SLYM+ at St Lukes Uniting Church at Belmont

   Things have a timing and ground work is invaluable... this is true when hard work has been put in and also when things are on the slide and need rebuilding. In the case of St Luke's Uniting Church at Belmont the most recent chapter has been ten years of ground work in ministry and mission with young people. The decision to 're-vision' and look at a different direction sees the group well placed for new energy from well trained and mentored volunteers, for parents to 'step up' and for people to be reminded of what is sometimes left as the work of the Youth Worker.
   Richard & Kylie Moors ministry at St Lukes will continue to shape and encourage this generation of leaders and punters in healthy ways!!
   So in what's been a hard time, people have also been asked to consider what they can do and what needs to be done to give "space, permission and validity" [my favourite themes] to worship planned and led with and by young people at least once per month on a fourth Sunday.
   The first one for the year came together well and gave people breathing space to think they could make a contribution. When planning began for the second one I had been booked to participate, having offered my support & resourcing in this first part of the year!!
  The parents and young people who met to plan put in a few hours 'getting their heads around the task' and around what had been set up from the first month. A suggestion of giving the time identity as SLYM+ as an extension of the SLYM Friday night group was a good one...
   We spoke about the invitation to young people to shape it for them, beanbags, music, people with gifts, dinner beforehand etc and mapped out a worship around this years chosen song 'Guardian' by Alanis Morissette. The theme became 'Who do you say that I am?' from Luke 9: 18-24...

What happened?
There's quite a collection of musicians and voices and others helped with sound and vision

Specific pre music background was chosen
[2] Songs were played without Intro from the Band [words onscreen]
A Current Affair reporter introduced the key question between the songs
The songs included a 'We Will Rock You' mash up
Mark M was Leader and introduced the idea, the song for this year and prayer
'Guardian' Alanis Morissette clip with lyrics
[1] Skit with older man, hip hop DJ and Nerd asked 'who they say Jesus is?'
[1] Song with the Band
[3] Voice Reading of Luke from mics at rear of space...
simple things create interest and engagement with the 'story'
Talk introduced by 30sec title video... and centred on stories, joining our story to Jesus story and that 'who we say he is?' was a plural question asking who we say by how we live and are community... acknowledging our stories and identity... included a collage of JC pics and the vox pop 'Who is Jesus' NYC clip...
I took the opportunity to say a few things about allowing space, permission & validity [not in those words] but I'm sure I was in trouble with someone... it's not about you...
The Offering was of money and a written card with what gifts or abilities people might offer...
Josh gave the relevant announcements
Prayers for the World were tea light candles and world maps
[1] Song with the Band including mosh pit
Bec had chosen a Sending Out alongside the pre music and we spoke it together...

A lot of work goes into creating and delegating and month by month will be fun to evaluate and grow this space and endeavour!!