So, I am in Gel right now while our middle school students meet with their leaders. Great times...
These past couple weeks we have been trying to do various spiritual exercises, giving the students practical experiences of what they can do at home to experience God. Well, tonight we tried Lectio Divina, a sacred way of reading scriptures. We read through it three times total. The first time we read through it, we just meditated on the words. The second time we read through it, we picked a word from the passage and dwelled on it and then shared it with the group. The third time we read through it, we picked a phrase from the passage and shared it.
Well, it was a great idea and might work if we try it again, but...the kids couldn't get the timing down for when they were supposed to say their word. So we had kids saying their words while the scripture was still being read. And then when we stopped and asked the kids to say their words they all shouted their words at the same time, creating a cacophony of middle school voices...
I had to laugh. And I did. And I still am.
Trying to get them in a serious mood...setting it up really well...and blam, something weird happens...that's what happens in middle school ministry. Just gotta go with the flow, laugh it off and be glad for the kids.
2 comments:
Sweet. We had an Ash Wednesday Service. I had saved the palm branches from last year, and burned them to ashes for the service. Students came to the front of the sanctuary and filled out a card that read Please forgive me for___________ and I forgive ______________ for ______
Then I simply said, By the blood of Christ you are forgiven..and marked their foreheads with a cross of ashes.
neat stuff....one problem... The neighborhood kids thought the church was on fire or I was burning something like weed.... IT WAS THE MOST HORRIFIC smell I encountered in my life....
And the smell lingered into my clothing and office....not even AXE could handle it!
That's great, Hans. Just great.
Thanks for the story. Always good to know when a youth pastor is using weed in his programs.
Post a Comment