How Youth Culture Shapes Youth Worship
Worship services at YRUU (Young Religious Unitarian Universalist) conferences are notable in the fact that young people minister to one another—an amazing opportunity for the development and expression of youth culture. A sample worship service is at the end of this chapter.Don't be afraid to be non-traditional. Spirituality takes many different forms. Allow people to express themselves in as many different ways as possible. Dancing, star gazing, and guided fantasy are all viable ways to be religious. There are many other ways as well. In the list that follows, you'll find suggestions that range from candle-lighting to square-dancing.
Ways to Be Religious
Guided Meditation
A guided meditation is a general suggestion of ideas read out loud to a to a group of people, intended to spur their imagination and take them on their own "voyage." This ritual can be used for almost any theme, such as drawing up people's past experiences or transporting them into the future, exploring hopes, dreams, fears, and anxieties.
Have people relax and close their eyes. If there is space allow them to stretch out on the floor. Allow for silence so people may focus themselves. Begin to guide them through an experience with your voice; have something written so it flows and doesn't break up people's concentration. Use sensory recall. Example: "Imagine your favorite place . . . Picture yourself there . . . Look around . . . What images surround you? . . . Is there anyone there with you? . . . etc." At the end of the meditation, gently guide people back, and give them a moment to get their bearings.
Skits/Role Plays
Prepare skits or role plays ahead of time and perform them at the service. This is a good way to illustrate a conceptual theme, such as trust or anger, making it more relevant to people's personal feelings. Illustrate common scenarios.
Drumming
This can be very powerful. See what kinds of percussion instruments are available, or make them yourself. Both audience listening and group participation works well, so decide ahead of time which would work best for your situation.
Altars
Altars create a centering visual focus for worship. You might have each conferee bring a symbolic piece to the worship and build an altar with the items. Later, the sharing period can focus on what each person added. Use your theme. For example, if you're talking about parents, have each person bring something that symbolizes his or her family.
Chanting
This can be used with or instead of drumming. You can teach the chants before the service. Allow chants to run their full course.
Burning
Fire is a powerful symbol, with many creative possibilities. Have a worship outside around a bonfire (although fire noise can be problematic). Have conferees write down one thing that they are trying to let go of in their lives and burn it. Later share feelings about what was burned. Hand out candles to all conferees as they enter the worship. Later, pass a flame through the whole group, lighting the candles.
Candles of Joy and Concern
Have a group of candles on an altar. Invite individuals to light one and share a joy or concern.
Water
This is a great symbol of life as well as cleansing. Have a bowl filled with water on an altar. Allow people to go to the bowl and state something they wish to "cleanse" in their lives—symbolically washing their hands of it.
Full-Group Movement
Simple dances incorporate the whole group. They are best when accompanied by a chant or song, and done where there is plenty of space. Teach the dance before the worship service so people are able to concentrate on the spiritual aspects.
- "The Spiral Dance." With everyone holding hands in a line, the first person
begins winding into a circle, creating a kind of jelly roll of human beings. If
the circle is wound loosely, this is a good way to get people in concentric
circles to sit down. If the circle is wound tightly, people will be packed
together, arms around one another. When the leader is completely in the center,
s/he can turn and wind all the way out again to reform the circle.
- "The
Virginia Reel." In a circle formation, this can also be a good spiral dance.
Have the group get into inner and outer circles, paired off, each facing
another. Have them each extend a hand, as if making a handshake. Now have people
walk past their partner, passing shoulders with the hand that has been extended.
Everyone should now be looking at a new partner, to whom they extend their left
hand in a reverse handshake and then pass on their left shoulder. This process
goes on until the group weaves its way back to original partners.
- "The Bridge." Two lines of people stand facing each other. Each person is across from a partner and they hold hands over their heads, forming a bridge. The last couple in line ducks under all the hands overhead, running between the two lines, re-bridging at the end. As soon as the first couple embarks between the two lines, immediately the next couple at the end of the line should follow. This process is repeated over until everyone has gone under the bridge.
Music
Singing together as a group bonds a community, creating a feeling of support and allowing for deeper sharing. Use songs that you relate to. There's nothing wrong with a top-forty hit if it speaks to a certain topic or touches a certain emotional chord. Also, try to avoid taped music; the more the community produces from within, the greater the effect will be. Ideas for songs include: "Dear Friends," "Spreading My Long-Winged Feathers," "Goin' Up on the Mountain," "The Circle Game," "Run, River, Run," "All God's Critters," "Oh, How Lovely Is the Evening," "Simple Gifts," "We Shall Overcome," "Dona Nobis Pachem," "Teach Your Children," "Down by the Riverside," "Blackbird," "We Are a Gentle Loving People," "Listen, Listen, Listen," "It's in Every One of Us," "Spirit of Life," "Morning Has Broken," "If the People Lived Their Lives."
Try the book Rise Up Singing, edited by Peter Blood-Patterson, published by Sing Out, P.O. Box 5253, Bethlehem, PA 18015. The book costs $17.50 including shipping and contains the words and guitar chords for hundreds of folk songs and rounds. Many of them work well with groups.
Use the resources around you. If it is warm outside, worship under the night sky. If you have a large room, allow people to stretch out and meditate. If there is a full moon, your service might focus on fullness or roundness.
Incorporate new ideas into your service. Youth have a long history of being on the forefront of social change. Conference worship is a grassroots way of living this tradition. Try to keep language gender-neutral and inclusive. Be aware of ethnocentrism. Take the environment into concern. Consider these other worship themes: relationships, masks, peace, history, emotions, earth, nature, poetry, music, friendship, god/goddess, science, love, freedom, rhythm, silence, family, gender, life, nations, death, dance, spirit, change, and community.
Sample Format for Worship Service
Atmosphere
The lights are dim. Conferees enter worship area in silence, are greeted at the door by several people. They are ushered to places on the floor, forming a circle. Someone plays a soft and gentle guitar in the background. The atmosphere sets the tone for the whole service.
Opening
After everyone has entered, a chalice is lit in the center of the circle and someone reads the opening words, revealing the theme. The group is now focused, ready to begin.
Ritual
At this point, you can take the group where you want to go. Some sort of ritual is usually effective, particularly if it's interactive, getting people involved in the service and building bonds in the community. Guided meditation, drumming, chanting, a song that everyone knows are all potentially effective.
Sharing
People are feeling warm and cozy, ready to open up and talk about feelings. Light Candles of Joy and Concern, or have people finish a sentence on a certain topic. (It is best to have a few people prepared to go first and model the process.) If, however, you hit an important topic that people need to talk about, let it go on if possible. Be flexible. At the end of the sharing period, there should be definite closure, especially a statement that thanks people for opening up and being part of the community.
Transition
Sharing at worship is often the most sacred point. Have a song, a period of reflection, or a quick and easy ritual before you move into the closing to allow for the digestion of what has just been shared.
Closing
A strong closing binds the community and reinforces the power of worship. It can be a real letdown if people wander off after a deep spiritual experience. Closing words and blowing out a candle are fine. Things do not have to be elaborate, as long as there is an evident feeling of closure.
For more information contact youth @ uua.org.
Last updated on Friday, April 18, 2008.
