Have a fun time exploring the story of St Alban by playing these games.
ROMAN RUN AROUND:
This game is a little like the game ‘Tag’. In the group there are 2 Roman soldiers and
the rest of the group are Christians. The soldiers chase the Christians who try to
escape or hide, and when they are ‘tagged’ or touched on the shoulder by a soldier
they become a soldier too and try and catch the Christians. The last Christian
uncaught is the winner.
TEACHING: The Christians were being persecuted / bullied to death by the Romans
and many Priests needed to hide.
WHOS KNOCKING?:
This game is based on the game of ‘20 Questions’. A group member chooses a person
they are pretending to be. This person should be someone famous that the group will
know. The group need to guess the person by asking 20 questions which can be
answered YES or NO. The group member could stand outside a door (internal into the
room – not out in the cold!) and knock. At every knock someone asks a question. The
winner is the person who guesses correctly before the20 questions are up. A variation
could be that a guest known to the group comes and knocks and answers the
questions about themselves in a disguised voice. The group need to guess who the
guest is.
TEACHING: Amphibalus the priest was running from the Roman soldiers and knocked
on Alban’s door. Alban had to decide whether to let him in. Jesus said “whatever you
did for one of the least of these, you did for me.” (Matthew 25.40). the story of the
sheep and goats could be explored. This could lead to discussion about being welcoming
and ‘Stranger Danger’. ‘The Wolf and the Seven Little Goats’ by the Brothers Grimm
could be a balance to Alban’s unquestioning hospitality.
WHAT’S MY JOB?
Challenge the children to act out different jobs that they would know, and the others
have to guess. They shouldn’t use words or sounds.
TEACHING: Amphibalus the Priest spent several days with Alban, and as well as
telling Alban he was a follower of Jesus Christ, Alban was able to see what Amphibalus
believed by the way he behaved. How does the way we behave tell people about what
we believe?
ROBE SWAP RELAY:
This game requires competing teams or one team competing against the clock and
trying to be faster each time. The team(s) start with the first person in line with a
piece of clothing or an old choir robe on the floor. On the signal the first person puts
the robe on quickly and runs around a marker at the other end of the hall and back.
They take off the robe and hand it to the next person in line. They can only run when
fully robed.
TEACHING: Alban didn’t want Amphibalus the priest to be caught by the Romans, so
they swapped robes. Alban ran off dressed like the priest and the Romans chased him,
allowing Amphibalus to escape. This could lead to a discussion about what the children
would do to help someone out. Would they do something messy and yucky to help
someone out. Have they ever helped someone being bullied? Lead into talking about
what to do about bullying. Find out what your local school’s bullying policy is so that
you are teaching the same thing.
THE YES / NO GAME:
This is an old favourite where the children and leaders are allowed to ask someone
questions. They can answer in any way they like, but they are not allowed to use the
words YES or NO. The questions are asked in a way to trick the one answering into
saying the words they don’t want to say.
TEACHING: The Romans arrested Alban and when they found he was not the priest
they were looking for they tried to make Alban say he didn’t follow Jesus or believe in
the Christian God. Alban refused to say what they wanted him to say. Instead he said
“I worship and adore the true and living God who created all things!”
Have the children ever been pressured by friends to behave in a way they know isn’t
right? Be sensitive to areas of other areas pressure which may be raised by this.
This poem by Austin Janes is narrated by Alban about his
experiences. It could just be read or acted out.
Night time knocking, what do you do?
Fasten the door and shout "who are you?"
Night time knocking and whispers of prayer,
Do you open the door and demand "who's there?"
Pale, frightened face, all hidden in hood
Falls to its knees and asks if he could
Come in to shelter and hide for his life.
I check for a weapon, no sword and no knife
But only a stick and a cross and a bag,
His robe torn and muddy and looking like rag,
But the robe of a priest of someone called Christ.
These priests were all wanted and quite highly priced.
The Romans were hounding them all one by one,
And keeping one hidden would be frowned upon.
But what if I offered him shelter instead?
I know if I'm caught I soon will be dead.
"Come on in stranger and hide for the night.
What the soldiers are doing, it just isn't right.”
Night time knocking, the soldiers are near,
Kicking down doors, but they haven't reached here.
Night time knocking, but further away.
The danger is past as I hear the priest pray.
I don't know his accent, but I see in his face
A calm which seems to light up this whole place.
He whispers as if he is most in love,
But his face is uplifted towards one above.
I settle down sleepily, lulled by his prayer
Then wake in the morning - the priest is still there,
Praying, not as a fugitive ready to flee,
But in his strange accent - he's praying for me!
We then eat together, he tells me his name,
Then tells of his Saviour and of his great pain
As he died on the cross, then rose from the dead,
And of so many stories now filling my head.
One day turned to two, and two turned to four.
And each day I asked him to teach me some more.
Then came the knocking, not distant but near.
My neighbour was squealing the priest was in here!
I had to do something, the priest had to live,
He'd given me more than much riches could give.
He'd told me of Jesus Christ, God's only Son,
And I knew at that moment, my faith had begun.
I pulled the priest's robes from over his head,
And thrust my fine coat upon him instead.
Then dressed as a priest I flew from my door,
And ran so much faster than ever before.
The soldiers believed me and followed my track
Allowing the priest to escape out the back.
I meant to escape them, but my legs gave away
As they bundled upon me, I heard myself pray
The word of my teacher, the words of my Lord,
They stripped my cloak off me and held me with swords,
But then there was laughing and their swords were put down.
They looked at me like I was a clown.
They knew me as Alban, a Roman like them
And not like the priest they were trying to condemn.
I’d cost them their captive, the priest got away,
The soldiers were angry, and I had to pay.
But since I was Roman my trial had to be
In front of the judge – punished then free
If I said sorry and worshipped the gods
And hailed to the Emperor, no matter the odds.
“Alban, you have committed a crime
But tell us you’re sorry, and all will be fine,
And worship the Emperor” was what the judge said
“But I worship the true and living God instead”
The court then fell silent as I held my breath.
I knew what I’d said would lead to my death,
But that would change nothing, I’d die for my faith,
And I knew that in Heaven my soul would be safe.
They bound me and led me through crowds come to stare,
And tried to cross over the bridge of the Ver,
But the crowds were too many, and the bridge was a crush.
I was forced through the river with a roaring great rush.
With my hands tied behind me I thought I would drown
But I found myself looking down onto dry ground.
The waters had parted by God's mighty hand
Like Israelites crossing the sea on dry land.
They led me up higher a green rolling hill.
The sun in the sky told the breeze to stay still.
I felt like my Lord on his way to the cross,
Counting Heaven as gain and life as a loss.
"I thirst" were the only two words I could cry,
And up from the ground where it used to be dry
A bright spring of water sparkled and shone
And I drank from that place and then it was gone.
They led me on further through a meadow of flowers.
The time passed so slowly like hours and hours
The soldiers had orders, put me to the sword,
But I put my life in the hands of the Lord.
One soldier was crying as he covered my eyes
"I will not kill Alban" came the soldier’s faint cries.
But the other came nearer, brought his sword from the skies.
As I lost my life, the man lost his eyes.
And the soldier who would not put me to the sword
Was also beheaded and called to the Lord.
And I am still living with saints far and near
In Heavenly glory, no death and no fear.
I welcomed a stranger, as God welcomes me
Preparing a place for eternity.
We shine with the roses of beauty and pain
But life lived for Christ is only a gain.
In worship and wonder of the true living Lord,
Ever to be trusted and praised and adored.
© Austin Janes 31/01/12
©Austin Janes 2011
Amphibalus on the run from the Romans
Amphibalus asks for shelter in Alban’s house
©Austin Janes 2011
©Austin Janes 2011
Alban watches the priest at prayer
©Austin Janes 2011
Amphibalus and Alban decide to swap robes