Just a reminder that on November 11th we're off to The Gathering at Malbank School in Nantwich. It's from 7pm till 9.30pm and tickets are £5. Looks like it should be a good night!

We'll get the tickets for everyone in one go beforehand, then you can give us all your hard-earned cash on the night ;o)

We thought tonight about the poor, watching a World Vision video and then discussing a Tony Campolo clip on the subject of poverty. Here are a couple of the prayers we wrote at the end of our group discussions.

Dear God, help us to think about what it feels like to have no money and hardly even a life. Help us to give and make others' lives from zero to a hundred. Amen.

Dear God, please help people with loads of money to help people that don't. Don't forget people who need help. Help the poor people living in poor conditions. Amen.

Dear Jesus, help us to think more about the poor and starving. Also, help us to give things of clothes, money and toys to charity to help. Amen.

This week's challenge is to make something artistic to represent Jesus' scary story of the sheep and the goats, which you can read here in Matthew 25.

Here is the little animation we made at runway yesterday.

We'd like you this week to show grace to someone you come across. Remember - grace means giving to someone who doesn't deserve it and who might not appear to appreciate it.

Click here to see the animation we used to introduce the idea of grace in Jesus' kingdom. Sorry, have had to take off the music for copyright reasons.

Tonight we’ve been thinking about how the media would make us feel about ourselves and how God would have us think about ourselves.

Your challenge this week is to create something based on a Bible verse that speaks of how God feels about you.

It could be a painting, drawing, a photo, a PowerPoint presentation, a sculpture/collage, a drama sketch, a song or dance… whatever you like.

Bring it along next week to share with the group.

Here are a few Bible verses on the theme of how God feels about us. You might like to pick one of these or choose one of your own.

Matthew 10:31
So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.

Luke 13:34
How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings

Luke 12:7
The very hairs on your head are all numbered.

Matthew 28:20
And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.

John 3:16
For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

Zephaniah 3:17
He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.

Psalm 23:4
Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.

Song of Solomon 2:16
My lover is mine, and I am his.

Jeremiah 29:11
“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”

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Here are the pictures people brought along the following week:

Here is Susie's meditation we used as the Departure Lounge this week - sorry we can't include the music for copyright reasons.

This week's challenge is to bring along some things for a shoebox to be sent off to a needy kid somewhere. We are going to do two - one for a boy, one for a girl, both aged 11-14.

Here are some suggestions of things to include:

TOYS
small cars, balls, dolls, stuffed animals, kazoos, harmonicas, yo-yos, jump ropes, toys that light up or make noise (with extra batteries), etc.

SCHOOL SUPPLIES
pens, pencils and sharpener, crayons or markers, stamps and ink pad sets, writing pads or paper, solar calculators, colouring and picture books, etc.

HYGIENE ITEMS
toothbrush, toothpaste, mild bar soap (in a plastic bag), comb, washcloth, etc.

OTHER
Hard sweets and lollipops (please double bag all sweets), mints, gum, T-shirts, socks, ball caps; sunglasses, hair clips, toy jewelry, watches, flashlights (with extra batteries)

Do Not Include:

Used or damaged items; war-related items such as toy guns, knives or military figures; chocolate or food; liquids or lotions; medications or vitamins; breakable items such as snowglobes or glass containers; aerosol cans

Susie thought it might be nice to share my highly detailed plans for the dance we did last week...

Here are a selection of the photos of beautiful things that you took for last week's challenge.

This week's challenge is to sow a seed in someone's life, that might just cause them to get closer to Jesus if it manages to take root and grow. Come prepared with a story for next week.

This week we thought about what Jesus taught about sharing our faith - that it is a slow and often fruitless process, but still worthwhile when it does come to something. We came at this from the parable of the sower, illustrated below...

Especially for Kyle, here's a link so you can see the inspirational Evangelism Linebacker once more.