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Welcome to the May 2008 Children's Workers' newsletter. |
A Hymn for Burma
When every source of hope is torn
by storms we strain to understand;
when children queue for all their needs,
and water drowns out fertile land,
we cry to you O God in prayer
and wonder if your love is there.Amid the cyclone’s aftermath,
where fallen trees and shattered lives
are witness to this tragedy,
we pray that human strength survives,
while children weep and grown men cry,
where homes are gone and thousands die.For mile on mile the floods are seen,
with roads and bridges swept away,
while people struggle, bleed or mourn,
while hoping for a better day.
God show us how to help and heed
the cry of neighbours in such need.© Andrew Pratt 5/5/2008
Tune: ABINGDON
Burma cyclone and JMA
Michael King, World Church Team Leader, says; ‘The cyclone has created a humanitarian emergency that is unprecedented in Burma’s history. Hundreds of thousands of people are cut off from clean water and shelter, and prices for basic foodstuffs are escalating. We are asking people to offer whatever support they can, both financially and through their prayers’. The Church sent an immediate solidarity grant of £10,000 to the Methodist Church in Myanmar and has launched a joint appeal with MRDF. To donate via MRDF, call the MRDF hotline on 020 7224 4814. Funds received will be channelled through Church World Service, which is working in the most affected areas. The Christian Conference of Asia has appealed ‘to member churches and councils, ecumenical partners and friends to remember those affected people in your daily prayers, and extend assistance to help the people affected by this natural calamity.’ The Revd Mar Gay Gyi, the General Secretary for Myanmar Council of Churches will be meeting with the staff in-charge of the Emergency Relief Unit and sharing updated information with the churches. |
As the death toll from the Burma cyclone continues to rise, the Methodist Church and the Methodist Relief and Development Fund (MRDF) have launched an emergency appeal for funds. 
Burma AppealStem the Tide
Methodist young people have challenged every Methodist church to take the issue of Climate Change seriously. Stem The Tide will resource and help each church to get involved in taking a Month of Action on Climate Change The resource has been shaped by the responses of a survey sent out to children and young people in the Methodist Church. This resource will enable all ages in every church to engage in a really effective month of action, in turn kick starting a longer term change. The resource is flexible and churches can choose when they want to take their Month of Action. There is plenty of material to use with children’s groups, youth groups; all age worship, Bible study, sermons and more. There will be plenty of facts, ideas, activities and evaluation tools that will help both study and action - both as individuals and as a group. There will also be a focus on the impact of climate change on the Pacific Islands, and those who live there. The web address will be www.stemthetide.org.uk. A poster will be sent to each church, with room for you to fill in which month your church has chosen for its month of action, along with postcards and information pocket cards to raise awareness. Changing Actions free texting service offers a weekly text full of tips, encouragement and information on Climate Change. Txt Climate Change to 07786205203 |
A new free online resource will be launched in late May 2008, produced by MethodistChildren and MAYC through JMA and World Action for the whole Church to engage with the issue of Climate Change New Roots are growing!
From our September/October 2008 issue ROOTS Worship will be called ROOTS Adult & All Age - a clearer title to describe the content. In ROOTS Children & Young People the weekly materials are simplified, but still offer plenty of variety to choose from. In ROOTS Adult & All Age you will find notes on the Lectionary passages; prayers and ideas for a focal point to prepare the congregation for worship; a selection of prayers for use at different times of worship; jumping off points for sermon preparation; and ideas for times when all ages worship together. ROOTS Children & Young People provides resources for worshipping and learning with children and young people aged from three up to about 16 years old, with material that can be used with mixed age groups or in age-banded groups; practical advice and guidance; seasonal materials; prayers, reflections and ideas for music; art and craft work; with material presented in two main sections to simplify planning. On the website to supplement ROOTS Adult & All Age you will find additional prayers; Fast response; drama sketches and supplementary material; the lectionary passages and direction of focus for the next six months. To supplement ROOTS Children & Young People you will find an original story which reflects the events in the Bible passage in a contemporary setting; downloadable templates for craft activities; more prayers; in-depth notes on the Bible passages; and of course our new take-home sheet for parents and children; and the ROOTS archive. The best way to find out how ROOTS can help you to help your church is to try it for yourself! Visit www.rootsontheweb.com for more details or e-mail rootssales@rootsontheweb.com for your free sample copy! You can also download the sample copy here http://www.rootsontheweb.com/images/aaa37sample.pdf |
ROOTS resources: Tried, tested, trusted . . . and now even better! Resources Words Up - two great resources for 11 – 14s Group Bible resource
Extra extension ideas are included in each section, making them a versatile resource Both available from http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/9566.id Also from Scripture Union two new titles in the Top Tips series -
Top Tips for Sharing Bible Stories and Top Tips for Communicating God in non-book ways Both £2.99 and are really worth reading! http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/27299.id
An exciting new course for 13-18 year olds. It explores some of the big questions they face in secondary school years, including vocation, calling, gifts and passions. Ideal as a pre-, or post- confirmation course. Available from http://www.chpublishing.co.uk/product.asp?id=2393808 price £8.99 LightLive - new from SU www.lightlive.org 10,000 free online activities – with 650 more added every 3 months LightLive is a new website which puts a multitude of Bible-based activities and ideas at your fingertips – and it’s free of charge! Designed by Scripture Union to help you tailor material to the specific needs of your group(s) or congregation, LightLive brings a new dimension to your children’s, youth and all-age ministry. You can: * Access the bank of activities and ideas |
Innovative resources containing simply structured Bible study material, designed to tie in with the style and brand of the One Up Bible reading guides. 
Get a life - A five session course on calling for young peopleNew CORE modules
This practical and creative module aims to develop a knowledge and understanding of children with disabilities and explore ways to make all activities accessible, inclusive and welcoming. This is in addition to the first module which enables children's workers to support children through the different transitional experiences in their journey from infancy to early adolescence. Both these modules are available from the website for £3 each. |
The second of the CORE downloadable modules can now be bought from More CORE Issues in Training - some bursaries still avaialable!
MORE Core Issues in Training at the University of Nottingham from Friday 5th September to Sunday 7th September 2008. There will be workshops on transitions, special needs, global issues, as well as time spent looking at young leaders, spirituality and where the governments in the nations are heading with children's issues. This is an event not to be missed! You can book in now for the Conference by downloading the booking form from here - http://www.methodistchildren.org.uk/adults/More Core booking form.pdf The cost is £150 per person (bursaries available for up to £75) - talk to your Church Council or Circuit about supporting you to get there! Contact secretary@cgmcontheweb.com for more information |
This ecumenical training conference is not to be missed! For those working with children, children's workers and beyond!National CRE Scripture Union and Christian Resources Exhibition have teamed up again to create The Youth and Children’s Zone. Whats on ? • Practical ‘how-to’ workshops in the Main Zone, led by experienced Use this link to find out more www.creonline.co.uk MAKE CONNECTIONS |
Breakout: Beyond |
From NCB (National Children's Bureau) The Council for Disabled Children has teamed up with Photosymbols. Photosymbols are pictures used by people with learning disabilities. They help make written information easier to understand. Photosymbols are working with the Council for Disabled Children (CDC) to get pictures of children, young people and families. CDC are helping Photosymbols get in touch with groups and develop new Photosymbols for children. We are looking for parents and children who would like to be models. If you’re interested, please get in touch.For more about how it works go to http://www.photosymbols.com Last summer the EDCM campaign asked disabled children and young people - If you were Prime Minister for the day, and could change one thing, what would it be? The top answer was 'more things to do and places to go'. This year EDCM want to find out what ‘more things to do and places to go’ looks like for disabled children and young people locally. Please make sure the young people you are in touch with get the chance to make their views known! Go to http://www.edcm.org.uk/goingplaces to find out more. Developing the new Child Health Strategy The Department of Health and Department for Children, Schools and Families are developing the first ever Child Health Strategy, formally announced in The Children’s Plan: building brighter futures. On behalf of DH, NCB has organised consultation activities to enable key stakeholders to inform the development of the Strategy. This included a consultation event on 18 March, with 100 senior practitioners and policy makers from across disciplines and sector, and an on-line survey with children and young people allowing them to have their say. 1038 children and young people completed the survey, and results will be available on the NCB website soon. Visit www.ncb.org.uk or contact Jo Butcher at jbutcher@ncb.org.uk for further details. PSHE Association response to the Byron Review - Safer Children in a Digital Age The Prime Minister asked Dr Tanya Byron to conduct an independent review looking at the risks to children from exposure to potentially harmful or inappropriate material on the internet and in video games. The PSHE Association takes internet safety very seriously and recognises the opportunities that may be provided in schools to promote this through the effective teaching of PSHE and within the context of the National Healthy Schools Programme. The PSHE Association policy adviser, Dr John Lloyd has written a response to the Byron Review and this has been sent to the Prime Minister and key individuals at QCA, Ofsted and the DCSF. For further information please visit the News section of the PSHE Association website www.pshe-association.org.uk |
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you require any further information please contact us on children@methodistchurch.org.uk MethodistChildren is part of the Connexional Team of the |
