Advent Idea: Advent-in-a-Box

Try this idea to encourage your youth to spend some time focusing on the themes and texts of the Advent season.  Inspired by a 2011 post by Joel Mayward.

Prepare a small gift box with the following items:  shepherd nativity figure, watch or hour glass, baby toy, votive candle, greeting card with image of the nativity, strips of green and red construction paper (most of these items I just picked up at a dollar store). Print and cut out the texts below and tape them to the corresponding object in the gift box.  Invite one participant at a time to select an item from the box, read the text and corresponding question and pass the object around the group, giving each person a chance to respond. Note: You could do this as one large group (no more than ten would be good) or divide into smaller groups (with 3-5 people per group).

WAITING:Read from Luke 3: “As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John (the Baptist), whether he might be the Messiah, *16John answered all of them by saying, ‘I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with*the Holy Spirit and fire.”

Advent is a season of waiting – waiting once again to celebrate the birth of Jesus and the way that birth changes the world.Invite each group member to hold this watchand answer the following question: What are you waiting for this Advent season (for example, in your personal life, at school, with your family, in the world, etc.) If you like, pass the watch around again and ask each person: What do you think God is waiting for? 

STORY: Read from Luke 2: “In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: 11to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah,*the Lord. 12This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.’ “

Consider the nativity story. Pass around this greeting cardto each person and have them answer: Which character from the story do you most connect with, relate to, or see yourself as at this point in your life?The humble, smelly, outcast shepherds? The expectant (and potentially disgraced)mom? The worried, confused dad? The wandering magi bearing gifts? The angels bringing good news? The animals watching from the background? 

PRAYER:  Read from Colossians 3:“ As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly…”

Who are you praying for this Advent season (Yourself? Someone else?) Everyone take a slip of red or green paperand write the name of the person you wish to lift up in prayer on the paper. As you go around the circle and share your prayer concerns with the group one at a time, attach your prayers to form a paper chain, connecting your prayers together.After each person shares their prayer concern, respond as a group: “God, in your love, hear our prayer.”

SHEPHERD: Read Luke 2:8-14: In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: 11to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah,*the Lord. 12This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.’ 13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host,*praising God and saying,14‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!’* 

What a radical story we tell, claiming that the first people to come and worship Jesus were a bunch of dirty, peasant shepherds!These were people that most wouldn’t have given the time of day, and yet they are the ones who we follow to the manger.Scripture often refers to Jesus as a shepherd who cares for his sheep – as one who will lead others to the way of peace and compassion. Pass around the shepherd figure and ask each person to answer: Who is (or has been)a “shepherd” in your life that you are thankful for?Who is nurturing you? Who is guiding you and helping you find your way? 

LIGHT: Read from Isaiah 9: “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness—on them light has shined.”

The Messiah was expected to be like a light in a dark world, especially to the poor, the hungry, the outcast, the marginalized, and the oppressed.For many people, Jesus wasthat light. But he also said, “You are the light of the world.” Pass around this votive candle and have each person share: How are you being called to be a light this Advent season? Where are you needed right now to illuminate some love and peace in the world?”

EXPECTATION:Read this passage from Luke where the teenager Mary discovers she will be having a baby: “In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 27to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28And he came to her and said, ‘Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.’ *29But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. 30The angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. 33He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.’” 34

In the story, Mary is pretty confused when she gets this news from the angel. And yet, very often the announcement of a new baby on the way is good news, a chance to celebrate new life.In Advent we prepare to share the good news that the same God who loves the world through the birth of a tiny, helpless, peasant baby, also loves the world through each of us…if we are willing. That’s pretty good news! Pass around the baby toy and have each person share: What good news do you have to share about your life right now? What can you celebrate?

Close by passing around the box itself and say: "Think about what gift you would most like to receive this advent season to help you be part of sharing the good news of Christ's love -- something that can't be bought in the store.  Maybe it's rest, self-confidence, or patience to deal with a friend." Pass the box around the room and have each person share. Close in prayer.

When Should You Higher a Youth Worker?

So your church is thinking about hiring a youth worker? Except you’re wondering when the best time would be to do this.

Here are some helpful hiring tips that just might make this job search go a little easier.

1)“Sustainable Youth Ministry” by Mark DeVries recommends 1 full time staff person for every 50 youth who are active somewhere in the life of the church. 25 youth means a 20-hr person and so 12-13 youth would mean hiring someone for about 10 hours a week.

2)What to pay? Go to the January 2012 issue of Group Magazine and check out their latest salary survey. They provide loads of stats and variables to consider.

3)Where to post your church’s position? Simply Youth Ministry, Youth Ministry Architects and Youth Specialties have the best job boards. Of course, your denominational office is good. Colleges and seminaries are a must. Plus? There’s always Craig’s List.

4)Pick 3 non-negotiables and 1-2 “these would be great IF” qualities in a staff hire. Head towards that.

5)Don’t set the hire up for failure by holding off everything till “the new person gets here.” The youth ministry belongs to the church and so does the Youth Minister's vision and values. The person you hire should be able to match up with similar skills and purpose.

I hope that is helpful and Good luck!

How to Lose Support of Parents

If you don’t get anything else out of this post, get this: 

Young People’s Ministry is about caring for

 the students AND their parents.

In Young People’s Ministry we have been entrusted for the physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being of not only the student but their family and parents as well. We don’t always get it right. Below are 3 common places where Young People’s Ministry staff and volunteers miss the mark when it comes to the ministering of parents.

We Don’t Let Them Know What Is Happening in the Ministry-Young People’s Ministry can be one of the best-kept secrets in the church! How cool would it be if parents knew the lessons ahead of time and could have the opportunity to discuss it before they left for group? Or at least have some tools on the back burner to help them discuss at home what they learned at church. Too often we move from lesson to lesson and program to program without even the most basic communication to parents.

We Don’t Return Phone Calls-It doesn’t matter what type of communication you prefer. For many parents-hearing a voice over the phone is far and away the best message. When you don’t return a phone call it subtracts equity from your ministry. It doesn’t take long before you are overdrawn. If you aren’t a phone person… Who cares? You need to become one because a phone call is the love language of most parents these days.

We Keep the Spiritual Growth of Their Child a Mystery-As we care for their children, we need to keep parents in the loop of what is going on with their child emotionally and spiritually. A lot of youth and young adult workers want to gain the trust of the students they work with and so they make promises that they want discuss issues with parents. While I can understand the want to be “liked“ by the students, your first responsibility is for the care of your students. You only see your students for a fraction of the time… The parents spend far more time with them. Keeping them in the loop of how and what is going on with their child will en-dear you to them and will let them know that you truly care about their child.

There are many other ways to alienate parents. What are some of the ways you might add?