Ready to use resources: May ’23

 

Each month we provide you with some great ready to use (RTU) resources. Some of these are linked to the Bible passages used in Together, while our Music and Movie columns use current songs and films as ways into talking about faith.

You can access each month’s session plans and resources here.

This month…

  

Together

Our Together resource is, as always, jam-packed full of ideas and activities to help the children and young people in your groups discover more about God, grow in faith and deepen their friendship with Jesus.

Together is a curriculum resource for churches to use in their Sunday groups, midweek clubs or adapt for other contexts. It follows a Bible plan – each month you get four sessions on a theme or Bible book.

In May we will be helping children and young people reflect on how God can help them when times are tough. The characters in the Bible stories were all facing really difficult situations and yet, rather than turning their backs on God, they called out to him for help.

First Steps Together has slightly different stories from Growing and Journeying Together, to make sure that each age group has appropriate stories for their stage of development.

Choose the sessions and activities that best fit what you want to do:

1. FST David (Psalm 25):

David is under attack from his enemies and deeply in need of God’s peace.

GT and JT Naomi (Ruth 1):

Naomi loses her husband and two sons, and is forced to return home in sadness.

2. Elijah (1 Kings 19):

Elijah has won a great victory, but is in great danger. He withdraws to the desert in sadness.

3 FST Esther (Esther 4,5,9):

Esther is in a dangerous situation and is very scared, but God gives her the strength to carry on.

GT and JT Job (Job 3):

Job’s life has been turned upside-down, but he refuses to blame God.

4. FST Jeremiah (Jeremiah 38:1-13):

Jeremiah is arrested and thrown down a well.

GT and JT Jeremiah (Jeremiah 20):

Jeremiah is hated for what he says, and ridiculed for who he is – a prophet who listened to God.

There are three different age groups: First Steps Together (for younger children), Growing Together (for older children) and Journeying Together (for young people). You can follow an individual age group or mix and match to suit the children or young people you’re working with.

 

 

Ready to use resources

Each month we provide you with some great ready to use (RTU) resources. Some of these are linked to the Bible passages used in Together, while our Music and Movie columns use current songs and films as ways into talking about faith. This month…

 

Together focused

RTU All-age service

Opens up the story of Elijah running away and giving up in the desert.

RTU Parable

Takes the story of Elijah from 1 Kings 19 and transposes it into a social media disaster in the parable ‘Sam and the sailboat success’. 

RTU Journal 

Gives space for older children and younger teens to explore the story of God comforting Elijah.

RTU Craft 

Provides a craft idea to go alongside each of this month’s Together sessions. Use them in your groups, in intergenerational worship or use them in a craft club.

Story for home 

Written especially for us by expert storyteller Bob Hartman, also follows the Together passages. This month, Bob explores the joyful story of Elijah from 1 Kings 19. 

 

General resources

RTU Games 

If you’re as lazy as I am, then settle in for some sitting-down games.

RTU Mentoring 

Our mentoring expert, Joel Toombs, challenges us to think about how we react to problems.

RTU Music 

Wind up the gramophone, it’s time to play Ed Sheeran’s latest record!

RTU Movie 

This month, step back in time with the delightful Disney animated short, Us Again.

And if you have anything you’d like us to cover, or any feedback on the resources, then drop us a line!