Annual Conference Young People Service
Called to Give Thanks and Take Action
#dosomethingunyac
Procession of Young Adults
(to gather prior to service - we are processing so we can all be in the same area for ease of choir participation)
Procession:
O, For A Thousand Tongues to Sing
People involved in service process onto the stage
Welcome - JJ (Worship leader as “Bishop”)
Good morning, friends. My name is JJ Warren, and while I may not be a real Bishop, today, I get to play one on TV--or well on this stage. ? John Wesley called holy conferencing a "means of grace," and we agree. We, the young adults of the Upper New York Conference, seek to bring to life the reality that Annual Conference is worship. This is sacred ground, we are in the presence of God. Let us be like Moses and take off our sandals--take down our walls of protection which separate us from God’s presence--and humble ourselves before God. During the service this morning, feel free to use the hashtag #dosomethinguny to share your thoughts and prayers with one another. (Pause) What we do here matters. We are called here to do something. (Shift) Let the first thing we do together this morning be the praise of our loving God through song. Please stand if you are able.
Song: Gather Us In
Call to Worship- Paul and Melissa Winkelman
Leader (Paul): I ask that all young people rise for the first line of the call to worship.
Leader (Paul): God calls us to give thanks; for the blessing of being a member of the family of God.
Young People (to everyone): We are blessed to be surrounded with siblings in Christ-whose many gifts and graces bless our large family!
Leader (Melissa): I invite all people to stand as they are able.
Leader (Melissa): God loves us as family, as we are called to love and cherish one another.
All People: Our purpose is to put our hope in Christ, who has promised redemption.
Leader (Paul): Please turn to your neighbor
Leader (Paul): We are called to live our faith, to show all people Christ!
People (to one another): We are called to serve, share and love. Thank you for sharing your gifts and living into God’s call. Together, with God, we can create the kingdom of God here on earth!
Leader (Melissa): Let our prayers and actions bring wisdom, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, and joy to our communities.
Young People: We will show our faith and sow seeds of peace through our thoughts, attitudes, words and deeds.
People (to our neighbor): We are thankful for God’s faithfulness and heed the call to share God’s love with all that we do, in all places, with all people, all the time.
Gospel Lesson:
“Our first order of business this morning is our scripture: James 2:14-18, 26. I see a card. Please make your way to Microphone_____ and state your name and translation”
ORDER:
Sam Coatsworth - NIV
Theresa Eggleston - King James
Sam Smith - ESV
Katie Kreutter - Message
Katie says “The Word of God for the people of God.” (Thanks Be to God)
The band plays the chorus to Do Something “We are going to play a little something for you as our friends from CCYM come forward” as Maya and Emily go to the microphone.
Do Something Video Maya and Emily
-Inside Out to play chorus at beginning and end of CCYM report while video plays
-New CCYM Leaders will be introduced as Maya and Emily “pass the baton” and Katie and Elyse have to go back into the audience at the end
Maya or Emily (or Elyse or Katie) signal for folks to stand for the final chorus of Do Something
Elliott walks to the microphone during final chorus of Do Something
Unison PrayerElliott Lawrence
Language to transition us to the prayer: Please join me in prayer.
Prayer: (UMH 456) O Lord, open my eyes that I may see the needs of others; open my ears that I may hear their cries; open my heart so that they need not be without assistance; let me not be afraid to defend the weak because of the anger of the strong, nor afraid to defend the poor because of the anger of the rich. Show me where love and hope and faith are needed, and use me to bring them to those places.And so open my eyes and my ears that I may this coming day be able to do some work of peace for thee. Amen.
Riley and Laurel come forward to the microphone, no transition.
Spoken Word
Riley O’Flynn and Laurel O’Connor
Transition J.J.:
(transition) Let us grasp our deep enthusiasm for God and express it this morning through joyful song! We’re going to kick things up a notch here-- please stand if you are able for the next song!
Song: “Build Your Kingdom Here”
Response:
J.J.: “I believe that one of the new co-chairs of the CCYM have a motion which they wish to bring to the floor. Microphone one, please.”
Elyse: “Whereas faith without action is like a body that has forgotten the reason for its breath, and whereas there are generations of believers who express their faith through action, following the command of Jesus to heal the sick, visit those in prison, speak truth to power, and love all people as ourselves,
Katie: “Whereas we are called to take leadership roles, be bold and imaginative, reimagine what church can be, and spread the gospel in new ways, and whereas ultimately, God calls us to go and make disciples for the transformation of the world”
Elyse: Be it resolved that We, the people of the Upper New York Conference, strive to live our faith in God by speaking the truth of God’s UNCONDITIONAL love, by living a life of Christ-like mission, sharing our faith through action in the world.
Katie: Let each of us, both individually and communally, regardless of our differences-- work together in Christian love and, DO SOMETHING to live our faith.
JJ: Upper NY Conference, the motion is properly before you. I’d like to open the floor for discussion, although it will look slightly different here during this worship time. (shift) What is God calling you to do in the coming year? Take a moment and write it on the index card on your seat. When you’re ready, bring it forward and attach it to one of the giant “to do” lists in the center (point to them). On your way forward, this is where the discussion happens. Challenge your neighbors. Agree to hold each other accountable. Meet someone new. If you would like a moment of prayer while you discern, make your way to one of the lovely young adults in the center of the middle aisle for a moment of prayer.
Discussion
10 minutes
7 minutes in, the ukes start to play - this is the signal for the young adults to start coming forward
At the end of which, the young adults come to the front of the stage in choir formation
JJ: Hello friends, I notice a card. Yes, please - microphone 3.
Ben: Good morning, Bishop. I’d like to call the question.
JJ: Very well. Friends, if you could find your seats. If you will support the motion that each of us pledge to live our faith by action--speaking to support God’s oppressed people, reaching across social and economic barriers to be in relation with all of our Christian family, doing all that we can in helping the poor, the sick, and the rejected peoples… Then together, raise your hand and say “Amen”. (Shift) And the motion is supported!
(I’m hoping that we have a soloist here who will just start singing… let’s talk to Ian on this one.)
Choir (Ian Urriola, Bethany Printup-Davis, Abigail Browka)
Draw The Circle Wide
-During last stanza we will encircle the Annual Conference space by walking along the outside.
Benediction:
The young adults of this Conference want you to know that you are surrounded not only by our love but by God’s love in this place and as you go forth into the world. As the Bishop, Jeff, and Scott come forward, let us remember that the work we are doing here at Annual Conference is one of the ways in which we are empowered to practice faithful action. Let every vote we make reflect our desire to bring God’s social and economic justice here, let the way in which we debate and discuss reflect not tension but grace amidst differences. May God’s holy spirit strengthen and encourage us to leave this place as beacons of hope for this world, boldly reaching out and actively connecting with our communities. Oh God, as we leave this time of worship, may we be so enthusiastic with the good news of the gospel that we have no choice but to do something! Amen.