. Invite the campers to come forward one at a time and give their play dough back to you. As they do so, clump all of it together (taking care not to mix the colors together too much), creating a new, big, colorful ball. Then, explain that just as each camper contributes something to the group, each one also receives something from the group. Give each camper a piece of the big ball. Allow the campers to put the
play dough in a container or plastic bag and take it with them as a reminder of their connection to one another. BTW: Recipes for homemade play dough are available online or you may want to use clay.
Weeklong Project Chalkboard Craft Why: Joseph forgave his brothers. It was, in a way, like washing off a blackboard.
As with any chalkboard paint, you will need to prep the surface once it is completely dry by rubbing a piece of chalk across the entire board (easiest if you turn the chalk on its side). Then erase completely, and it’s ready to go. BTW: If you want to make this a several day project you can do the chalkboard paint on one day and then decorate or paint on a frame the second day. It is easier to purchase blackboard paint but it is more expensive and it does not allow for the creative choices of your campers, as well.
Supplies: 1/8 inch or 1/4 inch medium-density fiberboard (MDF board, available at home improvement stores), one for each camper (You can choose the size somewhere between 8 x 10 and 11 x 14), primer, acrylic paint in various colors, stick. Small paintbrush, dry, non-sanded grout, measuring spoons (1 tsp. and ½ tsp.), cups, sponge brushes, stirring stick, permanent marker, ribbon, scissors, chalk, plastic wrap. How: Precut the MDF and drill two holes at the top for a hanging ribbon. Prime the MDF so it is ready to paint. Premark cuts at 1/3 cup level. This is the maximum amount of paint campers should need. Measure 1 1/2 teaspoons of the non-sanded grout and put in each mixing cup. It is very fine and will make a mess, so do it where there is good ventilation. Pour 1/4 cup of paint into the cup of the color of the camper’s choice. They can mix colors but suggest that they mix only two colors. After that the color gets really muddy. Stir. The consistency will be slightly lumpy still. The grout is very fine, so when it is brushed on, it spreads out and isn’t noticeable at all. Apply with a sponge brush.
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You will need between one and three coats. Plan to paint one coat, play a game, paint another coat, play another game and then put on a final coat. You can cover the cups of paint and the brushes with plastic wrap between coats. Have the campers choose a ribbon and tie it as a hanger.
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Together, the Courage to TRUST Plan Your Week
Use the grid below as an example to help you create a visual plan for your week. (You will want to list your own schedule and write in your choices.) Select activities from the various listings below; feel free to add others of your own creation, as well. Event
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Welcome (p.273)
Trust Walk
Trust Run
Reverse Shock Walk
No Rules!
Bible Story (p.274)
Scripture: Ruth
Journeying with Ruth
Story Summary
Naomi Monologue Ruth Monologue
Whom Do You Trust?
Prized Possession Show & Tell
Magnetic Personalities
Friendship Bracelets
Who Has Your Back?
Quiet Time (p.278)
Table Talk & Journal time
Rest, Read & Journal time
Table Talk & Journal Time
Rest, Read & Journal Time
Table Talk & Journal Time
Late Activity (p.279)
Sharing the Harvest
Build a Church Together
To Trust or Not
I Doubt It
Trusted Friends
Follow the (Worship) Leader
Balloon Journey
Wheat Meditation
Naomi, Ruth & Boaz Skit That Goes Viral
Continue Stylea-Dial
Continue Stylea-Dial
Continue Stylea-Dial
Continue Style-a-Dial
I’m Gonna Sing So…
Servant Song
I am the Church! You are the Church! (Avery and Marsh)
Early Activity (p.276)
Community Hand Closing Devotions (p.281) Wash Weeklong Project (p.283) Daily Song
Begin Style-a-Dial
Make New Friends I Will Follow You (Chris Tomlin)
Circle of Influence
Leader Notes Our ability to trust is a reflection of our experience in family systems. Camp is essentially an experimental family system. Trustworthiness is central. Make sure you say what you will do and then do it. If you need to make a change, explain the change and then follow through.
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Watch for teasing. It is an easy pattern to fall into at camp. Some campers will have had a loving experience with “ribbing,” while others will have had a painful experience. It is best to just not engage and to explain that here at camp we treat each other with love and respect, and we say what we mean clearly. This means that teasing is not a part of our vocabulary. Campers on the autism spectrum may have a very difficult time understanding jokes and the twists of teasing. Watch for those moments and be prepared to explain.
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Welcome Use these activities during get-to-know-you time. Be aware that you may need to be flexible as campers arrive. Advise your staff to introduce campers to each other and to use this time to watch for group interactions, gauge energy levels and encourage those who may need it.
Trust Walk
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Why: This activity will build trust among the group. It may also help the campers connect with Ruth and see how her deep trust was what sparked this great story. Supplies: blindfolds, various objects How: In this activity, campers will explore the concept of trust through a trust walk. Blindfold all of the campers and have them stand in a single file line, placing their hands on the shoulders of the person in front of them. Lead them over, under, and around different objects. Be sure that other leaders are around to ensure campers’ safety. Debrief together: • How did you feel during this activity? Why? • How would someone who really didn’t have sight learn to trust others? • When Ruth followed Naomi, she was following her into an unknown place with unknown people and an unknown God. How do you think that she felt? Why do you think that she chose to go with Naomi anyway? BTW: There are many variations of trust walks. Campers can be paired up and one camper blindfolded while the other camper gives directions (sometimes using no words, just hand pressure). Use whatever trust walk activity that would work best with your particular group.
Trust Run
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How: Have the campers stand in a single-file line in a wide open space, all facing in the same direction. Pick one camper to be the runner. The runner must stand a few feet in front of the line, facing the first person in line. The runner must
• Was it easy or hard to trust your fellow campers? Why? • What would have happened if someone had purposely not moved when someone was running? How would that have changed how we feel about each other and deal with each other this week? • What do you do when you need to trust someone but find that it is difficult? • Why do you think that Ruth trusted Naomi, Naomi’s people, and Naomi’s God so much? • What are the risks involved in trusting someone? BTW: During the debriefing time, spend some time exploring the risks of trusting. Acknowledge and affirm fears of being betrayed. This activity may be done inside or outside, provided that there is enough space that is free of obstacles.
Reverse Shock Walk #P l a y #LEARN #Serve Why: Trusting someone you just met is hard! Many trust games involve blindfolds, but for younger children blindfolds can be really scary! This activity is easy to get out of if you are feeling unsafe. It is not a race! It is a walk. Everyone who makes it to the other side wins. Supplies: items for an obstacle course: chairs, tables, etc. How: Put the campers into pairs. One will be the walker, and the other will give directions. Set up an obstacle course with a variety of obstacles that the campers must avoid. Pretend the objects are electric, and if a camper touches them, they “buzz.” The walkers must walk backwards through the course without stepping on or bumping into anything. They must also avoid bumping into other campers walking through the course.
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Why: This activity is high energy and campers can run off some of their energy. It also helps develop trust among the group, which is important during this stage of the week.
indicate that he or she is about to go by saying something like, “I am going to run now. I trust my friends to move away.” The campers answer back in unison, “You can trust us.” As the camper runs, the other campers must jump out of the runner’s way. The runner should slow down or stop as needed until he or she has moved past the entire line. Take turns until all of the campers have had a chance to be the runner. Debrief the activity with the group:
They must trust their partners to guide them safely through the course by telling the backward walkers how many steps and in which direction. If a walker gets nervous and turns around, the pair has to start over. When a team successfully makes it through, have them switch places and repeat the exercise. When you do an activity that pushes trust boundaries, it is important to be clear about the boundaries before the game begins and to talk about it afterward so that the campers can communicate their experiences and so that you can adjust what happens to accommodate any special needs that may arise. BTW: If your campers master this, try having the guide use only body movement to instruct the walker. To make this more challenging, you can make blinders out of sunglasses with construction paper taped on the sides.
No Rules!
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Why: This activity helps campers understand the importance of rules. It also allows the leadership to reinforce the camp rules early in the week and explain that rules are there for everyone’s protection and to ensure that everyone can be safe and have the most fun possible. Supplies: two dice per each small group of campers (3–5 people) How: Tell the campers that are going to play a dice game. Divide them into small groups of 3–5 and then give each group a set of two dice. Then, tell them to begin playing. Give no further instructions. If the campers ask for more guidelines or information, just tell them to start playing. Give the groups some time to figure things out for themselves and come up with a game to play. After some time, call everyone back together and debrief using the following questions: • How did you feel when you were told to begin playing without being given any directions?
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• Without directions, how did you play the game? What was the first rule that you came up with? • How did your group agree/disagree on what the rules would be? If there was conflict, how did you resolve it?
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• Why do you think that rules are often part of our lives, and especially part of our lives together at camp? How are rules good? How are rules bad? • How are rules related to trust? BTW: To make it a more physical game, give each group of campers a ball instead of dice and tell them to “play ball.” If the campers enjoy playing cards, consider using the card game Fluxx instead of this activity. In Fluxx, the rules, goals, and objectives constantly change. Consider using this activity to go over the camp rules again and possibly come up with additional rules for each small group to follow.
Circle of Influence Why: This is a great way to get to know your group without asking a single question. Observe group dynamics and tendencies among campers to lead, follow, etc. Supplies: None How: Ask the campers to stand in a circle, connected palm to palm with the person on either side of them. Instruct them to maintain contact with the person on either side at all times and to not speak. Once everyone has these ground rules, invite them to imagine a place they might take the group. Do not instruct them to go anywhere. Simply give them a moment to imagine. Now, tell the campers they have 5 minutes. Give no further direction. You may remind them of the ground rules, but give them no direction or clarification. Let the group negotiate the gray area in their own way. If you have time, debrief the experience. Ask the campers about things they noticed about their dynamics, then add some of your own. BTW: After doing this activity with a small group of campers, you could create an obstacle course for groups to compete against each other with a time penalty for breaking contact or talking.
Bible Story At the beginning of the week, gather the campers together and read the week’s scripture from the Bible. As the week goes on, you can reinforce the Bible story
by reading from different suggested story Bibles. The activities and resources listed below will offer you some alternative ways of telling the Bible story.
Journeying with Ruth
#LEARN
Why: This activity will help campers visualize the journey that Ruth and Naomi were on. Supplies: Godly Play, Volume 6 How: Using the Godly Play story found in volume 6 (the words for the story begin on page 69), tell the story of Ruth. However, instead of telling the story in a circle using materials, invite the campers to act as the people of God and walk all over camp. If there is a body of water with a bridge over it, use that as the Jordan River. (If not, create a “river” using some rope.) Have campers play the roles of Naomi, her husband, her sons, Orpah, Ruth, and Boaz (and Jesse and David, if you have enough campers). Designate a building on campus to be “Bethlehem.” Choose an open space to be the fields. Have some stray pieces of “wheat” (perhaps strips of paper) in the fields and encourage the campers to practice gleaning. Be sure to ask the “wondering” questions found at the end of the story. BTW: Instead of acting the story out, it may be preferable to tell the story as it is written in the Godly Play volume, using a felt underlay and telling the story in a circle. You could use rocks, sticks, or other items from nature as the characters and places.
Story Summary
Naomi and Ruth traveled to Bethlehem, and Ruth found the field of a gracious landowner who allowed widows, orphans, and the very poor to gather his leftover wheat. When Naomi found out that the landowner’s name was Boaz, she was thrilled. Boaz was related to Naomi and had a right to marry Ruth. Ruth didn’t know about many customs and laws of the Hebrews, so she trusted Naomi when she told her what to do next. Ruth gleaned in Boaz’s field and got to know Boaz. All of Boaz’s household saw that Ruth was a caring and devoted person. Ruth bravely asked Boaz to marry her (through which he would also gain the right to buy her father-in-law’s land) and be the father of her children. Boaz told Ruth he was willing to do that, but that a younger and closer relative had first right to marry Ruth. When the closer relative found out that the purchase of the land came with two childless widows, he decided not to claim it. He didn’t trust that his current wives and children could get along with these two women. But Boaz married Ruth and made sure that her father-in-law’s name remained in the record book. They had a son together and named him Obed. The family tree and community of Naomi was restored, and Obed had a son named Jesse. Jesse had a son named David, who became king of Israel. Centuries later, another “king” of the line of David would be born in Bethlehem. His parents, Mary and Joseph, would name him Jesus.
Naomi Monologue
#LEARN #P r a y
Why: In emphasizing the trust and connection between Ruth and Naomi, and later Ruth and Boaz, we skip the pain that sets up this story. However, understanding the hardships helps us understand how great the acts of trust are. That these characters are mourning and unsure of their next meal adds urgency. In praying together, campers connect the Ruth story to contemporary stories of famine and loss. Supplies: biblical-looking costume for Naomi
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This story is about how Ruth and her motherin-law Naomi found a new community for themselves when Naomi’s husband and sons died. Ruth was married to one of Naomi’s sons, and Orpah was married to the other. Ruth and Orpah were in their own country of Moab, but Naomi had moved there with her husband and sons from Bethlehem. Naomi was without any family in Moab at all. All three women were without children. All three women were left as widows, and widows needed to be cared for. Naomi tells her daughters-in-law to go back to their own tribes; maybe they could find someone else to marry them and help them have children. Orpah stays in Moab, but Ruth begs her mother-in-law to
let her come to Bethlehem with her. Ruth loved Naomi so much, and she trusted that even though they had no family in Bethlehem, if she stayed loyal to Naomi, they would find a family and that Naomi’s God would accept them as people of God.
How: Launch the camp into the story of Ruth and the theme of trust. Naomi tells part of her story. She will ask the group to pray with her, opening the session. Use the script found on page 284. BTW: Use Naomi again for the #centering worship skit.
Ruth Monologue #LEARN #P r a y Why: Ruth’s monologue offers another angle on trust. Naomi demonstrated how trust is difficult to enter into. Ruth’s monologue shows how it is difficult to trust in the midst of troubles, and how it is natural to struggle with trusting others, especially as hard times persist. Supplies: costume for Ruth How: Ruth offers a monologue and prayer the way Naomi did. Find the script for Ruth’s monologue on page 284. BTW: Use the same Ruth in the #celebrate worship idea
Other Story Resources • Children of God Storybook Bible , D. Tutu • Family Story Bible, Milton
Early Activity Use your morning activity time to reinforce the Bible story. It is a good time to get campers engaged in a project or game.
Whom Do You Trust? #Create #LEARN Why: This activity encourages campers to examine who they trust and don’t trust and asks them to envision worlds where there is less trust or more trust, and where trust is rewarded. Campers may also discover reasons they have for trusting or distrusting. It might be a uniform, a person’s looks, or common cultural stigmas—offering insight into the fair and unfair ways we trust.
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Supplies: cardstock, magazine cut-outs, or printed pictures of famous people and common occupations, glue, tape or Velcro strips, scissors, paper, marker How: Have pictures of easily identifiable people from common occupations whom people interact
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with daily. Include some pictures of famous people. From the non-famous people, choose some who look trustworthy and some who may not. Distribute the pictures among campers and have them choose people they trust and people they don’t. Have them cut out the pictures and glue them to card stock, then cut around the outline of the person’s picture. Attach tape to the back of each character. Have two sections on the wall, indicated by signs reading: “We Trust” and “We Don’t Trust.” Campers then attach figures to the section of their choosing. Lead discussion on why campers chose as they did and what would happen if their opinions changed. Switch the pictures to the opposite section and discuss what would happen if you couldn’t trust the characters you trust. Also discuss what would happen if you trusted the ones you don’t, and how life might be different if you could trust them.
Prized Possession Show and Tell #LEARN #Create Why: This activity illustrates the difficulty of trust, especially with important parts of our lives. It also is bonding to share these important things with each other. Supplies: enough modeling clay or play dough for all campers to share How: Begin by asking each camper to visualize his or her most prized possession. Of the “things” he or she has, what has the most value? Continue by having each camper use the clay to make a model of his or her most prized possession. It may be miniature or life-sized (if the actual possession is small). Ask campers to tell about their prized possessions and why they are important. Ask campers to imagine having to give those objects to others to care for. They have no idea if the objects would be safe from harm. End by asking if one camper would try to choose someone in the group to trust with his or her prized possession. That person accepts the model, then chooses a person to trust with his or her prized possession, until everyone has someone else’s treasure.
BTW: Remember that this may be the first time campers are meeting some members of the group. It’s okay for people to be timid about trusting strangers. This activity may very well help campers take the first step in developing new close friendships.
Magnetic personalities
#P l a y #LEARN
Why: This activity gives campers something solid to start talking about before they move to the much harder abstract thinking about love and loyalty. Supplies: scissors, pipe cleaners, various metal objects, a dollar bill, an old CD, other items to test, variety of magnets: refrigerator magnets, ceramic magnets, and one neodymium magnet How: Lay out the magnets and let the campers test them on different objects. Help the campers discover the strongest magnets and the most attractable objects. You can do a mini-experiment with the pipe cleaners by cutting some short lengths and some longer lengths and figuring out which is easier to move with a magnet. Send campers out in pairs into the environment, one magnet per pair, and ask them to find and return with things that their magnets are attracted to. Have a conversation with the campers about why some magnets are stronger than others. Introduce the idea that Naomi and Ruth acted like magnets in that they held on to each other even when it was hard for them. Wonder with the campers about what makes some friendships strong and others not as strong. Have them explore the idea of which people are the strongest magnets in their lives, the people who will never let them go. BTW: Magnetic singing stones are a wonderful way to imagine Ruth and Naomi. These are sometimes sold in the dollar stores or on Amazon. com as Magnetic Rattle Snake Eggs. If you describe the sound they make as “singing,” you can have the children imagine Ruth and Naomi singing as they worked and traveled together.
Friendship Bracelets #Create #Serve Why: When we find a friend, it is important for us to show how much we care. Friendship bracelets are an easy way to say you like your friend and that you belong. Supplies: cotton embroidery floss or cotton yarn in two different colors, scissors, yardsticks, safety pins, tape How: There are many ways to make friendship bracelets! Here is just one… Instruct the campers as follows as you show them how to make a bracelet: “Cut six pieces of string or embroidery floss; cut three of one color and three of the other color. Using a yardstick, make each thread 17–18 inches long for a bracelet; add length for an anklet or necklace. Lay out all threads evenly. Tie them in a knot about 2 inches down from the top of the threads. You should have a 2 inch fringe of thread above the knot, and six threads coming down from the knot. Use masking tape to attach the small threads coming out of the knot to the table or put a safety pin through the knot and attach it to the knee of your jeans (while sitting down). A secured knot will help you maintain consistent tension. Start tying your bracelet. Separate your threads into two even groups, with three threads on each side. Take the threads on the right (we will call them pink) and loop them over and under the threads on the left (call them blue). Then put the pink threads through the loop you just created around the blue threads. Pull horizontal pink string and blue string keeping them parallel to your knee or the table, and vertically on the pink threads, keeping them perpendicular to your knee or the table. As you do so, the pink knot should move up to your large knot at the top. This is called a cross knot.
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Repeat the knot with the blue threads. Loop them over and under the pink threads, then pull them through the loop.
Alternate tying knots on each side until your bracelet is finished. Braid to the finish. Leave about 2 inches of untied thread at the bottom of your bracelet, keeping each tail one color. For each color, make a threestrand braid until you have about 1/2 inch of free thread left. Tie a knot at the end of each braid. Then undo the large knot on the other end and to the same thing to finish the threads. Give your bracelet to a friend and help him or her tie it on! You can draw names to ensure that the sharing is fair. As the group works on more and more bracelets, make sure that every camper is included in the giving and receiving of bracelets BTW: Those campers who cannot manage the dexterity or concentration required for this craft can make beaded bracelets instead. This is a great “anywhere” craft. Extra supplies can easily go in a backpack or a pocket. It will give the campers something to do while they are waiting for meals, for other groups, or for you!
Who Has Your Back? #LEARN #Serve Why: This activity will help campers identify specific people they trust. Youth who can name people to whom they can turn are significantly more likely to do so in times of need. Supplies: paper, envelopes, pens (stamps if needed) How: Read Ruth 1:1–18 together, then use the Story Summary to share the rest of the story. Read Ruth 1:16–18 again and ask the group to identify people in the story that had to trust each other. Give each camper a piece of paper and ask each of them to write one to three names or professions on his or her paper for each question you ask. Ask these questions (allowing enough time after each to the campers to write their answers): • Who would you trust if you were in an accident?
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• Who would you trust if you had a crush on someone? • Who would you trust if you made a big mistake? • Who would you trust if you had to try something new and scary?
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• Who would you trust if someone was hurting you? • Who would you trust if you were lost? • Who would you trust if you had questions about God? Go back through the questions and invite campers to share their answers. Talk about what makes those people trustworthy. Reflect on how their experiences are similar to those they read about in Ruth. Ask how are their experiences different? Give each camper a second sheet of paper and invite each to write a thank you note to someone from their answers. You can collect these and mail them for the campers, or allow them to seal the envelopes to take home and deliver. BTW: If you allow your campers a period of time with their cell phones, encourage them to make sure their trusted contacts are in their “favorites” or “starred” tab. The letters could be great worship offerings for those who are willing to share their personal notes.
Quiet Time Every day, allow your campers some quiet “downtime.” You may want to provide campers with books, craft supplies, paper, or manipulatives such as clay or action-figures. Encourage your campers to reflect upon and connect with the weekly story and theme. You may allow some quiet cooperative games like mancala or cards, but encourage discussion between campers by using the Table Talk questions. Be sure to allow campers ample time to clean up their work before moving on to the afternoon activities.
Table Talk Use these questions to invite campers into conversation about the theme. Use them over one or more of the meals or create a conversation station during one of the activity rotations Consider using this for one or more of the days in the week.
Younger Campers: • How do you know when you can trust someone? What characteristics do trustworthy people have?
• If you could travel to any place in the world, where would you go? Whom would you take with you? What would you do there? • Name a place where you feel close to God. Go in alphabetical order by middle name. • If you could make one rule that everyone in the world had to follow, what rule would you make? Why?
Older Campers: • Has God ever answered one of your prayers? Share about that time.
Rest and Read Here are storybooks to read aloud for quiet time, perhaps after lunch. Or use them during worship time: • Wherever You Are, My Love Will Find You, Nancy Tillman • Love You Forever by Robert Munsch • The Missing Piece by Shel Silverstein • Granite by Susan Butcher and David Monson.
Late Activity
• If you could make one rule that everyone in the world had to follow, what rule would you make? Why?
Sharing the Harvest #Serve #Create
• If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go? Why? Who would you want to go with you? After sharing, choose who will share next. Start with the camper who traveled the farthest to get to camp.
Why: This activity helps campers connect the Ruth story with real people who live in their communities and are in need. It also gives them an additional opportunity to reflect on Ruth’s profound trust in Naomi, Naomi’s community, and Naomi’s God.
• Imagine that God just sat down at the table and invited you to ask one question. What would you ask? Then, God asks you one question. What would God ask?
Create Our Journals Each day, campers will be allowed time to record their thoughts, hopes, drawings and such in their journals. You can choose to make these easily by folding five to ten sheets of paper together with a sheet of construction paper on the bottom and stapling them in the middle. Allow campers to put their name on the front cover and decorate them however they like. To make the journals more elaborate you can punch holes in the edges and weave a ribbon through them or use brads. For multi-week use, add more paper.
Journal Time 1. Have you ever had a family member tell you to go away? What was it like? How did you respond? 2. Whom do you trust in your life? Why?
4. What would it look like if you were a stranger in a foreign land?
How: In this activity, campers will recall the Ruth story and aim to serve others who might be in need of food. Ruth and Naomi were allowed to glean because they were widows in need. This means that they were allowed to take what was left over after the harvest. Explain to the campers that there are many people who do not have enough to eat. Invite the campers to put together sack lunches for those in need. They may wish to decorate the bags or include notes to the recipients. After the lunches have been put together, deliver them to a local food pantry. Tell the campers something about the food pantry’s ministry and the people it serves. BTW: This activity could be done after lunch or dinner, during which campers could be encouraged to take one bag of chips (or another packaged item) for themselves and one for a food pantry. If possible, consider traveling to a food pantry, soup kitchen, community garden, or other local food ministry and volunteering there. Alternatively, invite someone from one of those
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3. Why would someone change their name if they had a bad experience? Would you ever change your name?
Supplies: art supplies; plastic tableware; napkins; large self-sealing plastic bags or paper sacks; individually packed food items, such as: small bags of chips, packaged cookies, apples and bananas, fruit snacks, granola/protein bars, juice boxes, packets of food like tuna or crackers
organizations to come and speak to the campers about their ministry. Be mindful of food allergies.
Build a Church Together
#P l a y
Why: This activity will serve as group bonding and a lesson on how members of the church must trust each other. Supplies: blindfolds; Lincoln Logs, Tinker Toys, Legos, Building Blocks, or other construction-type toy How: Divide into pairs (one group may have three). Give each pair materials to construct a building. Instruct them to build a church together. The only people allowed to touch the materials and assemble them are blindfolded. They will each have a partner who can see to instruct him or her on how to build the church, and each guide will coordinate with other guides on the design for their church. Have partners switch places midway through the activity, with the guides becoming the blindfolded workers and vice versa. When all the groups are finished building, spend time looking at all the churches, observing their similarities and differences. Discuss what is difficult about the activity and how it is like working together in real life. Also discuss the role trust plays, and how the challenge becomes more difficult if you can’t trust each other. BTW: Be sure that everyone has a chance at both building and instructing. You could ask two pairs to join together and repeat the activity with more elaborate structures.
To Trust or Not
#LEARN
Why: Campers must decide every day to trust or not to trust. This will give them an opportunity to talk about these events that they struggle with each day and might give them some new solutions for their own behavior as they confront difficult moments. This game works best with readers.
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Supplies: jar, situations How: Prepare your trust jar ahead of time. Place in it descriptions of situations of trust at camp or at home. There should be at least one per camper in the jar. One by one, let the campers pull out
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the situations and read them. Talk about what happened and whether or not they would be trusting of the person in the situation. Make up your own situations. Example: Jordan cannot find his friendship bracelet. He thought he left it in the cabin before dinner. Now it is not on his bed. He remembers that Mike was in the cabin when he left for dinner. What does Jordan do if he trusts Mike? What does he do if he does not trust Mike? Play until campers begin to get restless. Remember: Laughter and silly solutions can get everyone involved and ready to go deeper as they discuss, so be prepared to be creative in your answers. BTW: You can divide the group into the “trust” and “distrust” groups and have them answer the situations from their assigned perspectives. If you do that, make sure you switch the designations halfway through so that the negative does not become ingrained in one group. Remember that one of today’s camper goals is to acknowledge the fear of betrayal. Talk about safety with strangers and why sometimes the children’s mistrust is okay.
I Doubt It
#P l a y
Supplies: a deck of cards Why: Every camper knows how to lie; it is human nature. But knowing when someone else is telling the truth or lying can be hard. After this game, you can have a great discussion about ways to figure out whether someone is telling the truth or lying to you. How: The aim of the game is to get rid of all your cards by playing them to a discard pile. Since cards are played face down, you are giving players the option to lie about the cards they are playing, but if a lie is exposed, the liar must pick up the pile. Deal all of the cards; some players might have one more card than others, but that is OK. A turn consists of discarding one or more cards face down on the pile, and calling out their rank. The first player must discard Aces, the second player discards Twos, the next player Threes, and so on. After Tens come Jacks, then Queens, then Kings, then back to Aces, etc.
Since the cards are discarded face down, you do not in fact have to play the rank you are calling. For example, if it is your turn to discard Sevens, you may actually discard any card or mixture of cards, in particular if you don’t have any Sevens and you want to discard a card, you will be forced to play some other card or cards. Players always have the option to “pass” if they don’t have an “honest” play (the object of the activity is not to force children to be dishonest, after all), but every time a player passes, that player will likely fall further behind the others. Any player who suspects that the card(s) discarded by another player do not match the rank called can challenge the play by calling, “I doubt it!” Then any cards just played by the challenged player are exposed, and one of two things happens: 1. If the card(s) are all of the rank that was called, the challenge is false, and the challenger must pick up the whole discard pile; 2. If any of the played cards is different from the called rank, the challenge is correct, and the person who played the cards must pick up the whole discard pile. After the challenge is resolved, play continues in normal rotation: the player to the left of the one who was challenged plays and calls the next rank in sequence. The first player to get rid of all cards and survives any challenge resulting from his or her final play wins the game. But, say you play your last remaining card(s), and someone challenges you and the cards you played are not what you called; then, you pick up the pile and play continues.
Supplies: various craft items: yarn, construction paper, wiggly eyes, etc.; socks or paper bags; glue How: In this activity, campers will be encouraged to name and pray for individuals whom they trust. Invite campers each to make a simple puppet that reminds him or her of someone whom he or she trusts. When campers have finished their puppets, have the campers sit in a circle. One by one, invite them to introduce to the group the person whom he or she trusts. When everyone has gone, use the following prayer to be the voice of the trusted friends. Have the puppets repeat after you: “Dear God, thank you for [have them state the names of the people]. They are a part of our community even when they are far away. It is good that we know trustworthy people who love us and accept us as we are. Please bless each person named here today and help them know how grateful we are for them. Help us to be trustworthy, as well. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.” BTW: Instead of making puppets, you may wish for campers to use nature items to help describe their trusted friends or share stories about them.
Closing Devotions
BTW: It is possible to play this game without lying. Remember, some campers will take game playing more seriously than others and will take being doubted more to heart than others. It will be your goal to set a tone that allows this to be a game filled with laughter.
Every day, wrap up your day with a short time of devotion. In addition to the resources listed here, you may want to turn to the Daily Guides Worship Practices for suggested prayers and songs. Though time sometimes runs out and devotions can “slip off your radar,” at least give the campers a moment to thank God for the day. You could use a repeated phrase to signal that your time has come to a close by shouting in one voice, “Together, we have the courage to Trust! Amen!”
Trusted Friends
Community Hand Washing #P r a y
#P r a y
Why: Usually the only people ever to wash our hands like this are people we implicitly trust—a parent or a teacher. It is sort of an odd feeling to have a friend wash your hands. But forgiveness sort of feels odd too. This is a way to touch and
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Why: This activity helps campers connect the theme of the day and the story with their own lives. The tangible objects may remind campers of these trustworthy role models throughout the week. The puppets become a way to voice fears they might not want to say themselves.
feel forgiveness. Campers of this age learn best when they can touch while they are learning.
those. Take turns until everyone has had a chance to be the leader.
Supplies: water supply, buckets, several clean towels, soap (optional: accessible sinks)
Balloon Journey
How: Before a meal, have the whole group rub their hands in the dirt. Try to get their hands a dirty as possible. Then line the group up and explain: “All of us make mistakes and hurt other people. Sometimes we are disloyal or untrustworthy. But if we ask for forgiveness, we have an opportunity to start out clean again, to be more trustworthy, and to be better friends!” Then explain that the campers will be helping to wash each other’s hands as a sign of forgiveness and grace. The first person in line will have his or her hands washed by you. First rinse the camper’s hands in a bucket of water. Get as much of the dirt off there. Then go to the next bucket, or a sink, and soap up and wash his or her hands. Then move to the next bucket or sink and rinse off the soap. Do a final rinse in another bucket or under the tap. This camper will then turn back and wash the next person’s hands, just like you showed them. As each camper finishes washing someone else’s hands, he or she will towel dry his or her own hands. The last person will wash your hands. If your group is very large, or you do not have the time, split the group in half and do the hand washing in two lines. Say a prayer together at the end, all holding clean hands! BTW: This activity leads nicely into tomorrow’s theme of “forgive.” Using buckets saves water, but you may wish to have the final rinse at a tap, or use a pump of antibacterial gel at the end.
Follow the (Worship) Leader #celebrate Supplies: music, instruments
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In this worship activity, a camper will lead the other campers in worship actions. Explain that Ruth had to follow Naomi when she decided to go with her to Bethlehem. Invite one camper to start as the leader. Play some music and instruct the other campers to follow the actions of the leader. The leader might sing, do hand motions, dance, play an instrument, start a conga line, pray, etc. Ask campers if they have any favorite practices they do at church or home to worship, and do
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#celebrate
This is an active storytelling activity. Supplies: several balloons Have the campers be seated in a circle or in rows. As you begin to tell the story of Ruth, pull out a balloon and write the word “Naomi” on it. Ask the campers to gently keep the balloon off the ground by softly bouncing it in the air down the row or around the circle. Then, as the story continues, add two more balloons, one labeled “Orpah” and the other “Ruth.” Then, as the story of the choice to follow Naomi happens, have them pass the Orpah balloon back to you. Place it behind you. Then, as you describe the difficulties they faced as two women traveling without protection, ask the campers to hold hands while trying to keep both balloons in the air. When you have finished the story, take the balloons and place them where they can be seen, and take a moment to say a prayer of thanks for the faithfulness of friendships and the protection God provided for Ruth and Naomi.
Wheat Meditation
#centering
This is a guided meditation-type activity. Supplies: either one wheat stalk for each camper, or a sack of wheat berries—which can be found at your local grocery (this is not an activity for those with gluten-free diets; be sure to check!) How: Tell the part of Ruth and Naomi’s story that comes in the chapter following today’s reading. It is about harvesting leftover grain from the edges of the field by following the workers and collecting what they missed. This is called gleaning. Give each camper a stalk of wheat and ask them to look at their stalks very carefully. Have them note the way the grains of wheat are stacked so neatly in rows, snuggled in together. Ask the campers to think about their families and friends, those they trust, and to name silently in their heads one person they trust for each of the grains of wheat. Then show them how to harvest the wheat by rubbing the wheat seed heads in their hands. Have them carefully pick out all the wheat seeds and place them in one large bowl. As each person
adds his or her wheat to the bowl, point out how the pile of wheat grows. Say, “If each one of those grains is a person who is trusted and is loved, then imagine how many people in the world there are whom God loves and trusts.” Then give thanks for those trusted people. BTW: It might be possible to add the wheat the campers harvest to the next meal they eat. It can be toasted and added as a topping to most anything. Or, you can cook the wheat berries and have the campers try them as a hot cereal.
Ruth, Naomi, Boaz Skit That Goes Viral #celebrate Supplies: costumes for skit Put on a simple skit that will require just a little action and the same three-line dialogue throughout. If you did the “Naomi Monologue,” activity, bring back the same Naomi and Ruth, and designate a Boaz. Re-enact scenes from the Ruth story. • Naomi is about to leave, but Ruth grabs her arm and says, “Where you go, I will go. Where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God.” • Ruth goes to Boaz at the end of gathering grain and repeats those lines to him. • Ruth and Boaz are getting married, and Boaz says the lines to Ruth. • Naomi enters and repeats the lines to Ruth and Boaz. Then the characters look out to the “congregation.” They break the fourth wall, and walk out among the crowd and begin telling each of them the line, “Where you go…” If you think the group will be comfortable enough, have the characters then encourage the congregation to get up and repeat those lines to each other as well.
Weeklong Project This project will take 1 to 2 days. Why: Consider the movement of the characters from our stories this week. Abram and Sarai
Supplies: Depending on which style of sundial you choose to make, you will need measuring tape, magnetic compass (or phone equipped with GPS), a level plot of ground, sidewalk chalk, stones, dowels or straight sticks as a gnomon (serves as an hour hand). This website: http:// analemmatic.sourceforge.net/ will allow you to calculate your sundial based on your zip code, season, and the desired size of your sundial. How: Decide if you are making a permanent sundial installation or a chalk one that will wash away. Determine the size of dial, and how you would like to read it. A couple of options include using a stick in the ground to cast a shadow over the hour (called a gnomon) or allow a camper to use his or her own shadow to determine the time. You will need to do some work ahead of time to get the measurements precise. Allow younger campers to paint stones with numbers on them, while older campers who enjoy math or measuring can help make calculations. Teach all campers a few ways to find out where North is, including using a traditional compass, a map, or the GPS on a phone and be sure to stop by the site at night and find the Polaris, the North Star, to confirm. Remind your campers that for thousands of years, the stars in the heavens have been the most reliable source to find your way around. You can find many online tutorials to help generate ideas for your sundial. BTW: Allow your campers to check several times each day to see if their sundial is working well. This activity can help campers truly experience the joys of living “tech free” for a period of time. Help them to realize that the things that they depend on technology to do for them have natural options as well.
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Style-a-Dial: Make a Sundial
traveled from the eastern part of Babylonia to the Jordan River. Ruth and Naomi traveled from Moab to Bethlehem, Peter traveled from Joppa to Caesarea. Time and location relate to each other. There are lots of ways to make a sundial. You might want to put one in chalk on a basketball court or set one in stone in a garden. This would be a great project to start on Esther’s story day (Day 5) and tie it to “for such a time as this…” A sundial can also be made small out of paper and can be done as part of a unit of astronomy tied to Abram and Sarai’s story (Day 1).
NAOMI
RUTH
Monologue
Monologue
Nothing can bring you to your knees like hunger. My husband and I were born in Bethlehem. It was our home. But when there is no food, not even home feels good. My husband, Elimelech (eee-LYM-uh-lek) was not rich enough to find food, so he took me and our boys to Moab, where we would have food. It is hard to go to a land that is not of your people. They do not speak like you. They do not worship the god you worship.
When you first promise to trust someone, it is an exciting thing. It is easy to say you will always stand by someone. I want to be strong enough to stand by Naomi. At the time, I had nowhere else I had to go; I could not imagine leaving her.
Still, we made a life in Moab. My sons found wives. Our family grew. Then Elimelech died and we were very sad. But I had my sons. But sadness followed me. It has only been a few years since I lost my husband, and now both of my sons are dead too. I cannot earn wages because I am a woman. I will tell my sons’ wives to leave me, so they can start over and find new husbands. I will go back to Bethlehem, but there is still a famine.
Have you ever promised to do something, then realized it would be harder than you thought? Naomi and I have traveled so far, and it is so hard for two widows to find work and food. Do you ever worry that your best might not be good enough for the ones you love? I wonder every night if it might be better for Naomi to trust someone else—that I might not be good enough. I have met this man, Boaz, and he is a kind man, much wealthier than Naomi and me. I have gathered grain in his field that is left over and he has not run me off. I wonder if he might take care of us.
I know I must find someone to trust, but now when all news seems to be bad news, I feel like the only person I should trust is myself. I have felt so much hurt, I don’t want it again.
But he could also hurt me if he wanted to, and no one would care. What if I lose another husband? I don’t know, but Naomi says I should ask Boaz to take care of us, and I told her I would follow her. Boaz seems like a good man, and I know Naomi is a good woman. I will do this, and hope that God is with us.
I wonder, could we pray?
I wonder if we might pray together.
Prayer
Prayer
Oh, Lord, I pray for the hungry people of the world. I am hungry right now: hungry for food, hungry for the love that has left me. I am scared, Lord. I am scared that hungry people may not get the food they need. I am scared that if I trust anyone, I will hurt again.
Lord, I pray that I am strong and brave enough to keep my promises. I do not want the people I love to be hurt. I do not want us to be hungry anymore. Guide me to trust people who will work for good.
Lord, I pray I may trust you again. I pray I may trust your people. Lord, please, may the powerful show mercy, and those who call me friend not abandon me. Amen.
I pray that everyone who is having difficult days will find someone they can trust. I pray that we all come together to help one another, to give food to the hungry, healing to the sick, mercy to the victims, peace to the hurting. God, it is scary to trust, but it is scary to be alone too. May my trust be rewarded with your goodness. Amen.
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Preschool adaptation Be sure to distinguish Ruth from Naomi by costume.
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Week 3
Together, the Courage to Forgive Plan Your Week
Use the grid below as an example to help you create a visual plan for your week. (You will want to list your own schedule and write in your choices.) Select activities from the various listings below; feel free to add others of your own creation, as well. Event Welcome (p.286) Bible Story (p.287) Early Activity (p.289) Quiet Time (p.291) Late Activity (p.292)
Monday Capture the Cup
Daily Song
Wednesday
Towers of Courage That’s Not Nice
Thursday
Friday
Covered
Inside Out
Scripture: Genesis Complete Guide 45:1-15 to Godly Play, Berryman
Checkmate!
Famished!
Children of God Storybook Bible, Tutu
A Pack to Carry
Drama King of Egypt
Food For Others
Forgiveness Billboards
Table Talk & Journal time
Rest, Read & Journal time
Table Talk & Journal Time
Joseph’s All Natural Puppet Show (make puppets) Rest, Read & Journal Time
Table Talk & Journal Time
Mission Possible
First Aid Kits
Carrying Grudge Boxes
Laying Down the Shield
Stop and Start
Prayers of Forgiveness
Joseph’s All Natural Puppet Show (cont) The Sounds of Forgiveness
Let It Go Prayer
Begin Why just tie- when you can batik- dye?
Continue Batik
Continue Batik
Continue Batik
Complete Batik
Amazing Grace
I Come With Joy
The Forgiveness Song (Veggie Tales)
O Happy Day
No Way Out (Phil Collins)
Bubbling Over Closing Devotions (p.294) Weeklong Project (p.295)
Tuesday
Leader Notes
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To prepare, read through the “Biblical and Theological Overview” for Day 3. The Joseph story is about an individual (Joseph) who forgives a community (his brothers). Throughout the week, there will be various opportunities for individual campers to think about other individuals, as well as groups, who are in need of forgiveness. However, they also need to see the role of the community in encouraging forgiveness. Joseph did not necessarily have that (or, if he did, it’s not in the biblical account). Yet, campers need to understand that forgiveness is also something that the community does together. Look for ways to point this out.
Welcome
Supplies: playing cards, index cards, or dominos
Use these activities during get-to-know-you time. Be aware that you may need to be flexible as campers arrive. Advise your staff to introduce campers to each other and to use this time to watch for group interactions, gauge energy levels and encourage those who may need it.
Capture the Cup
#P l a y
Why: This activity is a fun game that relates to the Joseph story through the use of the silver cup. It is reminiscent of a competition game, but there are no winners or losers, only teams working together to achieve a common goal. Supplies: two silver-colored cups, each marked differently in some way How: This game is similar to the traditional “Capture the Flag” game. Divide the campers into two teams. Each team has a silver-colored cup and one half of the playing area. One player from each team is responsible for the cup and must hide the cup somewhere on that team’s side of the playing area. When the game begins, the teams must look for the other team’s cup (which may be guarded, but not moved). When one team finds the other team’s cup, the player who hid the cup must be put in “prison” (a designated place on each team’s side). The player in prison must stay in prison until two or more of his or her teammates come to release him or her. They do so by touching hands with the person (who may be guarded but not touched). When the player is released from prison, another player form that team hides its cup, and the game continues. The game goes on until time is called. BTW: This activity may be done inside or outside, provided that the space is large enough. Be sure to set boundaries on the playing area and give each team the same amount of space.
Towers of Courage
#P l a y #Create
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Why: Introduce the theme of forgiveness through this fun activity that will cause the campers to bump into each other, making everyone’s work more difficult. Living in community requires us to forgive others because we can’t avoid hurting each other. Sometimes we will step on each other’s toes.
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How: Invite campers to build their own towers. Encourage towers to be as tall as possible. Place the campers in a confined space with limited space to work and move. You want them to accidentally cause trouble for each other by bumping benches, tables, elbows, etc. Note how often someone apologizes or is forgiven. After working under these conditions, invite the campers to combine their efforts and ideas to build one group project. Make their work more difficult by bumping them or the work space. Pretend it is an accident. Debrief the experience by asking the campers how often they apologized during the game. Ask them to share anything they wanted an apology for but did not receive. Remind campers that living as a community requires us to be close to each other. Ask the campers how realistic it is to live in a community without forgiveness. BTW: This could become a great group-building exercise as the campers try to work together in a confined space. You can shrink or destabilize their base to make the task of building even more difficult. Invite an intentionally clumsy outside judge to join the activity and add to the chaos.
That’s Not Nice Why: The value of this game is pure silliness and good, clean fun. Enjoy! Supplies: None required, can use playing cards to select “It” How: Have campers sit in a circle with one person secretly designated as “it”. This can be done by drawing cards or by the leader selecting while everyone’s eyes are closed. The goal of “It” is to eliminate everyone from the game. This is done by sticking their tongue out. If someone sticks their tongue out at you in this game, you must immediately stop talking and are out. For everyone else, the goal is to find and name the person who is “It.” If a camper sees “It” stick his or her tongue out, they say, “That’s not nice…” and say the camper’s name. If a camper is in the middle of this and “It” sticks their tongue out at him or her, he or she must stop speaking. Another camper must then start the phrase over if he or
she want to catch “It.” Campers may not close their eyes for this activity. The game ends when “It” is caught or everyone else is eliminated. BTW: Try playing with a larger group, beyond the confines of a circle. The game could go on all day. Campers could have a bandana or sticker on them which they remove when out. This way everyone knows who is still in the game.
Covered
#P l a y
Why: This playful activity helps campers remember that the Old Testament word for “forgive” also means “to cover up.” Supplies: rolls of toilet paper How: Tell the campers that in the original Old Testament language, the word translated as “forgive” also means “to cover up.” When Joseph forgave his brothers, he covered them up completely with his forgiveness. Encourage campers to get in groups of two to four. Choose one person in each group to be “covered up,” and the others will do the covering. Allow one minute for the teams to cover the person up with the toilet paper. Debrief with the following questions. • Are there any spots where the “covered” person is not covered? If we do not forgive someone completely, what might happen? • Have you ever tried to forgive someone completely and couldn’t? Why not? What happened? BTW: After this activity, the toilet paper may be used to make “clean mud” for sensory play. Have the campers shred the toilet paper into small bits. Then take a bar of Ivory soap, grate it, add it to a cup of hot water, and stir. Put the shredded toilet paper into a basin and pour the water in. Let the campers mush it with their hands until it becomes a moldable dough.
Inside Out
#LEARN #P l a y
Supplies: Bible
• What was it like to be so tangled up? How did you feel at various points during the activity (when first given the task, when you were most tangled up, when conflict arose, when you finally accomplished the goal)? • What is good about being part of a community and working together to solve a problem? What is difficult about it? • How was the relationship between Joseph and his brothers “tangled up”? What had to happen in order for everything to be made right again? BTW: The bigger the group is, the longer this activity will take, but the more meaningful it will be. If you have a relatively small group, consider joining with another group.
Bible Story At the beginning of the week, gather the campers together and read the week’s scripture from the Bible. As the week goes on, you can reinforce the Bible story by reading from different suggested story Bibles. The activities and resources listed below will offer you some alternative ways of telling the Bible story.
Checkmate
#LEARN
Why: There is a lot of movement in this story, and it is hard to keep track of if it is not acted out. The verses we are using today tell only a part of the movement. Telling more of the story of Joseph’s forgiveness will make more sense to the campers. Using wondering as a method of engaging the campers in conversation allows them to share more freely what they are discovering in the story.
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Why: This activity allows the campers to work together to solve a problem. Natural leaders, as well as those who are good at taking direction, will emerge in this scenario. The activity will also help them connect with the Joseph story and reinforce the importance of community.
How: In this activity, campers will try to untangle themselves by working together. Be aware of campers with special needs or mobility issues. Invite campers to form a circle in which everyone is facing the outside. Have everyone join hands, and then instruct them that they must make it so that everyone is in a circle facing inside. However, they may not drop hands! They will need to work together to climb over, under, and around in order to achieve this goal. Encourage them, but do not take over. When they have successfully completed the task, give lots of praise. Gather everyone together and read the story of Joseph. Debrief together:
It helps them to know there are no right or wrong answers, but that there is a lot to think about when they encounter the stories in the Bible. Supplies: pieces from a chess board (see below), chessboard or table, (and a “hat” or “moustache”!) How: Use the script found on page 297. Use chess pieces to tell the story. Jacob: King
Brothers: 10 Pawns
Joseph and Benjamin: Bishops
Slave traders: 2 Knights
Prison mates: 2 Rooks
Pharaoh: King
Dinah: Queen Prison: All 4 Rooks (reuse the 2 above) (And, you can always use other pieces as camels (Knights) and various characters. You may even wish to make them nametags!) Tell the story with the pieces, moving them around the board (or table) as the brothers travel. As you tell the story, look at the pieces, not at the campers. This helps them focus on the movement of the story. If they ask questions as you tell the story, let them, but do not answer them; just say, “Hmmm, I wonder…” This allows the campers to seek their own answers. As you conclude the story, take time to wonder aloud (letting the campers answer your wonderings): • I wonder how Joseph felt when his brothers sold him. • I wonder how it felt to be so hungry that you would walk to another country to find food. • I wonder what Joseph was feeling when he saw his brothers for the first time. • I wonder if it was difficult for Jacob to be at home alone waiting for his sons to come back. • I wonder what it was like for the brothers to discover that Joseph was alive. • I wonder if I could forgive someone like Joseph did.
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BTW: You can tell this story with other items. Try it with stones, pencils, or other nonedible objects. Many times there are not enough people in a group to tell the story by acting it out, so this works well with small groups of campers. If you tell the story this way early in the day, you can
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ask the campers to tell it back to you later in the day using the chess pieces.
Famished!
#LEARN
Why: This activity allows the campers to work together to solve a problem. It also helps them connect with the brothers in the story. Although it is important to focus on Joseph and his ability to forgive in order to move the community forward, there was transformation among the brothers as well, and this helped Joseph to forgive them. Supplies: snack of your choosing, the book Forgive, Joseph! How: Tell the campers that they are going to receive a special snack. However, the group must travel together to some predetermined location (the kitchen, camp offices, etc.) in order to receive the snack. Work it out ahead of time with a staff member so that when the campers arrive and ask for the snack, the staff member tells them that they cannot have a snack unless one camper stays with them for the day and works for them. Observe as the campers work this out. If the campers seem content to offer up one of the campers on their behalf (or if one camper volunteers on behalf of the others), be prepared to offer reasons why that would not be good for the group. Make sure that no sensitive camper is completely thrown under the bus. Without completely taking over, try to get the campers to the point where they all agree to stay and work together. Praise them for coming to this conclusion and then give them the promised snack. As everyone is eating together, read the story of Joseph from Forgive, Joseph! Discuss how Joseph’s brothers changed during the course of the story, allowing Joseph to forgive them. Consider some of the following questions: • Did anyone in our group act like Judah? In what way? How did that make you feel? • Did anyone in our group protect someone in the way that the brothers protected Benjamin? How did that make you feel? How do you think that it made that person feel? Be sure to end by helping with the staff member’s work.
BTW: This activity may also be done without using a snack as the reward. Perhaps the reward is a special activity that the campers enjoy. Perhaps the “work” that has to be done is a chore that everyone dislikes. Be creative and customize this activity appropriately.
Other story resources • Children of God Storybook Bible, Tutu • Family Story Bible, Milton • Godly Play, Berryman
Early Activity Use your morning activity time to reinforce the Bible story. It is a good time to get campers engaged in a project or game.
A Pack to Carry
#P l a y #LEARN
Why: Younger children have a hard time thinking in abstract terms. It is hard for them to imagine that they can be weighed down by anger, hurt, and unforgiveness. This experience is very physical. Every hurt has weight. Likewise, the campers can experience the responsibility of the community to carry burdens together, and their right to stop the community when it needs to forgive and let go. Supplies: empty backpack, masking tape, and permanent marker
As the pack fills, make sure everyone has a turn to carry it. When it gets too heavy, ask the group to stop and pull out the items one by one, and ask the campers if they can forgive the grievances marked on the items … Pronounce them forgiven and return the items to nature. At the end of the day, check the backpack for any leftover items. Ask the campers to help you think about the backpack activity. Have them consider what the easy parts were and what the difficult parts were. Ask, “What makes our hearts heavy, and what makes our hearts lighter?” Talk about what it means to live in Christian community and how that may be different when it comes to carrying each other’s burdens and forgiving each other. Make sure you close in prayer. BTW: You can choose to collect twigs or other burnable items all day and use them as a part of a bonfire at the end of the day. Then you could pray around the campfire. If you collect stones all day, you could choose to pile them like an altar (also called an ebenezer). You could then pour water over them to symbolize forgiveness. You may need to set out objects along your path ahead of time, so that you are sure you have enough items available to be picked up to make the pack heavy.
Drama King of Egypt #LEARN #Create Why: Joseph’s story is a melodrama. Help campers claim the nature of the story and see, name, and claim the depth of emotion on display. Supplies: sheet of flip chart paper, plenty of construction paper, scissors, markers, glue, popsicle sticks or paint stirrers, Bible How: Remind campers that Joseph’s story has lots of twists and turns. Share “Story Synopsis” or tell the earlier portion of the story in your own words. Then have someone read Genesis 45:1–15 aloud. On the flip chart paper, ask the campers to make a list of emotions they think characters might have felt. Invite campers to show their facial expressions for each emotion. (If surprise and fear are not on the list, make sure
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How: As you start your day, introduce your empty backpack as a place to put all the bad feelings in your group. Explain that as they go through the day everyone will take a turn carrying the group backpack. If there is something that happens during the day that makes one of the campers mad or frustrated, that camper should pick up a rock or a stick and place it in the backpack. They can write on the stone or stick what made them frustrated. You can start the activity by adding a rock and writing on it as an example. Either “woke up too early” or “not enough hot water for a good shower” will work. As you go through the day, stop several times and ask if anyone wishes to add to the pack. If they are shy about adding, you can add for them in ways such as this: “It would have made me mad if someone had splashed me in the pool after I asked them not to,” or, “I
would have been frustrated when someone cut in line in front of me at the water fountain.”
to add them.) Provide campers the supplies to make masks out of construction paper displaying the different emotions listed. Make sure they make at least one mask for each emotion. Invite campers to make sound effects for the emotions (“ooh,” “ah,” “gasp,” etc.). When they are done, read Genesis 45:1–15 again, and invite campers to hold up an appropriate mask when particular emotions appear in the text. After sharing the story together, discuss other times they feel these emotions. Ask, “How do we respond to those who hurt or betray us? How do we respond to our own guilt or shame?” BTW: The mask craft can be as simple or elaborate as you want it to be, from paper and markers to papier-mâché. You could share this activity in worship, or save the masks and use them with other stories as the week goes on. The masks might even be a way for campers to claim their own feelings in group discussions.
Food for Others #Serve #P r a y Why: This activity helps campers connect the story with helping real people. The smell of the spices and the feeling that the campers get working together to create something real will help them make meaning. Supplies: measuring cups, tablespoons, teaspoons, large mixing bowls, mason jars, label stickers, funnels, potato flakes, powdered milk, chicken (or vegetable) bouillon, onion flakes, dried parsley, dried thyme, seasoning salt
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How: In the story, Joseph’s brothers came to him in need of food. Despite what they had done to him in the past, Joseph forgave and provided for them. Explain to the campers that they are going to share the love that Joseph showed by making potato soup jars for those in need. Ahead of time, choose a local ministry to which the jars will be donated. As campers are working, tell them something about the place where the jars will go and the people who might be taking them home. Campers can work in teams of two to make the jars. RECIPE 2 cups potato flakes 1 ¾ cups powdered milk
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2 tablespoons chicken or vegetable bouillon 2 teaspoons onion flakes 2 teaspoons dried parsley ¼ teaspoon dried thyme 1 ½ teaspoons seasoning salt Wash hands before beginning. Have each pair put their ingredients in a bowl and mix well, Then, using a funnel, fill a jar with the mixture. They can attach a note to the side of the jar that includes the instructions for making the potato soup: “Add 1 cup of hot water to ½ cup of mix and stir. Salt and pepper to taste.” The note should also include a written prayer from the campers. Pray over the jars when they are completed. BTW: Instead of donating the jars to a ministry, campers may choose to give them to the camp staff (kitchen staff, custodial staff, etc.). Campers may also enjoy decorating the jars beforehand. They can use tissue paper and Mod Podge to make the jars look like stained glass, put ribbons or stickers on them, paint them, etc.
Joseph’s All-Natural Puppet Show #Create #LEARN Why: Creating representations of the story’s characters, campers will identify more with them. The story will be more memorable because each camper will have spent more time with one of the characters. Supplies: Small items found in nature, markers, popsicle sticks, scissors, hot glue gun, googly eyes, construction paper, other craft items (pipe cleaners, felt, etc.) How: Make a list of all the characters in Joseph’s story. Use things found in nature (pinecones, acorns, rocks, fallen bark) to make stick puppets of the characters in the Joseph story. Write the character’s name on a popsicle stick and hot glue it to the character. Help younger campers with hot glue. Decide which characters to include, depending on how much of the story you choose to tell. Read the story of Joseph’s reconciliation with his brothers as campers, behind a table, act out the
story as it is read. You might want to use Milton’s Family Story Bible, or Spark Story Bible to tell the story. BTW: If nature items are not available, this activity could easily be done with other craft supplies. Keep these puppets for the “Who Needs Forgiveness” activity. Hang them in your meeting space and label them.
Forgiveness Billboards #P r a y #Serve Why: This activity will allow campers each to share a time he or she wanted forgiveness. Campers will then imagine how that feels for other people and offer messages of forgiveness to them. Campers may realize others feel the same way they do, and by sharing these messages, they can help someone else feel forgiven. Supplies: paper or blacktop, writing utensil or sidewalk chalk, tape (if using paper) How: Have campers share times they wanted forgiveness. Discuss what it felt like. After everyone in the group has shared, spend some time in prayer, asking God for forgiveness. After the prayer, ask campers to recall something they hoped people or God might say to them to feel forgiven. Write these messages on paper and tape them around camp, or use sidewalk chalk on camp blacktop. BTW: Some campers may have problems coming up with the right words, so have simple phrases ready to use, such as, “You are forgiven,” “You are still loved,” etc. Consider using these signs later during worship or bringing them in later in the week to remind campers of forgiveness.
Quiet Time
Table Talk Use these questions to invite campers into conversation about the theme. Use them over one or more of the meals or create a conversation station during one of the activity rotations Consider using this for one or more of the days in the week.
Younger Campers: • What is your favorite family memory? Start with the camper who has the most siblings. • How does your family know when you are in a bad mood? • Imagine that you have broken something important and no one saw. What would you do? • Recall a time when you saw someone you had not seen in a long time. What was it like?
Older Campers: • Has anyone ever made fun of you for your faith? How did it make you feel? • What do you like most about your family? Why? Start with the camper who has the most siblings. • Recall a time when you did something wrong. How did you feel? How did it make others feel? What, if anything, did you do to make it right? • Imagine that your best friend hurt your feelings. What would it take for you to forgive him or her?
Create Our Journals Each day, campers will be allowed time to record their thoughts, hopes, drawings and such in their journals. You can choose to make these easily by folding five to ten sheets of paper together with a sheet of construction paper on the bottom and stapling them in the middle. Allow campers to put their name on the front cover and decorate them however they like. To make the journals more elaborate you can punch holes in the edges and weave a ribbon through them or use brads. For multi-week use, add more paper.
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Every day, allow your campers some quiet “downtime.” You may want to provide campers with books, craft supplies, paper, or manipulatives such as clay or action-figures. Encourage your campers to reflect upon and connect with the weekly story and theme. You may allow some quiet cooperative games like mancala
or cards, but encourage discussion between campers by using the Table Talk questions. Be sure to allow campers ample time to clean up their work before moving on to the afternoon activities.
Journal Time • Do you like to be alone when you are angry? Where would you go? • How would you feel if your brother sold you to slave traders? • What’s the difference between being forgiven and forgiving others? • Joseph found a tricky way to test his brothers before forgiving them. Make up a “forgiveness check.” What would someone need to do before you forgave them? • What does famine look like?
Rest and Read Here are storybooks to read aloud for quiet time, perhaps after lunch. Or use them during worship time: • Where the Wild Things Are, Sendak • Thidwick the Big Hearted Moose, Seuss • Forgive, Joseph!, Nystrom • The Tale of Despereaux, DiCamillo and Ering • The First Strawberries, Bruchac and Vojtech
Late Activity Mission Possible Why: This is a great way to get campers to practice the act of affirmation and naming of gifts. Encourage campers to make this a regular part of their life in community, at camp and at home. Supplies: Tokens (e.g., buttons, clothespins)
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How: This game is played throughout the day. In advance, give simple tokens (clothespin, button, etc.) to members of the camp community, campers and staff. Explain to the campers that their mission is to affirm the gifts they see in others. Tell participants they are to give a token to someone as they tell them what gift or gifts they see in them. Have them bring any collected tokens with them to a specific meeting time. You can either declare a winner, or debrief and continue playing. To extend the game, simply give out more tokens. At some point, stop and debrief the experience. BTW:You can adapt this game, requiring campers to give away collected tokens if someone affirms them or names their gifts. This can result in
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a community-wide outbreak of competitive complimenting. Note: You can create tokens as part of this activity
First Aid Kits
#Serve #Create
Why: Thinking ahead and knowing where to find the right supplies helps young children feel more comfortable with change. This service project helps them to understand that they can make a difference if someone needs them to help. Supplies: permanent markers and stickers, labels with “First Aid” printed on them, list of items to be put in each camper’s box, as noted below. Per Camper: 1 shoebox, 1 plastic soap dish or small plastic container, 2 large adhesive bandages, 2 medium adhesive bandages, 4 alcohol wipes, 2 single-use packets of antiseptic , 2 gauze pads, tissues, 4 single-pack wet wipes How: Have campers wash their hands, select a box, decorate it, and fill it with the listed supplies. BTW: The kit may be kept by the camper who made it, or it can be given to a shelter to be shared with those who live on the streets or are traveling unprepared. You may consider preparing two kits per camper, so one can go home with the camper and the other may be passed on to someone in need. As gathering the supplies can get more elaborate and expensive, you may wish to invite campers to bring specific supplies to donate to the cause as their offering for camp.
Carrying Grudge Boxes #Create #P l a y Why: Ideally, participants will spend a lot of time decorating these boxes. It will be important to give the group plenty of time, so each camper feels ownership of his or her boxes. This illustrates how when we do not forgive, we harbor negative feelings throughout the rest of our lives. If they build up, they can slow us down from the other places we need to go. Those who spend a lot of time on their boxes may have more trouble getting rid of them, while those who don’t take decorating seriously will
have no trouble moving on. Note that the more time devoted to these boxes, the more difficult it will be to leave them behind. Supplies: cardboard boxes, markers/crayons, construction paper, glue, magazines, scissors How: Campers each get as many boxes as they can carry at once. Instruct campers to think of things that make them angry, hurt, or sad, and to decorate the boxes in ways that portrays those feelings. Each box represents a different time. If you’re short on time, you might just have them write feeling words with markers on the boxes, but it’s more effective to take time on this activity. After the campers have completed decorating the boxes, inform the group they are going somewhere at camp to do something new, and the group must carry all their boxes there too. During the trek, it may happen that campers accidentally drop boxes and have to stop to pick them up and restack them. Their arms may get tired, and they will likely have to adjust their loads frequently, or change the ways they walk. Explain how this relates to carrying grudges and resisting forgiveness. When you arrive at your destination, encourage campers to destroy their boxes. There might be a camp fire or a recycling bin to drop the boxes in, or they could be used to make pulp for homemade paper (instructions available online). Be creative. Discuss how campers felt carrying their boxes. Discuss the unique things that happened in each group and how those occurrences relate to how people forgive or don’t forgive.
Look for a specific reason for the travel besides just the illustration. If possible, plan for this activity just before the next scheduled camp event. It will also be important to discuss that forgiveness is normally not as easy as tossing a box in the fire, but it does start with deciding you can’t hold onto the feeling anymore, and that means giving something up.
Joseph’s All-Natural Puppet Show #Create #LEARN Continue this project from Early Activity.
Laying Down the Shield
#P l a y
Why: A great hot day activity. This activity demonstrates how difficult and confusing it can be to let go in the act of forgiveness. The blindfolded campers may rely on their shields to keep them dry. Once it is time to drop their shields, it may be difficult for them to let the shields go and trust the guides. This activity illustrates how withholding forgiveness seems to offer protection from emotional hurt, but also keeps you in defense mode. Though it may be scary and you risk getting hurt again, it allows you to see a bit more clearly and understand those around you a little better. Supplies: blindfolds, umbrellas, drop-off box (waste basket, box, etc.), several oscillating garden sprinklers How: Set up an obstacle course of sprinklers. Like a gauntlet, it should be difficult, but not impossible, to get from one side to the other without getting wet. Campers will be paired; one
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BTW: Alternate Plan Note: If there is a large group, it may be difficult to get enough boxes for this exercise. If so, break into small groups and designate one person from each group to carry all the boxes for the group. Determine ahead of time the number of boxes one person would have difficulty carrying, and provide that number to each group. If the group is still too big, designate one person in the entire group to carry all the boxes, and have the small groups decorate one or more boxes each.
With this method, require the whole group to stay together with whoever is carrying the boxes. This will slow the group down and cause frustration similar to each camper carrying boxes. It might also open up ideas about how a person in a group who cannot let go of something affects that whole group.
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wears a blindfold and carries an umbrella, the other is the coach who can only guide him or her using his or her voice. While the blindfolded camper tries to get to the drop-off box, the coach will advise him or her where to move. If the camper gets wet, he or she has to go back to the start line. The coach directs the blindfolded camper’s steps as well as when, where, and how to drop the shield in the drop-off box. Once the camper has successfully dropped his or her shield in the drop-off box, he or she may take off the blindfold and use his or her own sight to navigate back through the gauntlet to the start line. After all the blindfolded campers have accomplished this, switch roles, moving sprinklers to make a new course for the new group. After everyone has had the chance to experience both roles, have campers discuss how difficult it was to be blindfolded, and how difficult it was to let go of the shield. Connect the act of forgiving someone who hurts us with dropping the shield. BTW: If you don’t have sprinklers, this activity can be done with hoses, with campers “oscillating” them. Be careful on wet grass.
Closing Devotions Every day, wrap up your day with a short time of devotion. In addition to the resources listed here, you may want to turn to the Daily Guides Worship Practices for suggested prayers and songs. Though time sometimes runs out and devotions can “slip off your radar,” at least give the campers a moment to thank God for the day. You could use a repeated phrase to signal that your time has come to a close by shouting in one voice, “Together, we have the courage to Forgive! Amen!”
Bubbling Over
#celebrate
Supplies: soap bubbles, recording of upbeat music, battery-operated player
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Create a fun worship atmosphere with a skit and staged bubble-blowing experience. One camper begins blowing bubbles until another camper starts popping the bubbles. The blower acts hurt, allowing the popper to apologize and receive forgiveness. The blower then states something
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he or she did to hurt another camper, walks to where that person is seated, and apologizes to that camper. The first camper blows more bubbles, then passes the bubble solution to the person he or she apologized to, who responds by blowing more. This is repeated multiple times, each sharing how he or she has offended another, apologizing, and then sharing bubbles together. Make sure to practice so everyone knows their parts. Then pass out more bubbles so everyone can share in the fun. Invite campers to join in the bubble blowing as you play some upbeat music. Ask campers to do their very best to not pop someone else’s bubbles. If they accidently do, they should try to figure out whose bubble has been broken and ask forgiveness from that person. During this activity, tell the campers that this is also an opportunity to apologize and receive forgiveness for any real offenses they may have committed. Ask some campers to share their apologies or forgiveness statements out loud at this point to make it more comfortable for others to participate. Various sizes of bubbles could add to the fun and symbolize forgiveness between different communities.
Stop and Start
#celebrate
Supplies: three stop signs Choose a simple song that can be done in a round like “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” or “By the Waters of Babylon.” Teach the song and have the group sing it in a round. Work on it until they know it well. Then explain that songs are like the stories of scripture. Every time God starts a story, God invites humans to join in. Unfortunately, humans tend to get a bit off track. Sometimes they get downright stubborn! They stop and start and the storyline can get hard to follow. But somehow God gets the story moving again. As an experiment, try stopping and starting the round with the stop signs. Assign each group a stop sign, and if their sign is up, they must stop singing; as soon as it goes down they can start singing again. This is hard to do and still keep with the natural rhythm of the song.
Then tell the story of Joseph, marking the stops and starts of the relationships with the signs. Consider what would have happened if Joseph had not been willing to restart his relationship with his brothers through the action of forgiveness.
Prayers of Forgiveness #centering Supplies: Sandy or dusty flat space (optional: sticks) Prepare for worship in a place that has sand or loose, dusty ground. Campers are going to use their fingers or a stick to trace words in the ground. Begin by reading the first part of the story in John 8:1–9. Ask campers to find places on the ground where they can trace words or pictures— these can be things that they want to be forgiven for, or simply doodles that they make as they think about sins or things they want to let go of. Then tell them the end of the story from verses 10 and 11, saying, “Jesus asks you, ‘Has any one without sin condemned you?’” Allow them to answer if they wish. Then say, “Jesus said, ‘Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and from now on do not sin again.’” Tell them to brush away what they have traced in the dirt. Close with a prayer of thanksgiving.
The Sounds of Forgiveness #centering Call the campers into a time of prayer and refection. Begin by reminding that we all sin and fall short, that we all do and say things that are hurtful and damaging to others. We make choices that fail to express the love God has for us. Invite the campers to make the “shhh…” sign of a finger to their lips if they sometimes have made choices that have hurt others or themselves. As fingers are raised, quiet your voice and leave your finger on your lip. Say, “These actions cause the story of God’s love to be hard to hear. They can even stop the story from being heard at all.” Let silence fall. Then explain that God is not willing to leave the world in silence, so God has provided a way to
restore the flow of the story. God forgives and, in that forgiveness, we learn to forgive. Then invite the campers to ask God for forgiveness and to grant forgiveness to those who have hurt them. If they choose that action, they may lower their fingers. It is a relief to not feel hushed, just as it is a relief to let go of our sins into God’s hands. Lower the stop signs and celebrate the good news that the story of God’s love and forgiveness continues in the world.
Let It Go Prayer
#P r a y
Why: This activity helps campers visualize letting go of their hurts and offering forgiveness. The feeling of the sand slipping through their fingers will remind them of the forgiveness they offered. Supplies: a handful of sand for each camper, Bible How: Ask campers to take a small handful of sand. Then invite them to close their eyes, form a fist, and hold it in front of them. Ask them to recall a time when someone hurt them, and they had a difficult time forgiving. Encourage them to imagine these hurts being held in their fists. Give a few moments of silence for reflection. Then, read today’s scripture story (or another scripture passage), and invite the campers to loosen their fists slowly. At the end of the reading, encourage the campers to open their fists and let go of their hurts, offering forgiveness to whomever has hurt them. BTW: This activity should be done outside. If it’s breezy, the sand should blow away. However, the activity may also be done indoors without the sand.
Weeklong Project Why Just Tie When You Can Batik Dye? This project will take about 3 days.
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Why: Put a fun new spin on your tie-dye projects. This simple version of the ancient Indonesian art enables your campers to write phrases, names, or specific designs on their tie-dye. Make T-shirts, bandanas, prayer flags, and more.
Supplies: clean, white, pre-washed 100 percent cotton T-shirts, bandanas, kitchen towels, or fabric squares; Elmer’s Blue Gel school glue, one per three campers (important for it to be blue gel); water; acrylic paints or fabric dye; baby food jars or small disposable bowls, paintbrushes; masking tape and permanent marker; clothes line; newspaper or cardboard, spray bottle filled with water. How: Lay fabric flat. If a shirt, put newspaper or cardboard between the fabric layers. You can place a thick-lined pattern under the top layer to trace, or invite campers to make their own individual designs. Label the shirts with masking tape and have campers write their names on the tape with permanent marker. Using the glue right out of the bottle have them draw lines slowly on the fabric. Move the shirts to a place where they won’t be disturbed for 18 hours to dry completely. If you are tie-dying the shirts, you can tie-dye them as you normally do now, being careful to not make any folds too tight and saturating them with color. To continue to batik dye, mix acrylic craft paints with equal parts water in small baby food jars or disposable bowls. Put several clean layers of newspaper between the layers of cloth, and have the campers paint in their designs as they would a coloring book. This is a very forgiving process, so even splatters and drips will come out looking good. To encourage colors to run together, spray fabric with water from a spray bottle. To keep colors pure, allow to dry between colors. Allow front painting to dry before painting the back. Cover the shirts with color. Move the shirts someplace to dry undisturbed for another 12-18 hours. Hanging them on a clothesline will help the colors to diffuse if that’s the look you want. Finally, allow the shirts to soak in warm water for a couple of hours or wash in small batches in a washing machine on hot. Dry on a clothesline.
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BTW: You could print scripture quotes from several of the Bible stories from the week for campers to trace on their shirts. “Your people will be my people and your God my God,” “I am called for such a time as this,” “Remember, I am with you always,” or “Do not be afraid! Go!” would make great quotes. Or use the theme,
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“Fearless Faith; Courage in Community” or the name of your camp and year. Note: for stranger safety, it’s best not to print the names of campers on young children’s clothing.
Checkmate Story Use this for the activity Checkmate on page. 288. You may simply read it to familiarize yourself with Jacob’s story. This is Jacob. (Use a king) He had 12 sons (bring out each pawn and name them as you do, but use two bishops for Joseph and Benjamin) and one daughter, Dinah (use queen). The 10 older sons found Joseph very annoying! So…they sold him to a group of slave traders who were traveling to Egypt (use two knights). What they did not know is that God had a plan for Joseph! (Separate Joseph from the other siblings.) Joseph was taken to Egypt, and at first had it rough there. He got thrown in jail even though he was innocent! There he met two of Pharaoh’s servants (use two rooks). He told them what their dreams meant, and their dreams came true! Because he listened to God who helped him understand dreams, he was brought to the Pharaoh (other king) who ruled all Egypt. He put Joseph in charge of storing food for the country in case there was a famine. (Move Joseph far away from the others.) Then it happened! There was a famine. Jacob and all his other sons were starving! They needed food! So nine of the brothers went to Egypt because they heard that there was food there that they could purchase. Benjamin and Jacob stayed at home and waited. (Move the nine brothers, but not Benjamin, toward Joseph.) When they arrived in Egypt, they went to the person in charge of storing the food. It was Joseph, but they did not recognize him. (Put a hat or mustache on Joseph’s head, or “disguise” him in some other way. Move the brothers in a circle around Joseph.)
When they arrived, Joseph released Simeon from jail and gave each brother a sack of grain. But he played a trick on them and hid a silver cup in Benjamin’s grain. (Move Simeon from the rooks and into the circle around Joseph, then pretend to slip something under the Benjamin bishop.) He then called the guards and accused his brothers of stealing. Every brother had his grain searched. Of course, the cup was found in Benjamin’s bag. (Turn over every brother pawn to look for the stolen cup. Look under the Benjamin bishop last, and “discover” the drawing there.) The brothers were terrified! Their father would die of sadness if they returned to Egypt without Benjamin! When they cried out before Joseph, his heart melted. Joseph began to cry, for he had finally forgiven his brothers. So he turned to them and told them, “I am your brother Joseph who you sold as a slave. I forgive you and I have missed you all!” (Remove Joseph’s “disguise.”) The brothers were shocked and a little afraid! But Joseph said, “Don’t be afraid! God had a plan and because I was here I could help make sure you, and the people of Egypt, did not starve.” Then the brothers celebrated. Joseph invited the brothers to move to Egypt. (Move all the brothers back to Jacob.) They went home and told Jacob all the amazing things that had happened. Jacob could hardly believe it! Then the whole family moved to Egypt. (Move all the pieces back into one circle.) “Joseph Is Sold into Slavery” and “Joseph Feeds and Forgives” are the titles of the stories about Joseph in Children of God Storybook Bible, pp. 24–27.
Then he sent the others home with some food. (Move the eight brothers back to Jacob.)
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Joseph was still angry that his brothers had sold him as a slave, so he accused them of being spies. Joseph put his brother Simeon in jail and told them that he would release Simeon only if they brought back Benjamin. (Take Simeon and place him behind all the rooks).
When Jacob heard what had happened, he was frightened. He did not want to send Benjamin to Egypt! But he knew he had to. So the brothers left Jacob at home alone and went back to Egypt. (Move these nine brothers into a circle around Joseph.)
Week 4
Together, the Courage to Stand Plan Your Week
Use the grid below as an example to help you create a visual plan for your week. (You will want to list your own schedule and write in your choices.) Select activities from the various listings below; feel free to add others of your own creation, as well. Event
Monday
Welcome (p.299) Bible Story (p.300) Early Activity (p.302) Quiet Time (p.303) Late Activity (p.304)
Daily Song
Wednesday
Should You Rather
Stand Together Graffiti Wall
Scripture: Daniel 3
Family Story Bible, Building the Story Milton
Something We Do Nebuchadnezzar’s Air Guitar Band
Belonging
Thursday
Friday
Fruit Basket TurnOver
Stand Together
Around the Campfire
Standing Story
Traits and Tells
Fiery Furnace S’mores
Yes We Can!
Table Talk & Journal time
Rest, Read & Journal time
Table Talk & Journal Time
Rest, Read & Journal Time
Table Talk & Journal Time
Fiery Furnace Foam
Photo Scavenger Hunt
Portable Furnace Lanterns
Ice Candles
Standing With
Big Band
Stand Up For Us!
Loud and Proud
Filling The Gaps
Begin A Garden of Continue A Continue A Delights Garden of Delights Garden of Delights
Continue A Garden of Delights
Complete A Garden of Delights
We Are One in the Won’t Back Down Spirit (Tom Petty)
This Little Light of Mine
Lift Every Voice and Sing
Stand Up Prayer Closing Devotions (p.307) Weeklong Project (p.308)
Tuesday
They’ll Know We are Christians
Leader Notes
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You can help your campers be comfortable enough to be themselves in all their messy, wonderful and irritating ways. Standing with your community sometimes means standing with people who are maddening and amazing. Standing up for what is right is sometimes easier than standing up for someone’s right to be different that we are. Watch for moments when you can point out to the campers what is most important to stand for and with instead of against. We live in a polarized society that tells us there are two ways to look at every issue, but the truth of the matter is that there are hundreds of ways to look at one issue and we should probably explore several before we settle graciously on one solution or another. Your way of being with campers who are different can teach the kind of graciousness we need to cultivate as part of being Christian community.
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Welcome Use these activities during get-to-know-you time. Be aware that you may need to be flexible as campers arrive. Advise your staff to introduce campers to each other and to use this time to watch for group interactions, gauge energy levels and encourage those who may need it.
Should You Rather… #P l a y #LEARN Why: The traditional version of this activity asks people to stand up for what they prefer in front of everyone and offer reasons. This version will make it more challenging, moving beyond preferences to things that faith requires of the campers. It is also a good way for group members to get to know each other better. How: Campers are asked if they would rather do X or Y, and the Xs all go to one side of the room, while the Ys go to the other. Prepare “Would you rather…?” questions that will be divisive in different ways. For example: “Would you rather go to the beach or mountains? Watch TV or go to a movie?” After they get the hang of it, it’s time to ask them, “Should you rather...?” You can base your questions on the biblical commandments, Christian beliefs, and your own denominational foundations. Example: “Should you rather forgive someone once and only once, or offer forgiveness again and again?” After finishing the activity, discuss when it was easy and when it was difficult to decide what to do. Discuss how peoples’ decisions were influenced.
Abednego’s story may lack immediacy and seem unreal to the campers because they will likely not find themselves in a story like it. Here, campers can share contemporary stories more relatable to their culture and everyday life. Writing concerns and challenges on the “graffiti wall” could make them more resonant and lasting with each person and the group. It could help accountability and encouragement among members of the church to stand up and create solidarity together. Supplies: poster board or banner paper, tape, markers, crayons, paint, paintbrushes How: Have campers discuss things in their lives that they have felt called to take stands on. Discuss why it might be scary to do that, and the worry of being different than others. Hang on the wall of your meeting space a poster from floor to ceiling and write, in large bold letters, “We Stand For…” After discussion, have campers write on this “graffiti wall” together those things they shared with each other, however they would like to represent them. (If using paint, be sure it will not bleed through onto the wall. Consider using cardboard.) When everyone has had a chance to write, gather together as a group in front of the wall, maybe sit or kneel together, and spend time in prayer for the strength to stand for these things together as the church. During the prayer, you may choose to read aloud each thing that has been written.
BTW: There are many “Would you rather…?” resources on-line if you run into writer’s block. People may have very different answers in the “Should you rather…?” part. Allow people to express their understandings without judgment.
BTW: Leave the graffiti wall up for the rest of the week and encourage campers to add as they are reminded of new ideas, or just to decorate the existing graffiti. Remind campers that there may be people who stand for things that they wouldn’t. Teach them that, as a community, we must learn to live with differences and ask them to remember that in sharing these things, they are blessing a person, not condoning a belief.
Stand Together Graffiti Wall
Belonging
Why: This activity allows campers to actually identify the specific issues in their lives for which they feel compelled to stand up and possibly seem different from the rest. Shadrach, Meshach, and
Why: This activity builds community by demonstrating all of the ways in which the campers are connected. It also encourages campers to think about the groups in which they are involved and how those groups help shape them.
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#P r a y #Create
How: This activity highlights many of the groups to which the campers belong and invites the campers to reflect on how those groups shape their identities. Have campers stand in a large circle in an open area. They will walk clockwise in the circle. Then say the names of different groups. If the campers are part of that group, they should run to the center of the circle and then back to their place in the circle. If they are not part of that group, they should just keep walking. Call several groups, one by one. Some of the groups should include all the campers (e.g., people who have attended camp), and some groups should be ones that involve fewer campers (e.g., people who walk to school, play on a team, are a sibling, play a musical instrument, attend Scouts, etc.). Try not to choose a group that will single anyone out completely. When you are done, debrief: • What did you observe? • In what ways do these groups tell you who you are? Are some groups more important than others? • Are there any groups that you especially want people to know about? Are there any groups that you are embarrassed about? Why? • Can someone tell what groups you belong to just by looking at you? • Can someone tell what groups you belong to by what you do or don’t do? How can our behavior let people know who we are? BTW: There are many other creative ways to discover the different groups to which the campers belong. Consider putting them into small groups and inviting them to figure out a number of things that they all have in common.
Fruit Basket Turn Over
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Why: It is a fun standing and sitting game. There are no winners, but a lot of energy and movement are expended. It is a good game to get the wiggles out. Supplies: circle of chairs—one per player (minus one)
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How: One person stands in the circle and calls out a characteristic (such as: those wearing blue, or all those who know how to swim). All those who fit that description must change seats. While they do, the person in the middle tries to find a
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chair and sit on it. Whoever is left standing calls out another characteristic. If the “caller” cries out, “Fruit Basket Turn Over,” then everyone must leave his or her seat and find another. BTW: You can make the game a tie-in to telling the story by changing the rules and having everyone who doesn’t fit the description jump up, while all who fit have to fall like ragdolls to the floor. (This works well if you notice campers being left out.) Then, make these the last two characteristics: “Everyone who will stand up for what’s right!” (they should all fall); and, “Everyone who stands alone!” (They should all jump up).
Stand Together
#P l a y
Why: This is a challenge game—mental and physical. When we choose to stand together, we rely on each other for strength and compassion, give and take. This game can lead to a discussion on what it really means to stand with someone. How: Pair campers and have them sit on the floor, back to back, with arms linked at the elbows. Try to pair them via similar height and body type. See if they can work together to get themselves into a standing position. They’ll need to push against each other in order to get to their feet. Then see if they can stay linked while walking around and trying to pick up items from the floor. BTW: Remember, some children are very conscious of their strengths and weaknesses. Any difference in body type (overweight or underweight, taller than most or shorter than most) can be a sensitive issue. Be careful as you pair campers to make sure that all have a sporting chance at accomplishing the task.
Bible Story At the beginning of the week, gather the campers together and read the week’s scripture from the Bible. As the week goes on, you can reinforce the Bible story by reading from different suggested story Bibles. The activities and resources listed below will offer you some alternative ways of telling the Bible story.
Family Story Bible Read “A King Learns About God,” The Family Story Bible, Ralph Milton, page143.
Building the Story
#LEARN
Why: This activity is a hands-on way for the campers to work with the story. Questions or insights that otherwise wouldn’t may come out through this activity. Supplies: The Message version of the Bible, pipe cleaners, straws, play dough, foil, stones, etc. How: In this activity, campers will each build something as the story is read. Provide a number of various supplies and materials. Invite campers to build anything that they would like (related to the story) as you read through the story. Read Daniel 3 from The Message. You may want to read slowly or more than once. After the story has been read, invite the campers to share what they made and why. BTW: Be creative with the supplies. If unique supplies are not available, encourage campers to draw or paint.
Around the Campfire
#LEARN
Why: This multi-sensory story is perfect for the campfire. Campers can connect with the sight, smell, and sounds of the campfire and create lasting memories of this experience. Supplies: The Message version of the Bible, campfire How: Read Daniel 3 from The Message. Try reading it a couple of different times, in different ways. Read it slowly, pausing for silent reflection. Read it dramatically, with a great deal of emotion. Allow the campers to look into and smell the campfire, imagining the events of the story. Debrief as a group or in small groups using the following questions: • What do you like best about this story? • How does this story make you feel?
• Tell about a time when you were given the chance to stand up for something. How did
• What are the risks involved in standing up for something, even if it is the right thing to do? BTW: If a campfire is unavailable, use the same activity with candles or incense.
Standing Story
#LEARN
Why: Talking about standing up for what you believe is the first step in being able to do it in real and scary situations. The campers may already have seen or experienced injustice. This time is a safe time and place to talk about how to act their way through those difficult moments with grace. Supplies: deck of cards, table, bowl or can How: Have the campers sit in a circle. Pull three aces from the deck and then choose enough cards to add to the three aces for each camper in the group to have one. Shuffle those cards and deal one card to each camper in the circle. Have the campers look at their cards, but not show them to anyone else. Tell them that if they are holding an ace they are a part of a very special community, one that loves God more than anything else. Name the men—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—as a part of that community. Begin to tell the story: the creation of a gold statue and the command to the people to bow down. Then have the ace holders stand. Tell the rest of the story and invite the three with their aces to place their cards on the table and sit down. As you tell the part about the fiery furnace, take their cards and place them under a can or a bowl. As you do, secretly add the fourth ace. Talk about how hot the fire was, and then lift the can or bowl to show that now there are four aces. Finish telling the story. Ask the campers to consider what it would be like to stand up against a whole crowd of people and say, “That is something we do not do.” See if they can think of a time when they saw someone do just that. Think of times that history was changed because people stood up and said, “No more!” BTW: Think ahead about some current cultural references that the children probably have been exposed to that speak of injustice, and someone or a group of people standing up to the crowd. Even if it is a movie reference, it will help to get the discussion moving.
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• Do you identify with anyone in the story? If so, who? Why?
you respond? If you could do it all over again, would you do anything differently?
Early Activity Use your morning activity time to reinforce the Bible story. It is a good time to get campers engaged in a project or game.
Something We Do
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Why: Group identity is important! By this time in the week your group should be functioning well together. This game allows them to risk more and to laugh more. If other groups are engaging in the same game, there is a bit of competitive flavor to see who can be the most creative or outrageous. Remember that Daniel’s friends had a very strong group identity that allowed them to stand together. Make sure your group does too! How: As you are moving your group from one place to another, invite them to add in their walk a movement that the whole group will do (examples: make only left turns, stop and applaud as a group at every tree bigger than a foot wide, or walk sideways when in sight of other groups). You can change the “thing you do” if three or more in your group request and share an acceptable idea. Acceptable ideas must then have whole group approval before being implemented. After you have played with this for a while, invite the group to choose a group movement to do in the dining hall (examples: no one moves alone—if someone needs to leave the table, another goes with them; or every time someone stands to leave the table, the rest of the group slaps the table and says, “Go forth!”). Watch for other groups who may have chosen movements to do. BTW: The success of this game does not rely on the physical ability of the group. This allows the nonathletic kids to experience success and leadership they do not always receive. If you have several weeks of camp, note the best ideas from past camps to share as examples for current camps.
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Nebuchadnezzar’s Air Guitar Band #P l a y #LEARN
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Why: Share the story in a fun way that will get out some energy and help campers engage the story. Supplies: Bible How: Explain to the campers that they have two ways to participate in the reading of this scripture. The first is to respond to the listing of instruments (horn, pipe, lyre, trigon (a percussion triangle), harp, and drum) by pretending to play an instrument of any kind and making loud noise with their imaginary instrument till the reader holds up his or her hand. The second is responding to the king’s request for their worship by saying, “Um, we don’t do that.” This will come soon after the playing of music, and the reader will signify the moment by pointing at the campers. Read Daniel 3 for the campers, holding up your hand to stop the imaginary music as needed, and pointing at them to cue their response of, “Um, we don’t do that,” after verses 5,7,14, 15, and 30 (end of text). BTW: This could be a fun campfire skit, or a way to present the scripture in worship. If time allows, you could expand the conversation by asking campers when in their lives the expression, “Um, we don’t do that,” might be appropriate.
Traits and Tells #LEARN #P l a y Why: Help each camper reflect on what makes up his or her personal identity or culture. How: This is an exercise in observation and reflection. Assign each camper one of the following words to act out without any props. (Depending on the size of your group, some campers may have to act out two words, or some words may need to be repeated.) Then, go back over each word and ask how the campers would know someone fit that job title without seeing the person do anything.
• Police officer
• Teacher
• Coach
• Parent
• Professional athlete
• Grandparent
• Priest
• Doctor
Now ask them to share what characteristics someone who fits the following categories might have.
• American
• Teenager
• Australian
• Christian
Invite them to think about their own identities and what someone might learn about them by observation. What if the person visited their homes? Their bedrooms? Ask, “What things might that person see that would reveal who you are? What practices or behaviors might reveal who you are?” BTW: This could be a fun role-play. Challenge campers to communicate an identity by describing only behaviors, rather than offering visual clues. Be careful not to get caught up in stereotypes. Name them and discuss them if they arise.
Fiery Furnace S’mores #Serve #Create Why: This is an easy way to change a normal treat into a storytelling treat! If a camper can remember the names of the men in the fiery furnace, that camper can have another S’more! Supplies: bonfire; per camper: 2 graham cracker squares, 2 half chocolate bars, 2 marshmallows, at least 8 Teddy Grahams, 1 roasting stick
BTW: In case of rain, you can do these in the oven. Just build them on a sheet pan and place them in the oven at 350 degrees for several
Yes We Can
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Why: A great active game that can be done anywhere, even in the water. There are things that can make working together easier; holding on to each other makes this game easier. This might be a good discussion starter about what makes it easier to stand together, as Daniel’s friends did. Supplies: any items needed to create the “course”; beach balls or balloons—one per camper maximum How: Pull out a beach ball (or a balloon). Stand two campers side by side and place the ball between their hips. Then have them walk a course and see if they can do it without dropping the ball. (Hint: It’s easier if they link arms.) If they drop the ball, they have to pick it up and start over again. When they complete the course, you can add a third person and another ball and try it again. See how many people you can get, in a line, from one place to another. BTW: You can do this a couple of times during the day in progressively more difficult places. See if they can climb stairs, get in a canoe, or weave through trees.
Quiet Time Every day, allow your campers some quiet “downtime.” You may want to provide campers with books, craft supplies, paper, or manipulatives such as clay or action-figures. Encourage your campers to reflect upon and connect with the weekly story and theme. You may allow some quiet cooperative games like mancala or cards, but encourage discussion between campers by using the Table Talk questions. Be sure to allow campers ample time to clean up their work before moving on to the afternoon activities.
Table Talk Use these questions to invite campers into conversation about the theme. Use them over one or more of the meals or create a conversation station during one of the activity rotations Consider using this for one or more of the days in the week.
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How: Then, to make a Fiery Furnace S’more, roast a marshmallow over the fire. Place a roasted marshmallow atop a chocolate bar, which is sitting on a graham cracker. Then, place all four teddy grahams, standing up, in the marshmallow. Now, it’s time to eat! To make a lot of these s’mores, everyone will need help from someone else to make it work smoothly. Try placing the campers in groups of three: one to roast, one to stack the cracker and chocolate, and the other to use the teddy grahams to move the marshmallow off the stick and onto the base.
minutes (until the marshmallow melts and browns).
Younger Campers: • What does it mean to be a hero? Name someone whom you view as a hero. • Imagine that you see a friend crying. What do you do?
• Do you play an instrument? If so, do you use it to express joy? If not, what would you like to play?
Rest and Read
• If you had a million dollars, what would you do with it? Why?
Here are storybooks to read aloud for quiet time, perhaps after lunch. Or use them during worship time:
• Name something that you would never, ever sell, no matter how much someone offered to pay you for it. What makes it so special?
• Olivia books, Falconer
Older Campers: • Name someone you truly admire. What makes this person so admirable?
• The Cat in the Hat, Seuss • Hidden: A Child’s Story of the Holocaust, Dauvillier • Greg Salsedo, Separate Is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez and Her Family’s Fight for Desegregation, Tonatiuh
• Tell about a time when you had the opportunity to help someone and didn’t. What, if anything, would you do differently now?
• The Little Engine That Could, Piper
• What is something that you truly treasure? What makes it so special?
Fiery Furnace Foam #Create #P l a y
• If you could have a superpower, what power would you choose? Why?
Why: This sensory activity connects campers with the story in a different way. The story is filled with sensory images, but since campers are unable to work directly with fire in a hands-on way, this activity is a good alternative.
Create Our Journals Each day, campers will be allowed time to record their thoughts, hopes, drawings and such in their journals. You can choose to make these easily by folding five to ten sheets of paper together with a sheet of construction paper on the bottom and stapling them in the middle. Allow campers to put their name on the front cover and decorate them however they like. To make the journals more elaborate you can punch holes in the edges and weave a ribbon through them or use brads. For multi-week use, add more paper.
Journal Time • If someone believed something different from you, would you try to hurt them? What else might you do? • If there were a statue built of you, who would you invite to the unveiling? Why?
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• Would you stand up for your beliefs even if the consequence was death? Why or why not? • Who was the fourth person in the furnace? What did that person look like? • Draw a picture of Nebuchadnezzar’s statue.
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Late Activity
Supplies: measuring cups, 4 mixing bowls, shaving cream, cornstarch, baking soda, liquid watercolors or food coloring, vinegar, (optional: squeeze bottles) How: Make four batches of foam in fire colors (red, yellow, orange, and white). To make each batch of foam, take about 2 cups of shaving cream and add about ½ cup each of cornstarch and baking soda. Add color as desired. Use hands to mix to get the desired consistency. Then, add all of the colors together on a sidewalk or other concrete area outside in a way that looks like a large flame. Invite the campers to work with the foam. They may want to use tools or figurines as they do so. After some time, bring out the vinegar, preferably in squeeze bottles. Allow the campers to add the vinegar to the foam and watch it sizzle and fizz. Campers may continue to work with the foam, but make sure that they do not touch their eyes after the vinegar has been added. BTW: This activity is fun to do even without the vinegar.
Photo Scavenger Hunt
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Why: This fun activity helps build community as teams work together. Supplies: digital cameras (or phones) How: Divide the campers into teams of 5 or more and give each team a camera. Explain that they need to find the following things around camp (you may want to change this list as you see fit) and take a photo of themselves with the item. If they complete all the tasks, offer them a reward. When all of the teams return, talk about the items and how they relate to the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Photo scavenger hunt list: • Fire pit. Four people need to be in the photo. • Chapel. Three people need to be in the photo. • Statue (or cross). Three people need to be in the photo. • Musical instrument. The whole group needs to be in the photo. • Room where furnace or boiler is located (just take photo of the door; do not go inside). Three people need to be in the photo. • Something golden. One person needs to be in the photo. • Take a photo with everyone in the group kneeling. • Camp director’s office (bonus point if he/she is in the photo with you). Two people need to be in the photo. BTW: Be sure to add locations that are specific to your camp. Consider adding some locations that are not obviously related to the story and see if campers can make a connection.
Portable Furnace Lanterns #Create Why: These lanterns are more fun to carry than flashlights! This is an easy and beautiful craft exercise that can lead you into discussion about what it was like in the fiery furnace.
“Cut out flame shapes from the tissue paper. Mix 1 part glue with 2 parts water on a plate, dip your flames into the mix, and glue them to the outside of the jar. Start with red “flames,” glue orange ones over them, and then yellow ones on top. It may be easiest to put the glue mixture onto a shallow plate. Let them dry. Then, ask a counselor or leader to cut a piece of wire long enough to wrap around the rim of the jar twice, and then to pull up and twist for a handle. Finally, put in your tea light and enjoy.” BTW: Some campers will have a hard time getting the flames on the jars smoothly. Remind them that the wrinkles and folds in their paper will make it look even more like flames once the tea light is in the jar. Later, if you have a campfire, look at the flames and their wrinkles.
Ice Candles
#Create
Why: Making these candles teaches campers about things that are useful to know for a whole lifetime. It teaches the campers about safety, heat, flammability, and the planning that must go into making it safe for everyone. It is exciting to be a part of a craft that is a little dangerous. However, this is also a great time to work on patience, sharing skills, and listening skills. Supplies: wax from leftover candles (white, pink, red, or yellow) or new paraffin wax, orange and yellow crayons, stove and double boiler (or electric fry pan and #10 tin cans, plus electrical source), water, ice cubes, wooden spoon; clean pint or half-pint milk cartons(one per camper for one pour, two per for two pour);. small taper candles the height of the milk cartons (one per camper) How: Pull apart the top opening area of each milk carton so that it is completely open. Rinse out all remaining liquids. Allow to dry thoroughly by setting the cartons upside-down until dry or by wiping them dry with paper towels. Pour 1 or 2 inches of water into the bottom portion of a double boiler. Set the pan atop a burner on the stove, then place the top pan inside the water-filled double boiler bottom. Add hunks of wax or old candles to the top portion of the double boiler. Melt the wax over low heat, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon. (If
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Supplies: plastic jars with lids; wire for handle; wire cutter, scissors; tissue paper in orange, yellow and red; white glue; sponge paint brushes (you can use fingers), battery-operated tea lights; shallow plates
How: Relay these instructions to the campers:
using electric frying pan, put water into frying pan, place #10 cans with wax in pan and heat as above.) Using the wooden spoon, pour at least a quartersized pool of wax into the bottom of each milk carton candle mold. Press a taper candle into the wet wax in each carton to secure it in upright position. Allow wax to harden. Fill cartons with ice cubes until the ice nearly covers the taper candles, or the carton is 1/2 to 3/4 full. Pour the melted wax, after it has completely melted, into each milk carton, over and around the ice, using care not to cover the taper candle wick. Keep the wet wax height to at least 1/8 inch lower than the tip of the taper candle. Allow wax to set until it becomes firms and ice melts—for an hour or so. Pour the water out of the cartons and into the sink. Tear away the carton from each hardened “ice candle.” Make sure to tell the campers to allow their candles to “cure” for several days before using. If you wish to, you can do a “second pour.” If you are doing a second pour, do not remove the candle from its carton after the ice melts and the wax hardens. Pour out the water. (If the carton seems weak, you can place the candle in a new carton for the second pour.) Prepare a different color wax from the first pour. Pour new wax to fill in areas left by ice. Allow to cool for an hour or two, and then remove carton. This works best if the colors contrast well. Orange and yellow or red and yellow will make the candle appear to be colored flames. BTW: Wax is highly flammable. Never melt it over direct heat. You can also use soy wax; it is sustainable! You can also melt it faster and safer in the microwave. It is more expensive, however.
Standing With
#Serve #P r a y
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Why: This activity helps campers connect the story with their own lives. It helps them
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appreciate their communities and focus on how they can stand with others. Supplies: paper or notecards, writing utensils, art supplies How: Discuss with the campers the importance of having someone stand with them when they are going through difficult times. Refer to the fourth person in the fire in today’s story. Share a personal story, if possible. Invite the campers to think about someone who has stood with them during a difficult time. Encourage them each to write a note to that person, thanking him or her for doing so. Then, ask each camper to think about a person who may need someone in his or her corner. Can the campers stand with these people? Encourage the campers each to write a note to this person, as well, promising to stand with him or her. After the notes have been written (campers should be encouraged to send the letters when they get home), pray the following prayer (or a similar one), leaving space and time for the campers to state the names of the individuals to whom they wrote. “Dear God, thank you for standing with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fire. We are so thankful that you have promised us that we will not have to stand alone, for we know that you are always with us. We also know that you send others to be with us, and we are so grateful for them. When we have gone through difficult times, these people have stood with us and made the journey easier. God, thank you for: [allow time for the campers to name those who stood with them]. Bless these people, God, and let them know how much we appreciate them. God, we also ask that you would be with those who need someone in their corner. We know that you might be calling us to stand with these people, and we thank you for that. Help us to be good friends, showing your love. And help these people during hard times: [allow time for the campers to name those with whom they intend to stand]. Bless these people, God, and let them know how much you love them. Through our friend, Jesus, we pray. Amen.”
BTW: Instead of writing notes, campers can create other gifts for these individuals.
Every day, wrap up your day with a short time of devotion. In addition to the resources listed here, you may want to turn to the Daily Guides Worship Practices for suggested prayers and songs. Though time sometimes runs out and devotions can “slip off your radar,” at least give the campers a moment to thank God for the day. You could use a repeated phrase to signal that your time has come to a close by shouting in one voice, “Together, we have the courage to Stand! Amen!”
In this activity, campers will praise God with music. Gather as many musical instruments as possible. If there is limited access to musical instruments, consider having the campers make some (simple maracas, drums, etc.). Invite each camper to choose an instrument. Talk about how the people in the story used music to praise their leaders and gods. Explain that the campers are going to make music for God. Try all different kinds of songs, tempos, etc. Consider having a parade. Talk about what it feels like to make music for God. Invite the campers to use their instruments as you read Daniel 3. When you mention “instruments,” they get to make a lot of noise.
Stand Up Prayer
Stand Up for Us!
Closing Devotions
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Why: Corporate prayer can be powerful! However, it can also be something we do not fully engage in. It is difficult not to become an active part of this prayer. How: The leader begins the prayer by explaining, “Jesus promised to be with us if two or more of us are gathered together in prayer. For this prayer, we will make that promise even stronger by standing up for the things we especially wish to pray for. Everyone will have an opportunity to stand and suggest something to pray for—a thanks, a concern, or a sadness.” Then, have the campers, one at a time, stand when they want to pray, and say, “Stand if you want to pray—” The end of the sentence might be, “…a thanks to God for the good food we have been given,” or, “…for all those who are afraid of the dark,” or, “…for all the people who could not come to camp this week to have fun.” (Model the prayer for them first a couple of times.) Then, if the other campers agree to pray for the statement, they stand and shout. “May it be so!” It is sort of like voting for the prayer. It will get loud, but who said prayers must be quiet? Let the campers stand up at random until all are finished, and then close the prayer. BTW: This works well as a cool down after Fruit Basket Turn Over. #celebrate
Supplies: musical instruments of all kinds
Young children often know more about the world than we wish they might. They worry about children who are hungry, homeless, or in places of war. Before worship, ask the campers who they are worried for. Then write up simple signs that name those people or things. Give one sign each to several of the campers. Ask them to help you with a prayer by standing and saying, “I stand with _____ [whatever that sign says].” Ask the other campers each to choose a sign holder to stand with. Then, as a group, have them write a two- or three-sentence prayer upon each sign for those mentioned on the sign. Gather the campers and pray the prayers they have written together, each group standing as their prayer is read.
Loud and Proud
#celebrate
This experience is designed to be loud, which may not be typical for this time period. One at a time, ask each camper to say, “My name is _____” loudly. Repeat the process, this time adding, “and my God is ______.” Ask each camper to fill in the blank with a word that describes God. Campers are welcome to repeat what others have said, but each is encouraged to use a word that he or she truly believes. Repeat the activity again, but with everyone speaking in unison. Read Daniel 3:28 out loud. Blend the scripture with the group experience, using the names of the campers in the following sentence: “Blessed be the God of ___, ___, ___, …, the God of Abram and Sarai, Ruth
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Big Band
#celebrate
and Joseph; the Lord, our God, who will stand with us when we stand together.”
Filling the Gaps
#centering
Ask campers to close their eyes and each hold one hand high in the air. Invite each to spread fingers wide and try to remember a time he or she wanted to do the right thing, but felt too alone or weak to take a stand. Ask them each to raise his or her other hand and think about a time when someone supported him or her and helped him or her make the right decision. Invite campers to open their eyes and join hands with those on either side of them. Close in prayer: “Make us one, Lord. When fear grabs hold, may the bonds of faith hold us closer. When fear makes us weak, may we find strength in those around us. When we feel your spirit around us, may we reach out and hold up those around us who are in need of community. Together, may we be the church Christ dreamed of. Amen.
Weeklong Project A Garden of Delights This project will work well on any day. Why: A sensory garden on your campground will be a great resource for all your campers. Instead of a vegetable garden, a sensory garden is a place to relax and enjoy creation and can be a go-to place for prayer and meditation, as well as play and even work! Supplies: Dirt, plants, birdhouses, bird feeders, water source, garden tools, etc., whiteboard and marker or paper and pen
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How: Consider all the senses God has gifted you with. Push yourself to think beyond the five senses we normally list. Consider your sense of time, adventure, joy, hunger, wonder, awe, anger, mystery, and humor. List those senses on whiteboard or paper and challenge your staff and your campers to think of a gardening activity that would help them explore a chosen sense. For example, butterflies are part of God’s creation that help us to notice change and the
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passage of time. Plant flowers that will attract butterflies (lilacs, milkweed). Hummingbirds offer delight and awe. Find a hummingbird feeder craft and allow campers to make one to take home and one to leave. Older campers may enjoy a sense of adventure building a water feature or fountain. Remember making mud pies? Giving campers young and old permission to play in the dirt can help foster a sense of freedom. Collect large rocks from around camp and let campers stack and build with them to offer a sense of accomplishment and patience. Plant lambs’ ears to touch, geraniums to smell, bamboo or tall grasses to listen to. BTW: You should expect your sensory garden to grow and change over time. Pick a less-used area of camp with room to expand. Invite volunteer adult groups to create a greenhouse for winter storage of plants or to make a prayer walk or labyrinth around the garden.
Week 5
Together, the Courage to Do Justice Plan Your Week
Use the grid below as an example to help you create a visual plan for your week. (You will want to list your own schedule and write in your choices.) Select activities from the various listings below; feel free to add others of your own creation, as well. Event Welcome (p.310) Bible Story (p.312) Early Activity (p.313) Quiet Time (p.315) Late Activity (p.316)
Monday
Daily Song
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Groggers
Saving God’s People
Superheroes
Purim Hamantashan
Scripture: Esther
Casting Call Challenge
Such a Time as This
Whose Shoes?
You Choose!
What Can One Little Person DO?
Tell the Story with Orphan, Widow, Alien Public and Private and Jesus Media
Esther’s Trail Mix
Time is Running Out
Table Talk & Journal time
Rest, Read & Journal time
Table Talk & Journal Time
Rest, Read & Journal Time
Table Talk & Journal Time
Bottle Weaving
World Class Window Hanging
Change Saving Boxes/Jars
Mishloach Manot
Shaving Cream Seals
Let Justice Reign!
Just Us
I Was Hungry…
Praying for God’s People
Begin Do For Others
Continue Do For Others
Continue Do For Others
Continue Do For Others
Continue Do For Others
Let There Be Peace on Earth
Heal the World (Michael Jackson)
What Can One Little Person Do?
What does the Lord Require of You?
If I Had a Hammer
For Such a Time Closing Devotions (p.318) as This Weeklong Project (p.319)
Tuesday
Follow Me
Leader Notes Young campers like getting to make choices for themselves. The more difficult part is getting them to think about how their choices will affect others. It is hard for any of us to make a decision that puts ourselves at risk in favor of creating a better situation for others. There may be a time during the day when you will be able to have the campers make a decision together. Take the time to stop and have every person state what their decision would be if they were alone, and then ask them to think what would be the best decision for the group. Exposing the “behind the scenes” part of decision-making is helpful for younger campers and makes your decisions as a leader more understandable to them.
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Welcome Use these activities during get-to-know-you time. Be aware that you may need to be flexible as campers arrive. Advise your staff to introduce campers to each other and to use this time to watch for group interactions, gauge energy levels and encourage those who may need it.
Groggers
#Create #LEARN
Why: This activity connects campers with Jewish friends and neighbors who celebrate this holiday today. It also engages them in the story by helping them focus on listening for Haman’s name. Supplies: the storybook Courage, Esther!, craft supplies to make noisemakers (plastic soda bottles, empty toilet paper rolls, paper plates, beads, buttons, markers, feathers, glue, etc.) How: Using whatever supplies are available, invite the campers to create and decorate noisemakers to celebrate Purim. These noisemakers are called “groggers.” After all of the noisemakers have been made, read the Esther story using Courage, Esther! or another storybook about Esther. Instruct the campers to shake their noisemakers every time that the name “Haman” is read. They can even “boo” and “hiss” at Haman. Explain that every year, when the Jewish people celebrate Purim, they read the Esther story from a scroll and use their noisemakers to drown out Haman’s name and show disdain for his deeds. BTW: When Jewish communities celebrate Purim, they also invite children to dress up in costumes. If costumes are available, consider making it part of the activity.
Saving God’s People
#P l a y
Why: This activity helps campers learn the names of the characters in the Esther story. . It is also a fun way to enact the story.
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How: Choose one camper to be “Haman.” Then, send Haman away for a moment, and choose two campers to be “Esther” and “Mordecai.” All other campers are “God’s people.” Allow Haman to return. Explain that God’s people are going to run around in the game area. The camper chosen as Haman is going to try to tag God’s people, which will land them in jail (a designated area of
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your choosing). Esther and Mordecai are able to go to the jail and tag the imprisoned people, thus freeing them. However, Haman should not know who they are. Otherwise, he could put them in jail, which would inhibit God’s people from being saved. So Esther and Mordecai need to try to free God’s people without Haman seeing. They may need to work together with other people in order to accomplish this. Play until Esther and Mordecai are in jail, or for a set period of time, whichever comes first. Then choose others to be Haman, Esther, and Mordecai and start again. BTW: This activity may be done inside or outside, or even in a pool or lake, provided that there is enough space.
Superheroes
#P l a y #Create
Why: This is a fun way to think about fighting injustice in a way that is familiar to anyone who enjoys pop culture. This activity can also prompt discussion about what is realistic in these scenarios and what isn’t, offering a different perspective on the idea of justice and how it can be carried out by the church. Supplies: superhero costume materials (capes, masks, etc.), white T-shirts, poster board, crayons, markers How: Create camp superheroes to fight injustice. Begin by having groups revisit earlier conversations about injustice and choose one particular injustice that really resonated in their discussion. Instruct groups to pinpoint a superpower that would enable someone to really help with that injustice, and then create a superhero around it. Groups choose one person from their group to dress as that superhero. They will name the superhero, come up with a motto, and design a superhero costume. If you have enough time, encourage groups to be creative and come up with an origin story for the superhero’s powers, show how the superpowers work, and even come up with an arch nemesis for the superhero. Then have groups show their superhero and the superhero story to the camp. BTW: This is a great photo opportunity, and anything created with this activity can be
displayed for the rest of the week or used in camp role calls, etc.
cookies with, or use them for the whole camp for lunch or dinner.
Purim Hamantashen #Create #LEARN #Serve
As you bake, tell the campers about the celebration of Purim in honor and remembrance of the courage of Esther and the faithfulness of God. Find resources about the celebration online.
Why: When God saves God’s people, we should remember and celebrate! Making these traditional Purim cookies makes those celebrations even sweeter. Supplies: table, plastic table covering, plastic gloves for everyone, measuring cups, oven, mixing bowl, egg beater, mixing spoon, brush, cutting board sprinkled with flour, rolling pin, cup, teaspoon, greased pan, ingredients (listed below) 4 eggs 1 cup sugar 1/2 cup oil 1 Tbsp. lemon juice and lemon rind from half a lemon 1 teaspoon vanilla 3 cups sifted flour 2 teaspoons baking powder 1 egg to brush jelly for the filling How: Basic Recipe: Pre-heat oven to 350. Beat eggs and sugar in mixing bowl. Add the next five ingredients and mix well. Divide the dough into four parts. Stretch and roll it out on a floured surface to about 1/2 cm in thickness, and cut out circles with a cup. Fill each one, putting a half a teaspoon of jelly in the center of the round dough. Fold the sides of the round over the jelly in three sections to form a triangle with the jelly in the center. They should look like tri-corner hats with jelly in the middle. Put them on a greased pan. Brush with beaten egg. Bake for 20 minutes. Yield: about 3 dozen cookies.
Follow Me
#P l a y #LEARN
Why: “Call” is a word used often in the Church, and it doesn’t just apply to clergy. Discerning when we are called, and when to step up and lead, can be frightening and confusing. This activity creates an opportunity for one to step up, and for all campers to reflect on the experience. Supplies: blindfolds for each camper How: Blindfold each camper, then guide them one at a time into a line. Ask each camper to put his or her hands on the shoulders of the person in front of camper. Instruct the campers to stay connected this way. Quietly remove one camper’s blindfold, then instruct the group to move to a different space in the camp. The camper without a blindfold is free to give direction and guide the group, but do not directly tell the camper this, and do not instruct him or her to do so unless the group is failing. At that point, if that camper does not step up to lead, tell the campers that one of them has been given a gift and is welcome to help. Once everyone is at the destination, discuss the experience. Pay attention to the different experience of the one called to help the rest. Invite the campers to reflect on times when they felt called to step up and help others in need, or ask for examples of people they have learned about who stepped up to help others. Ask the campers how people might know they are called to step up and lead. Spend some time reflecting on the role a leader plays in a community and how a community comes to trust (or distrust) someone who takes a stand for them. BTW: This could be done in varying sizes of groups. With a larger group, you might unblindfold a few people and see who speaks up,
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Group set-up: Cover table in plastic or use a well-scrubbed and easily cleanable table. Assign campers one task each: cracking eggs, measuring sugar. Allow campers to take turns rolling, cutting, and shaping cookies. (Or, you can skip the rolling and cutting by spooning out small portions and having the campers shape the dough into rounds.) After the cookies are baked, have your campers pick another group of campers to share your
BTW: If you are not doing the “Trail Mix” activity, plan to meet with a group that is and share your cookies with them as they share their mix with you!
and reflect on how those people work together or against each other. You can also tell the group that one of them has been given the destination and ask the group to trust that person’s leadership.
Bible Story At the beginning of the week, gather the campers together and read the week’s scripture from the Bible. As the week goes on, you can reinforce the Bible story by reading from different suggested story Bibles. The activities and resources listed below will offer you some alternative ways of telling the Bible story.
Casting Call Challenge #LEARN #P l a y #Create Why: Campers are likely to be very familiar with Disney characters and popular fairy tale stories. They will think of Esther and her people the next time they see these characters. Supplies: your imagination—and why not costumes? (and a familiarity with the story) How: The challenge is for you to tell the story of Queen Esther and her people using popular contemporary characters from shows and stories. Ask the campers for a suggestion of a favorite fairy tale or well-known movie. Together, name the characters from the popular story and decide which character will be playing which biblical figure. Then, tell the story, acting as all the characters with funny voices and all the flair of a fairy tale world! Example: “The Little Mer-Queen! Now starring: Ariel as Queen Esther, Sebastian as her Uncle Mordecai, Prince Eric as King Ahasuerus, featuring Haman the Sea Witch and introducing Flounder as…Flounder, the queen’s fish. Of course Queen Esther had a fish. Duh.” Challenge yourself to roll with all the wacky things the campers throw at you. Afterward, let them choose a different fairy tale and tell the story themselves.
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BTW: This activity is great for counselors and leaders who are spontaneous and silly. You may want to think through some other examples beforehand and be prepared. If you’re using Disney characters, try making up a song about our
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story on the fly to the tune of a song from the movie… “Watch and you’ll see…all the Jews free… in this part of the world!”
Such a Time as This #LEARN #P r a y Why: Help campers see the role of communal support, especially spiritual support, for those who lead and take stands on important issues. Supplies: Bible, two large pieces of paper, markers How: Read Esther 4 as a group and ask the campers to identify all the characters mentioned. This can be individuals or groups. Write the characters on a large sheet of paper. Next to each, write what they did to help save (or, as in Haman’s case, not save) God’s people. Ask the campers to reflect on the importance of each person or group’s role. Pay attention to spiritual contributions such as prayer and fasting. On a second piece of paper, invite the campers to make a list of leaders in their communities and in the world who need their prayers. Take time to pray for these people by name or by position. BTW: A list of leaders to pray for could be collected and used in worship. Prayers could also be shared on-line or even mailed to people who work in corresponding jobs.
Tell the Story with Public and Private Media #P l a y #LEARN Why: This method will introduce the story through forms of communication people are familiar with, and tell it in a way that helps people see themselves within the story. Supplies: Esther skit (p. 320), way to display text conversation (projection screen or posters) How: Tell the story of Esther through vignettes in two parts, news reports in ancient Persia, and personal correspondences between Esther and Mordecai (like text messages). The news report could be done as a live skit, a taped report shown on screen, or a recorded radio report. Recruit someone to read the script in news style. The correspondence is texts between the two main characters. This can be done by paper letters,
e-mails, text messages, social media wall posts, voice messages, or any combination. The key is to illustrate a larger public view of these events, views of two people impacted by the events throughout, and how those forms of viewing the event inform one another. This could encourage conversation to view current events through different lenses. BTW: This skit comes in four parts, so it could be divided up and spread throughout a day or more—setting up cliffhanger moments, encouraging curiosity.
Orphan, Widow, Alien, and Jesus #LEARN #P r a y Why: This activity will acquaint campers with those from scripture whom the church has historically been called to help. They are likely victims of injustice, and making these ancient connections to modern-day victims will help campers understand scriptural teachings in a practical way. The campers will use Christ’s words to guide them on how to pray for comfort, which should offer appropriate attitudes with which to approach these issues. Supplies: index cards, writing utensils, strips of paper with quotes from Christ How: Campers will be introduced to the recurring scriptural theme of the orphan, widow, and alien, and will identify modern-day incarnations in contemporary life. Campers will use the words of Christ to pray for justice.
Have campers think of people in their lives who experience the lack of a strong parent, a partner to live with, or a stranger in a strange land. Have
Distribute strips of paper with quotes from Christ found on page 320. Have campers choose a particular quote they feel Christ might be saying about the person on the index card. Then campers bring up the strips of paper, pray for the persons on their cards, and place the strips of paper on top of the corresponding cards. BTW: Allow campers to add their own favorite quotes from Jesus if they have any that they think of.
Early Activity Use your morning activity time to reinforce the Bible story. It is a good time to get campers engaged in a project or game.
WhosE Shoes?
#LEARN
Why: Compassion and empathy are learned responses. Having the campers practice what they might do makes it easier when they are confronted by the real situations. Supplies: Six shoe boxes with shoes (total of three pairs of large boy’s shoes, three pairs of large girl’s) in them, scenario cards for each set of shoes on page 62. How: Place one pair of shoes in each shoebox, with a corresponding scenario card. Place the boxes around the camp to be found as you travel through the day. When you “find” a box, ask one camper to open the box and put on the shoes. Then, read the scenario card aloud. Based on the information given, campers should try to put themselves “in that person’s shoes,” identifying how that person might feel. End each scenario by coming up with three ideas of ways to show compassion in that type of situation.
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Throughout Jewish law and Christ’s teachings, the orphan, widow, and alien are mentioned as groups deserving special care and assistance from the people of a region. Have campers discuss why these groups are singled out. Discuss the needs of these groups, and have the campers expand their visions of them for modern-day interpretation. For instance, a child of parents who aren’t equipped to support the child might have the same problems as an orphan, or someone who has been abandoned by his or her spouse could have the same problems as a widow.
each camper write the name of such a person on an index card, and then write orphan, widow, or alien on the opposite side, depending on which applies. You may choose to do this activity with families sharing one card. When cards are complete, have campers place them on an altar or the floor in front of the worship space with the name facing down.
BTW: If other groups in camp are doing the same activity, you can share the shoes by letting everyone know ahead of time where they are placed around campus.
You Choose
#P l a y
Why: Making decisions can affect the whole group. Esther knew she needed to make the best decision possible. This game gives the campers experience in how the decisions they make can affect the whole group. Campers will enjoy making the cootie catcher and teaching others to make one. Supplies: origami (square) paper to make “cootie catcher” (or origami fortune teller) How: Using square sheets of paper, make an origami “cootie catcher.” Instructions can be found on page 322. On each inside “petal,” allow campers to write ways for the group to move (examples: hop on one foot, walk backwards, walk two steps, spin around, repeat; sing “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” and step forward on every “row”). As you lead your group in moving from place to place, use your paper “cootie catcher” (CC) to help you decide how you will move. Each time, stop, ask the “CC” twice to get two suggestions, then ask the group to decide which they like best. Then, after you have gone a distance doing the action, stop and ask if they thought they had made the best decision. Then ask the “CC” for two more suggestions. Soon it will become clear which actions work best for your group. BTW: Some campers may already know how to make cootie catchers. Give them a chance to shine and teach the others in the group.
What Can One Little Person Do? #LEARN #P r a y Why: This song introduces some more modern heroes into the discussion. It is important to have good examples to follow in faith.
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Supplies: recording of “What Can One Little Person Do?” by Sally Rogers (see YouTube), player with batteries (or Internet access, computer, and external speakers), paper, pencils How: Listen to the song “What Can One Little Person Do?” The song refers to several individuals
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who made a difference for social justice: Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, Rosa Parks, and Martin Luther King, Jr. Discuss what each person did to help the world. Then, work with the campers to create a new verse or two for the song about Esther, or someone they admire, or something they want to achieve. When it is finished, sing some of the new verses together to the tune of the song. BTW: You can offer to sing the song and the new verses for the whole camp at worship!
Esther’s Trail Mix #Create #LEARN #Serve Why: When camper hands are busy, the campers are more able to think and talk about important things. Creating good things to give away is fun and it helps them make new friends. Supplies: recipe labels for each bag, Ziploc ® bags, bowls, Bugles, pretzels, sunflower seeds, dried cranberries, Chex cereal, Teddy Grahams, Hershey’s Kisses, cup measuring cups or large spoons How: Have campers wash hands. Together, lay out supplies, mix them in a large bowl, put labels on bags, and fill the bags with trail mix using measuring cups or large spoons. As you work, explain that the Jews fasted and prayed for Esther as she prepared to meet the king. Esther made dinner for the king and his friend as a way to open the difficult conversation about how the Jews were being threatened. Food is a great way to make strangers friends and to open the door to conversations that might be hard. Talk about who the campers would like to be able to talk with or be new friends with. Have them consider who they might give their bags of trail mix to as a way to say hello or let us be friends. BTW: Check with your food service staff member to make sure you don’t have campers with allergies before using these foods. Remember not everyone is excited about eating food products that children have had their hands all over. So you may wish to encourage the campers to give their trail mix to other campers, and to sit and talk right then as they enjoy the mix together. To do this, you may wish to invite another group in camp to join your group for snack.
_______________________________________________ For the recipe label:
Esther’s Trail Mix BUGLES remind us to celebrate with music when God saves us. PRETZELS remind us to pray, thanking God for Esther’s courage to speak. SUNFLOWER SEEDS remind us to bloom where we are planted so we can shine like the sun when God calls us to act. CRANBERRIES remind us listen carefully for the sweet voice of God. CHEX remind us that God’s people are woven together into one nation. TEDDY GRAHAMS remind us to “bear” one another’s burdens. HERSHEY’S KISSES remind us of the love of God and God’s Son, Jesus, which sweetens our lives
will have a set amount of time (perhaps five or ten minutes, depending on your location) to complete a set number of tasks. The tasks are listed on the handout. BTW: This activity may be done inside or outside, provided that the space is large enough. If inside, obviously some adjustments may need to be made to the handout (or you may what to make some, in order to be specific to your camp).
Quiet Time Every day, allow your campers some quiet “downtime.” You may want to provide campers with books, craft supplies, paper, or manipulatives such as clay or action-figures. Encourage your campers to reflect upon and connect with the weekly story and theme. You may allow some quiet cooperative games like mancala or cards, but encourage discussion between campers by using the Table Talk questions. Be sure to allow campers ample time to clean up their work before moving on to the afternoon activities.
Table Talk
Time Is Running Out! #P l a y #LEARN
Use these questions to invite campers into conversation about the theme. Use them over one or more of the meals or create a conversation station during one of the activity rotations Consider using this for one or more of the days in the week.
Why: This activity encourages campers to interact with others and with the Esther story.
Younger Campers:
_______________________________________________
Supplies: copies of handout on page 323 (one per camper), writing utensils, Courage, Esther! or other Esther storybook
• Imagine that you are a character from a Bible story. Have others guess who you are. You may act the character out or answer questions. After someone guesses correctly, share why you chose that person. Ask someone to go next. • Share about a time when something good happened, even though you didn’t expect it. How was God involved? • If you could have any superhero power, what power would you have? Why? How would you use it to help others?
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How: Esther had a short amount of time in which to work to save her people. But there were a number of things that she had to do before she could complete her task. She needed to ask people to pray and fast, go to the king, touch the king’s scepter, throw two parties, and reveal that she was one of God’s people. In this game, the campers will participate in some timed activities that are reminiscent of the Esther story. First, read the story using one of the storybooks. Re-cap all of the things that Esther needed to do in order to save her people in time. Explain that the campers
• Tell about a time when you or someone in your family helped someone else—a friend, a neighbor, someone at church, or even a stranger.
Older Campers: • What does the phrase, “Love thy neighbor” mean to you? • Name someone whom you view as a true leader. What makes him or her a good leader? • Imagine that someone gives you $100,000, but they tell you that you must spend it all on others. How would you spend it? Why? • Imagine that someone gives you $100,000, but they tell you that you must spend it all on others. How would you spend it? Why?
Create Our Journals Each day, campers will be allowed time to record their thoughts, hopes, drawings and such in their journals. You can choose to make these easily by folding five to ten sheets of paper together with a sheet of construction paper on the bottom and stapling them in the middle. Allow campers to put their name on the front cover and decorate them however they like. To make the journals more elaborate you can punch holes in the edges and weave a ribbon through them or use brads. For multi-week use, add more paper.
Journal Time • Who will you do justice for in life? • Has a family member ever asked you to do something for the rest of your family? When? Did you do it? Why or why not? • If you had the power of a queen like Esther, what would you do with your power? • Draw one of the feasts that Esther serves the king. What yummy foods are there? Fancy tableware?
Rest and Read Here are storybooks to read aloud for quiet time, perhaps after lunch. Or use them during worship time: • The Lorax, The Butter Battle Book, Yertle the Turtle, Seuss • Courage, Esther!, Wolkstein
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• The Story of Queen Esther, Koralek • Hey, Little Ant, Hoose and Tilley • Esther...the Girl Who Became Queen, Veggie Tales, 2000. (DVD)
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Late Activity Bottle Weaving Why: Ruth must have used something to gather the grain into when she gleaned in the fields. Your campers will need something to gather their found treasures into as well! Supplies: Clean two-liter bottles, scissors, yarn, ribbon, or even long grasses How: Ahead of time, cut the two-liter bottles (or have each camper cut his or her own, if the campers are old enough to safely do so). The bottles should be cut in the following way: Cut off cap end so that what is left is a cylinder with a bottom. Then cut the sides in strips down to the point where the bottle begins to curve in to the bottom. Cut an odd number of strips about ½ an inch wide (still attached to the bottom). This is your weaving base. Have the campers each select a yarn color to start. Instruct them: “Tie the yarn onto one of the strips and push it down to the bottom base, as close as possible. Weave the yarn in and out around the bottle. Colors may be changed by cutting off one color and tying on another color. When the weaving gets within 2 inches of the top tie off the yarn.” Then either you or the campers can cut the ends of the strips into points and fold them over the highest level of yarn and tuck them into the yarn lower down. BTW: Most any recyclable plastic container can be used in this way, and the shape can be changed by pushing out as you weave or pulling in tighter, or by modifying the shape of the strips. Consider using a shaped cola bottle just for fun and see what happens and what shape it takes.
World Class Window Hanging Why: It is messy, creative, wild, and fun for all! It also serves as a prayer reminder. Just like the people of Israel prayed for Esther to have strength, other world leaders need our prayers for them to have the strength to do as God calls them to do for the people of the world.
Supplies: white glue, shallow bowls, skeins of green and blue yarn, scrap yarn of many colors, scissors, waxed paper, print-out of globe, tables, newspaper, easy access to water How: Cover tables with newspaper. Place one copy of the printed-out globe on paper for each camper, and cover it in waxed paper. Put glue in shallow bowls and dilute with water – 1 part glue to 1 part water. One bowl of glue solution to every two or three campers. Cut a piece of blue or green yarn and dip in the glue mixture. Pull yarn through two fingers to scrape off excess glue. Use the yarn to outline the globe and the continents. Try to make sure that all the yarn is connected to the outside row of yarn so that when it dries it will all be connected. Reinforce the top edge with one or two extra pieces of yarn where the hanger will be. Then, using the other colors, the campers may add other designs, flowers, fish, hearts or just decorative squiggles to fill in the spaces. Once they have finished let the whole thing dry on a flat surface. Once dry, peel off the waxed paper, add a string to the top edge and hang in a window to remind the campers to pray for all the people of the world, not just the ones they know. BTW: You may choose to skip the world map part and just let them make designs on their own that help them remember the story of Esther. However, there will be some children who will need a starter idea. So make sure you have suggestions and even outlines for them. You may have a child who has an aversion to sticky stuff on their hands. Encourage them to try or partner them with a helper.
Change Savings Boxes/Jars #Create #Serve
Supplies: glass jars or wooden craft boxes, scissors, craft glue, pictures/maps from countries where aid-workers are fighting injustice,
How: Campers decorate jars or boxes for change collection for relief organizations. Campers choose photos or maps of areas experiencing injustice that they would like to help. If using glass jars, have them cut out pictures, apply a thin layer of craft glue to the fronts of the pictures, and glue them to the inside of their jars, facing out. Have them create collages of pictures. If using craft boxes, have them follow the similar steps, only gluing the pictures’ backs to the outside of the boxes. When the glue has dried, campers can use them store change for whichever causes they choose. BTW: Have a list of relief organizations with a range of justice issues available for campers who may not be sure what injustice they want to help eradicate. Offer descriptions and information on how to donate.
Mishloach Manot #Serve #Create Why: This activity helps demonstrate the importance of community. In the Esther story, the Jewish people are not unified. Today, the Jewish people practice “mishloach manot” in order to demonstrate unity, friendship, love, and the importance of community. Supplies: chocolate bars, graham crackers, large marshmallows, containers for two s’mores ingredients, craft supplies How: In this activity, campers will learn about the tradition of “mishloach manot,” which is when Jews give gifts of food to friends on Purim. Invite campers to decorate the containers in a fun way (one or two per camper). Then have campers wash their hands and instruct them to package the s’more supplies in the containers. Each container should include enough supplies to make at least two s’mores. When the campers are done, tell them that they each are to choose someone at camp (or two people, if they’ve made two) to whom to give their “s’mores prep packages.” Keeping in line with Jewish custom, they will then each ask someone else from the group to deliver their s’more kits to their designated recipients.
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Why: This activity encourages support of justiceseeking agencies. It reminds campers that these organizations need support and empowers them to make a difference with what they have left over, as Boaz did—allowing Ruth to gather his leftover grain. This activity fosters a connection among campers, specific areas, and relief organizations on an intellectual and artistic level.
magazine/newspaper clippings that illustrate these areas
BTW: Instead of s’mores, consider making trail mix or some other appropriate, ready-to-eat food. As always, keep in mind campers’ allergies.
Shaving Cream Seals #Create #P l a y Why: This sensory activity allows campers some time to work as individuals. It gives them the freedom to make, and remake, their symbols as many times as they’d like.
In a prayerful time, offer up all of the places and groups of people mentioned during the day’s lessons. Then, repeat the phrase, quoted from Esther, “Who knows, _____________? Maybe you were put here for just such a time as this.” With each repetition, say the name of one of the campers in the blank after “Who knows…,” as if Mordecai is imploring each camper specifically to use his or her gifts to bring about justice for those in need. Repeat the phrase until you have used each camper’s name with the quote.
Supplies: flat surface (enough room for each camper to have his or her own space), shaving cream, popsicle sticks, paint brushes
Let Justice Reign!
How: In this activity, campers will create symbols for their own “signet rings.” In the story, Haman used King Ahasuerus’s signet ring to further his plan for destroying the Jewish people. In those days, leaders wore rings that acted like their signatures. They might have symbols or letters on them. Each camper will have his or her own space. Squirt some shaving cream into the area. Allow campers to use their hands, popsicle sticks, paint brushes, etc., to create their own symbols. They may try out as many symbols as they’d like. Suggest that they can try whatever symbols, letters, or pictures they can think of. When finished, make sure that everyone helps clean up.
In this celebration, campers will praise God for an act of justice. Choose one or more stories from history or from recent news when someone stood up for justice. Tell the story of this situation and then allow the campers to celebrate in whatever way they deem appropriate. Campers may want to create their own artwork commemorating this event and decorate their cabin. Remember to spend some time thanking God for giving this person the courage to do what was right.
BTW: This activity can be done inside or outside. Food coloring can be added to the shaving cream for some additional fun. Be sure that it is okay if the flat surface gets stained. Otherwise, protect it with wax paper.
Closing Devotions
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Every day, wrap up your day with a short time of devotion. In addition to the resources listed here, you may want to turn to the Daily Guides Worship Practices for suggested prayers and songs. Though time sometimes runs out and devotions can “slip off your radar,” at least give the campers a moment to thank God for the day. You could use a repeated phrase to signal that your time has come to a close by shouting in one voice, “Together, we have the courage to DO Justice! Amen!”
For a Time Such as This Supplies: list of names of all campers
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#centering
#celebrate
Supplies: food and drinks, party supplies (noisemakers, hats, decorations, music, etc.), art supplies
Just Us
#P r a y #Serve #Create
Why: Children worry about the world problems adults worry about. This allows them to speak their concerns and to speak solutions only they can dream. The word “justice” can be too abstract, and this activity can help give it meaning. Supplies: paper, markers or crayons How: Have the group divide into pairs. Give each pair paper and something to draw with. Instruct them to consider where the world needs help, and pretend that the only people available to help are them. Have them choose a problem they see in the world and draw a solution to the problem that the group might make happen. They can imagine that they have all the supplies they need to make it happen. What you are looking for is the plan. When all have finished their drawings, have all the campers get into a circle. Begin your prayer by explaining, “God is here with us, and every word we speak and every problem we say, God will hear.” Then go around the circle, having the
campers share their drawings—the problems and the solutions. After each time, have the group say, “Lord, hear our prayer.” Close with a summary of what you have heard. Then remind them that “just us” is what God has in the world to be of service. Justice can come from “just us.” After the prayer, talk to them about what “just us” might actually do to serve. BTW: Some campers will be slow to identify a problem. Make sure you have several you can whisper to them as ideas.
I Was Hungry…
#celebrate
Supplies: recording of inspirational music, portable battery-operated player, cardboard signs, thick markers Act out scenes of justice based around the actions of the sheep in Christ’s parable of the sheep (Mt. 26:35–36). Actors act out feeding the hungry, giving water to the thirsty, taking care of the sick, clothing the naked, welcoming the stranger, and visiting the prisoner. Play an inspirational song in the background. After all the scenes have been acted, the actors return to the stage and reveal cardboards signs that say, “I was hungry and you fed me,” etc., as applicable to the scene those actors portrayed. The actors turn, smiling to each other and the crowd, and leave the stage, walking into the congregation to the back, and then the front, of the room, showing the sign to each person and smiling with the joy of one who has received justice.
Praying for God’s People
#P r a y
Why: This activity connects the Esther story to today and also encourages campers to begin to think about places around the world where injustice is occurring. Supplies: large map of the world, notes on the conflicts (made ahead of time), sticky notes, marker, candles (one per camper), lighter or matches
BTW: The campers might not yet be comfortable using a lighter or striking a match. If that is the case, you could use pieces of clay or play-doh to place on the map.
Weeklong Project Do For Others Brainstorm with campers times when they see injustice being done. Encourage them to think about their hometowns, churches, schools. Then ask them to think about what kinds of injustices are done to the earth and its people. Then spend some time thinking of ways you could speak or do on their behalf. Commit time every day to do some of these tasks. Some suggestions are: Monday: Litter – go out onto the property and work together to pick up litter Tuesday: Path deterioration – When humans don’t stay on pathways in the woods, young trees get destroyed and erosion can set in. Tend to the camp’s pathways, creating stone or fallen tree borders where practical. Wednesday: Caretakers – Often, people who do maintenance are taken for granted. Ask the caretakers at your camp if there are projects you can do to make their lives a little easier. Spend time with the caretaker and learn the things that they do behind the scenes: pool maintenance, plumbing, repairs, etc.
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How: Ahead of time, take a large map of the world and mark (with sticky notes or a marker) some places in the world where God’s people are being oppressed. Check international news sources for information and to gain a basic understanding of each conflict. Be sure to include stories from
the U.S. and/or the regional area surrounding the camp. Share these stories briefly with campers. Share at least one story for each camper in your group. After you have shared about all of the situations, allow each camper to choose one for which to pray. Stand in a circle and hold hands, placing the map, unlit candles, and a lighter in the middle. Open with a general prayer and then go around the circle, inviting each camper to pray out loud for his or her situation. When done praying, campers may each light a candle in the center and place it on the map in the appropriate place. If campers are unsure of what to say, tell them that they may pray something like, “Dear God, please be with your people in [location name]. Help them, encourage them, and let your justice be done. Amen.”
Thursday: Food Justice – Invite campers to notice when food is going to waste. Find some ways that they can take only what they need, share what’s leftover, etc. You could bake something and do the math to make sure you create the exact right number and portions of muffins, cookies or cupcakes. Friday: Childhood Justice – This often overlooked segment of the population rarely has a voice or say in issues of justice- yet it is the group campers are all a part of. Brainstorm things that kids get left out of, or decisions that are solely made by adults that effect children such as public elections, school curriculum, or consequences for their behavior. Roll play these situations both the way they are, and the way they could be. Ex. Talking with teachers about what students want to learn. Books: • The Lorax, The Butter Battle Book, Yertle the Turtle, Seuss • Courage, Esther!, Wolkstein • The Story of Queen Esther, Koralek
Telling Esther’s Story Newscast 1: Hello, this is ________________ for Channel 3 Eyewitness Persia: Today’s top story: A Queen has been deposed. Palace sources report that King Xerxes ordered Queen Vashti to come to his banquet hall so she could, quote “display her beauty to the people and nobles.” It seems Queen Vashti refused his majesty’s request. After consulting the wise men, Xerxes issued a decree that Vashti is quote “never again to enter the presence of King Xerxes.” A search is underway to fill the royal position. Many have speculated who Vashti’s replacement will be, but our sources tell us Xerxes will name Esther his new queen in a press conference tomorrow from the palace balcony. Little is known about the new queen, but we will bring updates as the story unfolds. IM/Text conversation 1:
• Hey, Little Ant, Hoose and Tilley
Esther: UNCLE MORDECAI! STOP WHAT YOU’RE DOING RIGHT NOW! THIS IS HUGE!!!!!!!!
• Esther...the Girl Who Became Queen, Veggie Tales, 2000. (DVD)
Mordecai: What is it, little one? Are you hurt? Are you in trouble?
Quotes from Christ ✃ ✃ ✃ ✃ ✃ ✃ DAY CAMP
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Let the one without sin cast the first stone. Blessed are those who mourn for they will be comforted. Do not judge, so you will not be judged. Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Let the children come to me and do not stop them. I am with you always, until the end of the age. The last shall be first, and the first shall be last. Your sins are forgiven.
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Esther: I’M GONNA BE QUEEN! I’M GONNA BE QUEEN! I’M GONNA BE QUEEN! Mordecai: I always said you were pretty enough to be a queen. Are they being nice to you? Esther: It’s gr8! I get beauty treatments every day and the king says he likes me better than anyone else. Mordecai: You didn’t tell them you were Jewish, did you? Esther: Of course not. I promised. Mordecai: Good. I’ll let you get back to the palace. I’ll come visit soon. Esther: K Newscast 2: Breaking News from Channel 3 Eyewitness Persia: Tonight, the plot to overthrow a king. We have just received news of a thwarted plot to kill our great king Xerxes. Sources say two of the king’s eunuchs were overheard at the king’s gate
planning the assassination. The two men were turned in by a bystander who happened to be sitting near the gate as they plotted. We have just received word the man’s name is Mordecai, but we cannot confirm his ethnic origin or if he has any family. In unrelated news, King Xerxes has promoted Haman the Agagite above all officials. We’ll have more from his palace reception at 10 o’clock. IM/Text Conversation 2: Mordecai: Esther can you talk? Esther: How are you still awake? Mordecai: I don’t have time esther. Is anyone in the room with you? Esther: No what’s going on? Mordecai: I think i’m in trouble. Haman wanted me to bow down to him. Esther: Please tell me you bowed down. You don’t want him angry. Mordecai: How could I bow down? It is wrong. I cannot bow down to any man. Esther: You are so stubborn. Do you want to get killed? The guard is coming. gtg. Newscast 3:
IM/Text Conversation 3:
Mordecai: Do you think doing nothing will save you? Esther: If I speak to the king when I have not been called to come, i could be killed. Mordecai: What if you were put here just for this time to save your people? Esther: I must be crazy. K. I’ll help. But you better get everyone you know and start fasting and praying now. I need all the help i can get. Mordecai: Thank you child. Thank you so much. Newscast 4: We’re back with Channel 3 Eyewitness Persia. Tonight, a royal law reversed. In a rare change of heart, King Xerxes has called off the destruction of all Jewish people scheduled for the 13th of Adar. Palace officials say the King’s choice was prompted when Esther, who many believe is the king’s favorite, revealed that she in fact is a Jew, begging the king to spare her people. And in an ironic turn of events, top palace official Haman was executed today on the very gallows he had fashioned for assassination whistleblower Mordecai. Sources within the palace report that Mordecai angered Haman, inciting Haman’s plan to wipe out all of his people. Mordecai, meanwhile, has recently been honored by King Xerxes for saving his life and has now been given the king’s signet ring that once belonged to Haman. Optional, if you want to address the Jewish retaliation More violence has ensued in the province due to the king’s latest letter sent by courier to every city allowing the Jewish people to quote “take revenge on their enemies.” It seems that though the Jewish people will not be wiped out, peace will have to wait to come to Persia just a little longer.
I’m __________________ for Channel 3 Eyewitness Persia.
Mordecai: Esther you have to help us!
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Tonight on Channel 3 Eyewitness Persia: A new law that aims to kill an entire people. Today Haman placed the king’s seal on a law that will quote “destroy, kill, and annihilate all the Jewish people.” The law will go into effect on the 13th of the month of Adar. On that day, all are called to be ready to kill anyone of Jewish heritage and plunder their goods. When Hamar was reached for comment, he declined to mention a specific instance that caused such a swift and brutal enactment, except that quote, “their laws are different, and they do not respect the king’s laws.” Our sources tell us that Haman is funding this mass execution with his own money. With this proclamation, all Jewish people in Babylon are praying for a miracle. Back to you.
Esther: What can I do besides get myself killed along with you?
Make your own Cootie Catcher
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Time is Running Out! Esther had to complete a number of tasks in order to save her people before time ran out. In this activity, you must complete the following tasks in this order before time runs out. When you are done, return this form to your counselor to see if you succeeded in saving your people in time! 1. First, Esther needed to ask her people to pray and fast for her. Find three different people and ask them to say a prayer for you. After they have prayed, have them sign their names here:
2. Esther needed to humble herself and go before the king. Find your counselor. Bow down in front of him/her to show respect. Then, ask your counselor to sign here:
3. Esther also needed to touch the king’s scepter in order to show respect for the government. Run to the flagpole and touch it. Then sign your name here:
4. Esther had to throw two parties in order for her plan to be carried out. Find three people. All four of you need to dance together for 30 seconds. Have all three people sign their names here:
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5. Finally, Esther had to tell the king that she was one of God’s people, a Jew. Run to your counselor and announce your name. Find out if you have saved your people in time!
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Week 6
Together, the Courage to change Plan Your Week
Use the grid below as an example to help you create a visual plan for your week. (You will want to list your own schedule and write in your choices.) Select activities from the various listings below; feel free to add others of your own creation, as well. Event
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Reverse and Repeat
All Aboard
Body Parts Bingo
Speaking Jesus
That’s Not Nice!
Scripture: Acts 10
Pantomime
Story In Cards
Setting the Table
Casting Call Challenge
Emoticons
Parachute Popcorn
Bowling For Change
Changed!
Good Changes
Quiet Time (p.330)
Table Talk & Journal time
Rest, Read & Journal time
Table Talk& Journal Time
Rest, Read & Journal Time
Table Talk & Journal Time
Late Activity (p.331)
Make an Impression Necklace
Tell the Story in Homemade Pictures
Labyrinth
PSA Play
Change the Rules Kickball
The Right Way
Back in My Day
Butterflies
Oh, How We’ve Changed!
Weeklong Project (p.334)
Begin Make Rock Candy
Continue Make Rock Candy
Continue Make Rock Candy
Continue Make Rock Candy
Continue Make Rock Candy
Daily Song
Lord, I Want to be a Christian
Waiting On the World to Change (John Mayer)
Create in Me a Clean Heart, O God
Man in the Mirror Spirit of the Living God (Michael Jackson)
Welcome (p.325) Bible Story (p.326) Early Activity (p.328)
Up in the Air Closing Devotions (p.333)
Leader Notes
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Following a pattern or a routine makes us all feel safe. Just being at camp this week and taking on a new schedule, new living space, new food, and new friends is a huge change for your young campers. Acknowledge their courage today, and point out how they have done well at navigating the changes. Have them share how the camp experience is different from their daily routine. Talk about how, before camp started, you might have been a bit nervous about meeting them, and about how you wondered how you were going to manage the changes the week would bring to you. It may be that the campers have some coping skills to share! Share ways of coping with change and the need to find a safe and stable ground to stand on in the middle of what they perceive as chaos. It is part of your task to help them find the stable ground and, in some cases, to be that safe place.
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Welcome Use these activities during get-to-know-you time. Be aware that you may need to be flexible as campers arrive. Advise your staff to introduce campers to each other and to use this time to watch for group interactions, gauge energy levels and encourage those who may need it.
REVERSE AND REPEAT
#P l a y
Why: Change is often a personal preference, and that preference is rarely consistent. Help campers begin exploring their own feelings about change. How: Play an old game with revered rules. “Red light, Green light” is an easy choice because it requires no planning or set-up. Also, it is easy to flip the rules. Simply have campers line up across an open space with one volunteer as the traffic director at the far end. When they say “red light” people run toward them. When campers hear, “green light,” they must stop. Those who do not stop must start over. After playing, spend some time talking about how hard it can be to do things in a different way. Ask campers to share things they like to stay the same and things they like to change. BTW: A reverse game day could happen campwide. Running the bases backward in kickball, or shooting a basketball through the bottom of the hoop, could be a fun challenge. Beyond games, campers could line up backward, or even eat dessert first at dinner. Mix things up.
All Aboard
#P l a y #LEARN
Why: It is difficult for a group to rethink a solution that used to work and is no longer working. The early Christians had to be agile in their thinking as the church grew from just those who were Jews believing in Jesus to Jews and Gentiles believing and living out their faith together.
How: Lay the flip chart paper on the ground and explain that this is the size of the campers’ platform. They need to get their whole group on the platform and sing one whole verse of
BTW: This activity can be spread out over the day and be done on the way to somewhere else. Just carry the progressively smaller pieces of paper with you, or “plant” them around the camp along the path to where you will be going during the day. Make sure campers maintain healthy physical boundaries. This game stops when people get uncomfortable.
Body Parts Bingo
#P l a y
Why: We are talking about change and the courage to do things we normally would not have thought about doing. This game does just that. You have not lived until you find your nose in a stranger’s armpit! How: You will be the leader. This game is a cross between “Tag” and “Simon Says” and can be played inside or outside, or even in the water. A leader shouts out, “Body Parts Bingo!” which means find a partner. Each pair will then touch together the body parts that the leader shouts out (for example: knee to knee, elbow to elbow, nose to elbow, hand to head, head to knee, foot to elbow, etc.). The pairs must move fast to make the pairings, and then, when the leader shouts, “Body Parts Bingo!” again, they must change to other partners. Laughter ensues. BTW: Be kind. Young children have a full range of comfort levels with personal space. Be aware that some have no boundaries, and others have very firm boundaries. Watch for campers who might be really uncomfortable, and choose only the easiest body part pairings to accomplish. You do not know what a child has had to endure, and you will quite possibly have a child in your group who has experienced some form of abuse. If a child’s
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Supplies: sheet of flip chart paper, half-sheet of flip chart paper, legal-size sheet of paper, and a letter-size sheet of paper
“This Little Light of Mine” to be considered for the next challenge. There should be no part of any group member touching the ground. All should be balanced on the paper. Once they do that, congratulate them and lay out the halfsheet of flip chart paper, explaining that it is the “platform” for the next challenge. Have them figure out how to stand on that and sing. Then introduce the legal-size paper, and then the lettersize paper. Talk about what it was like to have to change. Discuss what changes they made and what worked and what did not. Ask them to name times that they had to change.
reactions make you think he or she has been abused, mention your concern to your supervisor and discuss possible next steps.
Speaking Jesus
#LEARN
Why: Part of the story of Peter is about the different languages the Spirit gave him to speak the truth to the world. We can speak the most important truth to the world too. This activity helps the campers learn how to do that. Supplies: world map, marker, cards with “Jesus loves You” printed in different languages on them (p. 336) How: Teach the campers five different ways to say “Jesus loves you”—and draw different symbols on the map on the countries where people speak that language (for example: a star for Spanish, a cross for French, a circle for Swahili, etc.). BTW: You may have campers in your group who already speak another language. Let them teach you!
That’s Not Nice Why: The value of this game is pure silliness and good, clean fun. Enjoy! Supplies: None required, can use playing cards to select “It”
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How: Have campers sit in a circle with one person secretly designated as “it”. This can be done by drawing cards or by the leader selecting while everyone’s eyes are closed. The goal of “It” is to eliminate everyone from the game. This is done by sticking their tongue out. If someone sticks their tongue out at you in this game, you must immediately stop talking and are out. For everyone else, the goal is to find and name the person who is “It.” If a camper sees “It” stick his or her tongue out, they say, “That’s not nice…” and say the camper’s name. If a camper is in the middle of this and “It” sticks their tongue out at him or her, he or she must stop speaking. Another camper must then start the phrase over if he or she want to catch “It.” Campers may not close their eyes for this activity. The game ends when “It” is caught or everyone else is eliminated. BTW: Try playing with a larger group, beyond the confines of a circle. The game could go on all day.
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Campers could have a bandana or sticker on them which they remove when out. This way everyone knows who is still in the game.
Bible Story At the beginning of the week, gather the campers together and read the week’s scripture from the Bible. As the week goes on, you can reinforce the Bible story by reading from different suggested story Bibles. The activities and resources listed below will offer you some alternative ways of telling the Bible story.
Pantomime #P l a y #LEARN Why: This pantomiming activity will help campers visualize the story. By entering into the story, campers can identify with various characters. Supplies: The Message version of the Bible, costumes, props (leather items, workbench, stuffed animals, sheet, chairs, soldier’s items, pillow, blankets), nametags How: Before beginning, set up three separate areas for the two scenes in the story. When the campers are present, read the story from The Message. Ask campers if they have any questions about the story. Explain the distinction between clean and unclean foods and why the Jewish people did not eat unclean foods. Then discuss the two scenes in the story: the home of Simon the Tanner and the home of Cornelius. Point out the two areas that you have created. Allow campers to choose the characters whom they would like to play. Give nametags to the campers (Simon, Peter, two messengers, Cornelius, family members of Cornelius, disciples, narrator). Read through the story again (or choose a camper to do so), pausing to allow the campers to act out the story silently. Debrief: • How did the characters in each scene break a previous rule or challenge an authority? • Why is it difficult when rules or guidelines change? • Think about a time when something changed and it was very difficult. What did you do to get through it? BTW: Instead of a pantomime activity that uses a lot of action, try this activity as a “freeze frame,”
where campers hold their positions in each scene. Snap photos and display them later.
Story in Cards
#LEARN
meet his little sister. As he held her for the first time, he smiled. Odd is good! he thought. From that day on, Pedro liked numbers, all of them, both even and odd.
Why: Most campers do not live in homes with food restrictions, and so do not easily understand the need for, or religious value of, the kosher dietary rules that Peter lived with. But they can understand the Pedro story below, even in its silly form. Partnering a silly story with the Peter story will help them to understand the pattern of the thinking in Peter’s story. The use of the cards helps hold their attention and focus, and helps make the connection between the stories.
Pause, gather all the cards, and tell the story of Peter and the rules about kosher food and nonkosher food as you use the same movements with the cards as you tell Peters story.
Supplies: deck of cards with all the face cards removed (use one Joker)
SETTING THE TABLE
#LEARN
Why: Allow campers to claim the ways change has shaped their personal experience of church while reflecting on what challenges those changes may have created. Supplies: paper, pencils, flat sheet or large square of cloth (4 feet or larger), markers How: Have campers make a list of things that distinguish their church tradition from others. Encourage them to think about how baptism, communion, and other sacramental moments are celebrated. Who leads worship and what are they called? Help them name things that are special or unique to their tradition. Read the Day 6 Story Summary, then invite different campers to take turns reading Acts 10 out loud. Offer a time for campers to share their thoughts on the story. Remind the campers that our understanding of church and Christian community has changed a lot since this story took place, but it was one of the first big changes. Invite campers to write distinguishing things about their churches on a large piece of cloth. Encourage them to write big so their words can be easily seen, even from a distance. Now, invite them to add other things that are part of church today that could not have been imagined by the ancient church (microphones, projectors, modern instruments, air conditioning, etc.). Invite campers to surround the cloth once everything is written. Together, lift it into the air and bring it back down. Pick one item written
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How: Tell this story with the cards: There once was a man named Pedro. He loved even numbers (turn over several cards, noting with delight the evennumbered ones and tossing the odd-numbered ones into a pile). His twin brother, his father and mother, his grandfather and grandmother, and all of his family only used even numbers (sort through several more cards). When Pedro ate breakfast, he ate two eggs and two muffins; when he went to school, he walked two miles and ran up 10 steps and sat in the sixth chair on the fourth row. If he was given the options of taking out three, four, or five books from the library, he always took four. For Pedro, even numbers were just right, and odd numbers were very bad (sort out several more cards). Then one day his mother told him that their family was going to have a new little sister. Pedro was happy at first, but then he realized that if he had a baby sister that his family would have an odd number of people in it! That would be horrid! So he asked his mother if they could have two baby sisters. She smiled and said that they would have to start with one and see if they wanted another one later. Pedro was very upset. He explained the problem to his mother and father. He said, “If we have a baby sister our family will no longer be even! We will be odd!” His parents fell silent as they considered the problem. Finally, his father spoke: “Maybe, my dear son, odd is good.” So Pedro struggled with that. He went back and looked at his numbers. “Odd is good,” he thought (sort out more cards, but this time just lay them all out on the table). Then, one day, several months later Pedro got to
BTW: Some campers may have families who practice food restrictions, such as being vegan, kosher, or vegetarian, or who live with food allergies. They can share what it is like to eat with strangers who have different food rules.
on the sheet and discuss how that change might have happened in the church and what concerns people might have had at the time. Repeat this process, raising and lowering the sheet and then discussing a new topic. BTW: You could lead this into a discussion about what makes us separate ourselves by denomination or congregation. Challenge campers to affirm the oneness of the Church Universal. Consider using the sheets or fabric to decorate in worship or as tablecloths at a meal. This could be a great conversation starter for campers at mealtime.
Casting Call Challenge #P l a y #LEARN Why: Campers are likely to be very familiar with Disney characters and popular fairy tale stories. They will think of Peter and Cornelius’ story the next time they see these characters. How: The challenge is for you to tell the story of Peter and Cornelius using popular contemporary characters from shows and stories. Ask the campers for a suggestion of a favorite fairy tale or wellknown movie. Together, name the characters from the popular story and decide which character will be playing which biblical figure. Then tell the story with funny voices and all the flair of a cartoon! Example: Now starring: Jasmine as Peter, Aladdin as Cornelius, Genie as the Angel of God, and Abu as Simon. Let the flying carpet take the role of the blanket of food and call Joppa, Arabia. Afterward, let them choose another fairy tale and tell the story themselves. BTW: This activity is great for counselors and leaders who are spontaneous and silly. You may want to think through some other examples beforehand and be prepared. If you use characters from a Disney movie, try making up a song about the Bible story on the fly to the tune of a song from it.
Early Activity Use your morning activity time to reinforce the Bible story. It is a good time to get campers engaged in a project or game.
Emoticons
#LEARN
Why: This activity invites campers to connect with the emotions of the characters in the story. It may also help them to acknowledge fears. Supplies: The Message version of the Bible, large drawings of a wide variety of emoticons (one per standard sheet of paper, with multiple copies of each—enough so that there is one kind of each per camper) How: Have the emoticon drawings spread out in front of the campers. Explain that as the story is read, the campers should choose an emoticon that represents the emotions of the characters at that moment in the story. If they cannot find an emoticon that fits perfectly, they can use their own faces to express the appropriate emotion. Read the story using The Message. Pause frequently to allow campers to choose their emoticons. Discuss along the way, particularly if campers are struggling to discern the emotions. After the story is over, ask campers to choose an emoticon that captures their feelings about this story. Invite them to share. BTW: For a snack activity, prebake cookie pops. Use ready-to-bake cookies, but put a popsicle stick in them before baking. Provide campers with lots of yellow icing or melted yellow candy chips, black icing in a piping bag, and Runts candies or dried fruit to add features. Campers can decorate one or two cookies, and use them as above as you read the story.
Parachute Popcorn
#P l a y
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Why: The scene in the story with the animals coming down on the sheet will likely be the most memorable part for campers. This activity allows them to put their imaginations into action, while also encouraging them to participate in a classic pastime. Supplies: large parachute, stuffed animals of all kinds
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How: In the story, Peter saw a sheet coming down from the sky. The sheet was filled with animals. Take the parachute and spread the campers around the edges of it. Have them experiment with the parachute for a while. Then slowly add stuffed animals. Challenge them to keep all of the animals on the parachute! Campers can reenact the story by lowering the animals to the ground on the parachute and then raising it up again. BTW: This activity can be done inside or outside. If stuffed animals are not available, balls or bean bags will also work. Experiment with other parachute activities. If you don’t have a parachute, use a king-sized bed sheet per 4 campers (one at each corner). Make it challenging by having them “pop” specific animals off (for example, instruct them to “Keep only bears!”).
Bowling for Change Why: Sometimes the best serious conversations start with play. If the conversation doesn’t go far, you still had fun. Supplies: Bottles, cans or other items that could serves as bowling pins, a ball, sticky notes, something to write with
BTW: Groups of campers could make their own bowling sets, then trade with other groups. An all-
Changed!
#P l a y #Serve
Why: A lot of senses will be used in this activity! It is a great way to discuss just how much things can change. Supplies: a bar of Ivory soap (must be Ivory), microwave-safe plate, microwave, cookie cutters or molds, water, mixer or food processor or spoon, paper plates, sandwich-sized plastic bags (optional: food coloring) How: In this sensory activity, campers will see how a bar of Ivory soap is changed and then spend some time exploring this change. Take the bar of soap and show it to the campers. Have them pass it around. They can see it, touch it, smell it, and make lots of observations. It might be a good idea to take an extra bar of Ivory soap (one that will not be used in this experiment), place it in water, and allow the campers to make further observations. Then place the dry soap on a microwave-safe plate and put it in the microwave. Run the microwave on high for about a minute and thirty seconds. Make sure that the campers can see what’s going on inside the microwave. The soap will expand and move around. When the microwave stops, remove the soap carefully and let the campers examine it. It may be slightly hot, so do not let them touch it until it has cooled down. Once it has cooled, put it in plastic bowl where the campers can investigate it some more. You may want to do the same with another bar of Ivory to see how the two compare. Debrief: • How has the soap changed? How is it better? How is it worse? How is it the same? • Peter was very concerned about remaining “clean.” Yet, he discovered that God was going to make all things clean. This was a difficult change for Peter. How was this change better? How was it worse? How was it the same? Now that the soap has (likely) been smashed to smithereens by the campers, invite them to make soaps to give away. Take the soap shavings and add a bit of warm water to them. Mix (with a spoon or
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How: Set up an outdoor bowling alley by collecting bottles, cans, or other items that could serve as bowling pins. Stand up 10 of these items as pins in a triangle shape on the ground. Choose a ball to use for the activity. The smaller the ball, the harder the activity. You could change balls along the way. Ask the campers to name problems that the Church hopes to solve in the world and write these on sticky notes and place them on the pins. Ask the campers to brainstorm gifts the Church possesses to help make a difference. Write these on the ball (or just list them if you can’t really write on the ball). Have fun bowling, letting campers take turns trying to knock down the pins. If you have time, play a full 10 frames, keeping score, and letting campers take turns resetting the pins. Try to find some time to talk about how different “splits” might be similar to Church life. For example, what happens when (like a “split” in bowling) we see two problems and can’t solve both?
camp bowling alley could be set up with multiple sets and lanes going at the same time. Let campers award one another superlative bowling trophies, “The Great Gutter Guru Award,” etc.
a mixer or a food processor) just until the substance comes together, and has the consistency of pie crust and can be formed into a ball. Add food coloring, if desired. Let the campers press it into the cookie cutters or molds. After the soaps are molded (but still wet), you can gently push them out of the molds. Put them on paper plates and have the campers each add his or her name to his or her soap shape. Allow the soaps to sit in a cool, dry place until the campers are ready to go home. Then place them in plastic bags and encourage the campers to give them to someone special when they get home. BTW: The smell of the soap in the microwave shouldn’t be too strong and won’t last long, but those with asthma or other respiratory problems may want to be farther away. If only a small microwave is available, cut the bar of Ivory in half before putting it in the microwave.
Good Changes
#celebrate
Supplies: paper, writing utensils
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In this activity, invite campers to sit in a circle with their eyes closed. Choose two or three campers at a time to move around the circle. Remind campers how important the things they say are, and to be kind and loving. Ask the moving campers to “gently touch the friends who tried a new thing this week” or “gently touch the friends who helped you change.” Make sure to use phrases so that everyone gets several touches. Campers will note positive changes in themselves and in each other. After everyone has gone, give campers writing tools and paper, and let them each make a list of the great things about himor herself, starting with what he or she was just recognized for in the circle. Have them write, “Great things about [their name]” at the tops of their papers, and then write all the “taps” they received in the game. Then allow them some time to write their own statements about how they have changed. As a litany, allow each child to stand and read their list (for example: “I am brave; I am silly, I try new things!”). When all have shared their lists, tell them to write one more thing on their lists: “I am changed by Christ’s community!” Then, everyone shouts the last phrase together.
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Quiet Time Every day, allow your campers some quiet “downtime.” You may want to provide campers with books, craft supplies, paper, or manipulatives such as clay or action-figures. Encourage your campers to reflect upon and connect with the weekly story and theme. You may allow some quiet cooperative games like mancala or cards, but encourage discussion between campers by using the Table Talk questions. Be sure to allow campers ample time to clean up their work before moving on to the afternoon activities.
Table Talk Use these questions to invite campers into conversation about the theme. Use them over one or more of the meals or create a conversation station during one of the activity rotations Consider using this for one or more of the days in the week.
Younger Campers: • Take a look at your surroundings. If you could change anything about them, what would you change and why? • Name something that you wish you had more time to do. • Who is the bravest person you know? How do you know that he or she is brave? • Have you ever learned something from someone who was different from you? Maybe you learned about a new food or tradition. Share what you learned.
Older Campers: • If you could personally witness any event in history, which event would you choose? Why? • Imagine that you could live in another country for one year for the purpose of learning about that country, its people, traditions, faith stories, etc. Which country would you choose? Why? • Has there ever been a rule that you felt needed to be broken or challenged? Did you break it? • If you could change one thing about your camp experience, what would you change? Why?
Create Our Journals
• When in your life have you changed what you believe in? Tell what that was like.
How: Have the campers collect small leaves or flowers they think are interesting. Give each camper a small piece of clay about the size of a gumball. Have them roll out the clay on waxed paper. When it is almost as thin as a quarter, place a leaf or flower on top of the clay and roll over it to make an impression. Peel off the object and use one of the cutters to cut out the favorite part of the print to make a pendant. Punch a hole in the clay with a coffee stirrer to create hole for a chain or string to make the necklace. Ball up the excess clay to make another print. Place on the cookie sheet and bake as per instructions on the clay packaging. Once the clay has cooled choose a color of acrylic paint and paint over the printed side of the pendent. Then, with a damp paper towel, gently wipe off the excess paint, leaving the color in the ridges of the print impression. When it is dry, hang on a string or chain as a necklace.
• Has God ever taught you something new? What was it? If not, imagine what that would be like.
BTW: This is another craft that can be done over two days. It can be paired with another craft or a game or other activity.
Each day, campers will be allowed time to record their thoughts, hopes, drawings and such in their journals. You can choose to make these easily by folding five to ten sheets of paper together with a sheet of construction paper on the bottom and stapling them in the middle. Allow campers to put their name on the front cover and decorate them however they like. To make the journals more elaborate you can punch holes in the edges and weave a ribbon through them or use brads. For multi-week use, add more paper.
Journal Time • Do you believe anyone can be a Christian? Why or why not?
• Do you think the Holy Spirit looks like something? Can you draw it?
Rest and Read Here are storybooks to read aloud for quiet time, perhaps after lunch. Or use them during worship time: • King Bidgood’s in the Bathtub, Wood • Very Hungry Caterpillar, Carle, • Mama Says, Walker and Dillon • How The Grinch Stole Christmas, Seuss
Late Activity Make an Impression Necklace Why: When Jesus asks us to go out into the world to tell the Good News, we are to leave an impression. The impression in this activity is one that the campers can keep or give away as a gift of their week at camp.
Why: Visual aids help this story resonate more clearly. It can be a difficult story to comprehend or realize the importance of. Seeing still shots will allow campers to picture it more clearly. Supplies: computer with PowerPoint, template of a PowerPoint slide show, computer projector, screen, props/costumes for actors in slides, digital or instant camera How: With leadership or camp staff, take staged pictures of the story of Peter and Cornelius to accompany the reading. Make the pictures overdramatized and funny. Use the list in Story Summary to design the image for each slide. After telling the story using the slide show, discuss the times of Peter and Cornelius and the cultural rules in place. Help campers realize how remarkable it was for Peter to associate with a Gentile, and how the rules about eating and cleanliness factored into Jewish culture. Discuss contemporary practices that may compare. BTW: This slide show would make a great feature of worship. You can allow the groups to recreate the scenes themselves.
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Supplies: Polymer clay (any color will do); acrylic paint; small circle, square, rectangle or triangle cutters (look in cake decorating supplies); rolling pin or smooth cylindrical water glasses; paper towels; water; waxed paper; cookie sheet; access to an oven; round coffee stirrers
Tell the Story with Homemade Pictures #LEARN
Labyrinth
#P r a y #Create
Why: Sometimes people believe that prayer is all about them talking to God, but often God talks to them, and they just need to listen. A labyrinth can help them listen. This activity is a good one for campers that process internally or need some “alone time” with God. Walking the labyrinth by themselves will encourage campers to reflect on all that God has been teaching them at camp. The finger labyrinth can be a powerful reminder of that experience. Supplies: printouts of page 337, supplies to create a large labyrinth (see below), large colorful paper plates, writing paint, fine paintbrushes, pencils (optional: soothing music to play in background) How: In this activity, campers will be encouraged to listen to God while using a labyrinth for prayer. Ahead of time, create a labyrinth for campers to walk through. Many different designs are available online, but you can use the seed patterns on page 337. Create the labyrinth using rope or clothesline, sidewalk chalk, or tracing it in the sand on the beach or in the volleyball pit. Explain to the campers that Peter listened to God while he was praying. So campers will be making their own finger labyrinths to take home. During this time, they will also each get the opportunity, one at a time, to walk the big labyrinth. To make the finger labyrinths, campers should choose a paper plate and the design of the labyrinth that they want to use. Then, they should copy (or trace) the labyrinth design onto the paper plate lightly with a pencil. After that, they can trace their pencil marks with writing paint. This makes the labyrinth more threedimensional and easier to use for prayer. BTW: You may want to experiment with all different kinds of labyrinths that the campers can walk through. They can be inside or outside, during the day or at night. You can even plan a glow-in-the-dark labyrinth or one that can be done in the lake or pool.
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Instead of the writing paint, campers can use rolled-up foil and glue to make the finger
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PSA Play
#P l a y #Create
Why: Help campers think about making changes in their home congregation and equip them with some simple wisdom to guide the process. Supplies: Video camera (optional), paper, pencil How: Invite the campers to brainstorm advice they would give the congregation when it comes to making changes. How do you make change while paying attention to everyone’s feelings? Challenge the campers to take their advice and form it into a Public Service Announcement (PSA). These can be acted out or recorded with a camera. It is best to plan out the full PSA, write down anything that will be spoken, and then practice it a couple of times before recording or performing. Remember, a PSA is brief and simple. Taking complicated ideas and making them into simple statements can be difficult. If you make a video, it can be shared easily with the larger camp community. It can also be shared with local congregations as a voice from youth about the importance and complexity of change. BTW: Multiple groups of campers could act out their PSAs for worship. Another option is to let other adults or campers watch the PSA, then make suggestions on ways to change it. If you have a budding artist, you could use a whiteboard to make an info-graphic. Allow campers time to decide if they like the change suggested, or to reject that change.
Change the Rules Kickball #P l a y Why: This activity demonstrates how change can be frustrating. Those used to a specific set of rules may have issues playing under new ones. Some may blame lack of success on rule changes. Campers can look at how changes, whether they make sense or not, are often uncomfortable because they break us out of routines and comfort zones. Supplies: kickball, bases, playing space How: Play kickball, but periodically pause the game to change the rules. Change in ways that reverse the standard rules or add absurdity and chaos to the game.
Suggestions: • Run the bases backward (third-second-firsthome). • Instead of running, players hop. • Swap players from teams. • Change the number of outs per inning. • Outfielders must dance between plays, or the other team gets a run. • The roller (pitcher) must sing as he or she rolls, or the other team gets a run. • Swap scores periodically. • Make foul balls fair/fair balls foul. • Base runners can run anywhere they want while the ball is in play, out of the base path. • Switch the kick ball for another type of ball (football, Nerf, giant inflatable). • Base runners must prance, waving their arms like birds. BTW: You could allow each kicker on their turn “at bat” to change one rule. This might be a good activity to do early in the day.
Closing Devotions Every day, wrap up your day with a short time of devotion. In addition to the resources listed here, you may want to turn to the Daily Guides Worship Practices for suggested prayers and songs. Though time sometimes runs out and devotions can “slip off your radar,” at least give the campers a moment to thank God for the day. You could use a repeated phrase to signal that your time has come to a close by shouting in one voice, “Together, we have the courage to Change! Amen!”
we do not like; God may call us to take a risk, etc.). Using a white sheet or a parachute, gather the campers around and ask them to hold on to the edges. If the group is too big, you can assign some to hold the sheet/chute, while the other campers hold the beach balls (or balloons). Start the affirmation by asking the group to repeat after you: “We believe that God is with us.” Instruct them to say it back to you every time they hear you say it. Then have one of the campers read aloud what is on a ball, and then toss it onto the sheet/chute. Those holding the sheet/chute should gently ripple the cloth to keep the ball bouncing, but not tossed off. You say: “…but that is okay, because we believe that God is with us.” The group responds. Then the next ball is read and tossed. You say your line, and the group responds. When all the balls are moving on the sheet/ chute, shout “Amen!” and instruct the sheet/chute holders to bounce all the balls off. Let the campers gather the balls and place them in a significant place such as under a cross or on the altar.
The Right Way
#celebrate
Invite two groups of campers to sing the same song but with different words or motions. Stage an argument between the two groups as each tells the other it needs to be more comfortable with change. Invite two campers to read the same scripture from different translations. Stage an argument between the two campers as each tells the other they need to be more open to change.
Supplies: large white sheet or parachute, beach balls (or balloons) with writing on them
Read Acts 10: 34–35 between each portion, or save it for the end.
Write on the balls things that God calls us to do that call us to change (examples: God may call us to serve in a foreign country; God may call us to change; God may call us to be kind to someone
Close with a prayer of thanksgiving for the different ways Christians worship and offer praise to God.
Up in the Air
#celebrate
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(Use this as an affirmation of faith for worship.)
Invite two campers to lead the Lord’s Prayer. Stage an argument between the two over “debts and debtors” or “trespasses.” A third voice could argue for “sins” or more modern language.
BACK IN MY DAY
#LEARN #P r a y
Why: Change is not a new thing. Help campers reflect on what changes in the past have created the reality they live in today and how those changes came about. Supplies: large sheet of paper, markers How: Ask the campers to brainstorm a list of things that are different in the world from when their grandparents were youth. Help campers think about what was going on in the world 40 to 70 years ago. Write the differences on a large sheet of paper, forming a list. Once the list is complete, reflect on each item, asking campers to discuss how the change happened. What people, groups, or other influences made the change possible? Which changes are good? Which are bad? Invite campers to discuss whether all change has to be good or bad. Can change just be neutral? Close with a time of prayer for those whose courage to show up, risk, forgive, stand together, and do justice has shaped our world today. Invite campers to each pray for a different item on the list, or just go in a circle and invite each person to offer a prayer of thanks for one thing on the list. BTW: You could role-play some of the changes. For example, segregation ended thanks in part to Rosa Parks. Campers could act out that moment of change. These could be shared in worship or in a campfire setting.
Butterflies
#centering
Supplies: origami paper, string, recording of soft music, battery-operated player
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In this activity, the campers will make origami butterflies. Using the printable pattern on page 338, demonstrate for the campers how to make the butterflies. Explain that the butterfly is often a symbol of change because it changes from a plain caterpillar into a beautiful butterfly. Play soft music while the campers make the butterflies. To encourage them to stay calm and meditative, ask them to be as loud as butterflies. When they are done, attach string to the butterflies and use them to decorate the worship space.
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Oh, How We’ve Changed
#celebrate
Supplies: computer, computer projector, screen, Internet connection, recording of appropriate music Find a slideshow on YouTube in which a parent has made a video of pictures taken every day of a child’s life, charting how he or she grew. Play a song during the show that has to do with growing or changing. After showing the video, invite the campers to consider how they have grown up and changed over the years. Ask campers to stand as they feel led, and share changes that they are thankful to God that have happened. BTW: In lieu of technology, you could ask campers to bring with them to worship pictures of themselves as babies or young children, and share how they have grown and changed.
Weeklong Project Make Rock Candy This project will take 5 or more days. Start early in week. Why: This several-day activity can tie in to our theme several ways. Use each day to notice what is happening with the candy and tie it to the lesson. Courage to Show Up: Mixing the water and the sugar seems like all it will produce is syrup, but the process has to start somewhere! Courage to Trust: The first day of observation, you may not see much crystal growth and you’ll have to trust that the candy will grow. Courage to Forgive: The slow growth of the crystals can be a bit disappointing, and some may break when you are checking them. Courage to Stand: Notice that the crystals need other crystals to form onto. The more there are growing, the more they are able to grow! Courage to Do Justice: Notice that not everyone’s crystals are growing at the same rate. Some may have no crystals at all. Others have many. Help campers think of ways to change the experiment that will produce more consistent results.
Courage to Change: When growing on a string or stick isn’t working, you may have to take the crystals out to help them grow another way. Courage to Connect: Before going home, allow campers to trade their crystals with one another, so each will have a bag full of different colored crystals. Supplies: (per 3 campers) 3 cups granulated sugar, 1 cup water, saucepan, spoon, 3 tall narrow glasses, 3 kebob skewers, clothespins, food color, flavors (vanilla, peppermint, coconut, citrus extracts work well), paper napkins, trays How: Dampen skewers and roll them in a bit of dry sugar. Set aside skewers to dry. Mix 3 cups of sugar and 1 cup water in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Stir until solution begins to boil and becomes clear. Remove solution from heat. Suspend skewer over glass using a clothespin. Balance the clothespin across the top of the glass so that the stick doesn’t touch the bottom. Slowly pour the solution into the glass. Allow campers to choose a flavor and a color, place a couple drops of each into the glass. Cover with a paper towel or coffee filter and place in an area that won’t be disturbed. You can check growth every day, but be careful not to disturb the crystals too much. If ants or bugs may be a problem, place the glasses in trays with a half-inch of water and replace the water every other day. If, after the second day, you see NO crystal growth, you may want to empty the glass, reboil the solution and add a few tablespoons more sugar. By the fifth or sixth day, you may want to take the sticks out of the glasses and lay them flat on trays lined with wax paper. Use a fork to fish out any larger crystals, and pour them on top of the crystals on the stick. Let your campers taste some of the crystals. Allow the stick to dry for a day. In the end, put each camper’s crystals in a plastic ziptop bag with their name on it.
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BTW: Remind the campers that they started with many small grains of sugar, like each of them showing up on the first day of camp, but that camp has changed them day by day, and made them into a new thing: a community!
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(Germany, Austria)
German
(YAY-soos leebt deesh)
Jesus liebt dich
♥ JESUS LOVES YOU ♥
Cristo te ama (KREES-tow tay AH-ma)
Spanish
(Latin America, all of South America except for Brazil, Spain)
Jésus t’aime (ZHEH-zoo tem)
(China, Taiwan)
Chinese
(yea soo eye knee)
Ye Su ai ni
French
(France, parts of Canada, many countries in northern Africa including Madagascar, Rwanda and Chad Haiti)
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Yesu anakupenda
(YAY-soo ah-nah-koo-PEN-dah)
Swahili
(Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Congo)
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Labyrinth Seed Patterns Drawing the Classical Seven Circuit Labyrinth Step 1: Seed Pattern
Step 6: Loop 5
Step 2: Loop 1
Step 7: Loop 6
Step 3: Loop 2
Step 8: Loop 7
Step 4: Loop 3
Step 5: Loop 4
Step 9: Loop 8 (Finished Labyrinth
Drawing the Classical Three Circuit Labyrinth
Step 1: Seed Pattern
Step 2: Loop 1
Step 3: Loop 2
Step 4: Loop 3
Step 5: Loop 4
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Make an Origami Butterfly Step 1: Fold a square piece of paper (of any size) into thirds. Photo 1A is how your paper should look after it is folded.
1A
1
Step 2: Fold each third that you created in the previous step diagonally. (You may find it is easier to fold the center third’s portion first.) You can add a small piece of clear tape to each side to help the finished piece remain flat. Add thread for antennae or decorate any way you wish. Enjoy your butterfly!
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Week 7
Together, the Courage to connect Plan Your Week
Use the grid below as an example to help you create a visual plan for your week. (You will want to list your own schedule and write in your choices.) Select activities from the various listings below; feel free to add others of your own creation, as well. Event Welcome (p.340) Bible Story (p.341)
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Action!
One Body Race
The Pulse
Jesus Says
Follow Me
Scripture: Matthew 28
“Jesus Is Risen,” Godly Play, Berryman
What Happens Next
Fear Not
What Means the Most
Early Activity (p.342)
Pieces of the Puzzle
People I Can Talk To
Walk to the Edge of Camp
You’re Invited
Message in a Bottle
Quiet Time (p.344)
Table Talk & Journal time
Rest, Read & Journal time
Table Talk & Journal Time
Rest, Read & Journal Time
Table Talk & Journal Time
Seed Bomb
Church Connection Talk Show
Hushed Up?
Passing Fancy
Slide Show
Yea God! Prayer
Leaving an Imprint Answered Prayers Remembering, Sending Forth
Begin Stepping Out in Faith
Continue Stepping Out in Faith
Continue Stepping Continue Stepping Continue Stepping Out Out in Faith Out in Faith in Faith
O God, We Adore You
If We are the Body Pass It On (Casting Crowns)
Late Activity (p.345)
Worshipful Closing Devotions (p.347) Dancing Weeklong Project (p.348) Daily Song
Here I am, Lord
I Am the Light of the World
Leader Notes Campers may be anxious on this last day of camp. Emotions can be high—already there is a sense of loss that this community that you have worked to create will be scattered. Honor that campers need time to say goodbye, but don’t dwell on it. Instead, today is about “what next?” You will need to set a pattern for how one leaves camp. Help campers think about how they might stay connected to new friends and about how congregations and families are places for these relationships to flourish.
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Welcome Use these activities during get-to-know-you time. Be aware that you may need to be flexible as campers arrive. Advise your staff to introduce campers to each other and to use this time to watch for group interactions, gauge energy levels and encourage those who may need it.
some time debriefing and ask the campers what different parts make up the “body” of the Church and how they can best work together.
Action!
BTW: You can make the obstacles more complicated by including activities that involve moving or stacking items, then add more blindfolded team members to be “hands.” This might even include a community meal time, sitting as a “body” and making sure each person gets fed (by the hands, guided by the eyes).
Why: Have some fun while exploring the vocabulary of our faith.
The Pulse
Supplies: Note cards, pens, or pencils How: Ask campers to write verbs associated with Church on note cards but not to share their verbs with others. They may write as many as they want. Collect them all and eliminate duplicates. You may want to add a few of your own if there are some obvious things missing (worship, pray, help, etc.). Divide the campers into two groups and play a game of charades, with teams taking turns drawing one of the note cards to act out. Be sure to take time after each word to discuss what it means and how the campers feel about that part of Church life. Remember, some words may be negative or uncomfortable to the campers. For example, someone may write “argue” if that happens at their church a lot. Don’t be afraid of honest conversation. BTW: This game could be played all at once, or one round at a time through the week. It could also be a great all-camp activity with performers on stage and the audience guessing.
One Body Race Why: Give the campers an experience of working together in a fun way. Supplies: Paper and pencil
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How: Divide campers into teams of three, with two acting as the “legs,” and one acting as the “eyes.” Choose a distance or destination for the race. This can also be done as a simple obstacle course. Line the teams up with the “legs” carrying the “eyes” between them. Blindfold the “legs,” then share the destination with the eyes by writing it on a piece of paper so the “legs” can’t overhear it. Finally, say “go!” Afterward, spend
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#P l a y
Why: Have some fun together while reflecting on the impact you can have when you have the courage to share the faith you have received. Supplies: chairs (one per camper, plus one), Frisbee or small ball How: Divide campers into two even teams. Each team sits together in a row, back to back with the opposing team. At the end of the rows of chairs, place an extra chair facing the campers with a simple item such as a Frisbee or ball on the seat. Have team members hold hands. Make sure the two campers sitting closest can reach the item with their free hands. The team members on the other ends of the rows each hold one of the leaders’ hands. Tell campers they are to squeeze the hand of the person next to them when their hand is squeezed, passing it on. The last person in a row, when he or she receives a squeeze, uses his or her free hand to try to grab the “prize.” Once everyone is in place, the leader squeezes the hands he or she holds to start a “chair reaction.” The team that “pulses” the fastest will grab the prize first. Each person will get to take a turn at the front of the line. Keep score to see which team gets the prize the most times. Afterward, ask campers how the sharing of God’s love is passed and received. Invite the campers to think about what experiences at camp have touched them and how they will pass that on when they go home. BTW: Consider repeating the activity, but remove the prize. Instead of just squeezing the hand of the next person, each camper will pass on the words received from the previous person. The leader will squeeze the first person’s hand in each row and say, “The courage to…” and insert the
final part of the name of the theme for Day 1. Repeat for each daily theme.
Jesus Says
#P l a y
Why: It’s time to wrap things up, yet this familiar activity reminds campers of the key words of Jesus in the Matthew story. How: This is a game similar to “Simon Says.” In this game, one person acts as Jesus. This person tells the campers to do something by saying, “Go and ___.” If “Jesus” fails to say, “Go and…,” but a camper does the task anyway, that camper sits out until the round is over. Encourage the campers to be creative and give some complex instructions (“Go and put on your bathing suits and jump in the lake”). Make sure that everyone has a chance to play the role of Jesus. BTW: This game may also be used as a clean-up, goodbye activity. A leader can play the role of Jesus and tell the campers to “Go and pack your suitcase,” “Go and sweep the cabin floor,” “Go and say goodbye to the camp director,” etc.
Follow Me
#P l a y #LEARN
Why: “Call” is a word used often in the Church, and it doesn’t just apply to clergy. Discerning when we are called, and when to step up and lead, can be frightening and confusing. This activity creates an opportunity for one to step up, and for all campers to reflect on the experience. Supplies: blindfolds for each camper
Once everyone is at the destination, discuss the experience. Pay attention to the different
BTW: This could be done in varying sizes of groups. With a larger group, you might unblindfold a few people and see who speaks up, and reflect on how those people work together or against each other. You can also tell the group that one of them has been given the destination and ask the group to trust that person’s leadership.
Bible Story At the beginning of the week, gather the campers together and read the week’s scripture from the Bible. As the week goes on, you can reinforce the Bible story by reading from different suggested story Bibles. The activities and resources listed below will offer you some alternative ways of telling the Bible story.
What Happens Next #LEARN #P l a y Why: This activity will be a good one to help campers imagine what might need to happen next in their own lives. Supplies: Bible (optional: costumes and props) How: Share the story from Matthew 28 with the campers. Explain that these are the last words in Matthew’s Gospel. Invite the campers to brainstorm together about what might have happened next and act it out together. Ask the following questions: • How do you think that the disciples responded to Jesus’ words? What do you think they did next? • God has done amazing things at camp. How will you respond? What will you do next after leaving camp? BTW: Perhaps the campers would also enjoy acting out what they plan to do when they leave camp.
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How: Blindfold each camper, then guide them one at a time into a line. Ask each camper to put his or her hands on the shoulders of the person in front of camper. Instruct the campers to stay connected this way. Quietly remove one camper’s blindfold, then instruct the group to move to a different space in the camp. The camper without a blindfold is free to give direction and guide the group, but do not directly tell the camper this, and do not instruct him or her to do so unless the group is failing. At that point, if that camper does not step up to lead, tell the campers that one of them has been given a gift and is welcome to help.
experience of the one called to help the rest. Invite the campers to reflect on times when they felt called to step up and help others in need, or ask for examples of people they have learned about who stepped up to help others. Ask the campers how people might know they are called to step up and lead. Spend some time reflecting on the role a leader plays in a community and how a community comes to trust (or distrust) someone who takes a stand for them.
Fear Not
#LEARN #P r a y
Why: Let the story of Jesus’ resurrection guide you through a reflection on the week and some prayerful conversation on going home. Supplies: Bible How: Read Matthew 28 as a group. Ask campers what they were afraid of, either while coming to or while at camp. Read Matthew 28:5 again and ask the campers what helped give them courage at camp. Ask the campers to reflect on what lessons they will take home from camp. Read Matthew 28:10 again and ask the campers what fears they still need to face in order to share God’s love with others. Ask the campers to reflect on what life at home will be like after camp. Read Matthew 28:19–20 again and ask the campers how God might be calling them to live out Jesus’ message. BTW: Campers could write their final answers about God’s calling on their lives on index cards and share them in a closing worship experience. This could be a great way to commission the community to live out their camp discoveries at home.
What Means the Most
#LEARN
Why: This activity allows campers who process internally some time to think about this story and discover what it means to them. The sharing is appropriate at this point in the week and encourages community Supplies: Bibles (enough for one for each camper)
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How: Read the story from Matthew 28 out loud together. Then give the campers a few minutes to reread the story on their own. Invite them each to find one verse or passage that stands out to that camper. It may be the passage that is the most meaningful, teaches him or her something new, tells him or her what he or she needs to do, or one that the camper has questions about. After everyone has had time to read and choose, share together. Then debrief about what stood out. BTW: Consider encouraging campers to do something creative with their verses. Perhaps each camper will want to write his or her verse
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somewhere special, highlight it in his or her Bible, or create something that will remind him or her of this verse.
Early Activity Use your morning activity time to reinforce the Bible story. It is a good time to get campers engaged in a project or game.
Pieces of the Puzzle
#Create
Why: Help campers visualize the connections that they have made at camp and how those connections will still be part of them when they go back home. Supplies: old children’s puzzle with large pieces (with enough pieces that each child can have one), art supplies How: Give each camper a puzzle piece. Invite them to decorate the front of the pieces to represent themselves, but they must leave the edges clear (so that the puzzle can be put back together). If there are extra pieces, allow campers to decorate another piece that represents a faith community back home. This community may be a church, ministry group, family, etc. When everyone is done and the pieces are fairly dry, put the puzzle back together. Talk about how every piece is different, but it creates something new and beautiful. The campers and their home communities are now connected. BTW: If a puzzle is not available, consider using different colors of play dough or clay to represent the different campers and home communities. Or consider using pipe cleaners to make individual sculptures. Then make one big sculpture out of the little sculptures.
People I Can Talk To
#LEARN
Why: When campers have a “mountaintop” experience, going back to regular life is often disorienting, and campers may not transition their faith lives from one to the other. This activity encourages campers to name people they will connect with to make this transition and apply what they felt and learned at camp to life at home. Supplies: paper, pens/pencils
How: Campers will each make a list of people they can share questions and realizations with after leaving camp. Have campers discuss what they have learned at camp, and changes they want to make going home. Have campers list people they feel comfortable, or want to feel comfortable, sharing with. Offer them categories such as: • S omeone I got close to at camp I want to stay close with • Someone to talk to when I have questions or struggles • Someone to reach out to I don’t know well now • Someone to pray for each day • Someone to tell I appreciate more • A good friend I can pray with Encourage campers to take these sheets home and remember to reach out and connect when they need someone to share thoughts and concerns with. BTW: The camp could mail or e-mail each these lists at a later date to remind the campers of their pledges during the week. Think of ways to help reconnect campers with their church—especially those who seem more comfortable in a camp setting than church at home.
Walk to the Edge of Camp #P r a y Why: Campers are aware this is the last day, but seeing the very edge of camp and the outside world on the other side will offer a visual to connect to those thoughts. Campers may feel like the disciples felt, walking with Jesus to where he would tell them goodbye. Supplies: candle How: Take campers to the farthest edge of camp property to illustrate the act of leaving, and recall today’s scripture. Make the walk a substantial one, taking a round-about path if camp property is small. Carry a candle or other symbol with you as you walk.
The carrying of a candle or other symbol should add a feeling of importance to the act of walking, helping campers ponder the week and its meaning. As campers share their callings, they will feel like disciples: given a mission, being sent out by Christ to do good work. BTW: Driving a dowel with a hammer into the ground, you could mark this furthest spot as a beginning of the new journey. Campers could each tie a snip of the yarn from the earlier activity, “Web of Yarn,” to the dowel to claim the journey together.
You’re Invited
#P r a y #Serve
Why: This activity helps campers think about inviting others into a community of fearless faith. It may be a nonthreatening way for campers to think about sharing their faith. It also offers them a chance to pray. Supplies: generic invitations, writing utensils How: Ask campers to think about someone from home whom they can invite to be part of a faith community. They may invite these people to church, to camp next year, or just to spend time with their families. Then invite them to fill out invitations that they can take home as reminders to talk to these people. After they have filled out the invitations, ask campers to pray for these individuals. If campers do not know what to say, they may say, “Dear God, help me talk to [name] about what being part of a community of fearless faith means to me. Amen.” BTW: Instead of creating invitations, you may wish to have campers offer prayers in another fashion.
Message in a Bottle #Create #LEARN #Serve Why: Leaving a place is as hard as arriving sometimes. This ritual can help your campers make the transition. It is good to have memories of your friends. This way, they always will.
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Upon arriving, point out to campers that they are standing at the edge of camp property. Very soon, they will cross the line and go into the rest of the world. Draw comparisons to Matthew 28, in which Christ parts with the disciples after a series of powerful moments.
Discuss high points from camp and what the week has given campers to take home with them. What do they feel Christ wants them to do as they stand at the edge of camp, preparing to leave?
Supplies: permanent marker, pencils or pens, basket for papers; one per camper—empty, clean and de-labeled water or soda bottle and strips of paper, How: Ahead of time, write each camper’s name on a separate bottle with permanent marker. Place a basket full of strips of paper in the center of circle of campers. Place bottles with camper names aside where campers can get to them, but they are not easily seen. Ask if the campers have ever heard of people putting messages in bottles and tossing them into the sea. Then explain that before Jesus ascended to heaven he had much to tell the world, and so he asked his disciples to do it for him. Those disciples were like bottles with Jesus’ message in them. Explain that at the end of camp, the campers will be like that too: “bottles” with the message of God’s good news in them, tossed back into the world. Invite each camper to take one slip of paper and write on it something he or she loved about camp or something that camper did or learned. Then invite the campers to roll up their slips very tight and to slip them into the bottles. Once all the memories are in the bottles, you can add glitter, sand, camp dirt, or some other objects that will remind them of the week. BTW: If this is an activity the whole camp is doing, it is good to identify each group’s bottles with a color or some marking so if they get lost in transition it is easy to say which group the bottle belongs to.
Quiet Time Every day, allow your campers some quiet “downtime.” You may want to provide campers with books, craft supplies, paper, or manipulatives such as clay or action-figures. Encourage your campers to reflect upon and connect with the weekly story and theme. You may allow some quiet cooperative games like mancala or cards, but encourage discussion between campers by using the Table Talk questions. Be sure to allow campers ample time to clean up their work before moving on to the afternoon activities.
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Table Talk Use these questions to invite campers into conversation about the theme. Use them over one or more of the meals or create a conversation
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station during one of the activity rotations Consider using this for one or more of the days in the week.
Younger Campers: • What was the best invitation that you ever received? What made it so special? • Imagine that you are Jesus. What would you like to say to the person next to you? • Pretend that you are meeting someone who has never heard anything about Jesus. What do you say? • Come up with positive, kind words that describe each camper at the table that start with the letter of their first name (for example, “Sunrise Sara,” for the camper who likes to wake up early). Choose words that will help you remember your favorite (or silly!) qualities about each camper.
Older Campers: • Imagine that someone asks you what your faith means to you. How would you respond? • Has anyone ever shared their faith with you? Was it effective? Why or why not? • Share about a time when Jesus seemed especially close to you. • When did you laugh the hardest this week?
Create Our Journals Each day, campers will be allowed time to record their thoughts, hopes, drawings and such in their journals. You can choose to make these easily by folding five to ten sheets of paper together with a sheet of construction paper on the bottom and stapling them in the middle. Allow campers to put their name on the front cover and decorate them however they like. To make the journals more elaborate you can punch holes in the edges and weave a ribbon through them or use brads. For multi-week use, add more paper.
Journal Time • Have you been baptized? If you remember it, what was it like? Who was there with you? • How would you feel if you thought that a best friend was dead, but then you found out they were really alive?
• When have you had to be brave in your life? What fears did you face? • Who would you like to share the love of Jesus with? What will you tell them? How will you show them? • What does the angel who talks to Mary Magdalene and the other Mary look like? Does it have wings? Does it look like a person?
Rest and Read Here are storybooks to read aloud for quiet time, perhaps after lunch. Or use them during worship time: • Oh! The Places You’ll Go, Seuss. • Read “Jesus Is Alive” and “The Good News” from The Children of God: Storybook Bible, Tutu • God in Between, Sasso and Sweetland • God Said Amen, Sasso
Late Activity Seed Bomb
#Create #LEARN #Serve
Why: Fun and just messy enough for a last day. These can be given as gifts to the adults coming to retrieve the campers. Supplies: potters clay, flower seeds, potting soil, paper bags or recycled egg cartons How: Mix seeds in a small amount of potting soil. Set aside. Take a small piece of clay and flatten and pinch it into a small, thin circle about an inch and half wide. Place some of the seed mixture in the center and fold the clay over it to form a ball. Roll the ball in your hands to firmly enclose the seeds in the clay. The clay probably won’t dry today, but your campers can watch as the “seed bombs” change at home. Package them in the paper bags or egg cartons. To use, they can be tossed onto the ground anywhere there needs to be flowers. The clay will protect the seeds from being eaten by birds until they can germinate and begin to grow. Note: some potting soil has peanut hulls. Keep campers’ allergies in mind.
BTW: Seed bombs are an ancient Japanese practice called Tsuchi Dango, meaning “earth dumpling” (because they are made from earth).
Church Connection Talk Show #P l a y #LEARN Why: This is a fun way to illustrate many ways the church is connected. Campers will see these organizations exist in the church and do important tasks for the world. Campers will realize more deeply how the church as many parts works together, and the importance of sharing the responsibilities. Supplies: previously prepared research, “talk show set,” theme music recording, portable batteryoperated player, talk show host suit How: You will need to do some prep work for this to happen. Ahead of time, research church organizations and gather names and descriptions of ministry organizations within a church, denomination, or the entire church proper. Examples include: camps; relief organizations; neighborhood centers; food pantries; missionaries; colleges; and rural, youth, children’s, senior, and prison ministries. Either print information out, or make a summary sheet for campers. Assign each group a specific ministry organization and let them become experts in their group. Let groups know what order they will be interviewed in and begin the show. Assign someone the role of a talk show host to ask a list of pre-planned questions, such as, “What can you tell us about your organization?” “What exactly do they do at this place?” “Who do they help?” “How can we help this place out?” and, “How can we contact this place if we want to do more?” Be sure campers know these questions, so they will know what to research. Discuss which organizations interested campers most. Ask which organizations campers knew before and which were new discoveries.
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Remind the campers as they make the balls that, in some ways, the disciples were seed bombs that Jesus threw out into the world. He spent three years filling them with the story of God’s love,
and, just before he returned to heaven, he tossed them out into the world—not alone, but with the promise of the Holy Spirit to come. The campers are seed bombs too! Filled with the stories of camp, they are sent back home to tell the good news.
BTW: The more this activity is played like a real talk show, the more exciting it will be. Have the host dress up, move furniture into the room, and play talk show music. If you have a particularly studious group, you could give them the assignment to do the research for this earlier in the week.
Hushed Up?
#LEARN #P r a y
Why: Help campers connect the fears of the past to those we face today, and face the tension between a public and private faith. Supplies: large sheet of paper, markers, index cards, pencils, Bible How: Ask the campers to reflect on reasons people keep their faith private or things that keep people from sharing their faith openly. Write their answers on a large sheet of paper so everyone can see them. Read Mathew 28 together, then reread Matthew 28:11–15. Ask the campers to share their thoughts on these verses. Help them understand the narrative flow. The “Story Summary” may be useful here. Invite the campers to reflect on their list and the text to see how their fears of sharing faith might be similar or different from the Jewish leaders’ fears. Give each camper an index card and pencil and ask each to write, “I will not let my fear of _____ keep me from _____,” and fill in the blanks with his or her own answers. The first blank is a fear that keeps him or her from sharing his or her faith, and the second is something he or she feels is important to his or her faith, but often doesn’t happen. This can be an action the camper commits him- or herself to as he or she goes back home. BTW: These cards could be shared in worship, or traded with prayer partners who would take them home and pray for those people all year long.
Passing Fancy
#P l a y #P r a y
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Why: Affirm the connections made with the community and the individual campers through words of affirmation and a prayer of blessing. Supplies: small ball, yarn
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How: Stand in a circle together and take turns tossing a small ball back and forth around the circle, from one person to another, but no one should receive the ball twice. Once everyone has touched the ball during the tossing, pause play and ask the campers to repeat the process, tossing the ball to the same person, but calling out that person’s name before tossing the ball. Then pass the ball around once again, but this time ask each camper to share something he or she has learned about the person he or she is passing the ball to. You can repeat this step, with campers calling out something else they have learned about the “receivers,” if time allows. Now replace the ball with a ball of yarn. Have campers pass the ball of yarn, just as they passed the ball, but holding on to one end of the string as the pass the ball. This will create a web of yarn in the center of the group. Close in a prayer of thanksgiving for the connections through relationship visible in the web. BTW: You could do the yarn portion of this activity twice, using blue and green balls of yarn to symbolize the earth. Invite campers to place the yarn down on the ground and use tape or popsicle sticks to hold the yarn while campers reflect on how the ends of the earth might be impacted by their connections.
Slide Show
#celebrate
Supplies: digital camera with pictures from the week, compatible computer with slideshow program, computer projector, screen, Bible (optional: appropriate musical recording, portable battery-operated player) This is an activity recounting the week, helping campers realize their connections to God and each other during the time. Put together a slideshow using pictures taken during the week with a digital camera. Consider playing music in the background. As the slide show progresses, read the day’s scripture from Matthew, with particular emphasis on the closing paragraph and the focus verses.
Closing Devotions Every day, wrap up your day with a short time of devotion. In addition to the resources listed here, you may want to turn to the Daily Guides Worship Practices for suggested prayers and songs. Though time sometimes runs out and devotions can “slip off your radar,” at least give the campers a moment to thank God for the day. You could use a repeated phrase to signal that your time has come to a close by shouting in one voice, “Together, we have the courage to Connect! Amen!”
Worshipful Dancing
#centering
Choose a song that is slower, and has several clear phrases that are repeated (for Example: “Father, I Adore You”). Have the group get in a circle. If the circle is too big for the space, organize some into an inner circle. Begin to sing and walk holding hands in one direction; change directions at the end of the phrase. On the next-to-last phrase, step toward center; on last phrase, step out. The movement should progress like this: “Father, I adore you,” (walk to the right) “Lay my life before you,” (walk to the left) “How I love you.” (step forward one step and back one step) This works well in a round, with the inner circle as one part, and the outer as the other part.
Yea God! Prayer
#celebrate
#celebrate
Supplies: long dowel rod, paper bowls, various colors of paint, wet-wipes, lawn clippers or other cutting device Place a rod in the ground and provide bowls of paint. Invite each camper to choose a color, dip a thumb in, and make a thumbprint on the rod. Say a prayer of blessing. Invite campers to think of the impact others at camp have made on them. Invite them to share a symbol of that impact by giving and receiving thumbprints. This can be on arms, faces, or other safe places. This could also be done on a camp shirt. Be sure to affirm the option to not receive a print on the body by providing cardstock as an alternative to skin or shirts. While campers are sharing prints, take the rod and cut it into enough pieces to share with each camper. The width of your dowel rod will determine what you need for cutting. Pass out pieces of the dowel rod to each camper as you close worship.
Answered Prayers
#celebrate
Supplies: pieces of paper, writing utensils, tape In this activity, campers will praise God for answered prayers. Invite campers to write down how God has answered prayer this week, one per piece of paper. Then, have them stick the answered prayers on a wall. If the campers do not wish to display their answered prayers, they may fold them up and tape them shut before sticking them on the wall. Sing an upbeat praise song together and thank God for answering prayers.
Remembering, Sending Forth #centering Supplies: A list of important words and phrases from the week of camp, appropriate musical recording, portable battery-operated player Gather a list of words and phrases from your week of camp that will resonate with the campers. This can include inside jokes, quotes, favorite scriptures, camp landmarks, camper names, activities, or anything else that helps represent the week campers have shared.
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This is sort of a free-for-all prayer, messy and glorious! Explain that there is much to be thankful for in this week of camp and that it is right to give God our best praise and thanks. Explain that anyone who has something to thank God for should stand and get in a circle around the worship space. Everyone should be in the circle. Then, one by one, allow the campers to shout aloud what they are thankful for. After every thanksgiving, the group will shout, “Yea God!” They can also clap. If you have too many to let everyone speak, have one from each family or small group speak for the group. Remember, with this kind of prayer, the louder the better.
Leaving an Imprint
Play a song that will serve as background and encourage a prayerful, reflective tone. Read these phrases and words, periodically repeating the words from Matthew: “Go therefore and make disciples,” and “I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Weeklong Project Stepping Out in Faith Create a path with encouraging quotes for people who leave (or enter) your camp facility. Campers will work together to decide where to place the path, make and place the stones. Supplies: Quickcrete mix, molds, old buckets, stir sticks, Vaseline, plastic wrap, stones or pebbles, concrete alphabet stamps, garden spades
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First, find a place in your camp that is appropriate for a path. The area needs to be free of any vegetation and fairly level. If you are replacing a gravel path, the gravel should be removed so there is only dirt. Together with your campers, determine how many stones you will make. Decide together what words you will write on the stones. Some suggestions would be Matthew 28:18-20, 1 Corinthians 16: 13-14, Ephesians 6:10-17, 1 Thessalonians 5:12-24, or a favorite benediction. Decide how you will break the phrases up. The following day, prepare molds. There are many choices of things you can use as molds including disposable pie tins, cut off milk jugs, wooden molds or even holes in the dirt itself. Line your mold with plastic wrap and Vaseline for easy release. Mix the quickcrete and pour into molds. Decorate the mold with any stones, rocks or glass gems you like, leaving room for the letters. After the concrete has begun to set, use the alphabet stamps to write your phrase, or carve the message in with a stick. Allow to dry overnight. Prepare the path by digging shallow holes the size and shape of your stones. When your stones are dry, pop them out of the molds and brush off any jagged edges with a gloved hand. Place the stones in their holes and gently fill-in any gaps with dirt.
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Tell Us What You Think… Each year an Editorial Advisory Team convenes to dream and create a theme and outline for upcoming editions of InsideOut. Their starting point is answering the question, How can this resource serve camps most effectively? To answer that question, we want to hear from you. Please complete the following survey and e-mail or snail mail it to the address below. 1. What role does a program resource play in your camp experience?
2. How much or little is the theme expressed at camp?
3. Describe your experience with Fearless Faith!
4. What changes or updates would you like to see in the future?
5. How can InsideOut serve your camp most effectively?
_______________________________ Your name
_______________________________ Your e-mail address
May we contact you for research or testing new materials? ____ yes _____ no Are you interested in applying to write for the new camping materials? ____ yes _____ no • E-mail to
[email protected]. Or, mail it to InsideOut 483 E Lockwood Ste 100, Saint Louis, MO 63119
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“Fearless Faith” is part of a four-year cycle of camp resources developed for InsideOut Christian Resources for Outdoor Ministries. Themes include: nnn God the Creator “All Things New: Look What God Is Doing!” nnn Jesus the Christ “Get Real: Finding Your True Self in Jesus” nnn The Holy Spirit Working within Us Power Up! Living in the Spirit nnn The Church in the World Fearless Faith: Courage in Community
Sneak Peek at next year The InsideOut resource for 2017 Branching Out: Connecting Through Christ If there’s just one thing you want your campers to know when they leave camp, it’s that they do not go alone. The community of Christ surrounds them, the love of Jesus supports them, and the Spirit of God inspires them. You want your campers to know that through the love of Christ, they are part of one another. The InsideOut resource for 2017, Branching Out: Connecting Through Christ, will equip your leaders with fun activities that will sustain campers far beyond their one week at camp. Additionally, you will receive seven weeks worth of day camp activities and materials to excite campers all summer long! Find out how we are all rooted in Christ, the Vine, and growing in faith as Christ’s branches with Branching Out: Connecting Through Christ.
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