Divide the group into 2 teams. Give each player a drinking straw. Place one inch squares of various colored construction paper onto 2 chairs. Ensure there are an equal number of pieces on each chair. Place 2 more chairs at the other end of the room. The teams line up and each player, one at a time, picks up a piece of paper with her straw without using hands and carries it to the other end of the room where it is placed on the chair there. When that player returns, she taps the next player in the line. Repeat this until everyone has carried a piece of paper from one end of the room to the other or until all pieces of paper have been transferred, using a straw. If the paper drops, it must be picked up on the end of the straw without using hands. The team that finishes first wins.

“Also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God’s gift to man.” Ecclesiastes 3:13 ESV

“Great Games for Girls“ is a list of over 100 games that can be used for a group to play.

Other ideas of Games that can be played are below:

Ball Games

• Bible Review Ball Game
• Crazy Soccer Using A Beach Ball

Balloon Games

• Balloon Basketball
• Behind the Back Balloon Pass

Christmas Games

• Christmas Artists
• Christmas Decorations
• Christmas Story
• Pin A Star

Team Games

• Straw and Paper Game

The beginning of GFS goes back to the 1870’s when single girls began leaving their homes and moving to the cities of England to be employed in the textile mills. We, who take for granted the idea of women working at all sorts of jobs, can scarcely realise the stir caused by these pioneer girls.

Although they had found independence, most of them had a great need of making friendships both with other girls and with God. This need was noticed by a young woman of 22 years of age named Mary Elizabeth Townsend (pictured). She convened a meeting known as “The Historic Meeting of Five” at Lambeth Palace in England. It was at this meeting that plans were formed for a Society of girls and women. And so GFS was established in 1875 to meet those needs and from this came the name – The Girls’ Friendly Society.

Down through the years GFS has continued to look at girls and women and ask “What is their need?” In our changing world, the basic need has not changed, for it is the basic need of every person to find herself and her salvation in Jesus Christ our Lord. GFS helps girls and women understand what it is to be a Christian within their own particular life situation and provide opportunities to discover their own relationship with God, family, community and the world.

Gifts of thoughtfulness and kindness
Are more precious far than gold,
And like gifts of love and friendship
Are never, never sold!
And folks who give such gifts show forth
God’s goodness from above
And reflect the Christmas spirit
Of joy and peace and love!

By Jon Gilbert

GFS girls may write an acrostic poem (a poem in which certain letters of each line spells out a word, name, or phrase when read vertically. Most often, it’s the first letter of each line that spells out the word) at Christmas. Try to use each letter in the word CHRISTMAS to start each line. Girls can share their Christmas message in cards or decorations with others this Christmas.