PREPARATION #1:

 Candle Liturgy (approx. 5 minutes)

  Materials needed

            Two copies of the liturgy

Five unlit candles and matches for the opening liturgy

Liturgy

Invite members of the group to volunteer to read parts of the liturgy and light the candles.  Because of the high rate of dyslexia and other learning differences ask for volunteers but never force someone to read aloud.

Reader 1: The God who created us, who came to live among us as Jesus Christ, and who continues to move through us in the power of the Holy Spirit, celebrates all ages and stages of human life.

Reader 2: We light this candle to remember and honor that we all come into this world as babies, full of wonder and new possibilities.  We pray for those babies whose possibilities are damaged by neglect, abuse, or craziness in the adult world into which they are born.

(Light the first candle)

Reader 1: We light this candle to remember and honor children and childhood.  We thank God for the inherent joy and wisdom of children.  We pray for those children whose joy is stolen by physical, economic, or emotional pain.

(Light the second candle)

Reader 2: We light this candle to remember and honor adolescents and the process of growing up.  We thank God for the emerging power and promise of adolescents.  We pray for those adolescents whose growth is stunted by ridicule or lack of nurture or the many shades of emotional or physical violence.

(Light the third candle)

Reader 1: We light this candle to remember and honor adults and adulthood.  We thank God for the profusion of gifts and talents that adults have to offer in this world.  We pray for those adults who suffer and struggle with internal and external demons and injustices. 

(Light the fourth candle)

Reader 2: We light this candle to remember and honor the elders in our world.  We thank God for the wisdom and experience gained through the living of long lives.  We pray for those elders whose gifts are discarded or ignored because of their age.

(Light the fifth candle) 

Deepening Faith:  Youth Ministry Resources and Some Miscellaneous Advice

Rev. Lizann Bassham, Front Porch Spirit Press

Copyright © 2001