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EDITOR Cara Mott
DEPUTY EDITOR AND KA! JAM CO-ORDINATOR Ibukun Baku
INTERNATIONAL LEADERS General Lyndon Buckingham and Commissioner Bronwyn Buckingham
TERRITORIAL LEADERS Commissioners Jenine and Paul Main
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Major Julian Watchorn
a month
Published weekly by The Salvation Army United Kingdom and Ireland Territory. The Salvation Army is a Christian church and registered charity. The charity number in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is 214779, in Scotland SC009359 and in the Republic of Ireland CHY6399. ISSN 1363-5662.
Elio IN CINEMAS SOON
Picture this – you’re suddenly captured by aliens from outer space! They take you to a place that’s further away than the Moon, Mars and Saturn – a place so far away that you’ve never heard of it before! It’s the Communiverse, a paradise for creatures from all over the universe. And now the Communiverse is going to be your new home! That’s exactly what happens to someone called Elio! Elio is an 11-year-old boy who lives with his Aunt Olga. He finds it really hard to fit in and, to be honest, he often feels very lonely. Sometimes he looks up at the sky and imagines what it would be like to live on a planet far away, surrounded by aliens that actually care about him. So when Elio is taken to the Communiverse, it really does feel like his dreams have come true. However, Elio very quickly finds himself in a tricky situation when he discovers the reason why he’s been taken to the Communiverse. It’s not because he’s really smart, or because he’s always wanted to go to space. It’s not even because he sometimes feels lonely. It’s because every alien believes that Elio is the leader of Earth!
You can watch ‘Elio’ in cinemas from Friday 20 June
This film is rated PG, which stands for parental guidance. Parents or carers can read more about this rating at bbfc.co.uk before deciding whether it’s suitable for their family.
Have you ever felt like you don’t fit in? Maybe your friends all like different things to you, or your family just don’t get you. That’s exactly how Elio feels in the new Disney film. He feels so alone and out of place in this world that he wants to go to a different planet!
It can be really hard when we can’t find the people that we vibe with – the people that think like us, or that share the same sense of humour or interests. That’s not something we have to think about with God, though. God knows and loves every single thing about us. He made us all, which means we’re all exactly who we should be. So if you’re struggling to fit in or make friends, talk to God by praying. He will always want to hear what you have to say, and you’ll never be alone with him as your friend.
Chill With God
Iwonder what you think of when you read Psalm 23:2–3. It talks about God giving you rest in green pastures, leading you to still waters and right paths, and giving you strength. My mind goes back to the place where I grew up – Plymouth.
Plymouth is a coastal city that’s surrounded by water (the sea and two rivers) and countryside. My favourite places to visit when I go home are the Hoe, which overlooks the sea, and the Dewerstone, which has amazing countryside views. When I’m in those places my breathing slows down, I feel super chilled, forget my worries for a few moments and I feel close to God.
Not everyone lives near water or the countryside,
Spot the Dots
Colour in the shapes with dots in the scene on the right to reveal some words that link to this week’s
Read the comment below about resting with God
so what are your ‘green pastures’ and ‘still waters’? Where do you go to rest and reset? Perhaps it’s your bedroom or a cosy corner at home. Your restful place might be your grandparents’ home, a friend’s house, school, the local park, a club you belong to or church. Maybe your restful place isn’t a place at all, but family, a group of friends, a hobby or activity you love.
Whatever you do to rest, relax and re-energise, I would encourage you to include God in those times. Ask him to be with you, to help you rest and give you the strength you need to keep going and be the best person you can be for him. Answer on Page 2
says Justin Reeves
Bumper Bible Breakdown
Did you know the Bible isn’t one big book? It’s actually 66 books put together to tell one big story of God’s great love. Join us as we look at each Bible book and discover why God made the world, what went wrong and how in the end God saved the world through his son, Jesus.
Zechariah’s Dreams
After their exile in Babylon, many of the people of Judah returned to Jerusalem. While Haggai told the people to rebuild the Temple, a prophet called Zecha riah received special dreams from God. Some of these dreams were really strange. Zechariah saw flying scrolls, a woman hiding in a basket and horses storming all over the world! However, the messages of the dreams were clear. God had destroyed the evil of Babylon and he was now watching over his people. Joshua, the high priest, and Zerubbabel would lead Judah, and they would show the people what a much greater king in the future would be like.
Zechariah then had visions of that king, who was Jesus! Jesus would be a shepherd for his people, and he would care for them, even though they would turn against him. One day, he would make a way for people to know God again!
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KA! JAM is the coolest Bible activity club around. As a member you’ll go on amazing adventures through the Bible learning about Jesus. Each activity sheet is filled with lots of great stuff about being a Christian. You’ll also receive our mini-mag, Chatterbox which is filled with jokes, games and much more. And to top it off, there are loads of awesome prizes to be won!
To join KA! JAM and complete the Bible activity courses online, go to salvationist.org.uk/kajam.
Or if you would like to receive the postal version, simply fill in the coupon below.
To join KA! JAM just fill in the application form and send it – along with two first-class stamps – to: KA! JAM, 1 Champion Park, London SE5 8FJ. Applicants must be between 7 and 17 years old to join.
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Boy or girl: Do you attend a church, and if so, which one?
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apply for membership of Kids Alive! Jesus And Me. I understand that joining KA! JAM doesn’t mean I have joined The Salvation Army and that it is not a free subscription to Kids Alive!
PLEASE USE BLOCK CAPITALS.
There are 195 countries in the world. We’re going to explore 26 of them, using the alphabet to decide where to go to next!
X for Mexico
There isn’t a single country in the world that starts with the letter ‘X’ (which is just ridiculous), and there’s only one country with an ‘x’ in its name that we haven’t already explored – Mexico! Mexico is a country in North America. Its capital is Mexico City, which has the second largest number of museums of any city in the world!
The only way to know what something tastes like is to put it in your mouth – unless you’re a lobster, of course! Lobsters taste food with their legs and feet. That’s because their legs are covered in chemosensory hairs, and these hairs can help them to know what something tastes like. They also chew food inside their stomachs, instead of their mouths.
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Problem...
Hello, readers, i’M PATCH AND I’VE GOT A PROBLEM I THINK YOU MAY BE ABLE TO HELP ME WITH. i’VE LOST A VERY IMPORTANT OBJECT SOMEWHERE IN THIS ISSUE. WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO HELP ME FIND IT? i HAVE A CLUE OF WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE HERE.
You might know the date that Valentine’s Day is on or the name of the current king of the United Kingdom. However, there are also plenty of strange facts we reckon you haven’t got stored in your noggin! So here are a couple of random facts that you definitely (and by definitely, we mean don’t really) need to know.
In the 1770s, people in France used to think that potatoes were terrible, and barely anyone would eat them. However, a man called Antoine-Augustin Parmentier knew that potatoes were fab. To trick people into eating potatoes, he grew them in a field surrounded by soldiers, so that people would think potatoes were so good they were worth protecting!
What do you call an alien with three eyes? An aliiien!
How do aliens pay for coffee? They pay with star bucks!
Crossword Clues
by Neil Locker
across:
Crossword Clues
3 River obstruction built by beavers. 5 A reddishbrown metal used to make pipes and jewellery, for example. 6 Lowest odd number. 7 How fast someone is allowed to drive on the road – speed _ _ _ _ _. 8 Last game in a knockout competition. 11 A wild animal’s hidden home. 12 Stick of coloured wax used for drawing. 13 Large deer, also called a moose.
down:
1 A score of zero in tennis. 2 White gemstone. 3 Percussion instrument. 4 Fingerless glove. 6 Room where people work. 9 Part of body between head and shoulders. 10 Dog leash. 11 Entrance to a room.
Answers on Page 2
He he, he he!
Ho ho, ho ho!
What do aliens wear to posh weddings? Spacesuits!
What do you call a spaceship that drips water? A crying saucer!
What did the alien say to the flower bed? ‘Take me to your weeder!’
Ho ho, ha ha, he he!
What kind of songs do aliens listen to? Neptunes!
What’s an alien’s favourite part of a computer? The space bar!
What do aliens like to read? Comet books!
What kind of plates do they use in space? Flying saucers!
Ho ho, ha ha, he he! He he, he he!
HRC Surfer Stitch Competition
ave you ever been surfing before? It’s hard to beat the feeling of riding a surfboard on a gnarly (which means thrilling) wave! However, we can’t wait to tell you about a competition that’s even more gnarly than the waves at Nazaré Beach (which is famous for having ridiculously big waves)!
If you’ve watched Disney’s Lilo and Stitch have seen that a fluffy, blue alien called Stitch was actually pretty good at surfing! Now, with the RC Surfer Stitch from Jada, you can have your very own surfing Stitch – and you can make it seem as if he’s catching some wild waves! With the use of a remote control, you can drive your surfing Stitch all over the place. You can even make him spin 360 degrees on his board! Doesn’t that sound gnarly?
For your opportunity to win your own RC Surfer Stitch, answer the question below and email your full name, age, address and answer to kidsalive@salvationarmy.org.uk
Remember to put ‘RC Surfer Stitch Competition’ in the subject box. Your entry needs to reach us by Friday 11 July when the winners will be chosen. You can also enter by filling in the details on the coupon below and posting it to: RC Surfer Stitch Competition, Kids Alive! 1 Champion Park, London SE5 8FJ.
Which beach is famous for having ridiculously big waves?
Nazaré Blackpool Felixstowe
Name:
Address: Postcode:
TROOPING THE COLOUR COLOURING
A special event is taking place in London today (14 June) – Trooping the Colour! This is a military parade that’s put on every year to celebrate the British monarch’s birthday. Apart from watching Trooping the Colour from 10.30am on BBC One, we can’t think of a better way to celebrate a day with the word ‘colour’ in its name than by colouring in the design below! If you’d like to share your artwork with other readers, email your colouring to: kidsalive@salvationarmy.org.uk. Make sure you write ‘Trooping the Colour Colouring’ in the subject box and give us your full name, age and address. Alternatively you can post your colouring to: Your Space, Kids Alive! 1 Champion Park, London SE5 8FJ. One last reminder, if you’re sending by post remember to fill in the details below so we know who you are. We send a gift to everyone whose colouring we publish, so don’t miss out!
Name:
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Living a healthy and an active lifestyle and caring for your physical, mental and spiritual well-being.
Water Safety
Have you checked out this week’s competition yet? If you have, then you’ll have learnt a little bit about a sport called surfing! Surfing is gnarly (can you remember what that means?), and it’s one of many awesome activities that you can get up to that involve water.
You might love challenging your friends to a race in a swimming pool, or enjoy having a dip in a paddling pool on a sunny day. You might have even tried something called bodyboarding, which is when you lie on a board and ride a wave!
Whatever you enjoy doing in the water, it’s really important that you stay safe while doing it. That’s what Drowning Prevention Week (which is also called DPW) is all about!
Staying Safe!
DPW is organised by the Royal Life Saving Society UK. It starts today (14 June) and ends on 21 June. For a whole week, kids all around the United Kingdom are being encouraged to learn about how they can stay safe in the water. By learning important water safety skills, kids can then have a great time playing in the water during the summer holidays!
What is Drowning?
The biggest risk when someone spends time in the water is that they could drown. Drowning happens when someone’s mouth and nose are underwater for too long, which means that they can’t breathe anymore. There are a number of reasons why a person might drown, such as not knowing how to swim, swimming alone or swimming somewhere that has a strong current.
The Water Safety Code
Don’t panic – we haven’t written this article to scare you! The truth is that spending time in the water can be super fun, especially if you follow the Water Safety Code. There are four points to this code…
1. Stop and Think
Before you enter the water, check the area that you’re swimming in. Look out for anything that might be dangerous, and make sure you follow safety signs and advice. It’s also a great idea to learn what the beach flags mean, which you can do by visiting rnli.org/safety/beach-safety/flags-and-signs
2. Stay Together
When you go swimming or go near water, make sure that you’re with a grown-up. Swimming with friends and family isn’t just more fun than swimming alone –it’s also safer! You should also try to swim in places that have lifeguards.
3. Call 999
You don’t need to call 999 every time you go swimming, but you should always call 999 if you see that someone’s having trouble in the water! You should also let a lifeguard know what’s going on. You should never, ever, EVER enter the water to try to rescue someone!
4. Float
If you’re struggling while you’re in the water, or if you’ve become tired, then don’t panic! Instead, float on your back, spreading your arms and legs like you’re a star. Then shout out for help! If someone else is in trouble in the water, you should throw them something that floats.
Your Turn!
You could get involved in DPW by…
Taking part in their colouring competition. You can learn about water safety while creating a colourful masterpiece! The first 100 entries of the colouring competition will even win a special pin badge! Check out rlss.org.uk/colouring-competition to find out more.
Teach your friends and family the Water Safety Code. Help the people you love to stay safe! You could show them this issue of Kids Alive!, or you could make a leaflet to share with your friends at school or church.
Learn to swim. If you don’t know how to swim, talk to your parents or carers about potentially having swimming lessons.
Don’t be scared to have fun! We know that learning about something serious like drowning can be a bit scary, but don’t let that put you off swimming! As long as you’re being safe, spending time in the water is fab!
Make sure to remember the
A Royally Mint Day Out
The young people from Cwmbran Salvation Army had a mint (that means fantastic) day out. They went to the Royal Mint Experience in Llantrisant! The kids had previously learnt about the parable of the lost coin in Sunday school (you can read this story in Luke 15:8–10), and this got them talking about coins.
Tuppence
Favourite colour? Red.
Favourite food? Cheese and bacon potato skins.
Favourite sport? Swimming.
Favourite bit of Kids Alive! The stories.
Favourite Bible story and why? Noah’s ark, because Noah had faith in the grace and mercy of God.
Favourite TV programme? The Simpsons.
Everyone had a great time learning about how the coins made there aren’t just for the United Kingdom, but for 60 other countries too. Here’s a fab photo of them all standing in front of nearly £1 million in £1 coins!
What do you want to be when you’re older? A teacher.
Pets? Charlie – dog. Poppy and Sardine – cats.
Hobbies? Reading, swimming, colouring.
Tell us a joke. Why did Spider-Man pick his nose? Because he wanted to get rid of the Green Goblin! What special skill or talent do you have? Very good at maths. Tell us something interesting about yourself. I am an aunt. I have a nephew who is older than me. Is there anything else you would like to tell us? I play the flute.
G e t I n T o u c h !
The Kids Alive! team loves to hear from its readers. And guess what –other readers love reading your news! So why not get in touch?
You can email or post your own colourings, drawings and letters. Or you could ask your Sunday school, church or corps leaders to email us or write to us with any news about the fun stuff you’ve been doing at your church or corps.
Email: kidsalive@salvationarmy.org.uk
Post: Kids Alive! 1 Champion Park, London SE5 8FJ
Cool Colourings
There are a couple of super science colourings that we received from readers below. We also got sent an incredible comic on the right that all the KA! team thought was amazing (including Patch)!
Jael, Age 7
Milcah, Age 8
H a p p y
B i r t h d a y t o y o u !
To see your name and birthday printed in a future issue of KA! email your full name and date of birth to kidsalive@salvationarmy.org.uk
15 June
Zachary Renouf – age 11
16 June
Reuben, Age 11
Ina McAlpine – age 4
17 June
Kelly Welch – age 5
19 June
Isaac Dunn – age 13
I absolutely love Reuben’s comic! Zuma is such a cool character – I wish I could run that fast! The drawings are so great – you’re almost as good as Andy Robb, who draws my Patch’s Pals cartoons!
New Junior Soldiers
A junior soldier is a young member of The Salvation Army
