Spiritual Practice of the Week:  A worship service:  Follow Me

Be welcome to use this service at an upcoming meeting with youth or young adults.

Preparation: Have pieces of red string cut into lengths long enough to be tied around a person’s wrist. Set the space as you wish, with a central Christ candle.  Invite people to settle around the candle in a circle, perhaps have some music playing to quiet the space.   

Opening Words:  Jesus says, follow me. All of us have different reasons for being here tonight: maybe you came for friendship and fun, or because your parents made you come, or because you felt alone. But we all in some way have chosen to be here and to follow. Following isn’t always easy. Sometimes it’s hard, lonely, or weird and doesn’t make sense.  So what does it mean in your life to follow?  This is a story about some people who chose to follow a long time ago.

Read Mark 1: 16-20

Pose this question:  What does following mean for you? Invite people to share their responses with the people around them. Give time for some in-depth conversation.

Song:  choose a song familiar to your group on this theme of Following.

Action Words:  Often Christians wear the symbol of a cross as a sign that they are connected to the life of Jesus. Today we offer this string to tie around your wrist as a symbol that you know you are following the path of Jesus.

Take a piece of string and ask someone in the room to tie it onto your wrist. When tying on the string, say the person’s name first and then say, “You are a child of God.” Think about what it means to wear this string. Think about what you will say to people if they ask about the string. You may choose to tell people about the meaning behind the string, or keep it to yourself.  How will the string be an action of sharing and reflection. 

Closing Prayer:  Jesus, our brother and friend. We are thankful that we have freedom to follow you if we choose.  We remember those around the world who are persecuted for living out their faith.  We are thankful that there is a path to walk with you. We come to all the gifts, challenges, and blessings that following you brings, we draw the circle wide to include all in your love, with eyes wide open to life and to one another. Amen.

© This prayer practice and all of those on the Sunday Morning Blog Post can be found in:  "Go Deep: Spiritual Practices for Youth Ministry" Wood Lake Publishing.  Doris is the Youth Director for the United Church of Canada in BC and the Director of World Pilgrim Awareness Travel.