You will need: CD of Julia Plaut’s ‘What noise shall we make unto the Lord?’ and the means to play it.

• Prepare to sing by going through the different ways we can make a noise. Young children can be surprised by the sound of their own voices and the strength of others, so go gently. Try a loud noise.
• Try out the different noises used in the song: loud/quiet/fast/slow/joyful.
• Join in with the CD and have fun.

Draw

Change directions (C+YP 10 mins)

Following instructions

You will need: centimeter squared paper, at least 13 x 13 cm squares, coloured pencils or felt tip pens.

• This is an exercise in following clear instructions, so talk to the children about listening carefully.
• Give each person a sheet of squared paper and a pen. This works best if there is an odd number of rows and columns on the paper so it is easy to find the centre square.
• Write North (top), South (bottom), East (right edge), and West (left edge) along the tops and sides of the paper.
• Ask the youngsters to shade in the centre square. Then they follow your instructions to colour in a pattern in the squares, such as: go 3 North, 2 East, 6 South, 6 West, 7 North, 2 East, 3 South,1 East.
• Once they have followed this set of instructions, check if they all produced the same shape.

Pray

Water prayers (C+YP 5 mins)

An act of repentance

You will need: sheets of acetate (OHP sheets work well) cut into strips; non-permanent markers or felt tip pens; a bowl; water with a drop of washing-up liquid.

• Tell the group that John baptising people in the river symbolised them ‘cleaning up’ their lives and saying sorry for the wrong they had done. Explain to the group that they are going to have the chance of a ‘clean-up’, an opportunity to say sorry now.
• Give everyone a strip of acetate. Provide a number of non-permanent markers (they must be non-permanent or they will not wash away). Set out the bowl of water on a waterproof surface.
• Say to the group ‘Is there something you want to say sorry for? Write or draw it on your piece of acetate’. Pause long enough for them to write.
• Then say to the youngsters, ‘Dip your acetate into the water as you say sorry’. Allow time for them to go forward and dip their acetate in the water. As they pull it out, the words they have written will wash away.

Play

Runaround quiz (C 5 mins)

A chance to change our minds

You will need: three large circles or hoops labelled A, B and C; quiz template.

• Ask everyone to stand in the middle of the room with the three labelled circles placed at different parts of the room.
• Explain that you are going to ask the group some questions (taken from the quiz template) with three possible answers, and they must run to the letter they think or responds to the right answer. When everyone has made a decision, say ‘If you want to think again, run around now’, and allow them to change their mind if they want to. Those who are on the wrong answer are out.

Make

Listening journal (C+YP 10 mins)

Begin a personal notebook

You will need: blank notebooks or paper folded and stapled to make notebooks; glue; felt/sparkly shapes/stickers; crayons.

• The journals the youngsters make are a place where they can record the times and places they hear God, the times they talk to God, and where they like to spend time with God. Explain this to the group carefully and emphasise how special this journal is.
• Provide everyone with a blank journal and ask them to write ‘Listening to God’ on the front. Encourage them to decorate the book as they wish, reminding them of how special it is.

Talk

Hearing God (C 5 mins)

Time to listen

You will need: a large piece of paper with an ear shape drawn on it; pens.

• Jesus heard the voice of God as he came up out of the river. Help the children to think about places and times when they may hear God.
• Talk together as a group about where and when we may hear God. Suggest some ideas of the places where you find it easier to hear God. Begin to write your examples on the ear.
• Ask the children to write or draw on the ear the places they hear God. When everyone has had a chance to do this, read all the ideas out.