Meeting 23rd Nov 2012

On Friday 23rd Nov 2012, one of the ladies from the Methodist Church kindly came along with her card making kit.  She has a lot of items, but they seem to fit in a small case.

The members of RAWR were then invited to make their own Christmas Cards.  This has proved to be an activity where the creative nature comes out.

Below are some pictures: -

One of the nearly finished cards

 

Weekend Away 2012

Over the weekend of Friday 28^th to Sunday 30^th September 2012, a group of 8 young people and 5 adults spent the weekend away to Clacton.  The young people came from youth groups connected to Maldon Methodist Church (Pioneers and RAWR), South Woodham Ferrers and Springfield Park Baptist churches.

 

The Weekend Gang

 

 

Friday evening was a relaxed time, getting to know each other as this was the first time the whole group had meet for the first time.  We had a take-a-way supper of fish and chips, burger and chips or something and chips, eating these as we headed down to the Pier.  When we got back to base, we spent time playing board games or UNO, getting to know each other and setting up beds.

Saturday morning was spent looking at the story Jesus told about the rich farmer who had to build bigger barns to store his crops, but died before he could reap the reward of selling it off.  The message is about storing up worldly riches which you cannot take with you when you died, so it is better to use the wealth to help others.

To help make the point, we made a bunch of cakes, decorated them and sold them on Sunday morning after the Harvest Service.  Thanks to the congregation, we raised £30 points.  One part of the session was deciding which charity to send the money too.  We looked at several recent adverts for some and finally chose UNICEF.  Another craft activity was to decorate a money box for home use to raise money for other charities of our own choosing. 

After lunch we looked at two other stories of Jesus, both looking at how people dealt with money.  The first was the dishonest manager who misused his master money for his own gain and another rich man who threw a party to which the invited guests did not come to.

The dishonest manager was cleaver in trying to secure another job after he was sacked and we wondered how much Christians work in spreading the Good News?  Do they spend as much effort as the dishonest manager did in secure a new job?

The rich man’s party was eventually attended by those he did not know, the people off the streets and the down and outs.  Here we looked at sharing our wealth with those who have little to nothing.  During this time, the young people decorated a small box to contain a list of their abilities to serve God, a cake shaped invitation and painted a cup coaster.

 

The late afternoon and early evening was spent on the Pier and a great time was had by the young people.  We had a great evening meal and then played more games, some learning new ones.  Bed time came and sleep soon followed.

 

Sunday morning came and we all helped tidy up.  We joined with the congregation for Harvest Celebration and a Baptism service, after which we sold all the cakes made on Saturday.  We also joined with them for a bring-and-share lunch.  To finish off the weekend, we all (young people and leaders) made a small Owl to remind us about the wisdom (or lack of it) from the characters in Jesus’ stories.  The rich farmer was un-wise in trying to keep all his money, the dishonesty manager was un-wise to use his master money, but wise to try and secure a job in the future.  The rich man wisely invited anyone to his party, to share his money with others

Friday 22nd June 2012

We had planned to go to the "Prom" but as the weather was not exactly worm (windy and had rained earlier) we stayed at our usual meeting place.

It was a pleasure to welcome a new member to the youth group and we hope he felt welcomed and could join in.

As well as the usual games, the young people had an opportunity to make two badges of their own design, with interesting results.

The "God Slot" was a bit different this week as we looked at the question "If RAWR had £50 or £200 or £500 or £1000 to spend, what would they spend it on.  The answers ranged from Craft Stuff, a RAWR Pet, trip to Adventure Island, trip to a Zoo, WII, X-BOX, trip to Rio or Japan and Bouncy Castle.

Having done that, we remembered one episode of the TV program "The Vicar of Dibly".  The church window had been destroyed by a tree and they raised the thousands of pounds to replace it.  However, the Vicar gave the money to a charity to help third world flood victims and just put plan glass in the church.

We then finished off the badges (the machine only does one at a time), played some games and finished of with dodge ball.

Friday 1st June 2012 - Party Time

Following a request from one of the RAWR young people, we spent the evening celebrating a birthday.  As it was also close the Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee, we had a bit of a "red, white and blue" feel to the evening.

Food was provided by all the young people at RAWR and a contribution from RAWR Funds

It was good to see that some of the "old"party games are still enjoyed by young people today.  So "musical chairs" was played first.

This was followed by "musical statues" with some persuasion of the lads to actually move to the music!

We then all played "pass the parcel" and a short God slot based on Jesus saying that if you are not for him (a follower and believer) then you are against him.  Another way of saying this is that there is no option for "sitting on the fence" and trying to keep out of it.  Those who do not follow Jesus are just as much against him as those who are actively trying to prove it is a waste of time.

This lead in to food time!

After food, limboing was the order of the day, allowing time to clear up the food.

We then joined in a new game for RAWR, called "duck, duck, goose".  I'm sure you know how to play it, but it you're not, the pop along to RAWR on evening.  I'd never played it before!

The evening ended with the cutting of the Birthday Cake and the giving out of this in a party bag.  The "tuck shop" lady who helped out received a bag, her first ever!

Friday 18th May 2012

Although a normal meeting, two "new" things happened.

The first was the arrival of an indoor 10 Pin Bowling kit.  Nothing special, but like the real thing, getting the pins down is not as easy as it seems.  Anyway, a bit of fun for the young people.



The Pins Set Up



Some one managed to knock some pins down

 The second new thing was a warm welcome to the Rev. Peter Lowe.  Rev Peter is the Vicar at St. Andrew's Church in Heybridge, St. George's Church in Heybridge Basin and Rector at St. Gile's Church in Langford.

During the God Slot", which looked at who our neighbour is, Peter recalled an incident he had with some of his neighbours when he was based in Portsmouth.

We looked at the story Jesus told about the Samaritan (who were part of the Jewish Nation) help another Jew (who strongly dis-liked the Samaritans) who had been beaten up and robbed.  Jesus taught that we need to treat everyone the same, no matter how difficult it is to love them.

We ended with some games with the parachute.

Friday 11th May 2012

As the weather was kind, dry but a bit windy, we had the trampoline, table tennis and bungee run up outside at the back of the Church.

It was great a welcome a friend of one of the regular RAWR young people to the meeting.

The "God Slot" looked at how we should react when someone is not particularly "nice" towards us. I'm personally not sure what the discussion was about, as I was putting the outdoor equipment away.

By the time the God Slot finished, the weather was not than warm, so we moved back in to the halls. We finished with a game of "It Ball" where every one can join in and attempt to get others out.

Friday 4th May

RAWR met as usual and took the opportunity for some craft work.  Some white clay "Cute Pet" or "Funky Car" money boxes were made available to paint.  The weather was not kind enough to get the large trampoline or bungee run out, so these were postponed until next week.

The "Cute Pets" were favorites, even for the lads (and why not?).  The results are below: -

I'm not saying who painted who, but they do look "cute" and very individual.

For the "God Slot" we looked at another teaching of Jesus on how we live our lives.  last week we looked at whether we should pay taxes (even young people pay VAT on goods they buy), where the money goes and whether it is right to buy pirated, counterfeit or black market goods.

This week the "slot" was lead by Rev Sue and she looked at how we criticise others often without realising that we are just as bad if not worst.  People seem very ready to looks at the faults of others and ignore their own faults.

For the end game, we played "1 on 1 Hockey", which we had not played for some time.

Run Up To Easter

In the three weeks leading up to Easter, the God Slot themes looked at the Temptations of Jesus at the start of his ministry, his triumphal entry in to Jerusalem (Hero) and his trial (Zero).

The usual games equipment was available and we now have a large "Noughts and Crosses" set to play with.  On the 30th March, we all played a game of Uno.  David had the most number of "last card" calls, whilst Angela had the most "card pick ups (12 cards at one go).  We all enjoyed playing together.

On the 16th March, we played two "all together" games.  The first was "Hunter and Rabbit", where one player catches a rabbit, who then become a hunter as well.  The game finishes when one rabbit is left.  The second game was a variation of Dodge Ball, where a tennis ball has to bounce off the floor before hitting a player.  Everyone plays at the same time until one is left.

RAWR does not meet again until 20th April, after the Easter break.  Hopefully, now that the lighter nights are with us, we hope to be outside for some meeting.  A large trampoline is available, but only fits outside.

Friday 16th March 2012

For want of a better description, the weeks club meeting as "as normal" apart for the end games.

Although it was the Friday before Mother's Day, the young people were given an opportunity to make a card on the week before.

So the meeting followed the usual patten.  Not sure if Rev. Don all the games of table top football, but he tried to show off his snooker skills.

The "God Slot" looked at the temptations of Jesus before he started his work.  This theme is often looked at in the weeks leading up to Easter.  We were asked to consider how we are tempted and how we resist.

We played two new group games this week.  The first was to see who could keep their balloon inflated (it was tied to their ankle on a short length of string) whilst trying to stamp on everyoneelses balloon.  The second as called "Rabbits and Hunters" and is a bit like "it" and "dodge ball" combined.  As the hunter catches a rabbit, the rabbit then becomes a hunter and so on until one rabbit is left.

Friday 3rd Feb 2012

At this week's club meeting, two people were given birthday cards for their up and coming birthdays.  Not saying who and how old, those who were there know!

As it was a bit of a birthday celebration evening, the bungee run was brought out.  The calculations on the length went a bit wrong, but by moving the Communion Rail, it fitted in safely.

Not quite what the run is for!

"Go on, girl, you can do it"

What friends are for?

The pool table is having some difficulty whilst we meet in the Church.  The floor is "raked" (that is it has a slope from the back to the front) and so the balls tend to move to one side.  Any skilled player can work round this, me excluded!

The table tennis, on the other hand, copes well with the slope.  I'm sure these leaders were thinking back to their youth club days!

Before leading the God Slot this week, Rev Don played a game of UNO.  It's a great games as you never known what the card being played by the others will leader to.

Rev Don lead the God Slot by talking about the non-productive fig tree.  Jesus suggested the farmer should cut it down as in three years it had not produced any fruit.  The farmer gave it another chance, which reminded us that God gives us "another chance".

Don also introduced us to the "Tater Family" who are potatoes!  We can all be a "tator" (dictator, spectator, imitator) and Don asked us what sort of "potatoe Jesus would be"!

We then ended with Dodge Ball, as shown below: -

"Ready to throw" or "Just take it easy"?

The Doge Ball Vistory Dance!

The "active" Rev Don

No, this is Dodge Ball not River Dance!  Really!