This guide provides ideas for discussion and activities for young people based on some of the scripture readings used in Advent and up to Candlemas.

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1 Youth activities Introduction This guide provides ideas for discussion and activities for young people based on some of the scripture readings used in Advent and up to Candlemas. Use them as they are, or adapt them for your context, so that they complement your work with young people. Case study: Maya s story In the past twenty years, the proportion of children living in poverty has doubled, and it's still rising. Today, over three and a half million children in the UK are living in poverty. By 2020 there are predicted to be over 4 million children growing up in poverty - that s enough to fill the London Olympic stadium 50 times over. The Children s Society refuses to stand back and watch this happen. The message of love and hope that Christingle represents is the same message that goes through all of the work of The Children s Society. We change children s stories, working towards a country where children are free from poverty. Children like Maya, who for the first six years of her life, lived in extreme poverty. Like many children, Maya often went hungry. She was noticeably underweight, and her development had dramatically stalled because she rarely attended a nursery or primary school. Her parents just couldn t afford to pay for her school lunches or even shoes for her feet. Thankfully, a teacher at Maya s school got in touch with the local social services, which subsequently referred Maya s family to a service run by The Children s Society. Since coming into contact with the family, we have helped them move into a new property. Maya s dad has a new job and the family now receives the benefits they are entitled to.

2 Although Maya s family still has money worries, her situation has improved significantly. Now, she never misses school or goes hungry, and she smiles and laughs. By joining in the Christingle celebrations, sharing children s stories and donating through your local event, you too will be helping to change the stories of children in desperate need of our support. Advent Read Luke Talk to the person next to you about an opportunity you had that was hard to make a decision about. How did you make it, and what did you need to weigh up? Identify any famous people/role models who have said yes to a calling, and whose choice has been life giving, or beneficial to others. Do they have anything in common? Think about Maya, the girl in this year s case study. Who said a courageous yes in her life? What did they say yes to? Activity Mary s Magnificat is a song of joy and thanksgiving, and her response to God s ask of her. Think about your own life and the things that you are grateful for, and what you hope to achieve with God s help. Write your own Magnificat, starting with My soul gives thanks to the Lord for Christmas In Isaiah we hear God s plan to renew everything, to such an extent that the wolf and the lamb will feed together. God brings together opposites.

3 Do you know anyone opposite to you? How are you similar/different? Among your friends, or as a parish/school community, who is your opposite? Why? They might have different beliefs, or different cultural values, or be of a different age/generation to you. How might you reach out to them during the Christmas period? Think about Maya, the girl in this year s case study. Who was she opposite to? How was she included, and shown God s love? Activity As a group, create an action plan for inclusion. Think about what you can do individually and collectively that will reach out to others who are on the margins. Try to do something positive immediately, but don t limit yourselves to the Christmas season! Epiphany Matthew 2:1-12 shows us that the Three Kings journey was based on believing a prophecy, and a few dreams. They didn t know that they would be safe, or that they would ever find the destination that they d been hoping for. And yet they went. Thinking honestly, how often do you agree to things when you don t know whether or not your will succeed? How important is success to you? How many times in your life have you taken a leap of faith? What was it like? What do you risk when you take a leap of faith? What happens if you fail? Think about Maya, the girl in this year s case study, and her parents. Who made a leap of faith in her story? What happened to them?

4 Activity The Kings carried gifts to Jesus that would help him in his life. What gifts do you need on your journey through life? What are your skills/gifts that you can bring to others? Use arts materials to decorate a gift box on the inside and out with the gifts that you need, and the gifts you can offer. The box represents you, so make it individual. You can find box net templates by searching online, or you can decorate shoe boxes or any other boxes that you have available. Candlemas In Luke , when Jesus was presented at the Temple, Simeon and Anna recognise him as the Messiah. How might somebody looking at you see the face of God? What things to you do or say that shows Christ is alive through you? What are the things you think about yourself that hold you back from fully being Christ to one another? Where do these ideas come from? What things help you to live more like Christ? What supports or encourages you? Think about Maya, the girl in this year s case study. How might we recognise Christ through her, her family, and the workers from The Children s Society?

5 Activity We are all made in the image and likeness of God, but sometimes we find that hard to believe about ourselves. Give each person a piece of mirrored card, and ask them to look at themselves in it. Ask them not to look away, or look at someone else, but to fully look at themselves. Ask them what things they see in themselves. Ask what they think God would see in them, if they could ask Him. Using sharpies, ask people to write some of those words on the card in front of them. Nobody else has to see what they ve written, so encourage them to be honest with themselves, and above all, to be kind to themselves.