 |
| Really sad/mad at myself that I didn't get a group picture yesterday. This one, from Passport last year, will have to do. |
I don't even know where to begin. Youth Sunday yesterday was fantabulous!!! I wanted to share with you some of my own thoughts and some of the responses I've had from people in the last 24 hours.
- When we were at the U of R dining hall yesterday (BTW - I'm still full), I received a text from my wife Christine. It said, "West (our 8 year old son) just told Mattie (our 6 year old daughter) that she should have been in worship because Youth Sunday was great!" Christine didn't ask him what he thought about worship in order to set him up to say something nice - he shared that by himself.
- This morning, in staff meeting, the ministerial staff spent the better part of 15 minutes talking about how impressed they were with you. Not because I asked them to or they felt compelled to say something nice - they genuinely were gushing over how well you led and how well you prepared to lead and that you had good news to share.
- For you to have made an impression on an 8 year old boy and on the ministers of the church is really, really impressive.
- From an e-mail this morning - I have been involved with youth services, years ago in my home church, and really didn’t enjoy them, finding them stressful since I had a part in many of them. In more recent years, I haven’t attended on Youth Sunday, taking advantage of a Sunday when the Chancel Choir didn’t have to sing by going to church with my husband. But I am so glad that I attended yesterday. It was as polished a service as I have seen.
- From a minister on staff here - A wonderful Youth Sunday (are we being permanently replaced??)
- Thank you for coordinating such a beautiful service today. The youth did a wonderful job with playing the piano and organ, hand bells, singing, reading Scripture, and providing the sermons. The congregation enjoyed having them lead worship and were impressed with their maturity and expressions of faith.
- Amazing service today!! It was absolutely beautiful.
- One church member told Dr. Clingenpeel that, when she arrived, she was a little disappointed when she realized it was Youth Sunday. She had wanted "some depth" to worship. After the service, she was so glad she came.
- People keep thanking me for yesterday. My hope was to put you in a position where you could share your gifts and that I could help prepare you for leading in worship yesterday. You chose the scriptures, you wrote the sermons, you wrote the prayers, you chose the litanies, you put the Children's Time together - you did it. I couldn't be more proud - not because I thought you couldn't do it. I am proud because, yesterday, people got to see what I get to see on a continual basis - teenagers who are extremely gifted and have the capabilities to help bring about the Kingdom of God here on Earth.
- My prayer for you for yesterday - that you would lead in worship in such a way that pointed people to God. When people left worship, I wanted them to have had a worshipful experience, not be thinking about how cute you were. Don't get me wrong - you're pretty cool and awesome and cute, but I didn't want that to be what they took away from worship. I wanted them to have a worshipful experience...and they did.
- The following is a quote I put in the bulletin. It conveys a lot of my thoughts about you and worship leadership.
Youth (and children) are often seen solely as the future of the church. This implies that they aren’t really a part of the present church. They usually have their own building, which is separate from the rest of the church, often because they are too noisy, rambunctious, and scary. When youth do participate in worship on Youth Sunday, people often want to applaud them for their performance. The thought for many is that this is a break from our regular worship.
This morning, may we see our youth as full participants in the present church. This morning, may we see our youth not as performers on a stage wanting approval, but as persons who will help lead us in worship. This morning, may we worship God together, as we do each Sunday.
- I had to correct 3 different people yesterday, who said that the Church is in good hands for the future. I tell them they're right - the future is in good hands, but the present is in pretty darn good hands as well. You are an important part of this community of faith, of this youth group, of this world RIGHT NOW. God knows it, I know it, so many people know it. I hope you know it.
Whether you preached or prayed or read or sang or played or deaconed or ushered, every single one of you helped to point people to God. Thank you for your leadership yesterday. Thanks for letting me walk alongside you on this journey. Thank you for your willingness to allow God to speak a good word through you. Thank you for the welcome that you have shown to me and my family. Looking forward to many more years together.
Danke Schoen [because I wanted to find another way to say thank you :)]
MK
 |
| Water Color by Emily Whitty |
 |
| Bulletin cover drawn by Emily Whitty |
The idea of the water color and the bulletin cover (this idea came from several youth, not just Emily) - the doors to the sanctuary are open. You are welcome in this place.
If I find out that there were more pictures taken, I'll share them with you.
