Let's Get Together!: Flexible fun-filled activity ideas for the whole church family

Let's Get Together! is an exciting mix of creative ideas designed to encourage the whole church family to relax and have fun together in a variety of situations. The resource includes themed starter activities, Bible-based storytelling, action-packed drama, punchy puppetry, instant crafts, team games, reflective prayers and take-home Bible bloodhound challenges. The ideas can be used in five linked sessions to create a holiday-style programme. Alternatively, one session can be taken on its own and explored in informal, ongoing worship or as a special one-off event. The drama can even be taken as a piece in its own right and delivered in a single performance. The overall theme draws on the visual metaphor of a tree to explore what it means to be family together. The basic concept is to explore the different shapes and sorts of family, all of whom have the commonalities of foundations (roots), growth (shoots) and outcomes (fruits). The theme connects into the idea that, whatever our earthly family tree looks like, we are all part of God's family tree and members of his global family. The focus for the five individual sessions is as follows: The tree is planted (belonging) The sapling tree (appropriate boundaries and encouragement) The tree bears fruit (valuing ourselves and others) The tree sends out seeds (sharing what we have) The tree in maturity (resting on the promises of God)

About the Author :
Born and bred in Liverpool, Sue moved to the Midlands to study drama at Loughborough University and thereafter continued further south to work for a conference and events' organiser and subsequently an independent TV production company. Following a period at home bringing up her children, she began work as a special needs assistant, working over the next few years in two local primary schools. She also gained a Post-Graduate Diploma in drama therapy at the Roehampton Institute and enjoyed a stint as a school governor. Sue has been involved for many years in running after-school drama clubs and workshops and has helped to devise and run several holiday clubs. She has published a book of sketches and stories for churches and schools, entitled Brush Strokes (Kevin Mayhew, 2004) and also works with popular songwriters Mark and Helen Johnson and Margaret Carpenter. Sue has written the scripts for ten 'Out of the Ark Music' productions, including Stable Manners, Hoodwinked, Wind in the Willows and, most recently, Cinderella 'n' Rockerfella. Sue has also been involved for many years with a church-based drama group, Vision Theatre, writing scripts, performing and operating puppets. She is currently attempting to develop ventriloquism skills and, in her spare time, is an accomplished liar, acting at Murder Mystery dinners for a company called The Killing Game. Beware! Sue now lives in Surrey with her husband, Paul. They have two grown-up children and four dogs.