Thursday, November 12, 2015
Next Step 2015 - Mankato Review
We had ten student participants and three staff in Mankato for an incredible 5 days. Eight states were represented. We began with a performance by the Next Step staff - Ben "Hopper" Christensen, Randy "Micah" Christensen, and Jeff "JB" McMullen. This "family service" was a great way to start the workshop by allowing our host church families and our students to observe many of the principles and processes that we would be learning during the rest of the workshop.
Here are some of the photos and some of the student responses following the workshop:
Greg began clowning 32 years ago and he shared: "I loved The Next Step Workshop. It wasn't what I thought it would be but it was still spectacular.... it was a mighty stretch.I loved the religious aspect of it. I wish there was another one next year.
Colleen from Indiana said, "Next Step Workshop with Randy Christensen, Ben Christensen and Jeff McMullen was.....how do I say this??? Perfect? Inspiring? Wonderful? Mind-stretching? Body stretching? Soul and Spirit stretching? Hum.....what word to use....well, why squabble over words, let's just say it was ALL of the above and more! I loved meeting my new clown friends/family. I loved learning and yes, being critiqued. I loved that the Spirit of the Lord was there to help and refresh. I loved the fact that it was a time for even CLOWNS TO THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX. The stuff I learned (and I will find out just how much I learned when I review my notes. lol) was professional and fun with the focus of doing our best for the Lord. I am so thankful the Lord gave me the opportunity and means to attend. Thanks to our instructors.....wow! May God bless every bone in your bodies! (especially the ones that may hurt after our stretches. LOL)
Sessions on character development, attitudes and principles for growth, mime movement and mime concepts, writing comedy clown material with a theme (approached from five different models), teaching scripture and/or themes with creative visuals, and numerous other topics were shared.
Also, the cooking by Karen Christensen was non-stop fabulous.
We enjoyed an evening of sharing and learning at Randy & Karen's house as part of our schedule too.
Saturday, November 07, 2015
Sunday Services at the Next Step 2015
Here is the service that was entirely written and developed and presented at the Next Step Workshop in Mankato, MN.
Next Step Clowns - Prayer
November 8, 2015
*music / clowns greeting
Sing: *JOY!
——-welcome / rules (with clowns disobeying) / Watch & Spray/prayer
Sing: *Give Him Praise
*Glory To God (with streamers)
——-offering & hand out Bibles to kids——
sing: *I Love You (Yancy)
(clowns go behind)
Last week we talked about Moses….he met God by the burning bush and God spoke to him. This was not the only time that God spoke to Him.
Clown Skit: Prayer is talking with God (Ringy Dingy)
Randy: Exodus 19&20 Moses was in the Desert of Sinai… (vs.3) “Then Moses went up to God, and the Lord called o him from the mountain…” Moses went left the people, and went up the mountain and met with God. WITH UKELELE (He’ll be going up the mountain when he goes) God told him specific commands…and gave him 2 stone tablets.(He’ll be carrying 10 commandments when he comes…) …which he carried down to the people…(He will be coming down the mountain when he comes) ….Maybe it looked something like this…. (*intro music)
Flash Theater Presentation: Moses Receives the 10 Commandments
God spoke to Moses many times…in the desert from the burning bush…on the Mountain…and Moses spoke with God. That’s called prayer. Prayer is talking WITH God. …not just AT God, or to God…but WITH God. He speaks to us. We speak to him. …do you take time to pray?
The Bible says that we should take time to pray. (Cookie enters)
(Actions & Rythyms) *Psalm 55:17 “Evening and morning and at noon will I pray.”
Professor’s Nightmare with Lomax: Lists 3 times each day…whether it’s a short prayer, a long prayer, or an average prayer. …it’s important to pray.
Sometimes we ask God for things when we pray. …a while ago we had a service where we talked about how we can now be friends with God. Do you have friends? Do you ever ask them for help? Let’s watch this short story about a friend who asked for help from another friend.
Clown Skit: “Don’t Give Up” (written with story parallels from Luke 11)
Bible Story: Sometimes people think that it’s not important to pray. That praying doesn’t help… Jesus said in Luke 11:5-8 (read)…. You see, God is not unwilling to “get up” and help you!
Jesus said, Luke 11:9-10 “Ask…seek…knock…”
(*windows) Conclusion: God used Moses to do great things. …but one of the most important things that Moses ever DID was pray. He would speak to God, and God would speak to him. So, when do you take time to speak with God. …and when do you take time to listen to Him? Let’s make a decision, that we will take time to pray every day. The evening is good. The morning is good. and at noon is good. “Evening and morning and at noon will I pray.”
—-pray——
Announcements:
BGMC next Sunday —- can you “outgive” God? ….I challenge you to try!
This Wednesday is Operation Christmas Child (come with family)
Recite Colossians 1:13,14 next Sunday
(*circus music) Big thank you to the Next Step Clowns! (introduce yourself and where you are from)
Q & A with clowns if time allows *music as they exit
