Worship reflections 05.18.08
This Sunday we took our annual tradition of honoring graduates a step further by adding the flavor of youth ministry to all parts of our worship services. We heard from a few students who served at an orphanage in Mexico and a few who learned about homelessness through an ‘urban plunge’ into downtown Wichita. We recognized high school and college graduates in all worship services, and were led in prayer for them by a few of their dads. The message was offered by our youth pastor, and worship was led by a student worship band. Which also included me. Even though I’m ever-so-slightly older than 18. Given this occasion, we had almost no difference between our three services. The order of things looked like this:
- prelude (instrumental pieces played by students)
- [welcome and a billion announcements]
- He Reigns (the Newsboys song. A favorite at our church.)
- Marvelous Light (Hall) this was brand new for many attenders in the blended services
- [highlights of Mexico trip and Urban Plunge. Graduate recognition & prayer.]
- Offering: ‘For Good’ (from the musical ‘Wicked’. Guaranteed to make every mommy cry when sung by a gifted senior vocalist, while pictures of high school grads are projected on screen.)
- reading from Colossians 1
- [blended services] Here I Am to Worship (Hughes) / Center (Hall)
- [contemporary service] From the Inside Out (Houston)
- message ‘Christ Our Example; Christ Our King’
- In Christ Alone (Geddy/Townend)
(The variation in set lists was because the students really wanted to use ‘From the Inside Out’, which would have been a second unfamiliar song for the blended services.)
Somehow, we did all of that in 60 minutes. I could not have been more surprised. The student worship band did an amazing job with the music. I have to say I was a bit worried after a rather rocky mid-week rehearsal. This group of students (plus a few more) have been leading worship together nearly every week over the past year or so without much help. They get what worship is, and they have great attitudes, especially given the Sunday 7:30am call time, on the day that many of them were to graduate. I have been involved in working with several groups of students in the worship band context over the past few years, and I’m always humbled by their willingness to serve and the creativity they bring to the table. I’m also usually made very aware of where I’ve become jaded. This weekend was no exception. I was honored to serve alongside our students on this day.
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