The Church: Many Parts… One Body of Christ MONDAY: Initial Check-Up Scripture:

Romans 12:1-21

Purpose: Camp Orientation. Getting to know each other. Introduction to the main theme of the week. Keynote: On behalf of the Christian Church in the Upper Midwest, welcome campers. This would be a good time to introduce yourself, the counselors, interns, etc. you could touch on the rules and regulations at this time. Let them know that in order for this week to be successful, we have to all work together as a team, One Body. • We all come from different places. Have the campers talk about their home churches and communities. You could have them get into groups for a few minutes to talk, and then have the groups switch. For example, first have boys in one groups, girls in another. Then switch to grades in school or ages. Next go with shirt color, type of shoes, eye color, etc. Keep switching every few minutes, so that people get to see how they are the same, and how they are unique. • Bring them all back together, and ask this question: “What material is your home church made of?” Ask those who say their church is mostly brick to go to one side, have those who say their church is mostly wood to go to another, and those why say there church is made mostly of steel to go to still another spot. Have them stay in these groups as you Read Romans 12:1-5. • Remember the old song, “I am the Church, You are the Church, We are the Church together”? Churches are not the buildings where we worship…we are the church. We are the Body of Christ. That is our theme for this week. The Church is not made of wood, steel, or brick, but of flesh and blood. And we are held together by the blood of Jesus. We are One in Christ! • (NOTE: Instead of calling the group “campers”, it might be good to address the entire group as “Church.” Tuesday morning you may greet them at Keynote by saying, “Hello, Church!”) Study Time (Family or Village) 1. If you have not finished name tags, etc., now would be the time to get that done. 2. Discuss the keynote

v The Bible compares the Church to a Body. Ears, hands, feet, etc. are al parts of the Body. Try comparing the Church to a car… a computer… a house… Can you think of other ways to describe the Church? v Romans 12:1 says that we are to be “living sacrifices.” What do you think that this means? v Have someone read Romans 12:2. Can you think of ways that people conform to the pattern of the world? What is the difference between conforming and transforming? Is one easier than the other? If so, why? v Many Parts – One Body. Each group will have a box of “junk.” Pieces and parts that don’t seem to go together. As the group to build something, using all the parts, that is a model for their group. 3. Making the Mission Statement for your “Church”. Use Romans 12:9-21 to help put this statement together. This is similar to the usual “camp covenant,” but with a new twist. This is their agreement as a Body of Christ. You can reword this passage to fit the needs of your group. 4. Instead of work assignments, divide the group into Elders, Diaconate, and Trustees. (See handout in the Appendix.) Each day these will change. Discuss these ministry titles with your group. 5. Come up with a name for your Church… your family group… your village group. Vespers The rest of the week, vespers will be “camper driven”, however, your groups will probably not have had time to plan anything on this first day. It is suggested that the counselors plan the Monday night vespers and present them. See Vespers for Tuesday for suggestions about format, what is included, etc. but also be creative! This will set the tone for what your campers do. Suggestions (These are just that, suggestions! Be creative!! Use YOUR ideas!): Read today’s scripture Do a skit on the parts of the body, different, yet essential Do a skit about something else with parts and what would happen if part is missing Do a skit about the church… and how many gifts are needed, and suffers if missing Sing head, shoulders, knees and toes or another song that leaves something out each time its sung. Campfire: Campfire should be director/counselor driven. This does not mean that youth are excluded from leadership roles at campfire, but this is a specific time for the adult leadership to share their gifts of the body. Note: the reverse applies to vespers (above) in that vespers is a time for the youth to express their gifts and understandings of their faith. For the Monday campfire, the director should plan it to include lots of exciting songs, uplifting , high energy, light worshipful experiences that draw them together. At each campfire, time should be given for reflections on the day from each village or family

group and a time of individual faith sharing. The camp director is encouraged to share their faith and expectations for the week, including some but not all of the following: your acknowledgment of varying gifts, backgrounds, locations, etc that our campers come from and come with, and our ability to bring those gifts and experiences together to enrich us all as one camp, one body of Christ, one church; a brief sharing of the director’s faith journey, particularly as it relates to being the director of your camp; and a promise from the director to be open, honest, share their faith journey, and also learn from the campers during the week… and you expect the same from them. Evening Devotions The Elders for the day are in charge of this time of reflection. Have the Trustees set up a place, and the Diaconate be greeters, hosts of the time together. Possible focus: Romans 12:21 “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Do your best to make this a special time each night.

Tuesday: Body Transplant Scripture:

1 Corinthians 12:27-31

Purpose: Today to campers will discuss their home churches, take a look at the gifts and talents that make up the Body of Christ. Nourishing the Body (Morning Watch) Have the campers read 1 Corinthians 12:27-31. Answer the following questions: 1. Can you think of people from your home church who make up these “parts”? Write down their names. (Have the words “Apostle”, “Prophet”, “Teacher”, etc written down, with a blank beside them) Take a minute to pray for these people. 2. If you could be any “Part” of the church, what would it be? Why that particular part? 3. Spend the remaining time in quiet prayer. This is your special private time with God. Enjoy it. Praise Time: When the music starts, it is time to go to the place where the keynote is to be given. A time of praise is a great way to start the day. They have had a time of individual prayer and meditation, now some corporate praise as the church comes together. This may be CDs, or you may have someone who plays guitar, This is up to the Director. Suggest using songs dealing with being the church. (See suggested song list in resources). This songs should be upbeat, leading in the keynote. Keynote: Have a list of the churches that the campers come from. As you read them off, have the campers stand. We come from all over the Upper Midwest. Some big cities, come small towns, some country churches, some with large youth groups, and some with only a few. (This could be a time to talk about how many churches there are in the Upper Midwest, or other information about the region). We are the church. In fact, right now, everybody points to the church (have everyone point to three people and say “You Da Church!” This could be a chant for the wee: The Leader yells, “Who Da Church?” and everyone points to three different people saying “You Da Church!” Today we are going to talk about our home churches. I want you to be thinking about something that makes your home church special. What is your church known for in the community? What do you like most about your home church? What do you like least? I think that we will find that we have many differences. We also will find that we have a lot in common. This is our first full day of camp. Today we will learn more about what it means to be a community of faith…a church. We begin our week looking at where we have come. Up to this point, how have we been the church in our local settings. In your study times you will be looking at 1 Corinthians 12, please make sure that you remember your mission statement, that you continue to work together as a church… a body of Christ. “Who Da Church?” “You Da Church, You Da Church, You Da Church.”

Study Time (Family or Village) 1. As one of the Elders to open with prayer. Have another Elder read 1 Corinthians 12:111 (Can have one read, or take turns reading). v Part One: Many Different Gifts, One Giver. One of the Adult leaders says, “Let’s pretend that someone has given me a billion dollars. I am so happy to get the money, that I tell you that I will give you each of you one gift. [Give them a 3x5] Write down what gift you would want me to give you. Don’t put your name on it. Fold it and put it in this can. Be creative, after all, I have a billion bucks to spend!” [collect the answers in a coffee can]. Now have the other leader pick them out, read them one by one, and try to guess who wanted what gift. “Notice that all the gifts were not the same, even though it was the same giver! That is the way God works. God is one giver, but gives different gifts to different people.” v Part Two: Many Different Gifts, One Giver. “Look again at our Scripture passage. [use newsprint to record their replies] What are some of the gifts listed in this passage? [wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, distinguishing between spirits, languages, interpretations] If you were going to ask God for one of these gifts, which one would you choose, and why?” v Time to Dig: Break up into small groups. Using a Bible Dictionary, (you can have the diaconate pass these out) look up the meaning for each gift. Come back together as a large group, and have the groups give definitions until all are shared. Put the answers on the newsprint. Discuss what they have discovered about the gifts, or jobs, in the church. v Use What You Have Discovered: Have the campers get back into small groups. Have them discuss how these gifts are used in their churches. If they do not think they are used, how would it be used to give God glory in their church. Vespers Vespers are designed to be campers recap or processing of the days theme and their offering to God in worship. This is not a time for adults to write it all out for them. However, vespers often includes these basic parts: Opening prayer/song or both, reading of some Scripture, Message (skit, reflection of the day, faith sharing) closing song/prayer. Suggestions: Use today’s scripture Create a skit from the scipture Create a skit re: other things that have parts and must be put together Do something with a puzzle… something tied up in knots… maybe the kids. Game: break into groups … maybe by village or family group… stand in a circle. Everyone reaches into circle to hold hands with two people. Each hand must be holding a different person. Without letting go of hands, untie the “knot” until you have a complete circle. Maybe make large puzzle pieces that, when put together, make a message or the chalice.

Campfire: Suggestions: Two counselors or one counselor and one camper share their stories of someone in their church who influenced their lives Songs: see song list… add your own favorites, too! Have ‘church’ think of people in their lives who have influenced their faith Relate nature to the church… the environment around us that depends upon all the parts… the circle of life. Evening Devotions The Elders for the day are in charge of this time of reflection. Have the Trustees set up a place, and the Diaconate be greeters, hosts of the time together. Possible Focus: 1 Corinthians 12:26-27 “If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the Body of Christ, and each of you is a part of it.” Do your best to make this a special time each night.

Wednesday: You Gotta Have Heart…and Ears, and Eyes, and… Scripture:

Romans 12:1-12

Purpose: Campers and counselors, by the end of the day, will understand that there are multiple gifts in the Body of Christ/Church, and that all those gifts are necessary for the Body to function. They will also be challenged to determine what are their specific gifts. Some of the groups may be preparing to share their gifts in various worship settings if so deemed by the director. Nourishing the Body: Read Romans 12:4-5, 12:6-8, & 12:10-15 1. What part of the Body of Christ are you? 2. What is your gift given to you by the grace of God? 3. How can you use this gift? Keynote: • • • •

•

End song period or begin keynote with “Joe in a Button Factory.” Refer to God as Joe’s boss and we are Joe. Review Romans 12:4-8 (4-5 in Christ we who are many form one body. 6-8 we have different gifts,) God gave each of us an individual gift so we could work together to complete all of the tasks we have as Christians. With 7 campers or counselors set up an assembly line. Now sing the song again, this time each person just do one job apiece (have the seventh person do all of the jobs). At the end of the song have them continue doing jobs until you tell them to stop. Direct the campers’ attention toward how smooth the assembly line runs compared to the one person doing everything. And if any of your campers or counselors say, “We’ve never done it that way before!” or “We tried that once and it didn’t work,” or something similar, then you are officially a member of the church. J

Study Time (Family or Village) Camp Director Note: Signup sheets may need to be put out on Tuesday or Wednesday during breakfast (or some other time when the full camp is together) to allow campers to sign up for the centers they want. You may want to limit how many campers can be in each center. This will also allow center leaders to know who is coming (and maintain ‘traffic control’.) Please see note at the beginning of the “Centers” section. 1. Stay with whole camp and break into groups by gifts. 2. Choose 4-8 gifts given to us by God (this should be done prior to camp, Sunday night at the latest.) 3. Have the campers choose 2-3 gifts. 4. Set up 2-45 minute learning centers or 3 -30 minute centers.

Centers Centers should be chosen by Director and Counselors based on the talents of the group. There are several listed below with suggested activities, however these are not the only gifts granted by God. You may choose to use any of these or use your own. Basic format of centers: 1. Introduce the center with the leaders sharing why they feel that this is one of their gifts to share with the Body of Christ. Include in this sharing items such as: when did you realize you had this gift? Who influenced you and encouraged this gift? How do you use it within the church? 2. Task 1 worked on/accomplished (see below) 3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 in another center until rotations are complete. 4. Return to family/village when all rotations are complete for debrief. 5. Debrief by using some of the questions below with the campers v What centers did you choose to participate in? What did you do? v What is your gift? When did you realize you had it and who has encouraged/nurtured that gift? v How can you use your gift to give back to God? Help the church? The community? This community (camp)? Gifts Given by the Grace of God Note to directors & counselors: This is simply a list of ideas. You may use these groups with different ideas or make up your own groups with activities. Please use your best judgment based on your counselors & campers. Music: v Plan the music for this evening’s campfire & possibly vespers. v Put together a piece to present in the talent show if your camp does one Art: v v v

Make posters for the shelter house/lodge promoting the Body of Christ theme. Make God’s Eyes for each person at camp. Make greeting cards for members of the church.

Physical Strength: v Carry wood to each village v Work on a camp service project v Arrange a camp work project with Fred/BSD Serving Others: v Put together a communion service for campfire which includes a ‘hand-washing’ (Use John 13) v Write letters to people in a nursing home, the military, or somewhere else v Plan a meal or bake bread to use in worship where you can serve your fellow campers

Teaching v Develop an activity or activities that could be used with younger youth to teach a Bible story, lesson, parable. Make copies so that others can take them home to their churches. Share at campfire. v Choose a scripture from the Bible that means a lot to you… learn to tell a story from your life that illustrates that scripture Leadership v Develop the prayers for vespers/campfire (or some other event determined by the director/counselors) tonight v Plan a special way to lead the others into vespers (maybe from one spot to another) tonight Speech-Prophecy v Put together a dialogue or multi-voice ‘sermon’ or message for vespers tonight These are just suggestions! You can also have drama, recreation, banner making, or a myriad of other things, depending on the gifts of your counselors and what centers they might want to develop! Vespers Suggestions: Scripture for the day: Romans 12:1-12 Use pieces developed in centers (unless you are doing that in campfire or have decided to use those pieces in some other way in camp) Do a skit on the pieces of the Body and how they work together Allow their groups to share their differing gifts followed by a family group hug. Campfire Suggestions: Utilize centers (see note above about director/counselor discretion) If not, add some type of piece where some of the youth are sharing their gifts. Have an experienced counselor share their reason for counseling at camp and a new counselor share their reason for becoming a counselor. Evening Devotions Suggestions: Reread or refer to the scripture (Romans 12:1-12). Then say, All day we have been talking about the different gifts we have had, and sharing those gifts. But tonight, I want to look at these gifts in a different, possibly humorous way. When you think about yourself, what animal would you be most like, and why? Example, I would be an ostrich because I often stick my neck out. Or, I’d be a duck-billed platypus because I’m really different. Allow all to share. Be careful to keep this light and not get too heavy. End with a prayer of thanks for our diverse gifts and how they all fit together to allow the Body of Christ to function properly.

Thursday: What’s Up DoC?

Being Church as members of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Scripture: Mark 7:24-30 Purpose: By the end of the day the hope is that our youth will know through experience what it means to be the church as members of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Note this is a difficult thing for many adult to express and explain as explaining who we are as DOC has often been beyond definition. We use words like diversity and open but yet they often fall short of a real understanding of who we are and can teach that it is ok to believe anything or nothing. This curriculum will pursue another path. The question for today is best phrased this way: “What is the thread (the one thing) that holds us together as a particular group of faithful Christians?” The author(s) of this text assert the following: We are bound together by the belief that God Created each and everyone of us in our diversity and therefore we are called to share boldly our understanding of who God is and what God wants in our lives but we are also called to understand that the other has something of God to share with us! What makes us church as DOC is that we relate to one another with Bold-Humility! We are both Conservative and Liberal and everywhere in between – may we always be open to the God in the other! It is this experience and concept that will be taught today. Supplies For The Day: A big Mystery Box (See picture) Blind Folds Paper and pencil for each group A Deck of Cards for each village/family group Cultural Card Game Rules (Different rules for each Village/Family Group) Communion Supplies Bible Music for Morning Watch Rule Cards for Cultural Card Game (See Appendix) Nourish the Body (Morning Watch) Suggestions: Scripture: Mark 7:24-30 v (Thought for the day: If Jesus could learn something of God and his own ministry from this woman than are we not called to such openness too?) v Who in our church, town, family do you learn about God from? v Who in your life would be the most difficult person for you to learn something? v What does this story of Jesus Christ speak to you about? Music suggestion: DC Talk - Colored People

Keynote: Setup: Gather the youth in a location of your choosing (one in which your whole camp can gather). Seat them in their family groups/villages at North, East, South and West around the box. Movement 1: Ask for 2 volunteers from each group. Place a blindfold on one and give the other team member the paper and pencil. Instruct the teams that the one with the blindfold will with the help of their team member will reach into the hole on their side and attempt to describe to his team member what he is feeling. [Encourage them to describe these things in a whisper and in as much detail as possible] The second team member should be instructed to draw what is being described to them. Give each team a chance to go to the box separately. Then take a few moments to have each group share their pictures of what is in the box. Movement 2: Announce: Not one of us has seen God in God’s entirety! Even Moses, we are told in Scripture only saw him in passing . . . Therefore, when any of us talks of God or uses God as an authority we all speak with humility and with partial understandings of God as much as our friends today could only describe the part they felt in the box. Today we are going to explore what it means to be Church as members of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)… If they don’t understand DOC explain that this is the larger umbrella group that most here belong to. And it is different than some other ways of understanding Church… Not better or even the best but it is one specific way in which if you are going to be part of it you need to know what it is about. Study Time (Family or Village) Movement 1: Cultural Card Game Movement 2: The Debrief Movement 3: History of Church regarding Diversity and DOC Birth Movement 4: Closing Worship/God Sharing

Movement 1: Cultural Card Game (45 minutes) Instructions: Divide the groups (Suggestion: keep the groups you already have: Villages or Family Groups). Allow each group to go with their leaders and with the Counselors as observer Instruct the youth that today you will be playing a new card game and the rules are on the paper (See resource Section). Depending on the size of your camp, you will use 4, 5 or 6 card game rules cards. Take about 15 minutes for each group to learn their version of the game. Then, send 3 representatives to the next group. Note: These representatives will rotate through all or at least 4 (including their own) groups before returning to their own groups. IMPORTANT: Counselors are reminded to restate the rule that says that after the beginning “home Game” the rules can never be stated

again. The visitors must simply learn to play on the “Fly!” (Again see resource section for the game rules and instructions) Movement 2: The Debrief (20 minutes) A. Either bring two villages/family groups together for this discussion or debrief by individual village/family group. There are advantages to both setups. B. Questions to be asked: 1. What are the rules to this game? 2. What was the object (what did you have to do to win)? 3. What did it feel like to be one of the Home team members? 4. What did it feel like to be a visitor? 5. Who won at these games visitors or home? 6. Was the home team ever open to changing the rules? 7. How many were “put out” of the game? For those who put others out; how did that make you feel? Movement 3: History and purpose of Church [and reason for DOC!] (10 minutes) A. A visit from Alexander Campbell: This could be done as a monologue or could be done as letter that arrives just at the right time… (see letter in Appendix) A Reading: or a Monologue by a camper or a counselor (Pre Arrange this part): Note: Alexander never wrote this letter but it is consistent with his writings. It is not meant as an historic document but as a way to teach the purpose of history not just factual history! Movement 4: Worship and God Sharing (45 minutes) Set up: Return to your Village/Family group and do your best to sit in a circle or at least a shape in which all people can see each other and there are no second rows. Place a Box or like item in the center of the circle and place the communion materials on top of it . It is critical that the bread and cup be in the middle of the group as in many ways this is another thread that symbolizes the bond we have despite our differences. Opening Instructions and words of prayer: (Counselor) We are going to spend the next few minutes in Worship and Prayer together. Each of us will have the chance to share a piece of our faith journeys; a portion of what we believe. Yes when we do this it makes us vulnerable and so I ask that all gather in this circle remember to treat each other with respect and care as mutual members of the Body of Christ. We are, in this moment, “Church”. Let us worship together as we open with prayer: “Gather with us, O God of all creation. Teach us to care for one another, to learn from one another and to share with one another; in this circle and beyond. Amen Read the Gospel (Choose a camper to read Mark 7:24-30)

Open the sharing: (Counselor) If Jesus could learn about God and his own ministry from this woman than we can learn from each other too. (Mark 7:27-29) In a minute we will take a moment of silence to allow each of us to reflect on what we believe about God. Then I am going to ask that we go around the circle and share with each other using Bold Humility: meaning that you share your understanding and perspective with us with passion and confidence knowing that we need to hear your story and yet with enough humility to know that in the same way you need to hear the faith stories of everyone in this circle too. After each sharing I ask that we say together “Thanks be to God for your story!” The Question is this: When you think of God . . . What do you think of? When you pray to God, What or who do you pray to? Describe this in a story or in any other way you feel you can… You are allowed to pass but I encourage you to share. Moment of Silence: About 30 Seconds Begin sharing with a counselor sharing their story then proceed around the circle After each story: Thanks be to God for your story! Share in communion if comfortable: (Keep this simple and not so formal. These are the symbols of our faith that remind us that despite our differences we are all still part of the Body of Christ. The Bread and Cup are meant to remind us every time we take of them that Christ is the thread that holds us together and gives us life) As we share of these symbols today may it be so in this village/family group this day. Close in a prayer in which the whole group holds hands. Vespers: Suggestions A skit based on Moses partial view of God. ???? A skit on 1 Corinthians 12:12-13 The Spirit binds us together. Sharing of what they like best about their Church and the DOC. Base it around the story of Peter’s struggle to accept people who ate unclean animals and Gods statement “Who are you to call unclean what I have made clean?” ??? Campfire: Suggestions Two Counselor Faith stories (As Diverse or at least different as possible) Model the methodology by showing the passing of the peace between these two after their sharing… or even a hug. Then invite the whole group to pass the peace . . . Evening Devotions: Refer to the day’s scriptures, prefereably retelling it in your own way/words or using a new illustration. With specific reference to Jesus learning from someone. The point of this evening is to have the counselors share that they are here to help the youth learn during camp… but it is just as important that the counselors will learn from the youth during the week as their bond is strengthened in Christ. End with a prayer for wisdom, knowledge, and openness to the listen to others… and to God speaking to us in different voices and ways.

Friday: Giving birth… a New Body of Christ Scripture: Colossians 1:15-20 plus Matthew 7:24-28 Purpose: To use the knowledge we have of the parts of the Body of Christ, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), our own gifts and the needs of the community to create a church. Nourish the Body (Morning Watch) Read Colossians 1:15-20 and Matthew 7:24-28 v As you look at the world today, how can the church, the body of Christ, be a visible presence in the community… a visible likeness of God? v What must the church remember as it goes forward into the future… what must the body of Christ keep first and foremost as we see the changing world around us and try to meet the needs around us? v In what ways do you build upon your foundation of faith… the Rock and Redeemer, Jesus Christ? Keynote Words of welcome Friends… brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus, the scripture teach us that the church is the household of God, the body of which Christ is the head, and that it is the design of the gospel to bring together all who are in Christ. Today you are going to have an opportunity to form a new congregation in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), which is a part of Christ’s Holy Church. Prayer: Lord God, preserve your church. Let your Word be heard and your sacraments lived out among us so that we may live in harmony with you and one another, be confirmed in steadfast faith, and be your brave witnesses and workers in the world, building up the Body of Christ through our loving outreach to all your children. Amen Explain the day… You have spent the week discussing what it means to be a part of the Body of Christ, the church. You have looked at all the ways Christians use their varied gifts to build up the Body and how many different gifts are needed to further God’s purposes. Hopefully, you have also had an opportunity to look at the abundance of gifts, large and small, “traditional”, and “unique” that God has blessed you with and how you can use those gifts to create, further, promote, and/or change ministries to others. Today you have a challenge: take all your knowledge of all the pieces that are needed/used in the church to create a new church. Your perfect Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). In his 2020 Vision, the General Minister and President, Rev. Dr. Richard Hamm challenged members/ congregations/ regions to start 1000 new churches by the year 2020. That is a huge challenge and spirit-led opportunity! Imagine being able to build a church – a brand-new church – not the church of your grandparents or your

parents necessarily – but a church that you believe shares the Gospel of Jesus Christ in ways that are uplifting and also out-reaching to the community and the needs of the world today. Using new and old ways of ‘being church’, using the variety of gifts you believe are needed for the church of today and tomorrow, bringing with you the perspectives of your generation! What will you need? What gifts will you need to find in others to balance out and begin building? Who will you contact? Before we head to our begin the rest of our days activities… Ask the youth and sponsors to get comfy in their places, maybe put their heads back, lean on one another. Have them close their eyes and relax. Let there be silence (or just the quiet music) for a few moments. When everyone is relaxed, say, It’s Sunday morning. You’ve scrunched the pillow around your head to muffle your alarm clock’s annoying clatter. You’re not sure you want to go to church today, so you start making excuses. ‘Church is boring,’ ‘Nobody cares if I’m there or not.’ ‘All they want is my money.’ ‘Everybody is a hypocrite.’ ‘My faith is just between God and me.’ Relax there for a few moments and decide what you’re going to do. After about one minute, ask them to open their eyes, stretch, and sit up. Close by saying, Let’s face it – there are lots of reasons for not going to church. The church will never be perfect. Sermons will be boring, people will speak unkind words, and the church leaders will make mistakes. You will make mistakes as well. But don’t give up! People make the church imperfect, but God can make it perfect. Accept the shortcomings and failures of the people in your church – YOURSELF INCLUDED! Focus on God’s incredible love in action. Now ask the people next to you to pray for you today and in the future… especially as we go back from THIS church, this body of Christ, to the body of Christ that is our church at home this weekend. With God’s support and the support of others, you will recognize the church in action. Prayer: Almighty God, upon your Son Jesus Christ you built your Church. Bless us, your people, your church. Watch over us in our beginnings and in our ends, increase our ministry and mission and sustain us, and the whole body of Christ, to the end, through Jesus Christ our foundation we offer our prayers this day. Amen. Study Time (Family or Village) Prayer (Shorten prayer for Chi Rho) O God who created us and sustains us, we bring our gifts to you this day. Use our hands, our eyes, our mouths to build up the body of Christ. Help us to see that all of our talents, skills, insights ways are precious in your sight and gifts to others within the Body. May we respect one another as important pieces of this Body of Christ that we strive to uplift, to strengthen and to share. As we go through this final day together, may we use all of our gifts to your glory… not just here at camp, but also in the part of the body of Christ we participate in at home, our church, YOUR church, built on the foundation, the rock of redemption, the chief cornerstone, Jesus Christ in whom we pray, Amen.

Scripture: Colossians 1:15-20 plus Matthew 7:24-28 Study Time (Family or Village) Supplies: Paper, pencils, pens, newsprint, committee cards (last resort only!) found in Appendix NEW CHURCH START Give the youth paper and pencils to take notes with when they divide into small group. If you do preliminary discussions before dividing, write their notes / insights/ ideas on newsprint for all to see as they plan and make discussions about their new church. Here’s the scenario: Your family group is a group of friends in a small-medium town. There is not a Disciples of Christ church in your community, the nearest one is at least 50 miles away. You all have experience with a church and haven’t found exactly what you are looking for in any other church. You all have a Bible, you all are Christians, you all can pray. Where do you go from here? On Monday, you came up with a name for your family group or village, your “church”, your Body of Christ. You also came up with a Mission Statement for your church. Think about this name and mission statement once again and decide whether or not you need to change your name/mission to something more appropriate to who you are and what you want your church to ‘be’. Think of what you want to happen in your church – worship, study, mission, evangelism, programming? What is your mission and vision? Will you have rules? Creeds? Doctrines? Will you have by-laws? Committees? If so, Which committees? If not, why not? Will you do things that show good stewardship, economically and environmentally, etc.? What ministries are important to you? How will you accomplish your goals? What types of worship will you have? Music? Drama? Art? Youth involvement? What kind? Remember it is better to have a few ministries that your church can truly be committed to, then lots of ministries that spread your membership too thin. Where will you meet? What will you call yourself? What is your role in the community? What is your INDIVIDUAL role in the church going to be? What gifts will you use? What financial requirements or commitments will you hope for from your family units and individuals? You have approximately one hour to put together your church. You must have a plan in place and be able to promote your church to “new people” in your town, making your church something that reaches out to attract them – not just to get them in the door, but also help them grow in Jesus Christ so that the church, in turn, will also grow… not just numerically, but spiritually in relationship with God. At the end of your family time together, you will be visited TWICE by “newcomers” looking for a church. Depending on their situation, you will have to

determine how best to serve them and let them know that they will be welcome and find a home in fellowship with you. Show them your best hospitality. What followup might you do after their visit? Blessings on your efforts! Remember this is YOUR church… actually GOD’S church… so allow GOD to guide YOUR thoughts and visions for the church. Remember: Think outside the box What does the world need from a church? What kind of church is needed to reach out in meaningful ways to people today and in the future? How can you be the best manifestation of the body of Christ in your community? What is God through Christ calling you to do or be? How can you best share the Gospel with others? Counselors: Allow and encourage the youth to struggle and use their imaginations and creativity. They may need to divide up into groups of 2 or 3 and take on specific tasks in order to complete a basic idea of what they want in the time frame allotted. Listen to their ideas… they have terrific thoughts for wonderful new ministries, new resources, new ways to worship, new ways to “be church.” Try not to limit their creativity with old paradigms! But… if they are struggling with how to start or what to think about, you might give them “committee cards” (found in the Appendix) to work off of, or add your own input/ideas as “tinder” to spark the Spirit within them…But remember that these are a last resort and presenting them may result in the same old church we all know. Vespers: Suggestions: Who are we? Who do we want to be? Who is GOD calling us to be? A skit portraying the ‘wrong’ and ‘right’ way to be the church (what do you think they are?) Sharing from family groups/villages about their new churches Collosians 1:15-20 Campfire: Suggestions: Director shares his/her faith story and what it means to them to be a part of the church, and a part of camp. If you have a counselor that has either: 1) been a part of anew church, or b) had to look for a new church and why they chose the church they are members of, have them share during campfire. Talk about the week and how they can take what they have learned home with them… and use the gifts God has given them to serve, to love, to lift up… at church, home, school, work, with friends and family. Look at their church, their friends, their families with new eyes, new heart. Think about how they are needed.

Share in communion one last time as this body of Christ… bound together by the blood of Christ, one bread, one body. Evening Devotions: Suggestions: This is your last night together. Affirm each others gifts/talents/skills to be used in all aspects of God’s world. We are the Body of Christ no matter where we are, how far apart we may be, what we do… and all needed… all a part of one another through Jesus Christ. Share with one another how each of you, and this camp this week, has touched your life, changed your heart, lifted you up, given you new insights.