New blog

I got bored of the look of this blog, so have made a new one. Check it out at:

http://suzybower.wordpress.com/

Another string thing

Last night at our once a month cafe style service, we were looking at the story of the woman at the well. The theme of the service was an encounter with Jesus, leading to sharing the good news with others. As a response to this people had the opportunity to respond in a number of different ways - one of which involved string again....

I encouraged people to think about their journey with God, and to map this out using a piece of string on paper. So for example they could map out moments in their lives when things weren't so great with God by making that bit a messy ball of string. Or the string could go along flat at times when their faith in God was fairly stable etc.

We then asked people to tell their story to one another using this as a tool. Some great conversations came out of this time, and I was particularly touched by my young people's honesty in talking about some of the high points and low points of their faith.

Also, if you're looking at the story of the woman at the well, then there's a brilliant video by Student Life that can be found on the Kore website.

String thing

I ran a session for my Friday night youth group on identity in God. As a response at the end I gave them all a piece of string, and asked them to think of three things that people had said about them or that they believed about themselves that was different to how God saw them. For each thing they identified I asked them to tie a knot in the string. They then swapped the string with someone else in the group who prayed for them as they untied the knots.

One of the young people said that she wanted to untie the string herself rather than giving it to someone else to do. I let her do this, but she had tied the last knot too tight. In the end after trying for quite a while she asked me to help her. I eventually loosened the knot, and gave it back to her to untie the rest of the way.

I found this experience really profound. The girls struggle with the knot was a perfect illustration that issues to do with identity can be so deep rooted that they sometimes take years of wrestling with, and a lot of effort and determination to overcome. And when it's difficult to see how that knot can ever be undone, the experience stood as a reminder that all the sheer determination and will power in the world may not be enough to be able to budge it. We need God, and God working through others to be able to undo those toughies.

[This creative prayer response was adapted from Jenny Baker's book on Creative Worship]

Using creativity for reflection...

Having arty materials on hand so people can respond to, or reflect on sessions is a great way for people to express what's being going on inside their heads. People all learn in different way, so it's not always good for everyone, but I've found that there are always some people within each group who really value having space to respond creatively.

Our church recently had an away day, where we were looking at the 'centrifugal kingdom' - in a nutshell, not being inwardly focused but instead looking to how we can engage with people outside of the church. For the last session of the day people had the option of how they wanted to respond, including in an arty way, or through discussion, or just going for a walk either with a group or on their own.

I had been asked to run the arty thing, so I just brought along a load of different paints and materials. I didn't direct people much, but instead let them respond in whatever way they wanted to. One lady wasn't arty in a painting and drawing way, so I suggested that she collected different things from the grounds, and did something with them. We also had a couple of children who wanted to do the arty stuff, which was great.

Overall I guess my reflections were:

- An arty response can be so simple to facilitate, and if left really loose can enable people to be as creative as possible.

- It engages all ages.

- It's not only for people who can draw or paint. Everyone is creative because we were made in the image of a creative God.

World Prayer

I have decided to use this blog as a sort of database for any creative ideas I use in youth work and general life. This is partly for my own benefit (I have quite a lot of ideas, but usually forget about them by the time I get to use them), but also for anyone who can make use of it. So here goes.

World Prayer

As part of our once a month alternative service I drew out a map of the world on the floor using masking tape. I then placed copies of news articles from various countries and some of the prayer requests from theTearfund website alongside newsletters from our church's missionaries. You could also include some articles from the Newsround website as theses are short and easy to read. I then asked people to spend some time praying for these different areas (or any other areas/situations they knew of), and when they had done this to place a stone on that area. Simple but effective.

God's amazing creation

Check out this pretty impressive video

Change

I'm someone who generally thrives in dynamic changing environments as I enjoy the challenges associated with new experiences. However, when big changes occur in our lives, either good or bad, there are usually certain emotions that we experience as a result. Change can often therefore be a stressful business.

Even though the changes I have encountered over the past year have been wonderful, they have also left me feeling a bit disoriented. It is in this place of instability that I have again been struck by God's constant-ness (spellcheck tells me that's not a word, but you're clever, you can work it out). God does not have bad moods, or off-days, he isn't ever hormonal, forgetful, or lazy.

When God dwelt in the bush to speak to Moses, it was on fire but did not burn. It could have therefore continued being on fire without being consumed, forever. As God's spirit dwells within us, we can be assured that it will not run out, but instead it will continue to provide us with light, and life indefinitely.