We are going on a JOURNEY!
Daylight was journeying towards dusk as youngsters travelled excitedly on foot through the church gates, anticipating an Advent-ure!
The November God Outdoors (GO!) event was themed around journeying, as we head towards the season of Advent and then move onwards towards Christmas.
A family orienteering challenge was the first activity to be sampled once everyone had re-fuelled with drinks and home-baked biscuits. Refreshed and armed with maps and clue sheets, children and adults worked together to retrieve letters, which eventually spelled out two key, seasonal words – ADVENT WREATH.
Rev. Naomi then gathered everyone together in the log circle and led a series of short activities to explore and develop the theme further. Little ones journeyed round the logs in ‘follow-the-leader’ style, scooping up and dropping nature’s bountiful gifts of leaves and twigs as they travelled onwards, reminiscent of the extra ‘luggage’ we gain and shed on our own travels. Action prayers were shared:
“We have come to nature’s playground,
to a wild cathedral, where the trees lift their hands in praise
and the rocks cry out His name.
We have come to meet God outdoors.”
Children paused, looked and listened to the world around them as birds journeyed across the skies, and vehicles travelled towards their destination. In the stillness of the moment, it became apparent the wider world was moving onwards.
The activities which followed all amplified the central theme. Using tent pegs and rope, a labyrinth had been set up for youngsters to journey through. They were a-maze-d! Linked to this physical challenge, children were invited to make their own clay labyrinth, mapping out a route as the Advent-ure continued!
As dusk gave way to darkness, the Advent wreath-making table was popular. Bundles of seasonal foliage had been prepared for threading through willow rings. Pine cones and stars made festive adornments and the four Advent candles were central to the wreath. The journey through the creative process was intricate, but the destination was rewarding.
For those who love using tools, a further crafting experience was on offer. Small wooden discs were ready for drilling and threading with ribbon prior to decorating. They made lovely, dangling, visual reminders of Advent’s key gifts of hope, peace, joy and love.
As usual, a simple supper was shared and enjoyed before people of all ages made their pilgrimage home, happy and content, having made some small, but significant and memorable steps towards Advent.
