Introduction
This song is taken from the official soundtrack from the latest Disney animation, Moana, which is set in the Pacific Islands. The film draws upon their mythological heritage, and so provides many themes to be discussed from a Christian perspective. This particular track explores what it means to look to the future, and the potential that the world ahead may hold.
The session
Before the session, display a selection of childhood photos of your leaders around the room, alongside quotes from each of them about what they wanted to be when they grew up, at the age they are in their photograph. Challenge the children to correctly match each leader to their photograph and talk with them about their childhood ambitions; did anyone actually achieve their goal? Which is the most surprising?
Provide paper and felt-tip pens and invite the young people to create their own ‘portrait of the future’, drawing themselves as they imagine they will be as an adult. What job do they hope to have? What interests? What kind of family (if any)? Encourage them to share their hopes and ambitions honestly, not to be limited by other people’s expectations. Invite them to share their completed pictures and explain that when we look to the future, we can have so many hopes and dreams; it is exciting to discover how life will pan out.
Track: More
Introduce the song and the film that it comes from. If the group have seen the film, you could briefly discuss any issues raised, ensuring that you explain that as Christians, we make sense of the world in a different way to the characters in the film, but we can still use it to help us talk about things that matter to us. Play the track, perhaps providing lyrics for children to follow, if appropriate. As a group, discuss:
- What do you notice most about this song?
- Why do you think Moana hoped for more than the life her family expected her to have?
- Can you relate to her feelings?
Explain that as Christians, it is perfectly right and normal for us to hope for more. God created us all to be part of a different world to this; we live hopeful for something better, because that is what God has put within each of us.
Distribute Bibles around the group and ask someone to read Philippians 3:20-21 (The Message words this in a particularly helpful way). Explain any terms not understood by the children and any issues raised by this passage. Explain to the young people that, like Moana, we have a hope for a better, fuller life, but for us this is not simply a wish or desire, but rather a sure and certain hope.
As you draw the session to a close, pray together with the young people, for any particular issues raised, as well as thanking God for the hope that he has given us.
