Chocolate Advent Calendar

Do you remember opening a chocolate advent calendar when you were a kid? I do. I loved getting that calendar each year. Today, many of my friends are giving their kids the much desired "Lindt Advent Calendar".

Yet the Advent story is still missed by many families in our churches. Our family this year is going through a story for Advent each day. We are making this an intentional priority for our family. We are going to be setting aside 20 minutes each day, beginning the fourth Sunday before Christmas, to light candles, read a devotional for that day, and pray together.

Advent. Adventus. Ecce advenit Dominatus. Behold, the Lord, the Ruler, is come. Reaching back two millennia to the birth of the Christ child and forward to his reign on earth, the tradition of Advent is a threefold celebration of the birth of Jesus, his eventual second coming to earth, and his continued presence in our lives here and now. God in our past, God in our future, God in our present.

History of Advent. 
It started with people going hungry to purifyl themselves and prepare themselves for holy living. A fast, we call it, and such a fast was ordered by the Council of Saragosa in A.D. 381. For three weeks before Epiphany (a feast in January celebrating the divine revelation of Jesus to the gentile Magi), the people were to prepare themselves by fasting and praying. The tradition spread to France in 581 by decree of the Council of Macon, and to Rome and beyond thereafter. Gregory the First refined the season to its present form in about 600 when he declared that it should start the fourth Sunday before Christmas.

Fasting is no longer a part of Advent in most homes and churches (though it wouldn't be a bad idea for some). For us, Advent means taking time each day, for the three or four weeks before Christmas, to centre our thoughts on Truth Incarnate lying in a feeding trough in Bethlehem. It's a time of worship, a time of reflection, a time of focus, and time of of family communion. In the midst of December's commotion and stress. Advent is a few moments to stop, catch your breath, and renew your strength from the only One who can provide true strength.

What advent traditions do you remember or do now with your family or ministry?

Child-Like Faith at Disney World

I'm in Orlando for the biennial National Conference on Catholic Youth Ministry (NCCYM) sponsored by the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry (NFCYM).

I look forward to connecting with old ministry friends, making new ones, and learning even more acronyms.  :p

Being here at Walt Disney World reminds me of one of my favourite videos that I originally posted back in May:

I've written before on child-like faith, and how children remind us that we are to be child-like (but not childish) in the way we pray. After all, Mark 10:15 says "Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it." 

This scripture reminds us that whomever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.  Now that doesn’t mean that we should all start sucking our thumbs, wearing diapers, crawling around from place to place, and crying and whining until we get what we want...that's childish.  But God has set aside the Kingdom of God for the childlike...for those who are loving enough to trust and obey Him, and humble enough to depend on Him.

My kids teach me what it means to have a child-like faith.  Because they are obedient, innocent, and curious.

See what I mean in this video...and in particular pay attention to Jacob, our middle child.  The only background you need to know is that our kids thought we were going to spend our Spring Break in Seattle.

Spiritual Practice of the Week: A Gift

Guided Meditation

This practice leads people through reflections on visual imagery using spoken word in a deeply meditative practice. This can calm, center, and relax people. We hear God with greater clarity.

The practice of relaxation in a group setting can be a tough one for youth to embrace since they are so used to movement and noise. The practice begins with settling, then continues with reading the meditation slowly, clearly, and deliberately, leaving plenty of space for people to go through their own meditation process. When the meditation is complete, have people slowly come back into the space by moving their hands and feet. People may fall asleep during the guided mediation and that is a fine response. Gently encourage them to wake up and come back to the group.

Once the whole group is back, ask people to share an image (if they saw one), or the insight that came to them. Allow people to share or keep their insights to themselves. 

Guided Meditation: A Gift

Invite people to find a comfortable space (chair, floor) to settle into for this time of stillness and imagination. Once all are settled, begin. Read the following meditation clearly and slowly, leaving pauses at appropriate times during the reading.

Welcome to this space and this time of reflection and relaxation. 

Take some deep breaths in and out.

Feel the air come deeply into your body. Let it go. Notice your belly rise and fall. 

Imagine that God is as close as your breath.

Feel your body start to relax as you focus on your breath. 

Let go of all tension in your body. Let yourself sink into the floor or the chair.

Keep breathing deeply and let yourself sink.

Imagine that you are walking in a place outside and there is no one else around. 

Perhaps you are on a beach, or in a forest, or at home in your yard. 

It’s a good and safe place. See yourself walking through that place on your own. What do you notice about the place? How’s the weather? How do you feel being in that place? 

Find a spot to sit and rest, and look around. 

Take in this space, the space that is there for you alone.

You notice that someone is coming toward you. 

They are off in the distance but they are walking toward you. 

You begin to see who it is. How do you feel as you see this person approaching?

You notice that they are getting closer and that they are holding something in their hand. They smile as they come closer with hand outstretched. They want to give you the thing in their hand. 

They are now standing before you and you reach out and take the thing they want to give you.

You look at it and look back at them. 

What have they given you? 

You pay attention to the gift, touching it, holding it.

You look up, taking in one more time where it is you are. You know that it’s time to get back to your life. You get up to leave with the gift in your hand. You walk away, thinking about the gift you have been given.

Now is the time to come back to this room and this space. Slowly move your body around, rubbing your hands together, stretching your body out long, taking some deep breaths in and out. When you are ready, open your eyes, and come back to the room.

Have a five minute break. Then invite youth to sit in a circle and share what their gift was if they wish and who the person was who came to them in their practice of meditation.. Close the reflection with a prayer.

© This prayer practice and all of those on the Sunday Morning Blog Post can be found in:  "Go Deep: Spiritual Practices for Youth Ministry" Wood Lake Publishing
Doris is the Youth Director for the United Church of Canada in BC. 

Going Slow with Dr. Low

Slow; Children Playing

Every Monday night I'm involved with a Spiritual Direction Training Course where we spend the first part of the evening in prayer & meditation.  This past Monday night was one of the best group prayer times we've had in the 2 years we've been doing this course.  We usually pray in the gym and try to be creative in the ways we encourage people to pray, but this time the leader brought us all into the sanctuary where she had dozens of children's toys laid out up at the front.  She told us all to go to the front and pick a toy and experience play as prayer.

The youngest people in the class are in their thirties with most of the students being in their 50s and 60s.  It was SO exhilarating watching these 20 or so adults playing around the sanctuary - skipping rope, bouncing balls, blowing bubbles, rolling marbles under the pews and so on.  I played with a yo-yo for several minutes with my primary thought being, "You mean all I'm expected to do right now is play with this yo-yo?!"  It was so freeing and refreshing having 20 minutes where that's all I had to do.  Normally, as a busy working father of 2 little boys, anything I do is supposed to have a greater purpose or leading towards something productive but in this very moment I was simply invited to play with a yo-yo and blow some bubbles.

As I wandered around the sanctuary blowing bubbles at people I have never seen such big smiles on adults in my life, especially in church.  They were lighting up with glee at this prayerful opportunity.  Some were even brought to tears as they reflected on God as their Father and them as His little child.  We all basked in His love as we were freed for 20 minutes from all the worldly pressures and expectations most of us carry all day long.

God created us to work but He also created us to play.  He created us to enjoy life and enjoy the world more than many of us do.  Our modern world has certainly pushed us to work more, try harder, perform better, multi-task more, juggle more relationships, earn more money, spend more money...it's a high pressured life.  But much of this is worldly expectations, not necessarily Godly ones.  God wants us to live more simply, abundantly and joyfully as we enjoy Him, His world and the people He gives us to play with.

Next time you think you or the people you're leading think you need a deep, serious prayer time maybe try this instead.  Take a yo-yo, ball, stuffed animal, playful puppy or spunky child and pray with them in a different way you may be used to.  You may be pleasantly surprised at how good you feel and how you experience God's presence in a different way.

With this in mind I would like to invite you to check out my new prayer book which has a similar theme as above.  It's a terrific book which invites the reader to experience God in simple, everyday, child-like ways we're all familiar with.

Playground Prayers and Monkey Bar Meditations

or here

Jesus called for the children and said to the disciples, "Let the children come to me. Don't stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these.  I assure you, anyone who doesn't have their kind of faith will never get into the Kingdom of God."  Luke 18:16-17

Online data is being collected from kids

Federal Trade Commission: Let parents control who can collect data from their kids

Petition by Joy Spencer

The Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) is currently the only legislative tool available that keeps parents in control of what data and personal information companies can collect about children under 13 while they are online. The Federal Trade Commission has proposed rule changes that will update the law and keep parents in control even in this new digital era of social media networks, mobile apps, gaming sites and tracking that goes on while kids are web browsing. There is already mounting industry opposition to these rule changes which will provide parents with another tool to stay in control. Parents must make their voices heard so that the FTC knows that we support these important rule changes that keep parents in charge.

Dear Canadian Youth Workers,

Would you consider signing my petition, "Federal Trade Commission: Let parents control who can collect data from their kids" on Change.org.

It's important. Will you sign it too? Here's the link:
http://www.change.org/en-CA/petitions/federal-trade-commission-let-parents-control-who-can-collect-data-from-their-kids

Thanks again -- together we're making change happen,

Joy

What are today's teens chasing?

 

Ellen says...

I am so happy to have a second DVD-based study from fresh Bible teacher, Jennie Allen. Her studies are short, impactful, highly visual and solidly biblical. These are perfect for older teens, young adults, as well as women ages 20-45. The study's low price point also makes Chase highly accessible. My favorite part of these studies are the conversation cards, which truly do set the stage for authentic discussion. 

About the resource...

Chase

Jennie Allen

Thomas Nelson-9781418549343

What are you chasing?

We’re all chasing after something, something that we think will make us happy—comfort, success, a bigger house, or someone’s approval. But if we are all honest, it feels like trying to catch the wind.

A man after God’s own heart… As David’s life weaves throughout the pages of Scripture, we see he was a man who spent his life chasing after God. Chase explores the events that defined David’s life and the Psalms that flowed out of those experiences. Through David’s example we’ll discover what God really wants from us.

The lessons in this study are simple yet deep and very interactive, offering Bible study, stories, and projects to dig into Scripture and deeply engage the mind and heart. God has carved out a space in each of us that only He can fill. So whether you are running from God or working your tail off to please Him, David’s journey will challenge your view of God.

God is invisible, and yet He is the only thing we can chase that won’t leave us feeling more empty.
Study Kit Tools:

Study. The study guide uses projects, stories, and Bible study to engage the mind and heart. There are seven weeks of Bible study and an introductory session for your group.

See. Eight short but deep videos provide a starting place for meeting God and for transparent conversations. Each video is 8-12 minutes long.

Ask. Conversation cards offer questions for spontaneous and authentic discussion time. You choose the questions that speak to you.

Lead. The leader’s guide prepares you to lead this study and encourages you along the way.

About Jennie Allen...

Jennie Allen is a Bible teacher who is passionate about inspiring a new generation of women to encounter the invisible God. Raised in a Christian home, Jennie heard about God her entire life but not until high school did she see her need for Him. Since that time she has been teaching groups of girls and women about her God. 

Jennie studied at the University of Arkansas for three years. She met and married Zac Allen and moved to Tennessee where she completed her B.S in Communications at Carson Newman College. She and Zac later attended Dallas Theological Seminary at the same time. Jennie graduated with a Master's in Biblical Studies in 2005. 

Born and raised on Vancouver Island, Ellen Graf-Martin now lives in the heart of Ontario’s Mennonite country with her husband Dan, where she continues to work in publishing and ministry.Learn more about her work at www.grafmartin.com

Reckless Abandon

This evening, at the conclusion of our religious education classes at our church, one little boy was left waiting to be picked up.  Five minutes passed, then ten.  Ten became fifteen, fifteen became twenty, and twenty became twenty-five.  Finally, his grandfather came to the door thirty minutes after classes had ended and all the other students had gone home.  Sadly, there wasn’t an apology or thank you...only a nod of acknowledgement after I reminded him to be on time for pick-up.

Conversely, the student was very polite and appreciative of our patience.  In between his phone calls home to see who was going to pick him up, we had a great conversation about school, shopping, and the importance of good hygiene.  To his credit, the 10 year-old was not scared or worried, and he gave me a sincere “Thanks for waiting with me” when he was leaving...in stark contrast to his grandfather.  While grateful for the time and chat, I felt sad that he had to wait (and not just because he had to talk to me...haha) – it felt like he was abandoned – even for a short time.

It got me thinking about times that we abandon teens in our youth ministry.

A couple of qualifications here: I’m aware that there are different ways to define “abandon”, but for these purposes I will focus on its meaning as leaving or forsaking something or someone.  Furthermore, I’ll be looking at more figurative examples as opposed to literal ones:  thankfully I’ve never left a teen somewhere...at least to my knowledge. :p

Here are three ways that we may abandon teens:

1.  When we get intimidated or uncomfortable.  Reaching out to certain teens isn’t easy; in fact it can downright frightening.  Quite often, we jump to conclusions about people (all people and not just teens) whether it’s how people dress, talk, act or choose to hang around with.  As youth ministers, it’s vital to recognize when we are doing this and to fight through it and not let it affect our ministry.

It certainly is tricky.  For instance, I’ve ministered alongside some really great youth leaders who “favoured” certain teens (to varying degrees); and because of the time and attention, some of them have grown up to be outstanding leaders in their own right.  I know that I’m guilty of this as well – I admit that it’s much easier to spend time with those who seem to make ministry easier for us.   However, I often lament the teens that slipped through the cracks of my parish youth ministry because I or other leaders simply didn’t take the time to connect with them or to stretch out of our comfort zones.  I just pray that someone else was able to do what I didn’t do.

2.  When they “let us down”.  Often in youth ministry, we put a lot of hope and faith into the teens we minister to and with (as we should).  We may try to live vicariously through them or we may see a younger version of ourselves in them.  Thus, we may expect them to act a certain way, to speak using certain language, or to make certain decisions.  But what happens when they don’t do what we want them to do?

Logically, the best answer is that we should stand by them and guide them through the said situation by providing a prudent level of guidance and support.  However, I’ve seen it go the other way as well:  youth leaders who get frustrated or disappointed with the teens to a point where it compounds the problem.  They may use words such as “I’m disappointed in you” or “I hope you learned your lesson”. 

Speaking from experience, it’s ridiculously easy to put too much pressure on young people.  They already have enough pressure on them: from their parents, school, job, peers, media, society, and more – they certainly don’t need a youth minister breathing down their neck too.  We are called to love young people despite their (and our own) imperfections.  How we react in the face of adversity (theirs and ours) says a lot about our character.  Teens need us to love them and not to judge them.

3.  When they abandon us.  How good are we at seeking out the lost sheep?  Or are we so wrapped up in our programs that we forget about people?  When it comes to relational ministry, we need to accept that a lot of times it is going to feel like it’s only going one way.  That is, we may initiative all of the contact and show up at all the sporting events and concerts only to have the young person not show up to our youth ministry gatherings. 

I liken it to the age-old dilemma of birthday party or wedding invitations.  It doesn’t make any sense to use the thinking of “I will invite them only if they invited me to theirs’ first”.  Because if both sides subscribed to that theory, no one would make the first move!  Same goes for our youth ministry: we can’t water down our relational ministry efforts if it seems like the commitment isn’t being reciprocated.  In fact, it should be the exact opposite: that’s the time to ramp things up!

Remember, youth ministry should be about people and not programs.  We should be interested in souls and not attendance.  If we are firmly committed to this, we won’t need to worry about abandoning teens.

Clayton Imoo is husband to Gail and father to sons Sean Isaiah and Jacob Isaac and daughter Kayla Marie.  He has served as the Director of the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vancouver for the past ten years.  Learn more about him at http://www.claytonimoo.com or follow him @claytonimoo