Great news this week. At least two young people got born again (Jn.3:3) and two others either got born again or, wanted to confirm publicly a decision that they have already privately made.
Each week now we have 12-15 young people and at least one each week is a visitor.
The two who definitely got born again for the first time have been coming to the group regularly for several months. Although regular opportunity has been given on previous occasions to get born again, they have always resisted. This week they both made a definite & clear public declaration.
The other two were at the 'One Way' youth camp I attended between Christmas and new year. As they both live in Smiltene, they have now started to come to the youth club too. They may have got born again this evening or, may have been publicly confirming a commitment they made at the One Way camp. Either way, exciting.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
CHANGES
The group has been struggling with worship.
There are 4 of us in the worship group, plus one other working the overhead projector makes 5.
Sometimes, allowing for late arrivals, there are 3-4 young people only in the 'congregation'!
Some of them - especially the guys - are a bit self conscious to sing along.
Last week, we started the Alpha course. I remembered some of my Alpha training from previously in the UK. In the early weeks of Alpha we had just one guitarist, three songs and no 'open worship' because, many attending were un-churched and just not used to it. I realised that, this was the problem. The majority of the group (of about 12-15 number) either, don't go to church or, have just started attending. So, everything is very new & different for them.
This week I implemented change to the worship. We had just one guitarist, I encouraged (made) everyone sit on the front three rows and, we switched most of the lights off except, the ones right at the front over the guitarist. I had also primed those who do usually go to church to make a lot of noise singing & clapping. After all, scripture tells us to make joyful noise unto the Lord (Ps 98 & 100) rather than to be expert singers!
Anyway, it really worked. Several people made positive comments including several of the un-churched members.
As the course progresses and we all get more used to each other and singing together, then I will slowly move us from simply singing three songs to worship. Soli par solim (step by step).
There are 4 of us in the worship group, plus one other working the overhead projector makes 5.
Sometimes, allowing for late arrivals, there are 3-4 young people only in the 'congregation'!
Some of them - especially the guys - are a bit self conscious to sing along.
Last week, we started the Alpha course. I remembered some of my Alpha training from previously in the UK. In the early weeks of Alpha we had just one guitarist, three songs and no 'open worship' because, many attending were un-churched and just not used to it. I realised that, this was the problem. The majority of the group (of about 12-15 number) either, don't go to church or, have just started attending. So, everything is very new & different for them.
This week I implemented change to the worship. We had just one guitarist, I encouraged (made) everyone sit on the front three rows and, we switched most of the lights off except, the ones right at the front over the guitarist. I had also primed those who do usually go to church to make a lot of noise singing & clapping. After all, scripture tells us to make joyful noise unto the Lord (Ps 98 & 100) rather than to be expert singers!
Anyway, it really worked. Several people made positive comments including several of the un-churched members.
As the course progresses and we all get more used to each other and singing together, then I will slowly move us from simply singing three songs to worship. Soli par solim (step by step).
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