Tobylady- Youth group?

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-17-2005
Tobylady- Youth group?
12
Mon, 02-27-2006 - 2:44pm

A couple of weeks ago, dh and I joined a Bible study group through our church. I deliberately picked a group where I knew at least one couple had teenagers. It turns out that all but one couple have teens close or about the age of mine! One lady even has a 14 y.o. dd who has had a much worse time than my dd, involving both cutting AND bulimia. She is currently "forcing" her to attend the church youth group. In talking with the only older couple in our group, they noted that their two boys who chose to be involved in church activities turned out great, while the two that did not have had problems and continue to, including addiction. They did not force them to attend youth group, and in retrospect, wonder whether they should have. Who knows, it may have happened that way for these kids anyway. As we know, Christianity can be messy. Our sermon Sunday really hit home with us - it was centered on Job and how we all suffer trials in life.

But I'm starting to wonder if I should force my teens to attend youth group. I have tried "talking them into it" for months to no avail. What do you think? While I don't want them to see church as a "punishment" I don't think I'll get them there any other way....youth group is Monday nights and they have no conflicts.

Pages

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-20-2005
Thu, 03-02-2006 - 11:11am

Jules,

I think your choir has ours beat by a couple of members. Our choir director also has to pick the most obscure hymns imaginable. It's like she wants to sing songs that no one else can sing to make herself look good (not a very Christian thought on my part but that's the way I honestly feel).

Our sanctuary is built in a Mexican mission style with white stucco walls, hardwood beams and floors, and gorgeous light fixtures that up until a few months ago I thought were wrought iron. They are actually curved wood. Our sanctuary burned during WWII. We met in the Jewish synagogue down the road for a while as we couldn't get building materials during the war. Once some materials began to become available, one of the men in our church handcrafted the light fixtures - they have beautiful lines and curves. We have a very vibrant stained glass window of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemene in the front of the sanctuary. All the other windows are also stained glass. The doors are all handcrafted as well. We are on some historical building registry and had to jump through all kinds of hoops to add a day care and a gym but it was done very tastefully and fits in well.

Our Thursday night service is the one with the contemporary music, guitars, drums, etc. It is wonderful and I've really come to look forward to it. I will have to miss tonight and next week both and am very sad about that. We as a congregation have worked very hard to try to make the changes we feel are necessary to liven up Sunday morning but it is very slow going.

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-17-2005
Thu, 03-02-2006 - 12:49pm

Sounds wonderful - our church used to be a bar! It looks okay now, don't get me wrong - but its very modern, nothing wood or handcrafted whatsoever. Kinda boring. Oh, well we make up for it with the music...

Pages