issue 1 (part 1) pentecost 2a 4 september 2011 to 16 october 2011 spill the beans worship and learning resources for all ages community is... A lectionary-based resource with a Scottish flavour for Sunday Schools, Junior Churches and spillbeans.org.uk Worship Leaders 2011 Spill the Beans Resource Team pentecost 2a 2011 1 ethos statement ethos There is a particular ethos behind this Then each activity is simply a way to in the Bible? Stories don’t exist on their material: it’s all about story. When we spill engage the story and enable children own but in a diverse web, each feeding the the beans about anything, we tell the story and adults to imbed the story, capturing other. different aspects of it, highlighting of what happened and we share the story We believe that as we grow we reflect different images that help us hold the of what that means for us. in different ways on the faith stories we story in our beings. We believe story is the lifeblood of faith. hold. Our idea is to invest these stories In story we can tell the truth and speak But we believe these faith stories ought in people, offering each as a gift of faith. with honesty about things for which there to be able to mingle with our own life The story may be understood in a literal are not yet words. Story contains mystery stories, our day-to-day experiences. So as way during younger years, then with and is the poetry that forms faith. Stories activities are engaged, it is important to questions about their historical accuracy grow as we grow and can reveal new ask people to retell the faith story along as people move into teenage years and truths at different times in our lives. with their own story of that week. It’s the then move into a third stage where we tangle of life stories with faith stories that hear the story again for the first time, but So we believe giving stories to people perhaps make both real. this time holding the meaning, the deep is one of the most important things we down truth in the story that helps it shape can do in sharing our faith. Children and We believe one story is the lens through our living and how we understand and adults hold stories in their being and keep which we hear other stories. Faith engage with the world in justice and in coming back to them throughout life. Our narratives create a web: if we think about grace. Story holds the faith more honestly culture is stored in story. The same is true water, then what other stories involving and in a much deeper way than any creed for our faith. water do we find in the Bible; if we are and doctrine. reflecting on forgiveness, what other We believe in telling story. This material is stories of forgiveness can we hear. During Join us and spill the beans. simply the retelling of our faith stories. activities the question ought to be asked: It always starts with the story each week. does this story remind you of other stories spill the beans team The team producing these resources has Key to Abbreviations included: In the worship ideas section the following Jane Bentley Tina Kemp abbreviations are used: Shirley Billes Jo Love CH4 Church Hymnary, 4th Edition Jan Cross Jen Robertson JP Junior Praise Liz Crumlish Barbara Ann Sweetin MP Mission Praise Roddy Hamilton For more information and to join the SGP Songs of God’s People Karen Harbison community of Spill the Beans, please visit WGRG Wild Goose Worship Group Peter Johnston http://spillbeans.org.uk 2 spill the beans introductions using spill the beans One of the many memorable inventions in J.K. Rowling’s alternative world is “Bertie Bott’s Every Flavour Beans”. You never know what flavour you are going to get, from Apple or Chocolate to Worcestershire Sauce or Parsnip, even Earwax! It is our hope that with every week of Spill the Beans you will find a range of different ideas that will encourage you to explore the depth of different flavours in each week’s story. Like a huge bowl of multi-coloured jelly beans or a table laid out with a rich feast, no one should be expected to consume everything! worship ideas contents Page These are a few ideas that possibly expand Each week we provide a selection of Through the Season Notes 4 upon the story offering words, phrases, words, ideas and creative moments to take poetry and ideas that could be used in the theme and the passage a little further. Sunday 4 September 2011 6 some way in worship. They are not to be We do not provide a ready made service or Sunday 11 September 2011 12 used exactly as they are but ought to be perfect prayers but ideas and pointers that Sunday 18 September 2011 17 edited and expanded to suit the culture of hopefully scratch at your own creativity your own faith community. and provoke heaven’s imagination within Sunday 25 September 2011 22 you. Sunday 2 October 2011 27 Sunday 9 October 2011 33 Sunday 16 October 2011 38 age group ideas We’re moving on (song) 44 Here are some helpful tips to guide you in 5. Use the gathering time exercise to 9. The intention is not to complete “the your use of the material in age groups: get into the story. Begin with a circle task” brilliantly, but rather to provide where the whole Sunday School is opportunities to begin conversations, 1. It presumes some introduction to the together and do this activity together build relationships, retell the story of story will have taken place in worship (gathering time). the day, and talk about what it might together or will play a part in the have felt like then and what it means service when children join it later. 6. Then retell the story together (it for us today. should have been told already in 2. Depending on the make-up of your worship if you begin together there). 10. There are numerous websites that own groups of children you will need will provide handout type sheets that to remain flexible in how you use the 7. Follow that by choosing as many or will have images, crosswords and material. as few activities your space and time wordsearches for the themes of these allow. You could offer a number of 3. Each idea has been given a guide weeks. While helpful in a pinch, try not activities each at different stations age range to help your planning, but to rely on these! all at the same time for all ages to this is only a guide and your own self-select with a teacher staffing each circumstances may make certain crafts one, or have traditional classes. or activities more or less successful. 8. During activities, ask children to retell 4. Before the sit-down activities if you the story to you and ask about their have a group of young children or week, what was happy and what was lots of boys, you may want to add a sad and if this week’s story reminds run-around type game before the them of other biblical and personal gathering time to expend some stories. energy. pentecost 2a 2011 3 through the season through the season Here are a couple of ideas that can can also be adapted to be used within age Harvest Thanksgiving help build up a visual focus as you groups. As we are focusing on the story move through the season. These ideas of the journey of the people of Israel in We recognise that in many congregations are provided for you to use and adapt Exodus both ‘through the season’ ideas harvest will be celebrated within this depending on the size, shape and layout of relate to journeys and travelling. season and we would suggest that harvest your worship space and whether you have themes can easily be incorporated into The first is based around ‘postcards’ and access to or expertise in using projected worship on 18 September or 2 October. the second around ‘suitcases’. images and audiovisual elements. A possible theme song for the season These ideas provide possible ways of could be ‘How then shall I live‘ by Linnea linking all the weeks together which can Good (©1993 Borealis Music) which can be be a helpful reminder to people of the downloaded from Amazon.co.uk or you thread of the story and the key aspects could use the all-age appropriate song being focused on during worship. ‘We’re moving on’ written for this theme The ideas can be used independently or and available on pages 44 & 45. together and can also be linked with other Or why not write your own theme song elements of the worship material. They and forward a copy to us! worship focus You could set the scene by placing some Postcards objects in your entrance/gathering area or as a focus at the front of the worship space. The basic idea is to have a postcard for each week with If you are using the postcard idea you a picture on one side and could make a life size red postbox, the summary ‘Community surrounded by hessian mail sacks. You is…’ phrase on the other could get young people to design ‘stamps’ side. for your church and display the stamps on the walls around the postbox.