What You Do Matters. Devotional activity for children s and youth ministry workers

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1 What You Do Matters Devotional activity for children s and youth ministry workers Purpose: To re-energize teams, reinforce mission of ministry, and affirm and remind each individual of their unique gifts in ministry. Works for groups of 3 to 500. (See optional closing ideas for various group sizes.) Devotion time: Approx. 20 minutes Supplies: Red capes (1 per person) 3x3 or 3x5 yellow sticky notes (1 per person) Sets of assorted colored smaller sticky notes (1 set per person) Pens (1 per person) I AM white hearts (1 per person) Optional: Superhero Blessing printed on cardstock or nice paper and signed by the church leadership team or kids in ministry (1 per person) Prep: Set up chairs in the room for every person. Photocopy the white I AM heart and cut out for each person; place one under each chair. Put one larger sticky note and one set of small colored sticky notes under each chair. Hang one red cape on the back of each chair. Optional: Create a photo backdrop from the I Am Enough art file (download at LifetreeFamily.com/capekit). Say: Today we re celebrating our team of superheroes! Because what you do is hard. It requires the skill of a superhero to juggle the demands of life and ministry and to serve like you do. And because what you do matters even when it seems like kids aren t paying attention or parents aren t pulling their weight. And because when the voice in your head starts whispering, I am not enough, and your flaws and weaknesses are blinding your perspective about the impact you re making and the mightiness of God It s time to reclaim your inner superhero! Take the yellow sticky note from underneath your chair, and think about the ways you tell yourself you re flawed.

2 Write down words or phrases that fill your head with inadequacy. Wait a moment while adults do this. Say: Now turn to a partner, and share what you ve written on that sticky note. You each have about a minute. Allow about 2 minutes so each partner can share. Say: From the buzz in the room I can see we re not alone in this. What are some of the things you talked about? Shout them out. Allow time for responses. Say: Next, take the packet of colored stickies from under your chair, and think about the kids in your life in your family, in your ministry the ones who are on your heart and think about what makes each one unique and special. Write their name on each colored sticky one name per sticky and cover your larger, yellow sticky with those names. Allow about 2 minutes for adults to write down the names. Say: Now take a moment to look at the blanket of kids names covering your own sticky note, hold it in your hands, and let your heart reflect on your love for them. Pause for a moment. Allow time for responses. Say: Because we ve dedicated our lives to serving kids and families, I d like to take a quick moment to pray over the names of the children you re holding in your hands. Pray: God, before us we hold the names of some of the most precious children in our lives, and we ask you to surround these kids with your love, peace, and protection and guide us in the ways we can continue making an impact in their lives and draw them closer to you. Amen. Say: It s amazing how our hearts soften when we think of the children we love. And that love is only a fraction of the infinite love God has for us, because we are ALL God s children whom he looks at with adoration. Please pick up the white heart under your chair, and hold it on your lap. I d like to take a moment to read God s Word over you, with several selections from Scripture that I ll read straight through without references. Please close your eyes and receive these words from your Heavenly Father: See, I have written your name on the palms of my hands. (Isaiah 49:16) Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. (Isaiah 43:1) Ask: What words come to mind when you look at their names?

3 My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness. (2 Corinthians 12:9) For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God s children. (Romans 8:16) You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me! (Psalm 139:13-18) And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow not even the powers of hell can separate us from God s love. (Romans 8:38) And may you have the power to understand, as all God s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. (Ephesians 3:18) You too are God s beloved children, and just as your heart swells with joy at the names of the kids you ve written and hold before you, your name is also written on the palms of his hands. Now, on the white heart, you ll see the words I AM Reflect on this simple prayer and how you re wonderfully made, and imagine what God cherishes about you. Read the following prayer out loud: God, you are the great I AM. You re always present, and your love for me is steadfast. I praise you for who you made me to be and for the ways I m a superhero of love to the people in my life. Say: As a praise to God, acknowledge your gift for loving others by writing a word(s) or phrase(s) on the white heart in your own I AM statement. Allow about 2 to 3 minutes for adults to write on their hearts. Once most people seem to be finished, have adults as a group shout out a word or short phrase they wrote on their heart in unison on the count of three. Repeat, asking them to do it louder. [Closing for groups of 15 to 500.] Say: It sounds like we have a room full of superheroes, and it s time to put on your capes! Take the cape from the back of your chair, and before you secure the cape around your shoulders, I d like to say a blessing over you. Read the following blessing: You are a precious, beloved child of the one true King the creator of the universe your origins are epic!

4 And God s love is the most powerful force in the whole world more than all superhero powers combined! And his love is in you and flows through you as you live out the greatest mission ever known to mankind: to love God and love others. And on the days you don t feel like you re enough, remember that love never fails and God s love always covers you. Say: Go ahead and put on your capes now. As you attach your cape around your shoulders, know how deeply valued, loved, and appreciated you are by our church, by your family, and by God. Thank you for being who you are and for serving like a superhero on a mission to love boldly. [Closing option for groups of 10 or less: Instead of a mass caping, ask each person to come forward individually and say the blessing directly to them as you put the cape around their shoulders and thank them for who they are and for serving.]

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