Saturation Saturday

9 November: About 90 Anglican friends, families and followers converged on Wet'n'Wild Waterpark at Oxenford for a big day at group discount prices. For the 2012 price, we splashed around and socialised for hours on end.  It was great to see people from all of our camps during the year (Emmaus, Primary Ichthus, Junior Ichthus and Senior Ichthus) as well as from the Anglican Schools Students Network Conference in August. After 2.30pm, our tickets also gave access to Movieworld - bonus! We had visitors from as far as Highfields, Nambour and Oakey, so thanks for coming everyone, and we'll see you next year!

Junior Ichthus 2013 report from two campers!

Dear Jonathan & Nathan,

Thank you very much for the photos from the camp. 

They gave me VERY nice memories of the camp. Can't wait to go back. 

I just wanted to send you this article from my Parish, written by me about the camp.

I hope you enjoy the article 

Have a nice week

Cevrine Coralie from Camp Ichthus 2013. 

Junior Ichthus Report by Cevrine and Celine Coralie

Junior Ichthus is a five night camp during the September school holidays. It is an exciting holiday experience that challenges young people to step outside their comfort zones through participation in group and individual activities. Junior Ichthus also gives us opportunities to form and strengthen new and existing friendships and to spend time in group discussion. All of this takes place in a safe Christian community that encourages us to meet God, who challenges us to step out and live a life of faith in Jesus.

The camp started like this… When my sister and I arrived on Sunday morning, we were given name tags with a particular colour, symbolising our dorm group/colour. I was in Pink, and Celine was in Purple dorm. We first played GTKY (Getting to Know You Games) and introduced ourselves to our dorm group. We also thought of Negotiable (government laws) and Non-Negotiable rules that we should follow at camp that we would be comfortable following those rules. As the day went by, we settled in, and played an awesome but wild game at night, called the amazing race against all the other groups. This included variety of dares to complete the race. After a long race, we then did dorm wrap. Dorm wrap is a final activity that took place at night to wrap up the day before bed. All the girls/ boys come together to ask any questions to our leaders of the camp. We started by writing any questions on a piece of paper, leading the leaders to answer them. This was an opportunity to ask ANY questions, that we would feel uncomfortable to ask our parents, teachers’ etc. e.g. Like topics on boyfriends, troubles at home etc.

The next day, on Monday, we started the day by listening to the camp radio- two of the leaders would have a conversation giving a flashback on what we did yesterday. After breakfast, we would do worship - singing hymns, praying, and praising the Lord. We focused on the "Prayer of Preparation." After worshipping we were put together into our dorm groups, filling in our Junior Ichthus booklet. The idea of the booklet was to answer the questions provided about yourself and to get to know others in your group. This formed great friendships. After that we participated through Puzzle Fuzzle. This was an activity where we would gather together as a camp and ask any deep religious questions to religious experts. After lunch, we were split into two big groups, doing two different rotations. The first rotation was depending on team work with dorm groups. We did activities like building a tent blind folded, with only one person instructing. We also played different games that involved strong strategy.

The other rotation was servicing - A botanist who took us to a field and we as a team cleared out weeds in the ground. After the servicing, we got ready for the camp out. Each dorm group had to build a tent out of tarps. We had dinner at the bon fire, sang songs, talked and had a really relaxing nice time together as a community. After that we had dorm wrap in one of the tents, and slept in the tent of your dorm group that we built. The next day, on Tuesday we had the same morning routine as Monday => camp radio, breakfast, worship – (topic: "Confession and Absolution,") small groups and then lunch. After lunch and dinner we had small group challenges and competitive individual indoor games. => E.g. rob the nest. And then dorm wrap.

On Wednesday, after our normal routine, we went to, Dream World! After a day at dream world, we had challenge night. Challenge night is a time to reflect on your emotions to your dorm group. Everyone had a story, depending on their struggles of life. And it was VERY emotional, which did bring tears. On Thursday, we had our normal routine, but for worship we focused on the "Lord’s Prayer." After lunch we had mega free time. Where we were allowed to do whatever we wanted. => Swim in the pool, play fun games, a walk to the creek and waterfall Etc.

But the main idea of the mega free time was to get ready for THEME NIGHT. The theme was ONE, so we had to wear a costume that symbolises ONE. For example a lot of people wore onesies or One Direction costumes. At theme night, we had a nice dinner prepared by our leaders. After dinner we had a disco night. And then our last dorm wrap.

On Friday, the last day of camp, we had breakfast, and then packed up ready to go home. We did our final worship/mass. Reflecting on everything we did on the camp. We thanked everyone, and said our goodbyes. Leaving in sorrow… Thank you Father Graheme for putting your hard dedication and love into us. Participating through this camp, made us learn the high spirit of the Christian faith; and being around a community to share our feelings through God’s presence, and to always do the right thing. This exciting opportunity will now remain part of our memories forever.

God Bless you and our Parish.

Cevrine and Celine Coralie (Redcliffe)

[Thanks Girls! - JK]

Useful websites

Grow Ministries www.lcacyfm.org.au

·         For information about Taking Faith Home, Milestones Ministry and GIFT

·         Training information

·         Newsletter On Your Hearts download link

 

Faith Inkubators Australia: www.faithink.com.au

·         For information about BibleSong, Head to Heart, Faith Stepping Stones & Seasonals

·         Order FaithInk resources

 

The First Third: http://www.firstthird.org/eym/default.aspx?m=3926

·         For information on the Exemplary Youth Ministry Study

 

Vibrant Faith www.vibrantfaith.org

·         Great resources

·         Faith Formation Learning exchange

·         Vibrant Faith at Home

 

Sticky Faith http://stickyfaith.org/

 

Parenting Resources

·         Parent Further (US) http://www.parentfurther.com/

·         Parenting Ideas Michael Grose (AUS) http://www.parentingideas.com.au/Home

·         The Search Institute http://www.search-institute.org/

·         The Parenting Place NZ http://www.theparentingplace.com/

 

Australian Church Resources: http://www.acresources.com.au/products/list-all-products.html

·         To order the book: The Spirit and Culture of Youth Ministry

 

These books are available at Koorong:

·         Sticky Faith (Powell/Clark)

·         The Family Bible Adventure kit (children’s ministry DVD & CD ROM The Good News)

·         Parenting Beyond Your Capacity (Reggie Jonier)

·         Think Orange (Reggie Joiner)

Back on track...

It's been quite a while between posts here, but that's not because nothing's happened!

My thinking is to use Mailchimp to distribute a summary of the news and resources that are gathered here and see how that works - whether the various systems can talk to each other etc.

Anyway, in the meantime, here is a nice set of dot points on "Creative Connections to Schools", thanks to the Ven Helen Phillips from Howrah, Tasmania, who I met at Y-NET / C-NET earlier this year.

Some of our smaller [church] communities connect with their school communities in creative ways:
1. Work with children to plant and maintain a section of garden at the school.
2. Provide a special morning / afternoon tea for the staff once a term.
3. Be willing to be interviewed in class time about special interests or talents you may have.
4. Provide a breaakfast club for your school one day a week.
5. Support the school chaplain in your local school.
6. Allocate a month a year to vist the school as Parent or Grandparent help for the month.
7. Form a prayer group to pray for your school.
8. Ensure your school is included in your prayers at church on Sunday.
9. Support special programs for children at risk in your local community.
10. If needed, provide cut lunches to the school office for children without lunch.
11. Organise a working group to plan special school assemblies at Easter and Christmas.
12. Include examples of children's work in your church bulletin.
13. Invite the school principal to contribute an article for the church bulletin once a year.
14. Run a stall or activity at the school fair and contruibute the funds to the school. Help bake cakes.
15. Assist on the roster of the school canteen or reading program.
16. Help keep outdoor equipment in good order for the children.
17. Run a holiday fun day or day-camp.
18. Invite the school choir to a special children's or Christmas service.
19. Sponsor an award for Grade 7 students who have made a special effort.
10. Talk to your school principal about how you could be of assistance in your school community.