There are TWO options to choose from: ‘Plug and play’ or ‘Pick-n-mix’.

Host the United Kids programme in your venue by live streaming the entire content at 9:30am each morning. You welcome and host the event with United Kids providing all the content!

A hybrid of live, in-person worship, prayer ministry and activities hosted and presented by you alongside pre-recorded show, Bible story and teaching. You design your sessions that will serve your community best and enable in-person Holy Spirit ministry and more!

This summer, we are putting on our wellies, setting up our deck chairs and getting the music pumping as we head off to ‘United Kids fest!’. Following Strings, Boss man and Daisy as they headline the centre stage with their wacky and fun songs, United Kids are ready for FUN, GUNGE and GOD as we explore the awesome power of the Holy Spirit who led Moses and the Israelites into freedom!

From the work of the Holy Spirit RESCUING Moses as a baby to guiding him to REBUILDING a people of God, this summer we will be discovering that God’s Spirit is always with us; leading, guiding and enabling the miraculous to point us to our incredible Lord!

So, get the bunting up, set the stage and open the ice-cream shack!

United Kids is a FREE five-session programme running from Friday 30 July – Tuesday 3 August @ 9:30am. (Please note: UBO youth and adult programmes commence on the evening of Thursday 29 July). It is ideally suited to households with children aged 5-11yrs. See below for 0-4s provision.

Each morning, United Kids will be streamed live at 9:30am with interactive games and challenges, a show, Bible teaching, sung worship and Holy Spirit ministry – all streamed live into your venue.

If you do not have the facility to watch via YouTube or if you choose to run a ‘Pick-n-mix’ programme, then you will need to request in advance the pre-recorded material available in different formats to download.

Once you have decided on your programme option (‘Plug and play’ or ‘Pick-n-mix’) then publicise early! You may wish to send an invitation to each household in your community inviting them to register for the week! Remember to include: dates, times, location, booking details and contact information!

How you use the venue is a key part of hosting United Kids. You will need to ensure that you have completed all the necessary health and safety documentation, risk assessments and have appropriate first aid available. You will need to ensure that you are adhering to Government guidelines relating to coronavirus and are complying with up-to-date regulations; this may mean you have to plan for a ‘preferred’ and a ‘back up’ option in case you need to adapt the venue layout or organisation at short notice.

We have intentionally designed this information to be hosted as a ‘Household bubble model.’ This means that single households attend together sitting in socially distanced bubbles with all equipment and resources in an individually located box per household. Adults are fully responsible for the supervision of their children at all times and in ensuring that they remain in their bubble throughout. You may wish to demarcate the areas per bubble with tape/chalk lines/anti-slip mats etc. However, if restrictions allow and it is deemed safe and appropriate to do so, you may wish to explore the possibility of areas or zones within your venue that households can rotate between (e.g., craft area, games area, prayer shack etc.). Again – please note that this is your responsibility to adhere to all government guidelines and what is safe in your community.

United Kids is based around a festival theme, so why not decorate your venue to make it inviting and feel like you are all involved in what is happening? Buying or making (see day one craft suggestion) your own bunting is a cheap and easy way to bring in the theme instantly. You could even get hay bales (NB: allergies!) and ask everyone to wear wellies – it is New Wine after all! Make it colourful with balloons, paper streamers and decorations and create a photobooth area for families to have a United Kids Household picture taken. Why not create signposts for different areas in your venue to add to the festival vibe or even use pop-up tents or a parachute as a canopy? You don’t have to do a lot to make it exciting!

There are TWO options to choose from: ‘Plug and play’ or ‘Pick-n-mix’.

Host the United Kids’ programme in your venue by live streaming the entire content at 9:30am each morning. You welcome and host the event with United Kids providing all the content!

A hybrid of live, in-person worship, prayer ministry and activities hosted and presented by you alongside a pre-recorded show, Bible story and teaching. You design your sessions that will serve your community best and enable in-person Holy Spirit ministry and more!

This model is for communities that have the facility to project YouTube live at 9:30am and wish to host the event with all the United Kids content provided. Based upon ‘Household bubble model.’ (See ‘Venue’ for more information).

Suggested timetable:

This model is a hybrid of in-person provision as well as showing pre-recorded material supplied by United Kids. As its name suggests, this is a flexible programme whereby you can choose the content, the timing, the duration and the in-person content that suits your local community. To design and create your sessions, please look through the CORE and OPTIONAL elements below to create your programme. As the United Kids CORE sessions are pre-recorded, you can place them anywhere within your programme. Please note, timings are approximate. Based upon ‘Household bubble model.’ (See ‘Venue’ for more information).

We suggest including the CORE elements below:

Show 5 mins: (A daily drama sketch involving Strings, The Boss and Daisy who explore the key theme of the day and always send with a silly song!) United Kids pre-recorded material provided in advance (please request. See ‘United Kids event information’).

Bible story 3 mins: (A daily Bible reading following the story of Moses from birth through to entering The Promised Land). United Kids pre-recorded material provided in advance (please request. See ‘United Kids event information’).

Teaching 5 mins: (A daily teaching slot led by different speakers each day, looking at God’s Spirit at work in the lives of Moses, Jesus, and ourselves) United Kids pre-recorded material provided in advance (please request. See ‘United Kids event information’).

Ministry 5 mins: (An opportunity to invite children and adults to encounter the Holy Spirit and to respond) In-person, local host led response to the teaching.

Sung worship 10 mins: (An opportunity to worship God in songs and actions – If permissions allow) In-person, local host led by own band.

Work packs 10 mins: (A daily work pack full of puzzles, activities, key teaching, and prayer) In-person host to print/provide equipment. United Kids work pack printable resource.

Interactive Games 15 mins: (A daily set of video-based challenges which the children can vote for using Kahoot! The Kahoot is built into our website and the children/group will need a device to be able to vote for the answer. They get to pick a random name from the name picker on the website and then they watch and play along. YOU WILL NEED ANOTHER DEVICE – if you choose to do it this way – these are not games we can share with you before the event. Another idea could be to play along and keep a record of the answers within your set up).

You may also wish to include OPTIONAL elements below:

Gunge challenge 5 mins: (A daily gungy game to watch) United Kids pre-recorded material provided in advance (please request. See ‘United kids event information’).

Craft 15 mins: (Suggested craft activities that you print at home/church and provide in each household craft box or craft area) In-person printing and collection of equipment. Pack suggestions and printable templates.

Games 15 mins: (Suggested games and challenges that can be undertaken in Households or in groups depending on your situation/restrictions) In-person collection of equipment and leading of games. Pack suggestions.

Prayer 5 mins: (A daily suggested creative prayer activity that you prepare at home/church and complete as a household or in groups depending on your situation/restrictions). In-person collection of equipment and leading of activity. Pack suggestions and printable resources.

Prayer shack (open throughout): (If restrictions allow: a space for children to go in order to spend time chatting and catching with God – assisted by trained team members). In-person prayer shack – team must be DBS checked, have in-house prayer ministry training, and follow all safeguarding and government restrictions. (See ‘Prayer shack.’).

As this is ‘Pick-n-mix’ there is no one way of designing your programme. However here are a few suggestions that may help with your planning.

1 hour programme (approx.) PLUS preparation

1.5hour programme (approx.) PLUS preparation

Gather people around you who have caught the vision and form a team who are ready to have a great time equipping households at United Kids. Identify key ‘Presenters’ who can lead the sessions and any activities you do afterwards. Plan how much you want to do ‘live’ in your venue and how much you will use of the United Kids filmed content in the sessions, depending upon which option you choose.

Identify someone who is confident to oversee the technical elements including switching between the United Kids pre-recorded content and being live. Depending on the size of your venue, you may consider TV screens and speakers and where bubbles will be sitting to make sure everyone can engage with what is happening. You’ll also need to decide if you want a live band and if restrictions allow for singing.

The welcome team are likely to be the first people households meet as they arrive. Smiley faces and a warm ‘hello!’ are always a good start! Make sure they know how people sign in, where to go and what is happening during the session so they can be around in the right places.

A qualified First Aider needs to be present throughout each session and available if needed.

In addition to the above, there are other people that you may know who will be able to serve in other ways – it is always a blessing to have everyone involved! In what ways could other serve and how could you enable them?

Please ensure that the team is all DBS cleared and have received the appropriate training. Ensure that you fully adhere to all safeguarding procedures and policies as well as governmental guidelines. Due to the nature of ‘Household bubble model,’ Parents/carers are responsible for their children at all times and are not to leave them unattended. Team are therefore not responsible for supervision of children but are there to facilitate and host event.

Important note: If you are running this with children only (i.e., not as ‘Household bubble model’) then this will have a large impact on team. You will be required to adhere to child to adult ratios, team safeguarding training and team recruitment processes. It will be your responsibility to ensure that all the appropriate and necessary safeguards and procedures are in place according to your church policy as well as adherence to Government guidelines.

Minimum team required: FIVE

Presenter x 1
Welcome team x 2
AV x 1
First aider x 1
(See below for role descriptors)

Minimum team required: SEVEN (plus 2)

Presenter x 2
Welcome team x 2
AV x 2 (Audio 1, Visual x 1)
First aider x 1
Band x 1 (if desired)
Prayer shack x 2 (if desired)

Role: Presenter
To welcome, host and lead session, identifying housekeeping and safety rules, linking elements and overall supervision of venue. Ensure adults are aware that they are fully responsible for the supervision of their children throughout. (See ‘Daily teaching themes,’ to assist role).

Role: Welcome team
To register all households on arrival (and departure if your policy). To direct people to venue and to adhere to one-way systems and/or give directions.

Role: AV
To set-up and to oversee the projection of pre-recorded videos and any sound provision for band and presenters.

Role: First aider
To be responsible for First Aid provision and available throughout session.

Role: Band (if desired)
To lead in sung worship (if restrictions allow)

Role: Prayer shack (if desired)
To facilitate and host prayer shack – DBS cleared, and prayer ministry trained (See ‘Prayer shack’)

Additional roles
You may wish to have additional leaders to assist with different elements of the programme, for example a games leader or a craft leader who is enthusiastic and passionate about their role!

United Kids are excited to launch a new provision for 0-4s. Videos and podcasts to support you and your child at this exciting stage! Explore the story of Moses at a time that suits you, with five daily life encounter videos and accompanying parent explanation videos. Plus five podcasts discussing the spiritual lives of babies and how to parent them led by Gems Team Leader Geri Coates. All available from 06:30 on Friday 30 July.

0-4s Daily Life Encounters: These five videos invite you into a time of God’s presence and encounter. Choose what you want to engage with and when, whether it’s a mealtime, playtime or bedtime.

This summer, our teaching is looking at the story of Moses and the overriding theme of Freedom: rescue, respond, release, restore and rebuild.

‘Now the Lord is Spirit. Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is Freedom.’ 2 Corinthians 3:17

The Spirit of God working in and through Moses to bring about Freedom to the Hebrews, is the same Spirit that is alive and in us. Jesus brings Freedom and His Spirit rescues, restores, and rebuilds.

Key word Biblical story and theme

	Key word	Biblical story and theme
Day 1		Moses and the bulrushes – The Spirit of God was with Moses’ Mother, Sister and Pharoah’s daughter. Moses was RESCUED. Jesus was sent to RESCUE us. (Ministry focus: Asking God to rescue us – opportunity to follow Jesus)
Day 2		Moses and the burning bush – The Spirit of God called to Moses as God was to RESPOND to his people. God calls to us and asks us to RESPOND to Him. (Ministry focus: Asking to respond to God. We are called by name able to ‘hear’ God’s voice in different ways. Chat and catch).
Day 3		The Passover, Exodus and crossing the Red Sea. The Spirit of God was revealed and led the Hebrews to freedom. The Hebrews were RELEASED from slavery, and we are RELEASED from our sins. (Ministry focus: God frees us from our sins, we are forgiven).
Day 4		Moses and the tabernacle – The Spirit of God was seen in Moses’ face. When Jesus died, the curtain tore in two, to RESTORE us to God. The Spirit of the Lord is seen in us. (Ministry focus: God’s presence is with us – soaking)
Day 5		Moses and the ten commandments – The Spirit of God REBUILT the way to live with each other and God. Jesus and the two greatest commandments teach us the way to REBUILD our lives on God. (Ministry focus: we are sent out in power to live for Him – the power of the Holy Spirit).

Download the Resources Pack for a suggested Daily Planner, with templates, links and ideas for Worship, Games, Crafts & Activities and Prayer:

The New Wine Kids inclusion team have created Accessible Resources to enable children with certain additional needs to be able to engage more fully with the Moses story themes – including symbols to create a visual timetable, the Moses story in simple text and suggestions for sensory and physical activities to support the daily themes:

To support the daily sessions, United Kids have produced this printable activity booklet with puzzles, challenges, activities and memory verses:

United Kids is BIG on ministry and believe that there is no ‘Junior Holy Spirit!’ As part of the live YouTube content, there will be live-streamed, Holy Spirit ministry as part of the content directly following the teaching. This is an important and significant time of our being together. However, if you are intending on using the ‘Pick-n-mix’ option then this opens up the wonderful opportunity to lead your own in-person Holy Spirit ministry.

This can be undertaken in many ways, which we are sure that you are already aware. In addition, please find below suggestions, hints, and tips for leading your own ministry time with households to assist you in your response time. This list is in no way exhaustive but is here as a support for you!

You will notice in ‘Daily teaching themes’ that we have already highlighted the focus of the ministry time, this may help you as you lead your own time, but of course, we always want to be open and responsive to where the Holy Spirit is leading. Please do not feel that you must keep to these but be led by God!

Explain what you are going to do before you do it! e.g. “We are going to spend some time now chatting with God and catching what he is saying back to us. I am going to say some words that you may like to repeat in your head or out loud. Then I am going to go quiet so that you can chat to God and see if you can catch from him. Remember, catching form God can happen in many different ways etc.”

Begin by inviting the Holy Spirit. A way in which we do this at New Wine is that we invite everyone to hold their hands out ‘Like they are receiving a gift’ and then pray ‘Come, Holy Spirit.’

Encourage children who wish to respond to either say it in their heads (God can hear even our thoughts!), or out loud or whisper it into their hands.

If we are leading a time of ‘Chat and catch’ lead the children in simple steps, leaving time between each point to allow for children to respond. E.g. CHAT: Tell God what you love most about the world…tell God what made you laugh out loud this week…tell God one thing that makes you sad…tell God what your favourite game is…CATCH: Ask God what He loves most about you…ask God what made Him sad this week… ask God how you can help him with that sad thing…ask God what His favourite game is… Try to vary between ‘light’ things and ‘heavier’ things.

We know that often thoughts can be our imagination – which is fine and often happens, but at times it can be God chatting with us. Remind the children that we always need to think about what we ‘catch’ from God. We can ask three questions to helps us: 1) Does it sound like God/is it in his character (e.g., is it kind, encouraging and loving)? 2) Does it make me feel closer to God? 3). What do my friends and family think – do they think that it sounds like something God would say?

We always invite children to pray, we never insist! It is their choice, but we do ask that those who are not wanting to encounter God, to respect those who do and allow everyone to worship God in their own way.

Before praying, listen to what the child wants prayer for. It may be that they are unsure – it doesn’t matter – God knows even if we don’t – our job is to come alongside children in their own encounter with God – not to be an intermediary between them and God!

Do not force the children to do anything, if they don’t want prayer then that is fine.

Try to make sure that girls pray for girls and boys pray for boys where possible. In Household bubbles, encourage all to pray for each other. E.g., “Parents/carers pray that your children may know how much God loves them…now children it’s your turn to pray for your grown-ups if you wish,” etc.

Those praying should never pray with, or be on their own with, a child or young person in an unsupervised situation. Involve other children where you can.

Please do not meet or pray with children outside of our venue and organised activities.

Make sure you’re clear and easy to understand and that the child feels safe being prayed for. Smile at them and make them feel comfortable.

Remember that children are all individuals, they will have different experiences of prayer and will respond differently. We want to make it a positive experience for all of them.

When praying remember to SWAT:

S: Short and simple is best! Watch what you say, things like ‘Jesus in your heart’ may make them think a person is actually going to get into their heart in their body.

W: Wait for God and watch for how He is moving (keep your eyes open!).

 A: Ask the child what is happening. They may have heard God speak or have an idea of what God is doing or saying. If they want you to carry on praying this is fine.

T: Thank God for what He’s done and celebrate! It is important to remember to thank God when He speaks to us, heals us, or for whatever good He is doing! It might be appropriate for the child to tell another leader or friend in their group about the good stuff that God is doing and encourage them to share with their parents or carers.

As part of United Kids, we often have a prayer shack. You may wish to have a Prayer shack available (restrictions permitting) as part of UBO this summer. This is a designated space that a child can go to during the session in order to spend time with God. It doesn’t have to be anything too fancy – maybe a pop-up gazebo or a rug with cushions! In the shack is a team of trained and DBS checked leaders who invite children to spend time with God and pray with them (see ‘Praying with children’ above). It is good for the team to prayer before, during and after each session and to have time to share testimonies and to debrief. It is also good to keep a notebook of what God had been doing in the lives of the children (anonymously) during the week in order to praise God!

Leading a child to Christ

There are many different theologies and thoughts around this topic, but if you are wishing to help a child who wishes to follow Jesus then we would recommend the following if you wish.

Invite the child to either repeat the words after you or say ‘Amen,’ which simply means ‘I agree.’

Jesus, I thank you that you are God’s Son.
I thank you that you have never done anything wrong.
I am sorry for all the things I have done wrong.
I believe that because you are God’s perfect son, when you died you took away all those things.
I thank you that you rose again so that I can be forgiven, and I can be friends with you.
I choose to follow you today and always.
Amen.

At New Wine we think it’s important that no one is excluded from learning about and connecting with God, and that inclusion for everyone is a big priority, whatever needs or abilities a person may have. Here are 10 top tips on how to help make your sessions more accessible:

Make sure that the venue you are using is fully accessible – at the entrance and inside. If there are just a couple of steps, think about buying or borrowing a portable ramp. If there are a lot of steps or obstacles, and no appropriate toilet facilities etc, consider using a different venue.

Create a simple visual timetable using symbols or pictures, so that all children know what to expect, and what is going to happen next.

Create a quieter, calm space at the back, or side, of the room where a child can retreat to if they are feeling overwhelmed, or need some time away from the main group. This can be carpeted area, bean bag, small gazebo etc, where the child can still watch what is going on, but can have some space. Have some fiddle toys, colouring, sensory items and picture books available. Ensure this area is not used as a ‘time out’. It is a calm retreat, not a punishment.

If your venue is likely to be noisy, have some ear defenders available, or encourage families to bring their own if they have some (these can be found online and are not too expensive).

Ensure that any signage in the room is at eye level for the children and is written in clear text (sans serif), with a good colour contrast. It may help to also have symbols or simple pictures on them not just words.

Have some fiddle toys available for children who may have ADHD, ADD, sensory processing disorder, etc. Having something to hold and fiddle with can be really helpful for children who struggle to concentrate (these can just be cheap things from the pound shop, and even a small piece of Blu Tac to stretch can be useful!)

During craft activities, think of ways which the craft may need to be adapted for some of the children in the group, and ensure that there is help available for those who may need it. Provide some chunky pens, brushes, glue sticks and sprung scissors for those who may have less dexterity. Enlarge some of the colouring pictures, or make the outlines thicker for those who may have visual impairment.

When speaking from the front, make sure you speak clearly and not too fast. Ensure that your mouth isn’t obscured by your notes, or other objects, so that those who rely on lip reading can watch you speaking.

Be sensitive in the language you use. Some children may not be living with their parents, so rather than ‘mum and dad’, use grown up, or adult, when referring to the people the child is living with. If you have non mobile children in your group, avoid terms such as ‘jump to your feet’ or ‘let’s all stand and worship God’, etc. and offer alternatives.

Use the resources available from the Accessible team.

The Little Family Augmented Reality App returns this summer! We are working with our friends from Missional Generation to create brand new activities, games, animations, Bible reflections and prayer linked to our summer theme of the life of Moses. Children, young people, and the wider family will have fun exploring the daily themes using digital experiences that can be explored through a smartphone! This brilliant resource will be available through most smartphones as, new for this year, there will be a non-Augmented Reality experience available.