Holiday Club (1)

This is our Easter Holiday Club week.

As a result, any posts here will of necessity be brief! Most of my time in the early part of the week is spent creating a DVD of the Holiday Club.

We figured a while back that the most effective way of bringing parents and families out of an evening, to share with them something of what the Holiday Club is about, would be to create a DVD of the Club: we could then show it, and give a copy of it to each child. That way, too, we'd be able to get a flavour of the gospel, dressed in Holiday Club clothes, into all the children's homes.

It works a treat! A powerful resource which is shown any number of times in every home, communicates the gospel in a low-key sort of way, and provides a permanent reminder to the children of all that they were learning through the week.

It's a simple idea, communicates powerfully, and doesn't cost a bomb. About 25p per DVD.

The only down-side is the deadline. We have to get the thing ready for a showing on the Thursday evening - with a copy for every child as well.

That works out as a round-the-clock job. Just about literally.

Filming while the Club is on in the morning. Transferring the couple of hours worth of clips onto the Mac. And then starting to put the whole thing together. The music, the people, the crafts and the games - the lot.

And doing it all in a way which is more than just random.

And once all that's done - usually early on Thursday morning, it's a case of putting it all in a format which can then be used to create a DVD. And then, finally, burn the disc.

The artistic challenge involved appeals to me no end. It's fulfilling and fun. But exhausting as well - since it is pretty much round-the-clock. The only way the thing can be done to meet the Thursday deadline.

The thing is started, anyway!

Day 1 was great! Well over a hundred children along, and a really great spirit from the moment the whole thing began.

We follow the story of Elijah and Elisha through the course of the week. And it's all tied in to our knowing God and sharing in his work. Brilliant.

But enough for now - another progress report tomorrow!