weekly wrapup 11.30.08

Lesson Topic: waiting
Attendance: happening in the middle of a six day school break, with one day to go the numbers were excellent. had several new faces.
'Fun' Factor: tonite was all about fun in a whole new way. the comments heard as folks left was "tonite was amazing!" - "i really connected"
Volunteer Involvement: excellent thoug
Music: tonite was an all acoustic night. the veneration band was on its game. excellent sound and may have set a new bench mark.
Lesson Quality: excellent.
Length of Lesson: 25 minutes.
the night began by not allowing the students to head up to the youth room until most were there. then we dismissed them with the instructions and understanding that tonite was going to be different. i asked for a show of hands while outside the room of those that knew what advent was? two went up. which only confirmed the need to do what we were going to set off on. the students were instructed to enter the space in silence. find a pillow or carpet square and find a space to sit. we tried as best to leave technology behind with the games off and only some colored lights on. there were plenty of candles around the room. as they entered the entered the room the only sound was from gregorian advent chants from the monks of santos damigo. additionally the plan was to end the evening with communion so mrs. stanton had brought her bread maker in. the aroma of the bread baking was another tease on the senses. after 5 minutes we dimissed the students to head off and talk about the expereince and this time of year in small groups. this is our second week of breaking out this way and seems to be a good addition to the program. the students returned after the small groups again to sit in silence. they were given an envelope with 5 cards that asked them to do several different things. think about the word "silence", simply rest where they were, go and write on a poster words of hope, offer their thots about God's peace, as well as to move to another spot and rest some more. the students were engaged and we wrapped up our time talking about what the idea of advent is and how for those that follow Jesus it is the beginning of our new year. we offered a chance to make a commitment or recommit their faith and finished the evening with a time of communion (with the freshly baked bread. the evening was a stretch for all of us, but offered a reflection time that in most of our ministry we don't take the time to make happen.