I Lead Youth

Worship Suggestions
Song suggestions can be found in a number of hymnals and songbooks. These came specifically from The Faith We Sing, Songs of Zion, The United Methodist Hymnal, Amazing Abundance: Hymns for Growing Church, God Can Be Seen in Other Ways: Hymns and Tunes for Today (all from Abingdon Press), and Songs & Prayers From Taize´.
At the end of each of the seven studies is “View You.” The instructions in the books are for individual reflection and response. However, they easily lend themselves to creating a special worship time, providing closure to the specific study for the whole group. Here are some suggestions of ways to turn the “View You” portion of each study into a memorable time of worship.
Please feel free to adapt these ideas and add ones of your own to make this time especially meaningful for your particular group. For additional ideas, check out Worship Feast Ideas: 100 Awesome Ideas for Postmodern Youth and Worship Feast Services: 50 Complete Multisensory Services for Youth .
Radical Jesus

Testing Jesus (Matthew 4:1-11), page 14
Songs: “Seek Ye First,” “Lord, Who Throughout These Forty Days,” “Jesus, Tempted in the Desert,” “The Lord’s Prayer” (perhaps sung as a solo or by several of the youth)
In addition to praying together the Lord’s Prayer, invite the youth to be with a trusted partner to talk quietly about temptations or trials that they each face and for which they desire intercessory prayer. Have them spend a few minutes praying for each other and themselves in their pairs. They may pray silently or softly aloud. Ask them to continue their prayers for one another throughout the coming week.

You Have Heard It Said…But I Say to You… (Matthew 5:38-48), page 28
Songs: “Ubi Caritas,” “Lord, Be Glorified,” “Make Me a Channel of Your Peace” (or a reading of the Prayer of Saint Francis), “Let There Be Peace on Earth”
In addition to the time of visualization and prayer for one’s “enemies,” invite the youth to create a breath prayer to say whenever they think of or see the person who has caused them pain—something such as “Lord, grant me patience” (or understanding) or “Loving God, bring us healing.” Encourage the youth to fill in the pattern with words appropriate to the need. A breath prayer is simply prayed in rhythm with inhaling and exhaling.

Healing the Paralyzed Man (Mark 2:1-12), page 41
Songs: “Spirit Song,” “Just a Closer Walk With Thee,” “It’s Me, It’s Me, O Lord,” “Healer of Our Every Ill,” “Cares Chorus” “When Jesus the Healer Passed Through Galilee”
Altar Visual: A cross made from a pair of crutches
In addition to the time of personal prayer, invite the youth to be the friends who bring ones in need of healing to Jesus by placing at the foot of the cross a simple piece of paper or index card with the name of the person in need.

A Loving Father With Two Difficult Children (Luke 15:11-32), page 52
Songs: “Come Back Quickly to the Lord,” “Spirit Song,” “All Who Hunger,” “Bless the Lord,” “I Will Call Upon the Lord”
Visuals: Project images or display photos of families and people who are obviously in good relationships; you may want to intersperse these positive images with some that represent broken relationships
The images can simply be a background for the time of prayer.

The Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31), page 64
Songs: “Jesu, Jesu,” “What Does the Lord Require of You,” “Make Me a Servant,” “Here I Am, Lord”
Visuals: Project images or display photos that represent needs; include also images of your youth and other members of the congregation in mission and service to others.
Altar Visual: A pitcher, basin, and towel
In addition to observing the quiet time of reflection, have youth write their responses to the questions (page 52) on an index card and place it in the basin.

The Woman at the Well (John 4:4-42), page 79
Songs: “Fill My Cup, Lord,” “The First One Ever,” “You Who Are Thirsty,” “Come and Fill Our Hearts”
Altar Visual: A fountain with flowing water
In addition to the time of prayer for the living water of God, take Holy Communion together. Listen for the water imagery in the liturgy; be reminded that the Table of our Lord is open to all. Consider giving each participant a small paper cup into which the juice or wine is poured as part of the Eucharist. Encourage everyone to take their cup with them as a reminder of the source of Living Water.

Doubting Thomas (John 20:19-29), page 90
Songs: “Christ the Lord Is Risen Today,” “Because He Lives,” “Surely the Presence of the Lord,” “Lord, I Lift Your Name on High,” “Let It Breathe on Me,” “I’ve Got Peace Like a River”
Senses: At some point in the worship, unobtrusively turn on a fan for a few moments to represent Jesus breathing the Holy Spirit upon them as part of the community of faith.
In addition to the prayer time, make this worship a commissioning service. How will these youth be sent forth out of their “locked rooms” and safe places to continue the Jesus’ work of forgiveness and love in the world? Give the youth each a simple cross to wear or keep in their pocket as a reminder that the cross is empty—Christ is risen indeed!—and with them always.

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