Church is for PunksMy church, All Saints in Selinsgrove (ECUSA) has asked me help lead their youth group. Which is now non-existent. The ages of the youth range around the tweens.
I’m a product of really lame youth groups. The point of these youth groups was mostly just to have youth group. I had some friends that also went to these groups but it seemed none of us really enjoyed it.
I would have liked nothing better than to sit around and listen to the Smiths and discuss Morrissey’s eschatology or compare and contrast the social and cultural revolutionary aspects of the gospel and punk music.
I am probably the last person one should ask to help lead a youth group. But I guess they asked because they don’t know me that well (or think because I am "young" I’ll be able to relate to them better). I couldn’t relate to the youth of my own age how do you expect me to relate to them now? But I’m willing to accept the challenge.
The biggest mistake one can make is not having a purpose. The idea of a youth group is not just to give the kids something to do. They, I’m sure, have plenty they would rather do. So, what is the point of a youth group? I will suggest that it must actually have a point for starters. A youth group should not only be about fellowship and keeping kids away from crime but hopefully to edify and teach. The point of a youth group should be to help form them spiritually to be better Christians. To instruct them on what it means to be a Christian or even specifically as Anglicans and integrate them fully into the Body of Christ.
And already I see problems with All Saints’ view of their youth. They do not stay for the whole Mass at Church they only come in for the Eucharist (they are not an integrated part of the Body). And I don’t think they are even given instruction back there in the parish hall. I think they are just kept out of the way. They are enforcing the idea that church is boring. This is of course problematic and wrong. These children are the future of the Church… so don’t be surprised when they abandon the Church in adulthood.
I can’t abide the direction-less, meaningless, banal, or hyperactive youth group. If they ask me to lead a youth group ok, i accept; but, if your current system is broken you must also be willing to fix it. We need to do nothing less than lead a youth revolution.
3 comments:
It sounds like you might have a calling to do youth ministry, at least for the short term. Maybe they will pay you a little something too.
I felt the same way about youth ministry, and did some while at St. Alban's. I was not as effective as I wished I could have been, but did manage to reach and have a positive influence on some of the kids. I was surprised at how well they reacted to me, quite honestly. God might really use you with them... who knows? I'd definitely give it a shot.
So here is a test of your calling, isn't it? If you can bring Something good out of the chaos that is the episcopal church, you will have affirmation of your quest toward the Priesthood.
Blessing on you, Susan Lee
If I made a list of all the contributors to my backsliding, youth group would be at the top.
Then for a while, I pondered becoming one myself, specifically to reach out to the kids like me, who'd been ignored, if not mistreated.
"What church would hire me," I sighed into my beer.
I think it's cool they asked you - beware those teen girls, though, they're awfully crush-prone. :)
Some test of faith!
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