Christmas Resources

[Stewart Cutler]

'Tis the season to be jolly... or stressed out of your brains because you have a school Christmas Assembly next week and no idea what to do! So, your fellow youth workers will come to your aid with some great resources... please!!!

[Stewart Cutler]

I'll start!

Web stuff:
Alternativity
Christian Aid

Books:
Cloth For The Cradle by Wild Goose Worship Group
Hay & Stardust by Ruth Burgess
Candles and Conifers by Ruth Burgess

[Lesley McFarlane]

Here is a drama script used with three first years for a school assembly. Reminding people it's not about gifts but the birth of Jesus. Very simply really.

[Shuna Dicks]

Just wanted to add my recommendation of the Hay and Stardust book from Wild Goose - it is great been using it lots this week. Really good 1st person monologues/poems that put you in the mind of all the main nativity characters - I particulary liked the 2 Joseph ones. Used them today in worship - Joseph is sooo overlooked most of the time.

[Shuna Dicks]

I know all the assemblies will be passed by now but thought it would be helpful to give some feedback on the Alternativity "More that just tinsel" (For next year?) I used it in the two secondaries schools we were involved in for Christmas Assemblies. It went down really well - we used the outline on money and debt (very topical). With both schools I got in earlier in the week to work with some of the young people on the skit. The Simpson's clip was perfect (although we just let it play through and didnt do the cut as suggested. I put together a powerpoint for the prayer and it is attached. I also changed the response part a little and introduced it with something along the lines of "whilst it is ok to celebrate and to have our parties and share presents, its also a good time to reflect on what Jesus might have thought about the excesses....." And then used the suggested blurb.

The age group I worked with were 3rd & 4th years (apparently the scariest for school chaplains??? personally dont get that) and the assemblies I took were for 3rd & 4th years. In one of the schools they used the material in all their year group assemblies and by all accounts it worked well across the board.

Anyway I hope that is a help and something you migt consider using next year.

Alternativity Pack "More than just tinsel" £7 from Wesley Owen, 7 suggested outines, CDRom with some resourses on it.

[Chris Hoskins]

Cheers Shuna, that certainly is helpful, I was hoping to use it this year, but only had 5 minutes in which to do anything, but will hopefully be able to get a bit more time with them next year!
I don't get the 3rd/4th year thing either?!