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May I wish everyone who subscribes to INSIGHT (now at 120), new blog and forum friends and acquaintances, and to everyone who drops by, a peaceful and joy filled Christmas.
Special thanks to a few guys who have helped me get started - Tim, Steve, Brian and Jacob. Thanks for your comments and encouragement. Happy Christmas.
I've been encouraged in the last few weeks with youth workers writing about how they are helping young people to express and think of giving to others over this Christmas season. Of course we all love receiving, but our giving to others can make a huge difference to their experience of Christmas and their understanding of the real Christmas message. The wise men came to worship the new-born King and they expressed that by giving gifts. May God help me to express my worship to him this Christmas time through giving to others.
In this article I asked what we might do. My thoughts included a visit to a children's ward in the local hospital, giving to a Christmas appeal, visiting a homeless shelter bearing gifts or helping with meals, making Christmas cards for folks who will be alone this Christmas to let them know someone is thinking of them.
I enjoy reading Brian’s blog, and in recent weeks his Advent thoughts. He lists some of his own thoughts here which include,
Aren't we forgetting the true meaning of Christmas? You know… the birth of Santa. Bart Simpson
This is Christmas: not the tinsel, not the giving and receiving, not even the carols, but the humble heart that receives anew the wondrous gift, the Christ. Frank McKibben
Love came down at Christmas; love all lovely, love divine; love was born at Christmas, stars and angels gave the sign. Christina G. Rossetti
Christmas began in the heart of God. It is complete only when it reaches the heart of man. Anon
Let us remember that the Christmas heart is a giving heart, a wide open heart that thinks of others first. George Matthew Adams
There has been only one Christmas - the rest are anniversaries. W.J. Cameron
The sixth in a series of Christmas youth talks including icebreakers, games, quizzes and role play. Helping young people look afresh at the Christmas story and reflect on the real meaning of Christmas.
'The First Christmas' takes another look at the historical account of the birth of Jesus. The thoughts and feelings of the main characters are brought to life through the group discussion, role play and interviews.
Read the story in a modern version of the bible.
The texts are Luke
1:26-38, Luke 2:1-20, Matthew 1:18-25 and Matthew 2:1-18. If necessary, explain any unusual words in the story. Engage the young people with an interactive reading including narrator(s), angel(s), wise men, King Herod, King Herod's advisors and shepherds. Have Bibles available for the group activities or print the passages on a worksheet.
Divide the young people into small groups of 4 to discuss the reactions of one of the main characters in the story. Give a character or character group i.e. wise men to each small group.
The fifth in a series of Christmas youth talks including icebreakers, games, quizzes and role play. Helping young people look afresh at the Christmas story and reflect on the real meaning of Christmas.
Each one will take around 30 minutes and can be used as part of a youth evening, youth club or Christmas presentation. They work well with 11-14's but please adapt according to the knowledge and age of your group.
We all like to think about what we might receive at Christmas, but Christmas is also a time of giving. We look forward to what people will give us, but our giving to others can make a big difference to their enjoyment of Christmas and their understanding about the birth of Jesus. God freely gave his son Jesus to show his love to mankind and give us the opportunity to restore our broken relationship with him.
The fourth in a series of Christmas youth talks including icebreakers, games, quizzes and role play. 'Christmas around the World' will take around 45 minutes and can be used as part of a youth evening, youth club or Christmas presentation.
This theme helps young people discover more about Christmas traditions from around the world, think about the worldwide church and encourage prayer for believers who live in places where this Christmas they will continue to be persecuted for their Christian faith.
FINISH THE PHRASE
The opening icebreaker begins the session by asking the group about their own experiences of Christmas and their expectations for this year. Write the ten unfinished phrases onto cards and place a number (1-10) on the other side. Explain to the group that the cards contain a phrase about Christmas which they need to finish i.e. the best present I ever had was... Ask a young person to select a number and finish the phrase. The same number can be selected more than once. Play until as many as want to have had a go, get involved yourself and encourage your helpers to participate.
The third in a series of Christmas youth talks including icebreakers, games, quizzes and role play. Helping young people look afresh at the Christmas story and reflect on the real meaning of Christmas.
Each one will take around 30 minutes and can be used as part of a youth evening, youth club or Christmas presentation. They work well with 11-14's but please adapt according to the knowledge and age of your group.
Gifts are an important part of Christmas for everyone. We all like to receive gifts, but Christmas also provides an opportunity to give gifts to our family and friends. What kind of presents are you buying this year for your mum, dad, brother, sister or best friend? Discuss.
Introduce the two icebreakers by explaining that we are going to practice wrapping a gift - but with a few differences!
The second in a series of Christmas youth talks including icebreakers, games, quizzes and role play. Helping young people look afresh at the Christmas story and reflect on the real meaning of Christmas.
Each one will take around 30 minutes and can be used as part of a youth evening, youth club or Christmas presentation. They work well with 11-14's but please adapt according to the knowledge and age of your group.
How was your first name chosen? Usually it's by our parents, who choose names they like or names from within the family. Sometimes it might be from someone they admire, or a famous person or a celebrity.
Ask the young people if they know why their first name was chosen. Was it after someone older in their family? Do they know what their first name means? Give time for responses. Explain that many of our names today have been passed down through history and often originate in other languages. In Europe many names are derived from Latin or the Greek and Hebrew languages. Most originally described something about the person who was given the name i.e. Timothy (from the Greek) which means 'one who honours God.'
The first in a series of Christmas youth talks including icebreakers, games, quizzes and role play. Helping young people look afresh at the Christmas story and reflect on the real meaning of Christmas.
Each one will take around 30 minutes and can be used as part of a youth evening, youth club or Christmas presentation. They work well with 11-14’s but please adapt according to the knowledge and age of your group.
CALL MY BLUFF
Explain that the group have to guess the correct meaning of each word. Only one description is correct. Have the group divide into three smaller groups according to which description they believe is correct. Read out or display the word and then give the three different meanings. I'm sure you know all the answers! However, just in case, the correct answers are given at the end of the article! If you wish, choose your own words and add your own creative descriptions.
