First Unitarian Universalist - Youth Take

February 15, 2009 10:30 am
First Unitarian Universalist, 603 Wellington Cresc. Winnipeg
Youth Service

So this is a biased post.
Turns out, I'm pals with more than a few of the youth over at first UU, and they were given the chance to do a youth service. You can see my post from last September, when I visited for the first time, if you're interested in a description of what the church is like in general. I wasn't at this service to rehash it, I was there to enjoy. I can't remember who, but someone wanted me to write this one up.

Anyhow.

The service followed what is probably the standard format for the church, which I felt was a bit of a shame. I know at least one fellow over there who's billed himself as a shit-disturber; the potential for mixing things up was there but I think the prep time was unfortunately limited. I was very excited that the words accompanying the lighting of the chalice (the Unitarian gathering symbol) were by a guy whose last name is Hammerskjold.

Overall the service was quite good. The transitions were a bit shaky, and as an elderly gentleman pointed out after the service, easily ironed-out by a few run-throughs before the service. The children's story was "Green Eggs and Ham," very well read, though I would have enjoyed a message to go along with it. It fit in perfectly with the "sermon" (more on that in a sec), and that could have been emphasized more.

I was very excited for the "Sermon." The youth had presented this sermon at a conference a few months back and I've been hearing about it ever since. The idea was that one of the youth had never eaten a pickle before, and finally got up the will to do it. We were invited to think about the "pickles" in our lives, things we should/want to do but haven't, and the podium was opened up for sharing.

Usually these kinds of things flop. Nobody wants to go first, and many of those who want to go can't think up anything to share (I was pretty frustrated that I didn't come up with anything myself). But after the interim minister and a couple of the youth shared their 'pickles,' the mike was burning hot for a good twenty minutes. It worked, and it was a lot of fun. Also, the closing words were great, and I'm kicking myself because I can't remember what they were.

I'm sure I'll find myself back at First UU, and congrats to the youth on putting together a great service.

http://www.uuwinnipeg.mb.ca/