Connect Magazine - February, March, April 2016

feb-mar-apr 2016

Family Mission Trips The Lord’s Prayer Challenge

The Secret to Making All–age Services Work Easter@Home 2016

the team (09) 526 7958 childrensministry@baptist.org.nz www.bcfm.org.nz

NATIONAL TEAM LEADER

Karen Warner (09) 526 7958 | 021 279 0919 karen.warner@baptist.org.nz

NATIONAL ADMINISTRATOR

Marelize Bester (09) 526 7958 childrensminstry@baptist.org.nz

REGIONAL ASSOCIATION C&F COACHES AND MISSION LEADERS Northern

Wellington

Raewyn Moodie (09) 416 7974 | 021 797427 candrmoodie@gmail.com Elke Keeling 021 623540 elke.keeling@ihug.co.nz

Paul Edlin 027 692 1440 p.edlin@lifeimpactcentre.org.nz

Waikato

Mike Walker (07) 843 5959 | 021 793 431 mike@hamsouth.org.nz Bay of Plenty

Jan Ozanne (07) 576 2523 | 027 733 3298 jan@obc.org.nz

Canterbury/Westland

Donna Reid 027 329 3250 donna.reid.23@outlook.com Otago/Southland

Derek Pyle (03) 448 5177 pyle-dm@ihug.co.nz

editorial

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wonder if you are anything like me and find the first day of work really hard? You can’t concentrate and end up spending too much time talking and not enough time doing! Winding yourself up for a new year can be a mission - even if you have had a great break. I’m enjoying studying the book of Ruth at the moment. Ruth was unafraid of what was ahead. She boldly took on new challenges and a new God. She told Naomi, “Your people are my people and your God is my God.” She went with confidence into the unknown with only a mother-in-law on the journey (how would you feel about that?!). I wonder what God has in store for you in 2016? What challenges will He have you face? What triumphs will He lead you to? Whatever may be ahead, let’s boldly step into 2016, with God at our side and His plans in our hearts (yes, I did see the latest Star Wars movie over the holidays!)

We have given this issue of Connect a mission focus. It is easy to forget the work that our missionaries are doing on our behalf in far-flung places. We need to be ensuring that our children are aware of the importance of mission, both global and local. I trust that you will be inspired and challenged by the stories in this issue and that you will be encouraged to think of new and fresh ways to enable your children to see what God is doing in our world. Lizzie’s story shows how God wants the hearts of our children. He can and does call from an early age and we need partner with Him in opening the hearts and eyes of our children.

All-age services can be a challenge so we have included some thoughts from a UK pastor who reckons he has the secret. We see these services as an important part of being an intergenerational community so you will see more articles and resources on this topic over 2016.

At the 2015 Hui we launched our latest resource, The Foundations of Ministry with Children and Families. We believe it gives churches a great basis on which to build ministry. Clever people will notice that each issue of Connect relates to the four foundations. See page 4 for ways to order a copy.

We were thrilled that through our Christmas@Home booklet over 4000 families were able to have faith discussions last Advent. Our 2016 Easter@Home booklet is in production and we will be taking orders from Feb 8. Order early to secure your copies.

“Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.” Eph 3:20 Blessings,

Karen

the foundations

The Foundations of Ministry with Children and Families KAREN WARNER

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e are often asked, “Where do I start? What are the important components of effective ministry? How do I disciple children?” These are great questions and they indicate that the asker is on the right track for partnering with God in developing a ministry that will be faith forming. In order to answer these, and other ministry questions, we have developed a resource that we believe will enable churches to build a ministry that is not only effective but also tailored to suit both the people and the context in which they minister. The Foundations of Ministry with Children and Families is designed around four areas that we believe are important for faith formation:

1. EXCELLENCE IN CHILDREN’S MINISTRY 2. A CHURCH AND HOME PARTNERSHIP 3. INTERGENERATIONAL COMMUNITY

4. AN INTEGRATED STRATEGY FOR FAITH FORMATION Together these four areas can give a great foundation on which to build effective ministry. Our document is designed to get you started, give you links to resourcing for each and a plan to evaluate your current status. There is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ in ministry so this document is aimed at giving an overview that can then be interpreted in the local context. We are thrilled with the feedback we have already received and are excited to see how God will further grow and develop these concepts.

For a copy of The Foundations booklet please contact the office: childrensministry@baptist.org.nz or phone (09) 5267958. At this stage the booklet is only available to Baptist Churches.

The National Team is here to journey with you as you begin to implement these strategies so please make contact with us. See the inside cover for your local contact person.

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church and home

Remember and Celebrate HELENA GOING CHILDREN AND FAMILY PASTOR TITIRANGI BAPTIST CHURCH

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t least once a year I encourage my church families to hold a special ‘Remember and Celebrate Meal’. There is so much value in stopping to take a look back.

We see God’s faithfulness in our journey and we can rejoice. In the Old Testament God’s people were commanded to gather for feasts and festivals to celebrate the goodness of God. It's His faithfulness in the past that gives us faith in God for the future.

Ideas to share include: answered prayers; provision; God showing up in amazing ways; clear guidance from God; how God brought good out of a difficult situation; encouragement from someone in the body of Christ; a verse God gave at just the right time ....

Our family loves our 'Remember and Celebrate Meals'. One year we picnicked on the back of our ute in our paddock. My kids couldn't stop recalling stories of God's faithfulness, going on past sunset! It was really faith-building and my daughters often ask when our next ‘Remember and Celebrate Meal’ will be.

To make it memorable some of our families have gone to special restaurants, others enjoy beach picnics or fondues. Kids always have great ideas to make the meal special. It may be helpful for family members to prayerfully think about what they could share over the days leading up to it.

I have used this same idea in kids’ small groups on a Sunday morning where a couple of times a year we bring out sparkling grape juice etc and share together. This may be helpful if you have lots of children from non Christian homes.

However, it is also a great opportunity to invite parents into small group.

Joyful celebrations of this kind foster gratitude and reinforce God’s goodness which anchors us in a bigger story when we hit hard times.

I have noticed for my own children that these times of sharing have not only helped them identify and remember God’s presence in our family’s life but has also formed a vocabulary for recognising and expressing examples of God’s work in our lives as they happen. They are now on the ‘lookout’ for what God is doing. february-march-april 2016 connect | 5

family ministry

Family Mission Trips

you ever wondered whether or not you could take a family on a mission trip? We heard " Have of two families who thought this would be a great way not only to enable their children to see how people less fortunate than themselves live, but also to be involved in the work of mission. Jacqui Bardsley, Children’s Pastor at Hutt City and Darryl Collingwood, Senior Pastor at Maungaraki share their stories.

"

A Fiji Experience DARRYL COLLINGWOOD

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ur 2012 two week family Fiji experience was one we will never forget. Our children at that time were 14, 12, and 9. We didn’t just want a holiday, we wanted an experience of truly engaging with the day to day culture and life of Fiji.

We got in touch with NZBMS Mission World and they gave us connections with Pioneer and YWAM. Long story short, from these initial connections we were able to spend a handful of days working with some missionaries on their community development project not far out of Nadi. While my 9 year old son and I helped with some painting, and some general help around the property, my two daughters were teacher aides at a preschool on site, for two mornings.

We also spent some time visiting a local orphanage, a special needs school, and two inland villages. To help our son connect with the local children – we took with us some flat soccer balls which we pumped up as we headed out to a new place. For the local children – seeing a boy with a white face and a shiny new football under his arm was all it took for connections and fun to be had.

We were all inspired by the local village hospitality, even though they didn’t have much. What they had they shared with us. We felt greatly honoured in their presence. We used all the local transport, and enjoyed some of the market experiences. Our last 3 days we spent at a back packers beachouse.

It was a great relaxing way to finish, while also enjoying more of the Fiji culture through their 6 |connect february-march-april 2016

great hospitality, flax weaving, coconut carving, kayaking, horse riding, swimming and getting to know some of the locals.

I remember when we arrived home one of my children said ‘Dad, we have so much here!’

This experience has helped our children see beyond their own culture and country and come to appreciate a little more the uniqueness and diversity of humanity, and the blessings we can receive and give, as we learn to walk amongst others who are different from us.

Better Than Disneyland.

JACQUI BARDSLEY

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n 2004 our family had the opportunity to travel to America to visit relations living in Connecticut. Our daughters were then aged 6, 8, 10 and 12 years old. This plan soon grew to “let’s take the girls to Disneyland while we are in America.” This was all very exciting but there was also a niggling sense of discomfort. What view were we going to be giving our girls on their first venture into the big wide world? We started exploring what we could do that would add a different perspective.

We have supported children through World Vision for many years and so we began to look into the possibility of also going to Africa to visit the 2 girls that we then sponsored in Tanzania.

I had to convince my husband that this wasn’t a crazy idea – I’m usually the practical one concerned about the risks, expense etc., but this time Andrew wasn’t too sure that taking the family to Tanzania was wise. Perhaps because I grew up as a missionary kid in Papua New Guinea I was more excited about an adventure to a third world country than he was!

Amazingly, when we approached the World Vision staff in the Wellington office, we found out that one of the staff members was planning to go to the same Area Development Project that we wanted to visit at the same time as us, and so we were able to arrange to go to Tanzania with her and her husband.

Our trip to Tanzania was the highlight of our time away. For Andrew and I who have partnered with World Vision for years, we were so encouraged to see first-hand what a difference our small contributions make to the lives of so many. But best of all was the profound effect it had on our girls. To be embraced and welcomed into the villages we visited, to be shown how the communities were thriving under the support of World Vision was life changing for them. The seeds of global mission were sown in their hearts and I believe that their lives are lived out differently now than they would be if we had just visited America.

Each of the girls are more mission minded and globally aware.

In 2008 we travelled to Thailand. We enjoyed the tourist attractions at Phuket and Bangkok, but we were also able to arrange to visit 2 mission organisations that our church supports.

We stayed at Manna Children’s Home for 5 days where we were able to help with teaching English, and had a wonderful time getting to know the children and the staff there. We also visited Partners Relief and Development Programme in Chiang Mai. At Partners we sat in their office over a couple of days doing data entry for their medical team who had just been in to Burma to provide emergency relief after a natural disaster. Since our trip to Thailand, our oldest daughter Katie has been back there twice on mission trips as she pursues a life call to mission work.

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children's ministry

Called as a Child: Lizzie’s Story.

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was nine years old when I first heard stories from South Asia’s largest red light district. My parents had dragged me and my siblings to a small church gathering, where Kerry and Annie shared the stories of girls from their community in Kolkata who had been forced into the sex trade. They were tales of trafficking and exploitation; lack of choice and loss of innocence. Some girls had been stolen and sold, others inherited the trade, while some had chosen it out of poverty and later discovered they couldn’t escape because of shame and stigma.

That evening, thirteen years ago, I was introduced to a reality strikingly different to anything I had ever known, and my impressionable mind could not rest. I was unable to ignore the uncomfortable reality that because we don’t choose what life we are born into, one of those girls could have easily been me.

As a child I was taught about our call to love the poor, but hearing about his community put names and faces to an otherwise overwhelming concept. The faithful telling of those stories was catalytic for me because it made poverty personal.

As a young girl, the simpleness of Christ’s call for each of us to love our hurting neighbours was tangible for me. Although thousands of kilometres lay between me and Kolkata, I pursued involvement in the life of this red light community through raising money and sharing the stories that had been so deeply formative in my life. My parents graciously sought to answer difficult questions I had, which were born out of concern, confusion, and curiosity, about the world I observed around me. Moreover, they gently held my hand as the years ticked by and Christ’s love for these women continued to be woven tightly into the fabric of who I was. On 8 |connect february-march-april 2016

Christ’s love for these women continued to be woven tightly into the fabric of who I was. the two occasions throughout my teenage years where I had the opportunity to visit Kolkata for seven months collectively, I felt unwavering support from my Mum and Dad even though they couldn’t necessarily understand my experiences.

These days I consider Kolkata to be home. I work with a Freedom Business called Freeset Bags and Apparel, alongside Kerry, Annie, and many other equally passionate people. These are people who want to see God’s kingdom come and who are using their lives to do something about it.

The girls’ stories that I heard as a child come from the neighbourhood which I have moved into. I’m now living among these women; in solidarity with them. Nowadays, in the quiet moments when I walk the narrow lanes of my neighbourhood, I feel immensely privileged that God captured my heart and imagination from a young age. Furthermore, I am thankful that He hasn’t let go since.

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Lesson plans, materials, and handouts to help children be part of what God is doing in the world around us!

Register dren’s your chil rayer for P ministry ! nial 2016 e D lf e S and Email .org.nz zsend n a tr @ fo

JONATHAN WEN T LOOKING FOR DAVID, AND WHEN HE FOUND HIM HE DID HIS VERY BEST TO MAK E HIM FEEL BETTER.

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J

A STORY OF TWO

UAL onatha n and MAN David were the most ISTRY unlike ly of friends. Jonath an was a N’S MIN CHILDRE He lived in a considered a very

fancy palace and was important person.

UNLIKELY FRIEN

DS

Jonathan loved David like a brother. He wanted the very best them made a promi for David, and the two of se that they would friends forever, no be best matter what.

. . . NO ONE HAD EVER HEARD OF A PRINCE AND A SHEPHERD BEIN G BEST FRIENDS.

David, on the other hand, was a sheph which was not a erd, very important job at all. He spent most of his days by himself, looking after his family’s sheep. a shepherd being best would say that prince friends. Most people to spend their time s are far too important with people who look sheep. But that’s not how Prince Jonath after about David. He an felt didn’t judge David based on the job he did, or the clothes he wore. what impressed Jonathan was how much David loved and trusted God. That was the most important thing to Jonathan.

Jonathan was not the impressed by David only one who was . watching David—exa God had also been mining him from inside out—and the He liked what he saw. In fact, God had decided that David should be the King of Israel.

But there was one BIG problem. Israel already had a King. It was King Saul— Jonathan’s father!

King Saul was a very unhappy man.

He done many foolish things that had upset had and he knew that God wanted to replac God, as King. But Saul e him liked being King!

He didn’t want someone else taking his place.

King Saul knew that God favoured David, and he became increa singly jealous of the young shepherd boy. His jealously quickly turned to anger, and then into an all-consumin g hatred decided to do somet hing terrible. He to kill David! decided David knew that Saul wanted to kill him, and up in the hills, where he could hide.

This was a sad and scary time for David He felt like his whole . world was falling David spent a lot of time in that cave, apart. to God and asking praying God to help him.

In fact, he wrote a song to God, and told God exactly what he was feeling : “Even if you look, you won’t see anyon cares enough to e who walk beside me.

There is no place to hide, and no one who really cares.”

Can you imagine how David felt? So afraid, and so alone in the cave, feeling like in the whole world no one cared about him?

But there was someo for David. Can you ne who really did care guess who?

It was his very best friend! Prince Jonath an!

You see, Jonath an was not just a friend when times were good.

He were tough as well. was a friend when times That’s the best kind friend to have—a friend who will stick of through thick and with you thin!

Jonathan went lookin g for David, and he found him he when did his very best to make him feel better.

“Don’t be afraid,” Jonathan said to David. “My father Saul will never get his hands on fact, you will be you. In the next King of Israel, and I will be right at your side to help!”

Although his situati on was still very bad, just knowing how much Jonathan cared for him made David feel a whole lot better . That day, the two friends made another promise to each

I encourage you to make our overseas workers—and the work they are doing— an ongoing focus in your Children’s Ministry.

KAREN WARNER Team Leader, Baptist Children & Family Ministries

www.nzbms.org.nz

mission

Kiwi Kids Abroad: Introducing Daniel and Georgia.

Daniel and Georgia live with their parents in a far-flung rural town in South Asia.

The family are serving with Tranzsend, and are helping to start businesses to employ women who are at risk of human trafficking. In this story, Daniel and Georgia share with us about life far away from New Zealand.

I

’m Daniel and I am nine years old, and I have a sister called Georgia who is ten. We used to live on a dairy farm in the Kaimai Ranges, just out of Tauranga. We are now living in a small rural village in South Asia. We want to tell you about our lives here.

WHAT’S GOOD?

We have 53 goats at the moment, including the babies, and many are our pets. Our pets are very friendly. They often come into the school room and keep us company.

I get to play soccer and cricket everyday with 10 |connect february-march-april 2016

at least 10 boys from the village. It can be a bit crazy some days when more than 20 kids turn up, but my Dad or my Mum keep an eye on things, so that helps.

There are only three kids in my class: My sister Georgia, myself and Brianna the goat! We get our schoolwork finished faster than back in school in NZ, so our school day starts at 8.30 am and finishes at 12.30 pm.

WHAT’S DIFFICULT?

The temperature over here is really hot. From March to October the temperatures can range from 33 to 42 degrees. We spend most of the day sweating. We have at least two showers a day and use special powder to stop us from getting prickly heat. At night it can be hard to sleep so I have two fans in my room.

Every day, some of the kids from the village come over to the land where we look after the goats, and want to play. They can be a bit naughty. They sometimes cheat when we play sport, and get a bit rough.

Because we are the only white kids in the town where we live, everyone stares at us when they see us. The old men and ladies try to pinch my cheeks, which I hate because it hurts. I am much smarter now, and duck when I see their fingers coming!

Georgia doesn’t have many girlfriends her age to play with here, as they are kept at home to help cook and clean. It is mainly the younger girls who come over every day.

WHAT’S DIFFERENT FROM LIVING IN NZ?

The driving on the roads is crazy! The buses are packed with people. People even sit on the roof.

Families ride altogether on one motorbike with no helmets.

Women wear saris all the time and if they are Muslims they have to cover their heads with their sari or dupatta.

People have different beliefs over here. Most are Muslim, but some are Hindu. We are Christian.

Everyone loves to eat rice and dahl with nearly every meal. Their food is very spicy because

they LOVE chillies.

Most people have a sleep in the afternoon between 1.30 and 4pm so many of the shops close during this time.

Very few people here speak English. They speak in their own language.

The schools have more than 80 students in a class and only go for 2-3 hours a day. Many kids don’t go to school every day because they have to help their parents on the land. Many girls never go to school at all.

WHAT HAVE WE LEARNT?

We are slowly learning to speak the local language, and we learn something new about this culture every day.

HOW CAN PEOPLE PRAY FOR US?

We would love more families with kids our age to come and join us.

For McDonalds to open a restaurant up where we live!

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mission

Glimpse Tour 2015 DONNA REID CANTERBURY/WESTLAND C&F COACH

In July last year, Donna joined the NZBMS Glimpse trip with a scholarship from Baptist Mission Fellowship (BMF). The purpose of this trip is to give pastors a ‘glimpse’ of what is happening in the fields in which NZBMS are involved. Donna shares what she saw and some ways that we can support and encourage their work.

W

e walked off the plane into 30+ degrees. My first impressions were of heat and people. We live in a county of a few million compared to this country in East Asia wth a population of 1.3 billion. We were driven to an amazing place called “The Fountains” - an oasis in the midst of chaos. The goal of this place is to provide community for people who have none or simply as a place to find retreat and connection.

Andrew and Andrea were amazing hosts and are fully involved in their community and the church they help lead. We were blessed to be part of a service in the morning then the fellowship time that followed in the afternoon.

Thailand was our next destination.

In Kalasin, we met pastors with a passion to save and disciple their people and children who delight in learning English and also about God. This is mixed in with a society that has problems with back street abortions, high numbers of solo mothers and where the father has no responsibility; where girls are still trafficked for prostitution. Amongst these issues you have people like

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Peter and Lynley and Andrew and Roanna and their children, Noah, Miles and Theo who are building relationships and serving God. One evening we took part in a service out in a village. All ages were together and everyone was involved, including singing the children’s songs. It was awesome to see whole families worshipping together, something I think we have lost in the West.

Kolkata was a place of huge numbers of people.

There were ramshackle huts on the footpath next to mansions. I got the impression that social justice was not high on the agenda; that you are what you are and there is no way to change that. Once again there are high rates of prostitution. Young girls think they are coming to the city to work and then find they are forced into the prostitution trade. Within these communities you have Freeset, Love Calcutta Arts and The Loyal Workshop, all existing to make these ladies know they are valued and

to provide for their children. A couple in the village are trained in how to help people save, give English lessons, health checks and clean water. These projects are designed to be self-sustaining.

Back in Dhaka we visited Dimensions, an engineering workshop , GEMS School and then the Christian College of Theology, Bangladesh where Richard and Sally from Christchurch are involved.

It was a privilege to have seen the work of these amazng people and to hear their heart for the local people.

loved by God; to give them an opportunity at freedom – physically, socially, mentally, economically and spiritually.

In rural Berhampore it was exciting to see Freeset Fabrics helping people to help themselves. Handmade weaving looms give women a chance at earning a living rather than being sold – stopping the trafficking before it can start. In Serampore we met Peter and Leonora and it was a real blessing to worship with our Indian brothers and sisters that evening.

In Chandpur, Bangladesh we visited the English medium school on a property that had been offered by the district commissioner. He wanted a school that was open to all. We spent some time with a small group of students and I was impressed with their conversational English.

We travelled to a local village to see the “Total Community Development Centre” which involves the people of the village coming together and saving money to help one another e.g. If a family own a rickshaw they have an income and a way

So, how can we in NZ support this work and how can we involve our children? Here are a few thoughts:

• Make use of the Prayer and Self Denial material that NZBMS produce each year. There are great lessons and take home material. The waka in this year’s pack is cool!

• Contact Marketplacers and look at running a stall in your church – the kids could sell the products made by the businesses overseas to friends and family.

• Write letters and send parcels to the ‘Mish kids’ and their families. I’m sure they would love to have contact with home. Maybe your small groups could ‘adopt’ a family. Ask for information on families overseas and include them in your regular CM prayer times on Sunday mornings.

• Contact NZBMS and ask whether or not there are some projects you could support and help to raise funds for.

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intergenerational

The Secret of Making All-age Services Work

IAN PAUL ASSOCIATE MINISTER AT ST NICOLAS’ CHURCH, NOTTINGHAM, UK.

All-age services are a great way for the generations to have time to learn and worship together. They give young and old a chance to enjoy each other and to appreciate different learning and worship styles. But they are not always easy to plan and run.

And it seems this is not peculiar to NZ. In this article a UK pastor shares his thoughts on ways to make these services more appealing.

There is nothing that quite gets opinion going as the subject of all-age services in local churches.

I think there are some really good reasons for doing all-age worship, both practical and theological, but I won’t go into those here.** The chances are, especially around Christmas or during the summer, you are going to be confronted by the challenge of enduring or leading an all-age event. But how to make it work?

I recently had the experience of speaking at an all-age service and then going straight on to a pantomime—a secular all-age event. And it highlighted the key to making these things work well: ritualisation. How does this work?

1. RITUALISATION UNIFIES

To be human is to be liturgical—not in the sense of enjoying complex wordy forms of worship (!) but in the sense that we are creatures of rhythm.

In conversation, at football matches, on social occasions—in a wide range of contexts you can see people observing ritual behaviour. And this is particularly true of children; they are the ones who know how to respond to: “Good morning, everybody…” better than anyone.

Stephen Cottrell, in his book Praying through

Life, includes a chapter on praying with children, in which he describes children as natural charismatics (since they like expressing themselves in worship), natural evangelicals (since they love reading Bible stories), and natural catholics (better, ‘sacramentalists’, because they love rhythm and ritual). If pantomime is anything to go by, this last is true—and if all-age events in church can draw on this, they will engage not only children, but people of all ages.

2. RITUALISATION FACILITATES INVOLVEMENT

Pantomime works so well because everyone knows how to respond. The same is true on the football terrace—but there is one proviso: you need to know the rituals. This is where worship, of any kind, can work well or fail badly. Many people unfamiliar with church feel disempowered because the rituals are complex, unexplained and unfamiliar.

But ritualisation in all-age worship means explaining things clearly and simply, setting up expectations—and meeting them, whether that is in the way songs are introduced, prayers are conducted, or activities are managed.

** For further information on all-age worship see “Body Beautiful? Recapturing a Vision for All-Age Church” by Philip Mounstephen and Kelly Martin. This Grove Publishing booklet is available for loan from our Resource Library.

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3. RITUALISATION CREATES A SAFE SPACE FOR ‘PERFORMANCE’ In pantomime, there is often a moment when children from the audience come up onto the stage. The routine is the same each time, and for each child; although it takes a certain boldness to go up, it is made safe by the ritualisation of the process.

Most all-age events need participation to add interest, and this only works if there is a safe ritual framework. Answers to questions must always be received positively. Participation of any kind needs thanks, recognition and applause, and for this to be expected. ‘Games’ and other activities at the front need predictable outcomes; the fun is in the getting there, not in uncertainty about the outcome.

4. RITUALISATION CREATES SPACE TO ADDRESS DIFFICULT ISSUES At one point in the pantomime, the henchman of the chief villain sneaked up behind two children, raised a dagger, and was on the point of murdering them—only for the nurse (a man in drag) to return just in the nick of time to save them and scare the henchman away. This

happened not once, not twice, but three times.

And it was striking that an audience which included children could cope with the idea of violent death—because it was ritualised.

Similarly, when all-age events are ritualised, they can provide a safe context to engage and explore challenging issues—issues of loss and loneliness, grief and hope—in a manageable way.

SO WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR ALL-AGE EVENTS?

It doesn’t mean that all-age needs to be reduced to pantomime—even if there are some theatrical elements. Neither does it mean reducing all-age to entertainment. But we can learn from the ritualisation of pantomime. A common mistake in leading all-age is to think it is all about being ‘informal.’ But leading in a more stylised way, and ritualising the different elements, can create powerful space for participation. A structured introduction to short periods of silence, for example, can enable a real sense of encounter with God.

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resources Children’s Day 2016 The first Sunday in March is Children's Day! The theme for Children's Day 2016 is a timeless one – ‘Treasure our Children’.

This is a great opportunity to celebrate children and families in your church. Do something special, hold an event or just bless them with something special.

Many nations have Children's Day but the magic of Te Rā O Te Tamariki is unique and special to New Zealand.

Hundreds of events happen all over the country each March. For example, Waitakere Toddler’s Day Out, Wellington Children's Expo, Children’s

Day at Makino Aquatic Centre and Swannanoa Country Fair Canterbury. These attract large numbers of people but small events are just as important. Many churches are also engaging with this opportunity to be a blessing to their local community. Check out the events that are registered on the website below and don’t forget to register your own event.

You can enjoy a free resource pack when you register your Children’s Day event on their website, www.childrensday.org.nz.

HomeFront: Great New Website HomeFront is a magazine designed to equip parents to create fun, spiritually forming times in their homes. Their new website features blogs from some of their favourite contributors and includes crafts, recipes, and more that families will love. The magazine is available both in digital and print format.

If you have received Homefront before you may notice some changes in the way that it will be delivered. Digital and print now have their own store so that you can make a choice as to which way works best for you each month.

Another great feature of the new site is digital bundles. They have assembled collections from archived issues and bundled them around specific themes—for example Christmas bundle or Family Time Recipe bundle.

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Visit their site to see other great new features.

www.homefrontmag.com

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Lord's Prayer Challenge MELANIE KEITH NORTHPOINT BAPTIST

Isn’t it cool how God takes a tiny idea, and uses it to do great stuff?

D

uring a recent meeting with my preschool key leaders we were chatting about the value of scripture memorisation. One person who had grown up in the Catholic church reflected how knowing the ‘Our Father’ has helped her throughout life.

Before we knew it God had taken that little comment, watered it, and our team of 3 had planned a church-wide challenge to learn the Lord’s Prayer over the next term.

We launched the concept, and provided every household with a ‘spaghetti proof’ (aka laminated) copy in childfriendly CEV version to use at home. We promoted the challenge in Big Church, and Children’s Ministry areas, and said it together each week. Households were encouraged to post a video of them saying the Lord’s Prayer to our closed families Facebook page, and to tag others (ice-challenge style) to have a go learning it too.

The outcomes were pretty exciting. Some preschoolers were saying the Lord’s Prayer within a few weeks.

Families with teens spent time reflecting on key aspects of our faith together. Big people and little people had something they could share together when we met. We had fun watching each other’s videos & connecting online as a wider church family. Life groups used it together as a grace. We even heard about one of our Y6 boys reciting it to bless the food at school camp with 70 others from our community. Who would have thought!

Our Father in heaven

help us to honour yo ur name

Come and set up yo ur kingdom so that eve ry one earth will obey you as you are obeyed in heave n

Give us our food for tod

ay Forgive us for doing wrong as we forgive others Keep us from being tempted and protec t us from evil

For yours is the kingd om the power and the glo ry Now and forever.

So what’s the point? Apart from trying a similar Lord’s Prayer challenge in your context, my encouragement to you is to watch out for the tiny ideas. We just don’t know how God might plan to grow them.

Take a look at the Lord's Prayer family drama idea on the BCFM website as used by families in Chile. february-march-april 2016 connect | 17

Want More for Your Ministry?

If you want to take your ministry to the next level we strongly encourage you to consider doing some study through Carey Baptist College.

Carey offers a Certificate in Child and Family Ministry Leadership. This certificate is made up of four courses, with one taken each semester over two years, or one per year over four years.

First Semester Courses for 2016

Reflective Field Education 504 or 604 These courses use practical experience of Children and Families’ ministry as a basis for biblical and theological reflection and personal growth. Within a half-year period you will perform 75 hours of practical ministry and reflect upon this with a supervisor, in an online peer group, and in an essay. Each course is comprised of five modules that have reading, action, reflection and interaction components. Each student will meet with a supervisor five times and will complete a reflective log as a summary. These courses have no lectures and are completed by distance. If you are working six or more hours a week in ministry, in either a paid or unpaid capacity this qualifies for the 75 hours practical component.

Enrolments close Feb 12.

Talk to us or phone Carey for more information: Neroli Hollis 09 5260340

pin these dates 12

8

22

6

12

feb

feb

feb

mar

mar

Orders for Easter@Home now open.

CBC enrolments for Reflective Field Ed. papers close

Spark Plus training – Carey Baptist College, Auckland. 7.15 – 9.15. Phone Karen Warner for details

Children's Day, see childrensday. org.nz to register your event or see what is on locally

Messy Church Resourcing Day Wellington

Orders close Feb. 26th

14

28

messychurch.org.nz

11

25-28

8-9 apr

may

may

jun

Easter See bcfm.org.nz for Easter resources & ideas

Unlimited Conference

Way2Go Conference

Way2Go Conference

Way2Go Conference

Auckland

Dunedin

Wellington

mar

Christchurch unlimited.org.nz

See website for details

Pastoral Moves Resigned

Appointed Oct'15

Eastview Baptist Church

Helen Cowie

Nov'15

Alexandra Baptist Church

Glen Tetlow

Nov'15 Nov'15 Nov'15

Wellington South Tawa Baptist Church Northgate Baptist Church

Matt Houghton Angela Plimmer Carolyn Hansen

Nov'15

Mt Albert Baptist Church

Jo Worsley

Nov'15

Motueka Baptist Church

Denise Wirepa

Nov'15

Invercargill Central

Albertine Plomp

Nov'15

Kaikohe Baptist Church

Beverley Magon

Nov'15

Lifepoint

Anna Alison

Dec'15

Petone Baptist Church

Karin Molloy

Jan'16

Hamilton Central

Olivia Hitchcock

Nov'15

Alexandra Baptist Church

Keri Waterman

Nov'15

Wellington South

Elizabeth Sara

Nov'5

Tawa Baptist Church

Emily Johnston

Nov'15

Royal Oak Baptist Church

Lisa Scroggins

Nov'15

Northgate Baptist Church

Jess Harvey

Nov'15

Mt Albert Baptist Church

Ali Ashman

Nov'15

Motueka Baptist Church

Paul Gibson

Nov'15

Lifepoint

Carol Tulley

Nov'15

Kaikohe Baptist Church

Marizete Craddock

Nov'15

Grey Lynn Baptist Church

Taulaga Alatimu

Dec'15

Hillsborough Baptist Church

Raewyn Prendiville

Dec'15

Whangarei Baptist Church

Bonnie Payne

Dec'15

Welcome Bay Baptist Church

Donna Denmead

Dec'15

Dargaville Baptist Church

Karen Weight

february-march-april 2016 connect | 19

From pre-school to intermediate covered under one curriculum. ... and 30% of your purchase price comes back to NZ to help local ministries.

Tru curriculum comes in four 12 week modules, is available in both classroom and large group/small group format and for multiple age groups.

www.bcfm.org.nz | www.disciplr.com

Tru Wonder – Pre-school 1-15 children - $135 16-30 children - $158

Tru Story – Primary 1-15 children - $159 16-30 children - $226 31-50 children - $293 51-70 children - $360 76-100 children - $428

Tru Identity – Intermediate This curriculum comes in modules of 8 week lessons.

Each module is priced as follows: 1-15 children - $99 16-30 children - $140

Easter@Home 2015 Almost 2000 copies distributed!

Christmas@Home 2015 Over 4000 copies distributed!

Don’t miss out!!!

Easter@Home 2016 will be available for ordering beginning February. It will packed with great family activities that allow parents to communicate the true Easter story.

The booklets are available for churches and related organisations to purchase and gift to families. This is a great way for the church and the home to partner together.

Go to www.bcfm.org.nz to place your order.

20 |connect february-march-april 2016