Hey all. As I’ve previously mentioned I lead the young adult ministries (yes I know the acronym is yam, I try not to think about it) at my home church, this caters to those who’ve graduated high school and runs to mid 20s.
With this age group I feel like alot of the magic, excitement and joy of the Christmas season is dwindling. I must admit that I’m feeling the same way (I lost my grandfather this year and its been tough going into the holiday season without him). That’s why I reach out to you all. I recognize that its my responsibility to make Advent something m0re than the time spent waiting for Christmas to come and pass.
At the same time I dont want our Wednesday nights to be so focused on the “warm and fuzzies” and the hecticness that this time of the year brings that we lose track of why we celebrate in the first place. Thats why I turn to you, currently I have planned a taize style worship time that I plan to do next week and the following going choraling. For those who dont know about taize its style of worship thats heavy on prayer and silent mediation, the music is quiet and repetitious, normally a chant sang in latin.
Im also debating discussing the Christmas story on Wednesday, December 23, but my concern is the amount of repetition that they’ll experience will devalue its importance (We’ve started Luke last Sunday, play Jeopardy on the first Sunday of the month so its likely that the last Sunday of Advent we’d being talking about Christ’s birth, then they’d hear it again on Wednesday, most are regulars to my church so they’ll attend the Christmas Eve service on Thursday, and a few will be there again on Christmas Day, hearing the story a 4th time in week. So its a concern I admit, though I hate to think of it as something mundane regardless of how often its discussed).
Also we’ll be going with several other ministries to visit an amazingly well done live nativity in the area on Sunday the 13th.
So I turn to you my friends, in addition to the taize worship, and christmas choraling what should I consider doing with my young adults that will instill the magic and meaning of the holidays? Please post any ideas below. Thanks and Merry Christmas!
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Hey Carl, thanks for the ideas. These next few weeks are going be pretty good. This Wednesday Im leading a taize-style service for the group and the church (would could use some prayer), the following Wednesday we’re attending a Christmas concert that a few of members from the group will be performing in, the last Wednesday in advent we’re going to relax, enjoy one another’s company and make something that we’re either going give to some elderly ladies in my church, or a charity. The final Wednesday we’re talking about starting fresh as we go into the new year.
I’ve been brainstorming since I first read this post…here are a few ideas. I love the idea of caroling…how about going to a nursing home and caroling, and maybe make up some gift baskets or something to give out? That would be fun.
Also, how about a little Christmas party? Which can be just meeting at someone’s house…eating, playing games, watching a movie. My friends and I have game nights and they are always a blast!
You can, as a group, just find someone to be a blessing to…whoever and however you feel lead to.
Wish I could think of more, but maybe these ideas will help your brainstorming.
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