Many years ago, I had the opportunity to take a group of college students to the United Methodist Seminar Program on National and International Affairs in Washington, D.C. (I highly encourage you to consider the program, which is NOT just for United Methodists!) One of the activities we did was called a "Trust Walk," and the experience I had in that activity was so profound that I've since led a similar activity dozens of times for groups over the years. It is, without a doubt, my favorite activity to lead with groups. The Trust Walk involves having a group of people silently respond to statements of action or belief through movement, and it does not (unlike another popular activity that involves one youth guiding another) require any blindfolds. Here's a basic description of how to create and lead this activity yourself.

A friend of mine is a missionary in Cambodia. She indicated that a church-affiliated Bible school there is moving toward becoming an accredited institution. One of the things they would need to do is to increase the number of volumes in the library there, and she thought it would be wonderful for someone to develop a way for them to get shipments of donated good, new (or nearly new) books that have a more progressive theological and biblical viewpoint. Some day, I hope to be able to offer Different Voice readers the opportunity to send books to a central location for eventual delivery to that country. But you don't need to wait until such an opportunity is in place on this website, of course. 

This article by Tim Gossett was originally posted on March 25, 2009.

The "Huh?/Yeah!" Bible Study

Palm Sunday is a fun day for children and adults alike. As we celebrate Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem, we wave palm branches and shout Hosanna! Excitement is in the air. Many children (and adults) leave church on Palm Sunday on that wave of excitement, and return a week later. Easter! He is risen! This is the best news of all. It is another joyous morning of worship and Sunday School.

In parts 1 and 2 of this series, I introduced the idea of beginning a writing group at your church. If you have a writing group already at your church, or if you are planning on starting one, I’d be interesting in hearing about your experience and sharing it with our readers. You can post a comment below, or send us an email. As promised, I have four more writing activities that would be appropriate for use in a writing group. If you have other ideas for writing activities, send me those as well, and I will share them in a future article (giving you credit, of course).

When I lead a women’s retreat, I congratulate the participants for being there – for taking the time and spending the money to give themselves the gift of retreat time. (My experience is with women’s retreats, but I believe that everyone benefits from retreat time, regardless of gender.) Although we may long for time away, either alone or with a group, for renewing our spirit, it is difficult for us to make it a priority. And yet, Jesus himself modeled for us the importance of retreat.

There is something about putting words onto paper… In response to my previous article, The Write Idea (Part 1), a reader shared a thought about writing she had heard on an NPR program. The idea is that writing can be a place to express emotions that are so big that they need to be let out, yet are too painful to be expressed out loud. In such situations, writing can serve as a liminal space, a safe place to explore our thoughts and feelings. I believe this is true and it is yet another good reason for starting a writing club!

Ash Wednesday seems like an especially appropriate time to talk about prayer. When I talk with children (and sometimes youth and adults) about prayer, I always tell them, “You can pray anywhere, anytime and about anything.” God is accessible to all of us. We do not need eloquent words or a seminary degree to pray. If asked, most Christians would agree with these statements. And yet…

From time to time, books tied to the larger theme of death capture our collective attention. Two recent examples, The Last Lecture and Tuesdays with Morrie, are engaging reads—not so much because they are representative examples of superb literature, but because they deal with the finality of life in a reflective and relatable way. In case you aren't familiar with them, both books are about college professors who share their wisdom with others before they died.

Although it is often near the end of our lives that we think about passing on wisdom to others, any time of life is a good moment to reflect on what one has learned and would want others to know. (After all, we are never guaranteed a tomorrow.) Today, I'd like you to consider how you might create your own "Last Lecture Series" in your own congregation, but one with a bit of a twist from the usual approach.

You have likely heard the saying “Everyone has a novel inside of them.” (Skeptics sometimes add “most of them are not any good.”) I’m not sure whether I believe that everyone has a novel in them; I do not particularly feel that I do, and I consider myself a writer! I do believe that we all have thoughts! Writing is one way that we communicate our thoughts, feelings and ideas to others. Some people write only for themselves, using a journal or diary as a way to record events or emotions and/or explore them more deeply.

There is something about putting words onto paper that allows us to view things from a new perspective. Regardless of one’s skill level, writing can serve as a creative outlet, a fun hobby and/or a way to connect with others. Consider starting a writing group at your church. A writing group can nurture writers of all skill levels from beginner to experienced. In such a group, people are invited to explore writing as a means of expression in a safe, caring and encouraging community. As writing is shared, both writers and listeners will benefit from the experience.