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Theme: Humankind

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Gathering Activity

Worship

During the gathering worship service we will take time to introduce components of the service such as Affirmation, Confession, Creed, Lord’s Prayer, Peace.

Things you will need – world map, instruments to lead and for campers to accompany with, music, projector, screen and computer. 

Gathering Songs 

Welcome to Camp!

  • Welcome campers
  • Outline the day so campers know what to expect
  • Go over the safety plan
  • Indicate where water stations, quiet areas and washrooms are located.

The above video includes Encounters, Prayers and Exploratory activites.

Invitation to worship  

God of extravagant love, you call us to this new day as the world around us wakens from its rest. Thank you for this place we call home and those who have tended and cared for it before us. Today we pray in this time that we Encounter your word through the stories and sharing, the songs and joyful noise, through your creation as with each other. Amen

Encounter 1

Genesis 1: 27

Perfect creation

God created human beings;

God created them godlike,
Reflecting God’s nature.

God created them.

We are formed, moulded, shaped, designed, created.

In our very being, we bear the marks of our creation, the fingerprints, the brushstrokes, the evidence of our making.

In our character we see echoes of our parents, our DNA, our personalities holds a pattern of our creator; our love, compassion, pain, anger, sorrow, joy in the small things, creativity, need for community. We live in a world of beauty, wildness, diversity.

The cry of God that set the universe in motion set our hearts beating.

Source: Adapted from -Navigatio, Pocket Liturgies, From Safe Space: Telford 
Used with permission

Engage 

  • What is your favourite part of the story?
  • What do you think the nature of God is?
  • How does it feel to know that you are created to reflect the nature of God?
  • How do you see God in other people?
  • How do you see God in creation?

Interpret 

Encourage the campers to retell the story through movement and words

Encounter 2

Water – Protecting the Pàramos

WACC photo

In Colombia, South America, there is a mountain range called the Andes. In one section of these mountains there is an area called the Páramos. The Páramos are a tropical moorland ecosystem, with low-growing plants and wetlands. The Páramos also contain 70% of Colombia’s water sources, which is a lot! They are a source of clean water for more than 2 million people, and they play a big part in fighting climate change. 

There are many laws in Colombia and in the world to help protect this area, but the Páramos are still at risk because of mining activities. People want to dig underground to nd oil and gas they can sell. This region is also at risk because there is not a stable government in this area of Colombia, so they aren’t able to easily protect it. That’s where people come in. A local organization called Grupo Comunicarte is being supported by PWRDF and by the WACC (World Association for Christian Communication) to work together and have people protect the environment. 

Grupo Communicarte is working with people who live in six communities to protect this fragile ecosystem. In rural parts of Colombia one of the most popular ways people communicate messages is through the radio. There are more than 450 radio stations, and if the message is delivered to all the stations you could reach up to 3,750,000 people! The style of radio in Colombia allows regular people to produce their own messages, and it allows people to talk about their concerns and work together to find solutions to help protect the environment in Colombia. The project will send out an hour-long radio broadcast every week. They will also train 10 environmental writers on protecting the environment. Both these parts of the project will help to strengthen local writers and support community radio networks working on protecting the environment.

In some communities where this ecosystem is even more at risk, the project will train five extra local people to help to spread information on protecting the environment, as well as to encourage cooperation between com- munities so that everyone is working together.

The goal of the project is to help to educate locals, visitors and tourists, and to make sure the knowledge of caring for the Páramos is passed to as many people as possible. The Páramos are a very important and necessary source of water that needs to be protected in the fight against climate change. By working together and using their voices, the people of the Páramos are helping to protect the environment. 

Engage

  • Can you find Colombia on the map?
  • How do you help care for the Earth?
  • The people in this story use the radio to help spread their message. What are some other ways people can spread important messages to others?
  • What is your favourite part of nature?

Song – Here I am, Lord, By Dan Schutte

I, the Lord of sea and sky
I have heard my people cry
All who dwell in dark and sin
My hand will save
I who made the stars of night
I will make their darkness bright
Who will bear my light to them?
Whom shall I send?
Here I am, Lord
Is it I, Lord?
I have heard You calling in the night
I will go, Lord
If You lead me
I will hold Your people in my heart
I, the Lord of wind and flame
I will tend the poor and lame
I will set a feast for them
My hand will save
Finest bread I will provide
‘Til their hearts be satisfied
I will give my life to them
Whom shall I send?
Here I am, Lord
Is it I, Lord?
I have heard You calling in the night
I will go, Lord
If You lead me
I will hold Your people in my heart
I will hold Your people in my heart

Words & Music: Dan Schutte, © 1981 OCP; All rights reserved.
Reprinted under ONE LICENSE #A-735670

Confession 

Sometimes we forget that we are created by God and that God is here among and with us. Sometimes we say things that are unkind and treat people and the world in a way that doesn’t show our love for them and God; for those times, we are sorry.

Absolution 

May you open your eyes, hear with your ears, understand with your hearts and turn, and God will heal you.  

Source: churchonthecorner.com

Prayer

Pass around the basket of stones, once everyone has a stone, ask the campers and volunteers, “What are you most looking forward to today?”

Once everyone has thought of something, invite everyone to bring their stone up to the altar and name out loud what they are looking forward to today. 

Once everyone has had a chance to respond, offer a prayer for those things and the day at camp. 

Good morning, Lord!

It is a good day, we give thanks for a good night’s rest, 

……In all these things we encounter you. Amen 

Today, as we go about all of our camp activities, pay attention to where you see humankind and remember that God has and is creating us, all of us, and is with us in our silly moments, happy moments, sad moments and frustrating moments as you see, play, talk and hang out with your friends. What do you think God is saying to you? 

Game 

“I love my neighbour who” (Where the wind blows) 

Exploratory Art

Self Portrait Shadow Boxes

Materials

  • Cereal box or similar
  • Portrait photograph or photocopy of a photo to fill the frame
  • Transparencies or clear document sleeve
  • Sharpies, paint markers, chalk pens
  • Paint
  • Scraps of paper
  • Glue/tape
  • Scissors

Directions 

The idea of this art exploratory is for the camper to think about who they are, the things they enjoy and how they are created in the image of God.

  1. Cut an area on the front of the cereal box just smaller than the transparency.
  2. Using the scraps of paper decorate the box – write/draw/paint/ stick things that you enjoy/like.
  3. Place the transparency over the photocopy and trace yourself.
  4. Stick the photocopy to the inside of the box.
  5. Affix the transparency from the inside of the box.

Exploratory Science 

Moss Graffiti 

A moss graffiti project lets campers create a large art project without the need for toxic paints and aerosols. 

What are mosses? Mosses descend from the first plants to have covered the Earth – they are simple plants and have been here for millions of years. As we learned on Tuesday, plants, like mosses, need water and energy to grow. Unlike other plants, mosses don’t have roots, so they have to get all of their energy from the sun using photosynthesis. Mosses use short growths called rhizoids to attach to various surfaces, including rock walls or plywood. Different species of mosses prefer different surfaces – be sure to choose a moss for this project that grows well on your chosen surface. Most mosses do better in more shaded areas. While they are fairly resilient mosses do need water to grow and your moss graffiti should be watered at least once every two days. 

How can you blend moss and still have it grow? Mosses, like other plants, can produce sexually and asexually. Sexual reproduction requires a sperm to fertilize an egg. However, during asexual reproduction, one moss cell can separate and turn into two cells all by itself (one plant into two plants– cloning!). By continuing to do this, mosses can grow and spread over an area. 

Exploratory Play

• Water activities (such as balloon toss, sprinkler running, slip’n’slide)

Encounter 3 

  • Learn about your local watershed
  • Where does your tap water come from?
  • Learn about access to clean water in Canada

Closing Meditation 

Genesis 1:28-30; Meditation: Floating with Flora

Close your eyes. You can put your hands over your eyes if you want to. Now take a deep breath in. When you breathe out, feel your body relaxing. Breathe in again and as you breathe out feel your feet and legs relaxing.
You can shake them out if you need to. Let them sink into where they are resting. Breathe in again and as you breathe out feel your tummy and chest relaxing. Breathe in again and as you breathe out feel your arms, hands and shoulders relaxing. Breathe in again and allow your face and head to relax as you breathe out. If you want to, scrunch up your face and allow it to relax as you breathe out. We are going to take two more deep breaths in and as you breathe out feel your whole body relax. 

Today we are going to travel again, this time in a hot air balloon. Take a moment to look at the hot air balloon. Is it colourful? Is it big or is it small? Take a moment to look around at the bright sky. Feel the warmth of the sun on your skin. Go ahead and climb into that hot air balloon. Notice there is a button that says start. Push the button and feel yourself rising into the sky. You are safe. Relax and enjoy the ride. As you rise look down at the ground below you. Maybe there are trees, or plants. Is there lots of colour? Are there flowers? What do you see? I am going to give you some time to look. (Pause)

Now feel the hot air balloon descending. You may feel a gentle bump as the hot air balloon lands. Now you are in the middle of all of the plants and trees. Take a moment to look around. You can reach out and touch all that is growing around you. How does it feel? Are there any smells? Do the flowers have lots of colour? I am going to give you some time to really explore what is growing all around. (Pause)

When you feel you have finished exploring, thank God for the entire world you have seen on your travels. (Pause) 

You can open your eyes whenever you want. 

After Meditation questions:

  1. What did you see?
  2. Were there any smells or colours that stood out for you?
  3. How did it feel to be in God’s garden?

Mindfulness Moment: Getting Seedy

You will need a variety of seeds. You can either have individual seeds for the children to pick up in their hands or you can have small bins of lots of seeds that the children can reach into.

Today we are going to use our sense of touch to become mindful. Keeping your eyes closed breathe deeply for a few breaths. Clear your mind. Now take a seed. Touch the seed. Play with it in your hand or just sit with it. Become really aware of the seed. Spend a few minutes. When you are finished give thanks for all of the plants, flowers, and trees God has created for us to take care of.

Prayer

Pass around the basket of stones. Ask campers and volunteers where and how they experienced God today. Once everyone has thought of something, invite them to bring their stone up to the altar and name out loud where and how they experienced God.
Once everyone has had an opportunity to answer, offer a prayer of thanksgiving for these times. 

Doxology

Ephesians 3:20,21

Glory to God whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine:  Glory to God from generation to generation in the Church, and in Christ Jesus forever and ever.  Amen.