Pockets

 

Though Pockets is primarily a resource for children’s personal use, the magazine can be used in groups. Some churches use it as supplemental curriculum or with weeknight groups or Pockets clubs.

Following are suggestions for using the January/February issue in weekly segments.

 

January Week One:

Read: Chloe’s Snapshots (pages 2-4)

Discuss: Can you think of time when looking at something in a different way helped you feel better? Have you ever helped someone else to look at something in a more positive way?

Pray: For people for people who are too busy to have fun

Do: Read about the contest on page 24 and send in your entries.

 

Week Two:

Read: 10 Ways To Stay Positive (page 6)

Discuss: What helps you stay positive? What helps you when you’re feeling discouraged?

Pray: For people who are discouraged

Do: Write winter poems. (If you want to, email us your winter poems at pockets@upperroom.org.)

 

Week Three:

Read: Brambleberry Island (pages 17-19)

Discuss: How would you have felt if you had been one of Carson’s friends? What makes the difference between teasing that’s fun and teasing that’s mean?

Pray: To remember to treat everyone with respect

Do: Make the Caramel Cookies (page 15).

 

Week Four:

Read: Marco Polo Shirt (pages 10-12)

Discuss: Would it be hard for you to give someone like Marco another chance? What could Tyler and Keith do to help Marco keep making good changes?

Pray: For people who are trying to make good changes in their lives

Do: Take the quiz on page 38 and talk about your answers

 

 

February Week One:

 

Read: Where in God’s World? (pages 28-29)

Discuss: Have you ever visited another country? What country would you most like to visit and why?

Pray: For the people of the Philippines

Do: Read about Timothy on page 41 and talk about ways kids can show God’s love to others.

 

Week Two:

Read: The Secret Valentine (pages 32-34)

Discuss: What would you say if you had to write a nice note to someone you don’t like very much? Do you think if you paid attention you could find some nice things to say?

Pray: For people who don’t have many friends

Do: Let each person in your group write at least one nice thing about every other person in the group. Let each person keep the things that were written about him or her.

 

Week Three:

Read: Kids with a Mission (pages 30-31)

Discuss: Have you ever felt the way Nicole did? If you were going to have a party to help a charity in your community, which one would you pick? Why?

Pray: For orphans in the U.S. and around the world

Do: Read God in my Life (page 42) and write your own experiences of ways you have seen God at work in your life. (You can keep these private, share them with the group, or send them to as at Pockets, P.O. Box 340004, Nashville TN 37203-0004 to be considered for publication.)

 

Week Four:

Read: The Boots (pages 45-47)

Discuss: Has someone ever teased you the way Scott and his friends teased Tytan? How did you feel? What can you do when something like that happens?

Pray: For people who are bullied and people who bully others

Do: Make the soft pretzels (page 15). (Leaders may want to have the dough made beforehand and let the group shape and bake the pretzels together.)