Here on the East coast we're facing another weekend winter storm, and this one could dump multiple inches of snow in places that don't often get that much. With that in mind, I've put together a youth group activity that will weave through the day on Sunday if we are not able to meet in person. It's cell-phone based, we're fed up with Zoom, so it's a bit different. It explores Jesus statement that He is the Bread of Life and then goes on to look at the idea of community and how we can experience it even when, as a group, we are spread out in our homes. The culmination of it is baking bread together in our different homes so that in one sense, we're breaking bread together.
My plan is to start at 10 am and send texts out at different times of the day through the day, and have added an element of fun competition to hopefully keep them interested. Feel free to adapt and use as needed in your context.
10 am – Send texts along these lines:
· Good morning and welcome to our text based youth ministry thing for today! To start with I’m going to send out pictures of household objects we have at home, the first three people to send in a photo of the same object from their home get points. I’ll do 5 now and more through the day, and the overall winner will get a gift card for $15 of their choice.
· Send 5 picture texts of common items from your home.
· Ok, now we’ve got that out of the way, something a little more serious – what do you think of when you hear the word “bread”?
· Here’s a link to a video of Jesus talking about bread, it’s written in John 6 if you want to follow along in a Bible. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmsoxdaMDE0.
· Ponder these questions and if you want to, share some of your thoughts here or ask questions.
What do you understand eternal life to be?
What do you think Jesus means when he talks about eating his flesh and drinking his blood, because it’s obviously a metaphor?
11.30 am – Texts to send
· 3 more picture texts, replies must have all 3 items in one message.
o All of these are found in one community you are part of, your family, but community is more than that. Here’s a video where people were asked “What is Community?” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wv7T23P9oS8
o What is community to you? What words would you use to describe it?
o Have a read of Acts 2:42-47 and share any thoughts or questions you have after reading it.
2.30 pm – gather the ingredients for soda bread and send pictures of bowl, spatula and flour. (1 lb plain flour, sugar, salt, buttermilk, I'll share the recipe below later on, it's at home...)
3.00 pm – start making soda bread (no yeast or rising required, mix the ingredients, throw it in a greased pan/tray and shove it in the oven).
Folks have dinner at home, here's a traditional Irish kitchen prayer you could share with families for them to use before they eat. "Bless us with good food, the gift of the gab and hearty laughter. May the love and joy we share, be with us ever after!" (The gift of the gab is used to describe someone who has no problem talking. And talking. To anyone.)
7.00 pm – follow up, what did you think? Where/how did you experience community today?