You will need: a torch (or one per group member).

• Look back at the Glory torch activity from 10 February.
• Consider the passage from this week. Where are the moments of glory? How does the passage shine light on the way we are called to live?

Play

Counting together (C+YP 10 mins)

A fun game that’s all about timing!

• Invite the group to lie in a circle on their backs with their heads in the centre and their feet pointing out.
• Explain that this is a very simple activity. All they have to do is count to 20 as a group! However, there are a couple of rules to follow: no one can say more than one number in sequence (so one person can’t say ’three, four, five‘, and they can’t go round the circle sequentially – it has to be in a random order.
• The only other rule is that, if more than one person says the same number at the same time, then the counting has to start again. It sounds simple, but it isn’t!
• Play for as long as it’s fun, then talk about the feeling of waiting for the right moment, and having the courage to speak out. Is this the same in life sometimes?

Play

Don’t be put off! (1) (C+YP 15 mins)

A fun game about staying focused

You will need: a bag of coins: 1ps, 2ps, 5ps and 10ps, and a stopwatch.

• Put the pile of coins on the table, and ask for a volunteer. Explain that you need the pile separating into smaller piles of the same coins, and you need it done as quickly as possible. Let them have a go, and time them.
• Can anyone do it any faster? Let a few people have a go, insisting on quiet so the volunteer can concentrate on the task.
• Now repeat the exercise, but this time, although those watching can’t touch the coins or physically get in the way, they can say and do anything to try to distract the person sorting.
• Talk afterwards about how hard it is to stay focused.

Discuss

Don’t be put off! (2) (C+YP 10 mins)

A discussion following on from the previous game

You will need: a children’s Bible, or a copy of this week’s passage.

• Ask for a volunteer to read the passage again (or another more well-known passage from the Bible). As they read, get everyone to be as distracting as possible (not physically). Afterwards, talk to the reader about how difficult it was to concentrate on what they were reading.
• Now explain that this is an example of how it is being a Christian – we know what we should do, but it’s easy to get distracted. Ask the group to imagine that they want to spend some time reading the Bible – what are the sorts of things that people might say to distract them, or put them off?
• Once those things have been listed, pray a simple prayer, asking God for help to follow him, even when people try to put us off.

Make

Handprint hens (C 20 mins)

Make a model hen

You will need: a hen template, one per child; scissors and glue; pencils; red and yellow tissue paper (optional); red or brown craft foam or card.

• Give each child a hen template. Invite them to draw round their hand on the craft foam and prepare four hand shapes per hen. These should be cut out (either by the children or with assistance). Affix two handprints to the side to form wings. Fix two to the bottom of the hen to form feet.
• They might like to add feathers of red and yellow tissue paper to the bird’s body.

Pray

Hen prayers (C 10 mins)

A hands-on prayer

You will need: a hen template (as completed in the Handprint hens activity), one per child; A4 card; pens; small pieces of paper.

• Remind the children what Jesus meant when he said he wanted to brood over the people like a hen with her young ones – protecting and nurturing, but we have to accept that help for ourselves.
• Invite the children to write their names on the wings of their hen, as a sign that, just as the hen looks after the chicks, God the loving Father looks after us.
• Invite the children to fold the wings in over the front of the body of the hen, and say the following prayer (or similar):

  Jesus, you promise to care for us, and look after us, just as a hen looks after her chicks. Help us to come to you with our worries, and feel your loving care around us. Amen.