Barnabas in Churches

Ideas for Ascension and Pentecost

2013-05-15T00:00:00Z

You can find a focus on these festivals in many of our books. Check out:

Creative Mission - Windmill fiesta - p. 150 (Pentecost)
Messy Church 1 - Unit 12: New life in the Spirit - download for just 99p! (Pentecost)
Not Sunday, Not School! - Theme 8 (Ascension and Pentecost)
Creative Ideas for All-Age Church - Themes 5 and 6 (Ascension and Pentecost)
Messy Church 3 - Session 5: The Holy Spirit (Pentecost)
Few Children, Great Opportunities - 12 sessions on the character of God/gifts of the Spirit
Where in the World? - There's a wealth of ideas here to explore how the Christian story has spread throughout the world following the birth of the church on the first Pentecost. It would make a great focus for your church or children's group. Check out the free ideas linked to the book too.

Ideas exploring God's great love

2013-04-02T00:00:00Z

We've added two new outlines this month, both of which focus on Jesus stories that the first Christians might well have used after Easter to remind themselves and others of God's great love:

Jesus and the leper: To whichever of the stories of Jesus you turn, it seems that you encounter the whole gospel! The account of how he dared to touch the man with a skin disease and brought healing as well as inclusion surely sums up what is meant by God's grace. This is a simple way to tell that story.
Exploring forgiveness: Being told we should always be ready to forgive those who hurt us is all very well but it's just not that simple! This is at the heart of the very practical question that Peter put to Jesus once, as recorded in Matthew 18:21-35. The parable Jesus then tells about the unforgiving servant is a focus for this idea.

New ideas to celebrate Holy Week and Easter

2013-03-01T00:00:00Z

Check out these two new ideas:

Celebrate Holy Week - This storytelling idea focuses on the parable Jesus told about the 'rejected stone'.
Celebrate the Last Supper - This simple outline focuses on the moment when Jesus chose to become the household slave and wash the disciples' feet, giving them an example of how they should love and care for others.

Inspiring Faith in Schools - 9 March 2013

2013-02-21T00:00:00Z

REinspired and Barnabas are at the Inspiring Faith in Schools conference on Saturday 9 March 2013 at Waingels College in Reading from 10.00 am to 3:30 pm.

Find out more

Get ready for Easter

2013-02-01T00:00:00Z

Lent is approaching fast. Perhaps you are planning a new series with your group or maybe you are looking for material for some spring all-age services. Traditionally, 'getting ready for Easter' takes six weeks - and many Christians use this time to 'journey with Jesus' towards the cross and resurrection. Barnabas in Churches has lots of tried-and-tested material to help you do just that, so take a look at:

Setting out on a new journey

2013-01-03T00:00:00Z

Our new idea this month is a bit different.

Taking as its starting point the story of The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan, this outline explores how you might unpack the journey of faith with a group via a series of simple activity stations, perhaps over one or more sessions, on a special activity morning or as an all-age event.

There are Bible story links of course and activity suggestions to keep everybody worshiping and learning with and from each other.

Read the journey

Starting again...

2013-01-02T00:00:00Z

... is always a challenge, whether at work, in school, with daily routines, or for your weekly or monthly programmes through church. There are of course great stories in the Bible that can help you and your groups meet this challenge. See, for example:

Joshua 1 -The succession: This story from Joshua 1 is a springboard to start your group talking about change and new beginnings.

Read now

Or explore Jesus' words about being the first and the last, as you embark on the New Year together, in:

I am the first and the last

I am with you always

Let's Get Together

2013-01-02T00:00:00Z

This is an exciting mix of creative ideas designed to encourage the whole church family to relax and have fun together in a variety of situations. The resource includes themed starter activities, Bible-based storytelling, action-packed drama, punchy puppetry, instant crafts, team games, reflective prayers and take-home Bible challenges.

Find out more

Read a sample

For your all-age carol service

2012-12-03T00:00:00Z

Three new ideas this month open up windows on how Christmas is celebrated around the world. This material is ideal to use as part of a special feature in an all-age carol service, or as the focus for a Christmas assembly in a school, or as a weekly session in a global Christmas project for your Sunday group or in the classroom during Advent.

A Filipino Christmas

A Ugandan Christmas

A Peruvian Christma

Hand in Hand Conference 2013

2012-11-11T00:00:00Z

More information

If you involved in any aspect of children’s, family or schools ministry, why not plan to join us along with hundreds of other delegates and representatives of relevant organisations and ministries for a weekend of learning and worship, resource discovery and spiritual refreshment from 1st – 3rd February 2013 in Eastbourne. There will be something for everyone with 3 keynote sessions; times for worship, prayer and Bible study; 50 optional seminars and workshops including streams addressing additional and special needs, children’s ministry basics, diving deeper into mission in the local church, and Messy Church; exhibition, shop and an interactive, creative area. For more information and to book visit www.familyministry.co.uk/conferences.

Messy Church at the conference

Come and join the team for all or part of the day.

9.15-9.45 Messy Quiet Space - Jane Leadbetter & Charis Lambert
12.15-1.15 What is Messy Church? - Jane Leadbetter
2.15-3.15 Messy Hospitality - Charis Lambert
3.45-4.45 Messy Meet Up - Martyn Payne and Jane Leadbetter
5.15-6.15 Messy Developments or Team building? Jane Leadbetter

Find out more

View the programme