8:30 Traditional ServiceWorship with hymns, organ and handbells, and liturgy in our original sanctuary.
We share this service using Facebook Live. Videos are saved for 30 days. Click on the Facebook page link to join us virtually for worship.
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9:45 Sunday SchoolAfter grabbing a treat in the Fellowship Hall, learn with others in adult, teen, or children classes.
Mini Youth Kids Class
Jr. Youth Kids Class Teen Youth Class Young Adult Coffee Check-in Adult- Gold Band Adult-Chaotic Christians |
Worship with our praise band around tables in our Fellowship Hall.
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Find us next to the Lagrange Library
Kids and Worship
We believe that children and youth learn by seeing adults doing and by doing themselves. That is why we intentionally include children in all of our worship from beginning to end. In Traditional Service, kids bring the Light of Christ into the sanctuary. Middle schoolers work with their parents running our Sound and Tech Ministry. Elementary and preschoolers bring their activity bags up to the altar to introduce the sermon. Likewise, in THE together service, teens and children are part of the praise band, sound and tech teams, and share their activity bags during worship.
Youth Sunday 2023
Holy Moments of Worship
We start by celebrating our youth band. This is a band that was years in the making by church adults. Myron and THE Praise Team have been working with Lydia, and that came through in her leadership. Not only Christien's musical family, but his piano lessons with Gail could be heard by us all. And Will volunteered to be our drummer, with the confidence he has built as one of Chance's students. With Hannah's voice, they led us all to draw nearer to God. Thank God for all the adults who have poured into them so that they could lead us.
Our Communion servers were Jr. Youth students who are currently in 4th and 5th grade. I always have the best view from the front of the church during Communion, and this week it was a sight to behold. Because behind and next to our communion servers and Communion ushers were adults silently there, giving them support and confidence. The adults were quiet until a student would turn to them in uncertainty. Then they would give some instructions, and then back they went to their post.
There are many ways to disciple. Sometimes it happens in a classroom. Often it happens in what looks more like an apprenticeship. The student sees the teacher do the job Then the teacher watches the student do the job. That was the kind of discipleship happening right in front of us. In fact, Communion was a small reflection of what was happening all along on Youth Sunday. From the musicians teaching young musicians how to work together, to the Kids' moment, to the sermons. We have shown our students how we lead worship. On Sunday, we supported them as they took their next step in leading worship. One day not far from now, they will be leading worship, not just on one Sunday but every Sunday. By giving them opportunities like Youth Sunday, we are making disciples of our youth. That is a holy moment. |
You may not recognize one of those faces in our Trumpet Trio. Our youth group takes their call to witness to their faith very seriously. Not only did they invite their friend to join them, but they also did it together. And they welcomed him in with open arms. This kid belonged to this youth group before he ever stepped foot inside the church. So much so that he asked for a larger part of the service at the THE Together Service...and of course the youth said yes. May we adults do so well at inviting and including our friends in our community of faith!
Preaching the sermon was challenging in a way that was very different than the music and liturgy of the service. It took weeks to prepare these sermons. Our preachers had to really reflect on their topic...What does it mean to do justice? What does it mean to love kindness? What does it mean to walk humbly with God? If that wasn't enough, they also had to give real life examples. They all did an amazing job pulling from their own lives...from school, home and church.
Then, hardest of all, they had to be vulnerable enough to say it aloud to a room full of people. One of them in between services said, "I'm so tired. How do you do this every week?" Preaching is hard. And I am so proud of the work they put into these sermons. Most of all, I am proud of how they put themselves in these sermons. It takes courage to preach. And a FIRST sermon is always a holy moment. We'll be back with another Youth-led experience next year! -> |
One of our church's goals is to connect youth with all generations. This is a great example of how to do that and the wonderful results.
There were so many times these early-elementary aged kids could have been stopped, but instead were nurtured. When they jumped up to the organ on a Sunday morning, they could have been scolded, but instead they were offered another time. When they wanted to come practice after school, they could have been told their teacher was too busy, but instead time was made. When they wanted to play for church, they could have been told this Sunday was for the Big Kids, but instead the youth made space just for them. Our whole congregation was blessed by these young ladies because adults and youth chose to say yes and make room for them. These are holy moments when reaching our goal is not planned or programmed but has become our very nature. 
Hannah shared with the kids a fun song first shared with her during Kids' Moment by Rev. Chris Danielson.
So often, we use the metaphor of seeds to talk about the ways we "make disciples." Pastor Chris planted a seed with Hannah. Now as she blossoms in her faith, she is sharing those seeds with the kids who follow her. We don't always get to see those seeds blossom, but when we do it is a holy moment. 
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