Drama out of a Crisis: 20 challenging, fun and
inspirational sketches about poverty and
justice
Peter Shaw
Barnabas for Children £7.99
(978-0-85746-005-9)
Church Times Bookshop £7,20 (Use code
CT242 )
Participate! Helping young people explore
discipleship and vocation
Meg Prowting, Penny Fuller and Mike Seaton
Barnabas for Children £11.99
(978-1-84101-854-6)
Church Times Bookshop £10.80 (Use code
CT242 )
My Participate! Journal: Exploring what it means to
be a Christian disciple
Meg Prowting, Penny Fuller and Mike Seaton
Barnabas for Children £3.99
(978-1-84101-899-7)
Church Times Bookshop £3.60 (Use code
CT242 )
THE subtitle of Drama out of a Crisis tells you
exactly what it contains. The author, Peter Shaw, works for Tear
Fund (which receives all the royalties), and has an MA in
playwriting, which you can tell from the quality of the writing.
Some of the sketches are laugh-out-loud funny, as they catch at
your heart and soul.
An excellent book; but it is a pity that you can't download the
scripts from a password-protected website included in the cost of
the book or CD. Ignore the ages of the performers given on
the cover: this is not a book just for children or young people: it
is for the whole Church, and highly recommended.
Participate! was greeted eagerly by Liz, who teaches
seven-to-11-year-olds at the local church. She and her daughter
Elly road-tested the course for me, and reported on this
discipleship course for nine-to-14-year-olds.
Liz was very disappointed. Like me, she appreciated the
introduction, which asks leaders to reflect on their role and
motivation; but "discipleship" is never defined. The content of the
course is probably best summed up by Elly, an articulate
ten-year-old. "It made me think about my relationship to church,
and to my group, but it didn't make me think about my relationship
with God." She loved the accompanying journal for participants, but
would have preferred a password-protected online blog-type
activity (which her primary school has on its site).
Overall, Participate! feels a bit dated. Leaders are not
encouraged to ask the participants how they are spiritually - what
God is saying to them - nor to lead the group in corporate worship
or prayer. Most of all, it feels adult-driven rather than
participant-led.
The suggested age range is too wide: nine to 11 would
be better than nine to 14; and that renders suggested
references to Facebook and TV soaps unhelpful. The great suggestion
is a church placement, and Elly wanted to start with that.
Encouraging churches to take children and young people seriously
is to be applauded; and this is where Participate! really scores a
hit.
The Revd Ronni Lamont is a freelance writer and
trainer.