Youth Sunday 2015

I recently read this story from a well-known author and minister of children:

"What happened in the Bible while I was away?" asked the eight-year-old boy sitting in the pew next to me. He'd been absent a few Sundays and was asking me what he'd missed. I knew this was what he meant, but I was struck by the way he phrased his question and its theological implications. Without even knowing so, perhaps, he had characterized the Bible as a living, breathing book full of stories happening, moving, and morphing when we are not even looking. I sat there in the pew in the sanctuary of my church once again marveling at the spiritual and theological insight and imagination of children. (Ivy Beckwith)

As we recently celebrated Youth Sunday in the church, many individuals have sung the praises of these incredible youth who offered up their gifts to lead and direct our worship. I suppose some of the praise is based on the fact that these are our own dear ones who have grown and matured and worked up the strength of character to speak in front of the entire congregation. Another aspect of our joy is the knowledge that these youth will one day be the leaders of our church, our community, our world…that is, if they step up and accept that challenge.

Jeff Miller pointed out in his inspirational talk that these youth are the last of the millennial generation…that generation the world so loves to talk and write about. The generation who are so absent in the church. The generation who churches spend so much time wondering about…installing coffee shops and light shows in their sanctuaries to lure in…the generation most comfortable with new technologies…the generation that has been so marketed to they can spot human in-authenticity a mile away. We have the tail end of that group in our church right now…actively engaged, learning, watching you and forming their own conclusions about the church as they come of age.

Parts of the video we showed may have been difficult to hear because they are still shy and unsure of themselves, but the content speaks loud and clear some of the more serious things they are picking up on and how they view you. Some of the things they saw as key to being a part of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and that which they valued about our faith and lifted up in the video was the fact that we ordain and call women into ministry and that we practice communion with an open table every time we worship together. They lifted up phrases like ‘serving others,’ ‘being kind when others are unkind,’ ‘returning good for evil,’ ‘loving when others hate.’ Their words reveal what they think of us!

Perhaps the key to luring the millennials into the church…or keeping the ones we have now…is to simply BE the CHURCH that Christ has called us to be and to listen to and value even the youngest among us. We did not JUST have a fantastic Youth Sunday which was led by an incredible group of youth…we celebrated their understanding of who YOU are as a church and as a part of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

Beckwith pointed out in her article that the first of the millennial generation came of age in what we call the Golden Age of Children’s Ministry, a time when churches were pouring funds into hiring Children’s Ministers, redecorating and designing fantastic learning spaces for Sunday School and publishing houses were cranking out curriculum at alarming rates. With all that investment, still they left…and they left quite vocal about their disillusionment with the church. Perhaps the reason behind those first millennials’ mass exodus was because we spent so much of our time filling them with facts instead of providing meaning. Maybe they are dissatisfied with the church because we quoted scripture but sometimes failed to live it. Perhaps beautiful, creative decorations and gimmicky characters are not the key to sharing the good news of Jesus Christ, maybe it is showing the Christ in us that truly matters to the millennials.

Truth is…it won’t be long and we will know for sure. Will these last few stay with us? Will the others return eventually? I don’t know for sure, but to me, living as the body of Christ is a pretty good way to live while we wait and see.

 

Blessings,
Tracy