Respond CYP

Respond to the Word

A range of activities for Children (C) and Young People (YP) based on John 2.1-11

You will need: A4 coloured card; scissors; tape; strips of tissue paper or fabric; a praise song and the means to play it.

Cut each A4 sheet of card into 5 strips down the length of the sheet. Form each strip into a ring by taping the two ends together.
Cut long strips of coloured tissue paper or fabric. Give everyone a card ring. Ask them to choose strips of paper or fabric and attach these to their ring, leaving a blank space to grip.
Show the children how to move around the room waving their streamer rings, or they could do this sitting down.
Now explain to the children that you are going to celebrate God's love by dancing and moving. Play a praise song that the group is familiar with, and encourage all to dance with their streamers.

A traditional Celtic dance

You will need: ‘Lord of the Dance’ music and the means to play it; access to the internet.

Beforehand, check out the ‘Gay Gordons’ link. This is a film of the simple dance.
Teach the dance to the group and practise it using a simple 4/4 beat, for example, ‘Bridge of Ennis’.
Once they are familiar with the steps, add the music of ‘Lord of the Dance’. You could choose other songs with a strong 4/4 time.
Make this fun and joyful.

A reminder of God's abundant generosity

You will need:The Magic Porridge Pot story; ten strong plastic cups; a deep tray; water; a measuring jug; paper towels.

Read the traditional story of The Magic Porridge Pot to your group and look at the pictures of the porridge flowing everywhere. Or show the video of this from www.cbeebies.com/za/play/the-magic-porridge-pot.
Make a cup tower with small strong plastic cups on a large tray. Place four cups on the bottom row, then put a row of three on top, then a row of two and then one cup. The cups should look like a triangle, open top upwards.
Pour water into the top cup until it overflows into the next row and the next and finally into the tray. Mop up any splashes with paper towels.
Finish by showing the children a litre of water. Tell them that each jar of water Jesus turned into wine had 100 times this much in. And there were six jars!

An opportunity to play and think at the same time

You will need: a parachute or large sheet; lots of ball pool balls, small soft balls or soft toys (or a mix of these).

First play an ‘abundance’ parachute game. Create two teams. The first team keeps the parachute moving up and down while the second team tries to fill it with balls or soft toys. Allow one minute to do this and then count how many objects are in the parachute. Swap the teams round and repeat the actions.
Now invite everyone to hold the parachute. Explain that you are now going to shout out things God gives us that they may want to celebrate; if they want to celebrate, they can run under the parachute to the other side and grab hold again. Shout out a range of things, from aspects of creation, to love, to people. Play this a few times.
Finish by reminding the group that what God provides is more and bigger than we could ever imagine.

A prayer to celebrate God's generosity

You will need: balloons and a balloon pump; gift tags or string; paper and pens; a parachute or large sheet.

Begin to blow up a balloon. Ask the group to think of some of the great things God has given them that they can celebrate. These could be big things like creation or his love. Or they could be things personal to them.
Ask everyone to write on the gift tags the things they want to celebrate. Blow up lots of balloons and attach the written tags. Then all look at the balloons and remember the abundant generosity of God that we can celebrate.
Ask leaders or older group members to hold up high the edges of the parachute. Pack all the prayer balloons inside it.
Ask the group to sit beneath the parachute canopy. Say this prayer together and, as you say ‘Amen’, release the balloons and celebrate God's generosity.
Generous God,
at the wedding feast you provided enough wine for all.
Generous God,
you provide enough for each of us here.
Generous God,
we celebrate all that you have given us. Amen.