It's Puzzling It's Your Move Road Work and Trek Groups Gather in the center of the gym, welcome, introduction of guests, make announcements. For Sponsors: Which way are we moving? 1.Carefully look at decisions and the results they can have. 2.Understand that choices have a now and then result. 3.Exclusion is a choice.  Which Way Are We Moving Road Work & Trek Needed: the "Once Upon a Time" poster, note cards, pens Quickly display the poster before the entire group. Remove it after all have read it to themselves. They should not discuss it yet. Then pass out note cards and pens and have them write out the phrase they just saw and put the paper in their pocket. Changes are most of them will be wrong. Most people don't notice that the word "A" is included twice. 1.Ask everyone if they think he or she got the phrase correctly written down. 2.Instruct the youth to show how strongly they feel about the correctness of his or her answer by moving towards the kitchen wall if they feel very strongly that they are correct, the middle of the room for "maybe, maybe not", and the opposite side of the room for "I'm not sure what I saw". 3.Ask if any one saw a mistake on the poster. Say: It's easy to be mistaken about something even when you are sure you are right. Sometimes we even see only what we want to see.    Break into Journey Groups Moving Up  Road Work Play "Choices" Needed: A glass of water, 3 empty coffee cups, quarter, 4 dollars, mini candy bar, 1 index cards (one with sorry on it) 2 envelops. Have three students volunteer and come forward. After they are all standing at the front of the group tell them they can play a game or choose someone still in the audience and willing to play for them. (At this point it would be good to be holding a glass of water in a threatening manor, like holding it above each contestants head as you ask them if they want to switch.) After any switching has taken place give each contestant a change to pick a coffee cup turned upside down. Let the shortest go first. Ahead of time, place a quarter under one, a dollar for the next and a miniature candy bar under the last. You could use a tray to prepare the cups out of site. Have each stand behind their cup and turn them over at the same time. Next introduce three cards. Tell your contestants they can trade for a card or keep what they have and sit down. Set up the cards like the cups, with one dollar behind one, two dollar behind another, and a "sorry" printed on the last. This time let the contestants go one at a time. Let the contestants keep the results of their actions.     Discuss: Point out that we all must live with the results of our decisions - just as the contestants had to accept whatever prize they ended up with. ·Why did you choose to trade - was it based on knowledge or a lucky feeling? ·Is it possible in life to be sure of the results of big decisions? ·What are some ways God can help us make wise decisions?   Moving Up  Trek Let's get into some scripture. The following are some everyday situations. Divide into two smaller groups of equal size. Read: In an English exam you need an A or B to bass the course for the semester. You studied long and hard. Your friend didn't study at all. While the teacher is busy checking papers, you notice that your friend is copying answers from another student who always does well. You get a C while your friend gets an A. Discuss: 1.How do you feel? 2.What would you do as a Christian? 3.Does this relationship change your relationship with your friend? 4.Would you discuss the issue with your friend? Other friends? Your parents? The teacher? 5.How would you feel if you were the cheater with an A, knowing your friend studied and received a C when they needed at least a B? Have a look at Jeremiah 17:9-10, Discuss the scripture.  Jer 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately corrupt; who can understand it? Jer 17:10 "I the LORD search the mind and try the heart, to give to every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings." Moving In Road Work  Play "It Counts" Needed: 2 empty coffee cans, ten coins in each can. Divide into two groups by arranging everyone in alphabetical order of first name, and then split up. Send each group to different areas. Put ten coins in a can for each group. Then pass the can around the group. Have each youth silently count the coins by touching each one with their finger and remember how many were in the can. Each youth is required to pass the can back to you after they have counted. Each time you get the can back fiddle with the coins as if you were arranging them in some particular order.   Pass the can on to the next youth, continuing in the same manor. Before you hand the can back to the last person, secretly palm one of the coins and then give it to the last person.   Empty all the coins from the can and set it aside.  Probably everyone will come up with the same number except the last person. Say: Everyone with a count of seven raise your hand. Then move on to eight, nine, and ten. See if the group can convince the last person to change his or her mind. Discuss: Pressure from the culture in general and peers in particular can make us let go of what we know is truly correct. Moving In Trek Stay in the same small groups. Read: The group is going to an amusement park and you need twenty dollars. Your parents agree to help you earn it by allowing you to keep money from the recycling of aluminum cans. Normally that money is put into the family entertainment budget. On the way home with the money, you discover a new CD you really want and decide you can get the money for the trip from the next returns, so you buy it. When you get home your parents are upset and tell you that they will not help you earn any more money and, because you broke the agreement, you cannot go on the trip even if you have the money. 1.How do you feel? 2.How do you think your parents might feel? 3.Who was cheated? 4.Has an impulsive act such as the above ever cost to you to high a price? 5.If you were the parent, would you have handled this differently? If so, how? Have a look at Proverbs 1:29-31, Discuss the scripture.  Pro 1:29 Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the LORD, Pro 1:30 would have none of my counsel, and despised all my reproof, Pro 1:31 therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way and be sated with their own devices. Moving out Road Work  Needed: Puzzled Hand out Divide into teams of two. If there is an odd one, (No not Eliot!) make one group of three. Have the teams create a "Find the Word" puzzle (hand-out) using the following: ·1 & 2 Your names ·3 & 4 The color of your shirts ·5 What was counted in the coffee cans ·6,7 & 8 The first three prizes in the first activity ·9 The word "choice" ·10 The word "consequence" ·11 The word "knowledge" ·12 The word "Include" Tie the words together horizontal, vertical, and diagonal then fill in the other spaces with other common letters. After each group is finished make 4 copies of the puzzles. Explain: Each youth may keep one copy and must give a copy to a senior higher who doesn't have one. They will present their copy after the closing circle. Place your copies in a safe area so you can get them quickly. The senior highers will wait in the circle until they receive a puzzle. Moving out Trek Stay in the same small groups. Read: You're at UMYF again. You find yourself in a discussion group. You're not being included so you speak up but the others ignore you. You ask a question or make a suggestion. They pour cold water on your idea. You attempt to sit closer to the nucleus of the group and someone pulls the chair out from under you as you sit down. ·How do you feel? ·Could you have done anything to improve your situation? ·What should the group have done? ·Did it upset you that it came from a church group rather than a school group? ·If you had been part of the exclusive group, what would or could you have done to improve the situation? ·Have you ever been part of a group that excluded someone? How did you feel? What were your thoughts? Your actions? ·Would a Christian react differently? Have a look at Matthew 25:34-40, Discuss the scripture. Mat 25:34 Then the King will say to those at his right hand, 'Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; Mat 25:35 for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, Mat 25:36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.' Mat 25:37 Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see thee hungry and feed thee, or thirsty and give thee drink? Mat 25:38 And when did we see thee a stranger and welcome thee, or naked and clothe thee? Mat 25:39 And when did we see thee sick or in prison and visit thee?' Mat 25:40 And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.' Wrap up the discussion and instruct the senior highers to remain in the closing circle after the UMYF benediction. The middle schoolers will be testing their resolve to be inclusive. Come Back together in the HFLC Prayer and Concerns  Road Work & Trek  Gather in the closing circle. Pray for knowledge to make the right choices and understand the results of our choices. Singing "Sanctuary" time permitting. Join hands, right over left, and say the UMYF benediction.