School service projects

Last night at youth group we gave our students a service project that beautifully partnered with the mission of our congregation and the needs of our community, and then we made it fun enough for the kids to enjoy: It was great!

Our church has a unique partnership with a nearby middle school through which we provide mentors, volunteers, and resources to an otherwise disadvantaged school. One resource that our church provides is a care package for students as they take their Iowa Basic Skills Tests. I remember from my own days of taking the MMAT (the Missouri equivalent) that these were long days of filling in bubble sheets. So the care package provides a few sharp pencils, bookmark, mints, gum, sticker and pencil grip - enough treat and practical supplies to make the test hopefully more bearable.

I introduced this project to our students last year. It doesn't take long - many hands make light work - but is a really nice thing to do. Last night though we really took it to the next level by adding purpose to our service. We began the evening by talking about the middle school in need, reminding our students that in this school there are many students who don't have positive role models, parents to help with homework, safe places to play, and for many, probably not a whole lot of enthusiasm about school work. So our mission was to show these students that we loved them with this small gift. Then to put our affection into words by writing notes on the outside of the care packages.

I really wanted this to make a big impact on the students we served, so the first thing that students did before assembling the envelope-care packages was to gather in groups of 6-8 at the tables. Then they each took an envelope and wrote an encouraging phrase on it and passed it around their table.

The result was incredible. Thank God I resisted the urge to pre-write some ideas on white paper and hang them around the room. Our kids were more creative that I would have been. among my favorites included: Nailed it, You've got swag, and numerous quotes from Harry Potter. Envelopes became decorated with lots of phrases - super encouraging pep talks for the students taking tests. And though each student was only writing one phrase several times, the envelopes became uniquely hand written love notes.

We wrapped up this service project by gathering in the youth room to pray over the envelopes before settling into our seats for a Senior Faith Story. Easily one of my favorite traditions that we've begun this year, the last Sunday of month has become a holy space for our seniors to share their story of God with our group. This week a student shared about her experience with a house fire and the love and outpouring of friendship that affected her life post-fire. She connected the disorientation of the fire with the reality of what she really needed in life and how much luxury she has in life. It softened her to people who go without and opened her eyes about her own friendships. I prefaced her story by reading from Luke 12:22-34 and then we split into small groups to reflect. 20 minutes was enough time, but it definitely could have been more.

The evening concluded with worship - during which we remember our baptism by reminding students that we often try to fill our lives with stuff, not realizing what is really important is our relationships. So as we played music students made the sign of the cross on each other's foreheads while they said, "you are worth it, you are a child of God, Jesus loves you and so do I". Though this baptismal tradition is becoming a sweet spot for me, one of my leaders is pushing me to consider how else to frame the final moments so that kids who are acne-conscious won't feel strange about the experience... I'm still thinking about that, but for now, the baptismal reminder is an excuse for us to look at each other and remember God's connection to us - and I don't want to give that up.

Foosball

Last night at youth group we played one of my favorite games... feels like I say that a lot, but human foosball is definitely in the running. I've played several varieties of this game, but I think I've perfected it in my setting. We occupy the entire fellowship hall (a large mostly rectangle room) and line it with chairs facing out of the playing field. Then as we form teams we actually just form lines of 3-5 students who hold hands and face alternating directions lining up between chairs like a foosball table. The chairs become anchors for the lines and to ensure that the kids stay true, we use waste hose to connect each line to the chair anchor. Then I give some quick instructions about not getting hurt and that if they knock over their chairs they will lose a point, and we're off.

When we're playing with 30-40 people, multiple balls are necessary. I like to use a variety of sizes and styles of balls: nerf, inflatables, and a few kid-kick balls (the kind in the giant towers at walmart for a few bucks). Then as a leader I run around encouraging, teasing and chasing after balls which have gone astray while the kids bop balls back and forth.

As with most of my games I pretend to keep points, but I never actually do. If it seems one team is winning too much I start assigning disabilities to the winning teams or I will alter rules to make it more even. And every few minutes of play I stop the game, have each line move one row closer to their goal and the forward most team to retreat to their defense. That keeps the lines fresh as they meet and kick against new players. The real key to the game is the waste hose. it's so useful in keeping kids in a line, but also allowing them to move a little bit so that no balls become stuck between lines.

Along with Foosball, we also played a quick name game in the beginning that asked kids to get to know their neighbor. first I asked ids to share names as one person in the middle pointed to different people and asked "do you know your neighbor" and counted to 5. After several attempts to get to 5 before they could respond, the middle person said to change places if... kind of working in a "train wreck style game" Then we learned new facts like where they were born, farthest away from home, middle name... The game worked fine. it was kind of a mix of several games, but it was a good mix to get kids loose and learning about each other. I should have partnered them up myself after the game instead of letting them move to find groups, because that would have forced some new relationships during the foosball game, but as it was, the kids were standing next to their friends and playing against other friends, so it was just fine.

After foosball we had a large group talk about Philip and the Eunuch - Acts 8. I identified 5 things that philip did that made a difference in the Eunuch's life: running alongside, sat down, saw the bigger question, shared his life experience, and then shared an experience. And then we applied those 5 things to how we can make a difference in relationships we already have. Small group followed with a pretty intense conversation about friendships and how friendships change - thinking specifically about how to help friends grow deeper.

We concluded the evening by revisiting the baptismal promise and how that moment changed our lives. We then remembered our baptism by passing around a bowl of water as we sang and put the sign of the cross on each others foreheads, repeating the words: "you are a child of God, Jesus loves you and so do I." This was a beautiful ending to a powerful night of conversation and fun. The balance was perfect - lots of fun, and lots of depth in conversation.

SPY retreat

Last night at youth group we hosted an offsite retreat at our local church camp. We are fortunate to have a church camp (which most kids have attended) about 45 minutes away with a winter retreat center. This allows us on evening like this one (the eve of Martin Luther King Jr. Day - a 3 day weekend) to drive up to camp for a one-night retreat.

One night retreats are not common because it's difficult to get a group to fully engage and get out of the world and really retreated into God's company in such a short time. Even two-night retreats are difficult for this reason. But as I've done several one-nighters I've realized that there are some great advantages. First, there are always more people who can attend because there are fewer conflicts. Second, it's much cheaper (we offered this retreat for $20 which included two meals, activities, and a night stay). And third, it's much easier on the leaders of the retreat to plan it themselves. For our purposes, because we're so close, we are also able to offer a partial retreat for kids who wanted to experience youth group at the camp but couldn't stay the night - 3 leaders and 3 kids participated this way - or students to show up a tad late.

Our retreat was themed about spys - we are after all St. Paul Youth. The retreat began at the doors to the church as we made announcements and I set the expectations for our group then assigned vehicles, purposely mixing up cliques into the vehicles. When we arrived at camp we were treated to a skit by a brave leader in a tux involving silly string, and then some spy training which broke kids into groups, mixed them up and began the ice breaking.

Following dinner our leaders performed another goofy skit about teamwork and we began a discussion about the body of christ and the essentialness for all members. Playdough and pipe cleaners helped kids get creative as they identified themselves as a variety of body parts in our group and how their role was important to our larger group. That conversation in small groups led to conversations about how our group was functioning - what were the weaker and stronger parts of our youth group.

Then we took a break and resumed activity with a game about observation using a homemade DVD similar to SceneIt. The game provided a transition into a quick talk about how every spy has a handler and the essential connection that the handler makes with the spy. We then talked about spiritual pathways and broke into groups to discuss the variety of pathways and how each of us connect differently.

We closed the evening program with excellent worship like normal before taking an hour long break for kids to enjoy free time, games, and snacks. Then we gathered again for worship - recapped the day long retreat and hosted a huge group game for all participants. Finishing at 12:30 pm, I laid out ground rules for the lights out procedure and then kids headed to bed or to the living room for quiet conversations until the leaders closed down the room.

In the morning we began with breakfast, followed by an optional snowball fight outside or inside hang out, and then closed everything off with a worship moment about our mission that God gives us. We closed by inviting kids forward one at a time to remember their baptismal promises, burn their personal commission (which kids rewrote for themselves about the great commission), and then receive their new commission as a spy (receiving a pair of sunglasses).

In total, the retreat was excellent. The major pieces that we put in place really met our kids in vulnerable spots leading to really good conversations. The pathways conversation was the best. It was easily led and followed with great discussion and revelations from kids about connecting to God. The Body of Christ experience was also very good - a spring board for our kids to talk about cliques, beam with pride about their group and identify their own strengths. Worship time was phenominal and the closing commissioning was just about as good as it gets. We each have loads of great memories, we're filled with the spirit, and we all have new sunglasses to remember that we are God's spys in the world!

Next time I think the leader skits should be improved just a little (but a great start). I made some good contemplative workbooks to be used in 15 minutes increments during the retreat for reflection that we didn't use. I think the practice of journaling would have been good at the retreat, but it just didn't fit with the time frame. Next time we'll have to weigh if this is worth it, it would have been too much this time. I also need to break the teams up better next time. Many of the groups were too friend-dominant which was good for conversation, but not for diversity of opinion. And finally the closing devotion could have had some more punch. I changed locations for this one, and wish I hadn't because the living room space (although it had a fireplace) didn't have the same feel as the red room.

White Elephant

Last night at youth group our students were organized into house groups again. Four houses across the city hosted the groups of 6-10 students (collecting about 33 students and a dozen leaders).

The house group plan included a white elephant gift exchange, Bible study based on the visit from the magi in Matthew 2, an activity about the 12 days of Christmas (guessing what those gifts could be and then making up their own ideas), and then a picture challenge of each group posing through the 12 days of Christmas. The house groups have been working really well, and this was no exception. This is the fourth house group of the year, and here are some conclusions that I've made that will guide us in the future.

1. Consistent leadership has been key. I think the more that our leaders have been involved the better their leadership has become. not every leader reads the guide ahead of time, or even has things planned out and prepared, but the students have adapted to the leaders strengths as the groups have developed. I've seen the leaders connecting better outside of the groups as well. With a large group such as ours, it can feel overwhelming for leaders who are trying to get to know a different group of kids each week. These house groups have given leaders a focus group of kids to connect with and then platforms for the leaders to discover their roles, use their gifts, and engage other kids.

2. Changes in the house group location each month means lots of communication! Each house group has changed locations almost every time they meet. This is great, kids want to host, they want to show off their houses and invite others... but it's also a challenge to get everyone directed to the right location - facebook events have been key - and postcards each week have also been integral!

3. Even with texting, facebook events, facebook messages, bulletin announcements, parent emails, weekly reminders and postcards, we still had students show up to the last house group without a wrapped present to exchange (fortuantely I supplied 2 extra gifts per house group just in case). But this amount of communication is too much to sustain long term. I think we're operating in a communication overload world, so I need to find ways to make our communication more powerful and direct instead of just a mass communication.

4. Cliques are good. Well, groups of students who feel like they belong to each other and provide safe circles of friends are good. Exclusion is bad. Our house groups have created some very strong identity in our group - which is great for kids who haven't felt like this is a group for them yet... but when the groups become so strong that they no longer are welcoming others in - then we have a problem. This is a borderline issue right now in our group. One that we'll have to bring to the surface, remind everyone of our values and then encourage them like crazy to use their cliques as springboards into new relationships within and outside of our group.

5. The picture challenge, followed by a posting on facebook, has been crucial to the groups feeling like they haven't missed 'it' each night. it's probably also leading to strong/competitive groups, but they have definitely been a huge win for our group.