I hate Youth Sunday.  At rehearsals, kids show up late, some leave early, and some forget to come at all.  While there, kids are on their cell phones and chit-chatting amongst themselves. They bring food into the chapel and do most anything other than listen to their youth pastor trying to direct a rehearsal.  I suppose it's kids being kids, but it makes me want to scream.

But also...I love Youth Sunday. In spite of all the challenges that give me gray hair, I find Youth Sunday to be an absolute delight, one of the highlights of the year.  Our youth bring their vibrant, burgeoning fresh faith to church
ready to share their gifts with the body of Christ.  I think it is safe to say there is not a Sunday like it, and I can't wait!  I love our youth.
 
This year's theme is Service, which is part of the ongoing sermon series on the Habits of Highly Effective Christians.  We serve one another very simply because God in Christ Jesus has served us and given his life for us.  With some 40 young people involved, it promises to be quite a production.  So bring friends to church this Sunday, and may God be glorified.     
  
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:  Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant,being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death-even death on a cross!  -Philippians 2:5-8

Prayer for Today

O God, we give you thanks for Youth Sunday, and we pray for something to happen in worship that is transcendent.  May your Spirit be felt throughout the congregation, such that our lives are impacted way past noon.  Amen.