Today was Youth Sunday at my Unitarian Universalist congregation, in which the Senior High youth group plans and delivers the service. K1 is an active member of her youth group and this was her final Youth Sunday. The theme was on the healing power of music. Cue up your favorite pieces on the Victrola and follow me below the dingledoodle Story Break, after a word from our sponsor…
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This was quite possibly the best youth service I’ve been to in three congregations over 20 years. It was entirely planned by the teens, with only a minimum of advice from the adult advisers on timing, essential elements to include, etc. Every aspect was run by teens. And it was executed amazingly well. I’ll give you just a taste:
The order of service cover and the artwork behind the podium were designed by one teen. The sound system was run by another.
All music except the closing postlude (more on that later) was performed by teens. Somewhere Over The Rainbow was a ukelele duet. Dear Prudence and Invisible were vocal soloes. Lean On Me involved the entire congregation!
The Story For All Ages (Pete The Cat And His Four Groovy Buttons) was chosen and read by K1, with spontaneous musical assist by those of us who couldn’t resist!
The opening words setting up the service were composed and delivered rap/spoken word style by another teen. The closing words were a collection of song lyrics most meaningful to the group and delivered by most of the group.
Several teens, including K1, delivered short reflections on the power music has had in their lives as they’ve struggled with adolescence, bullying and mental illness.
Oh, and for the postlude Youth Group parents were invited (in advance, so we could rehearse) to perform Friday I’m In Love. Which marked my first time in front of a mic at church, and during which a spontaneous dance party broke out at the second service with youth, adults, and our intern minister dancing!
What really impressed me, though, was a subtle and seemingly small part of the service. One ritual at a typical UU service is the lighting of the flaming chalice. Typically at our church, one person does the lighting and one leads the congregation in opening words. The teen who lit the chalice has a relatively severe social and sensory processing issues, and doesn’t usually hang out well with groups. However he attends youth group without fail because they ALWAYS make a place for him. ALWAYS make sure he is included in some way every Sunday night. Choose games that he can participate in if he chooses, and don’t hassle him if he doesn’t. And so it was he lit the chalice today, and afterwards stood with all the other teens as the congregation filed out and congratulated them on a job well done.
If these are Generation Next, we’re in good hands. There was a place at the service for everyone, no matter their interests or abilities. All were treated as valued and important members of the group, and no one was more better. Music brought them all together, and gave voice to their hopes, fears and dreams. May it continue to be so as they go out into the world.
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From Antitheist:
What began as a clever, time-bending reply by "I think this is generally relative today" diarist se portland, pollwatcher and others hilariously cascade though days of future passed in a series of reality-twisting comments, and one joke bends back on the pun that might have been said for sure, some other time, in another future... or something...
From BeninSC:
I submitted Tricia Wyse’s husband’s first comment on DailyKos last night, in a Tricia tribute diary. Her daughter came even later for a first comment!
I am also nominating this comment by keeplaughing, after encountering keeplaughing for highlighting this comment from allergywoman. We do indeed have many choices when ‘putting on our shoes’ to go out and advocate publicly for the world we want.
Highlighted by Doctor Who:
Is this comment by Elvis Lives, tDenise Oliver Velezhat articulates the real reason Republicans are upset by the Obama Administration.
From yours truly, brillig:
From Mark E Andersen’s Punishing the poor is not going to end poverty comes this exchange between Denise Oliver Velez and RedDan.
Top Mojo for yesterday, March 19th, first comments and tip jars excluded. Thank you mik for the mojo magic! For those of you interested in How Top Mojo Works, please see his diary FAQing Top Mojo.
Top Pictures for yesterday, March 19th. Click any picture to be taken to the full comment. Thank you jotter for the image magic!