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 The young boy is one of the smallest members of the youth group. As he goes up into the chancel, a large floppy Bible in hand, the adults look at one another and smile. I know what they are thinking: “Isn’t he cute?” He disappears behind the pulpit, resurfacing when he steps onto the small stool borrowed from in front of the bathroom sink. He places the Bible on the pulpit, finds his place, and begins, “A reading from the Gospel of John ...” He continues to read clearly and confidently the passage chosen by the youth from the daily lectionary. He ends with a robust “This is the Word of the Lord!” The congregation responds to him with a hearty “Thanks be to God!” He steps down, disappears for one more moment, and returns to sit with the other youth leading the Sunday morning worship service this Lord’s Day.
This youth group member is transformed, at least a little, and becomes God’s agent of transformation, too. No longer is he just a recipient of all that happens in worship. He is among those who lead it. No longer is he simply that cute little boy. He is a competent, willing, informed worship leader, capable of doing something well that many adults in the congregation refuse to do at all. In this brief encounter, the lad is at once viewed as a leader and views himself as a leader in the community of faith as it gathers for the most visible and important act of its life together.
Worship planned, crafted, and led by youth is an important way for youth to become educated and empowered church members and, subsequently, present and future leaders in the church. Every fifth Sunday we have “Fifth Sunday Family Liturgy,” a service that the youth are responsible for in its entirety. The planning takes place during Sunday school and begins the first Sunday of the month when the service will take place.
On the first Sunday of planning, all of the lectionary texts for the fifth Sunday are reviewed. An overview of the context and main points of the Scriptures are presented by the youth leader, in this case, the pastor. The youth are invited to discuss each passage, give their thoughts, ask questions, and eventually decide which text they will build the service around. Through this process the youth learn about the liturgical year, the centrality of Scripture, and, in the next step, an abbreviated exegetical method.
Once the group chooses the primary passage that will be used in the service, they are asked to consider the passage throughout the week. They are encouraged to bring back insights and further questions that might come to them, to form ideas about the shape and message of the text, and to think about music or other elements of worship that might resonate with the Bible story.
On the second Sunday of the month, the focus is on the primary text. The session opens with an invitation for the youth to share any discoveries they have made during the week. The youth leader provides some information about the text, making note of where the lesson dovetails with the youths’ thoughts and questions. This leads to a discussion of the proclamation with the key question being, “What do we think God is calling us to proclaim to God’s people from this story?” Framing the question in this way emphasizes the magnitude of what we are doing and the seriousness with which we should consider this task. It is important to free the group to think beyond the traditional sermon. A sermon is always an option, but other forms of proclamation may also convey the message. Different and creative means of proclamation are encouraged, keeping in mind various learning styles, the wide range of age groups, and a variety of music and technology. Planning time ends with assignments, identifying who is responsible for different aspects of the proclamation and when components are due.
The third Sunday is devoted to putting together other elements of worship and crafting the order of service. Prayers, music, the children’s sermon, and any other pieces of the service are planned and often written during this time. This process enables us to talk about the elements of Reformed worship. Why do we do these things? What do they mean? Does it matter where they are placed in the service? It is also on this Sunday that the group decides who will lead which portion of the service. This is always an invitation, never a requirement.
The fourth Sunday is dedicated to making sure we have all the parts written and assigned. We begin to practice reading aloud, to present the children’s sermon to our
group, and to note anything left to gather or do prior to the “dress rehearsal” that will take place before worship on the fifth Sunday.
There is always a sense of anticipation on the part of the youth and the congregation on fifth Sundays. We gather for worship with a greater sense of expectation knowing that the service will be a little different. We relinquish our usual tight control. Once the service begins, it is the youth who are entrusted with leading the entire community of faith in its most distinctive and central act: corporate worship. They take their responsibility seriously and their hard work is evident as, one by one, those who need the step stool and those who don’t take their places in front of the congregation. By the power of the Holy Spirit, they share boldly the message that God has given them to proclaim to God’s people on this particular Sunday as leaders, present and future, in Christ’s church.
Rev. Jill Duffield is the pastor of Tirzah Presbyterian Church in Providence Presbytery, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
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