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Worship Suggestions
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.
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,and
Worship Feast Taize´ Songbook (all from Abingdon Press).
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.
Blessed to be a Blessing
1. Creation Stories (Genesis 1:1–3:24), page 14
Songs: "This Is My Father's World," "Morning Has Broken,"
"All Things Bright and Beautiful, " "Many and Great, O
God," "Cantemos al Senor" ("Let's Sing Unto the
Lord"), "All Creatures of Our God and King," "God the
Sculptor of the Mountains"
Altar Visuals: Broken pot or jug, flowers or small potted plants in bloom (After
a time of prayer, invite the youth to take a chard from the broken pot or a
flower)
Senses: Water flowing from a table-top fountain
Is there an ocean nearby? What a great place to have worship with a theme of
creation!
2. My Brother's Keeper (Genesis 4:1-16), page 27
Songs: "Behold a Broken World," "This Is My Song,"
"God, How Can We Forgive," "Live in Charity" ("Ubi
Caritas"), "When Cain Killed Abel"
Recording: "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" recorded by The Hollies,
Neil Diamond, Cher, and others
Senses: Invite students to kneel at the altar; mark their forehead with oil;
pray for God's protection>
Visuals: Project images of war, violence, poverty; intersperse those with images
of people helping one another. Invite youth to view the images; pray to respond
to the question "Am I my brother's keeper?" as God would have us.
3. Covenant With All Creation (Genesis 8:20–9:17), page 39
Songs:"Nothing Can Trouble" ("Nada te turbe"), "In the
Lord" ("El Senyor")
Visuals: Create and display rainbows of all sorts; try gathering prisms and
shining light on them to make rainbows of light.
Create a covenant service that focuses on an agreement to not use violence or
force but to work for peace for all creation.
Litany: Use the Bad news/good news statements on page 39 as the basis for a
litany. Have two different groups of students read the statements.
4. The Promise (Genesis 15:1-21), page 51
Song: "Give Me a Clean Heart">
Visuals: Stars in the sky—project pictures; go to an planetarium or observatory;
meet outside on a starry night away from city lights; retell the story of the
promise
Name ceremony: Look up the names of each of your students in a name book. What
special meanings go with their name? Can you connect that name with being
blessed or being blessing to others? For those whose names do not lend
themselves to making such meanings, consider designating a new and meaningful
name as is often done in Native American tradition, for example.
Stories of calling: Invite pastors and other Christian workers to tell their
stories of being called into ministry
5. Hagar and Ishmael (Genesis 21:1-20), page 63
Taize´ style service
Songs: "Nothing Can Trouble" ("Nada te turbe"), "O
Lord, Hear My Prayer," "Our Darkness" ("La tenebre"),
"Wait for the Lord"
Visuals: Multiple candles burning on an altar
Encourage students to reflect on the dark times in one' life and God's
sustaining love as they observe a time of silence.
6. Jacob Wrestles With the Stranger (Genesis32:22-32), page 76
Songs: "Come, O Thou Traveler Unknown," "We Are Climbing Jacob's
Ladder," "When Cain Killed Abel," "Humble Thyself in the
Sight of the Lord"
Drama: Have two persons choreograph the encounter and struggle
Invite students to reflect in silence upon the questions in View U. Have them
come individually to the altar as they are ready; pray over each and give a
blessing.
7. The Family Reunion (Genesis 45:1-15), page 90
Songs: "When Cain Killed Abel," "Help Us Accept Each Other,"
"Forgive Our Sins as We Forgive"
Visual: Use a red and white checked table cloth, picnic basket, and other
festive items that might be a part of a family reunion outdoor table setting
Talk about the importance of family and how families are strengthened by coming
together over a meal. Remind the group that it was the need for food that
brought the brothers to Egypt and that Joseph played a crucial role in seeing
that everyone had enough food.
Make the connection with the family of God and how we come together in the
sacred meal of Holy Communion. Point out the references to forgiveness and
reconciliation in the Communion liturgy. These also remind us of the importance
of forgiveness and reconciliation within both our biological family and our
faith family.
Invite the youth to the Table of the Lord.
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