A dedication of loving relationships for Valentine's Day

Leader:
As human beings we are created with desires and a need for companionship,
We have great capacity for love, yet also many failings and frailties.
We bring before today you all our loving relationships.
Those that have flourished, and those that didn't work out,
Those that have just begun, and those that begun long ago,
Those that continue in strength, those beset by adversity,
Those lost to us through death, whose memories are cherished.
Those accepted and blessed by our church, and those who long for such acceptance,
We offer the messy, complex ways of our human loving,
Lead us towards the perfect love for which you have created us.

I invite those who wish to re-dedicate their relationship today, to join hands with each other and join in the following declaration:


People who wish to dedicate their relationship today (P)

P: Before God, in the company of God's people,
I declare that I remain your constant friend and loving partner.
I promise to go on giving you the best of myself.
We pray for the grace to continue our journey alongside one another,
As companions in life's pilgrimage.

Amen

Leader: I invite you now to touch or hold any symbols or tokens of your love (usually wedding and engagement rings.)

Leader: Let us remember the day when these tokens were first exchanged. The hopes and dreams. We offer to you all that has happened in our lives since that day. The joys and the sorrow. The laughter and the tears. As we continue life's journey together, may they remain for us symbols of love and commitment.
P: Amen

All:
Loving God, grant your blessings to all before you today,
May our lives be filled with love,
Our homes be places of warmth and welcome,
May we together build communities of justice and hope.
Amen

The Lego Movie: ideas for church holiday club, youth group or RE Lessons

Based around the Acts of the Apostles/letters of St. Paul


Session 1: Paul. Like Emmet, follows the rules. Doesn't like those who want change. Something changes his mind. ( Road to Damascus/ Emmet discovering the piece of resistance)Meeting the master builders (Master builders of the church: Peter, Mary etc)
Crafts: Make hobby horses to re enact story of St. Paul, wooden spoon puppets of the disciples. Road to Damascus pathway to make footprints.
Ideas for discussions: Are some people like Emmet at the beginning of the film? ( mindlessly following what everyone else does. Doesn't think he's special)
Outside: Treasure hunt. Things to discover. Hobby horse races.
What things happen that cause people to realise something/ change their mind?
Song: I can wiggle like a worm.

Session 2: Paul's journeys, ship wreck. ( Emmet's adventure and ship wreck) Enact storm and ship wreck with musical instruments.  The church at Corinth. (Working together; everything is cool if we work as a team!/ we are all parts of one body)
Crafts: make boats, letters on scrolls,  Work together to make something (eg. Make the biggest structure you can using marshmallows and spaghetti)

Activity: obstacle courses, parachute games.
Songs: Life is like a big wide ocean.  Everything is awesome!
.

Alternative ideas about working together: the rainbow people http://learn.christianaid.org.uk/Images/caringly_book_tcm16-22709.pdf

Session 3: The church now. Should we keep everything the same? (Final sequence of the film.) 
Building our own church for the future. What would it be like?


Make dens outdoors.

Crafts: children make own "churches" using cardboard boxes. Stick on "bricks" with words or pictures saying what it would be like.

Change something in the church to reflect their ideas, or make something (banner etc).

Ongoing throughout:

Children could make their own lego film clips using stop motion photography.

Make things out of lego.

These are my first thoughts about this. I will be adding to it, so watch this space! If you have any other ideas please add to the comments below.

It will be awesome!

You are welcome to use my ideas. I would be interested to know if you do, and how you found it.

Greenpeace have just produced material questioning Lego's links with Shell. Older children and youth groups may want to explore these issues too, and write letters to Shell or Lego about them. http://youtu.be/qhbliUq0_r4