Where’s God when I’m S-scared (including the story of Daniel in the Lion’s Den)

Runs for about 30 minutes - a nice change for a Sunday group when shown with some popcorn and followed with some discussion.

Complete Silly Songs Collection - 4 DVD’s

I picked up a fabulous sheep costume (age 3-5) in the Woolworths sale.

Would be great for a nativity play or any lost sheep, Good Shepherd story!

Several people told me about this book and I just had to buy it.

It is a really gentle, non-threatening way of explaining death to young children and can be used within the Christian context.  Recommended!

A leaders guide for group study with topics including prayer, morality, God, pluralism, the institutional church, hell and the devil, and the Bible.  Each session is based on an episode of  The Simpsons.

Two fascinating books which can be read for own personal reflection or as a quirky discussion tool for groups of teenagers and adults.

The Gospel according to Harry Potter: Leader’s Guide for Group Study (Neal & Parvin)

The Gospel according to Harry Potter: Spirituality in the Stories of the World’s Most Famous Seeker. (Neal)

I have about a dozen magazines ranging from pre-school to teenager from January 2008 which I used in a training session on children and their culture. 

The session was useful in highlighting how at the younger end things worked in parallel with Sunday school (story, colouring in, craft) but then topics diverged towards appearance & relationships at an age that gets ever younger.  Teen Vogue caused outrage in our session!

An eye opener!

Mob Rule

This is a fascinating film made by teenagers in Jedburgh about life in Jedburgh and the perception of “mob rule” sparked by a letter in the local press.  Would be great for a discussion with teenagers.(20mins)

“I just wanna be a sheep” and “If I were a butterfly” by Brian Howard. 

Somebody better borrow these from me, because my kids are getting very attached.  (There are some mp3 snippets on the website)

Amazon has just delivered some shiny new books for my resources library. They are designed more for working with teenagers, but could be used by most ages including adults.  The new additions are:

“Would you rather…? four hundred and sixty five provocative questions to get teenagers talking” Doug Fields

“Would you rather have no values or no friends?”

“Would you rather be gossiped about or lied to?”

What if…? four hundred and fifty provocative questions to get teenagers talking, laughing and thinking”  Les Christie

“What if you could keep only one of your five senses?”

“What if you could ask God three questions?”

“Help! I’m a small group leader. 50 ways to lead teenagers into lively and purposeful discussions” Laurie Polich

 These are all very flickable and can be lent around the Diocese.  I think the really positive things about these type of books are that they:

1)cover issues that teenagers worry about such as love, friendships, sex, self-image 

2)provide a basis for open discussions and thought where there is no correct answer

3)if used in a church environment help make the church relevant to it’s younger members

www.sermons4kids.com

A really useful free site for both children’s sermon ideas and Sunday school activities. There are worksheets and ideas each week based around the liturgical calendar. Can be used on it’s own or for ideas to ‘pad out’ a potentially short session!