I used to spend a lot of time fretting about how our culture ignores Advent and commercializes Christmas.  And while ads that suggest you should buy something for yourself while shopping or deserve a $5 gift card for every $50 gift card you buy for someone else still causes a little steam to come from my ears, I have come to understand that the best response from the church is not to be critical, but to claim and reclaim the rich heritage and liturgy and tradition that define the seasons, particularly for youth.  So here are a few resources that may be worth a look:

Advent Ideas from Rethinking Youth Ministry – This blog has collected a number of resources for youth ministry during Advent.

Advent Conspiracy – This movement began in 2006 with 5 pastors and now provides resources for churches around the world.

A Contemplative Christmastide Worship Resource – This is a free resource offered by The YouthWorker Movement.

And last but not least, a classic reclaim of what Christmas is all about!

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So often when I am approached about helping local churches with youth ministry, they begin from a place that assumes or names a problem with their youth ministry.  We don’t have any youth in our church…Our youth are bored…We don’t know what to do with the youth to keep them coming…We don’t have any resources for youth ministry…Our congregation isn’t supportive of ministry with youth.

As with many aspects of life, I honestly believe that the first step to addressing ministry with youth is to take a Pauline approach to the matter at hand and begin with thanksgiving.  So this week, and every week, I am thankful!

I am thankful for churches who, with limited resources and sometimes no idea what to do or how to do it, commit to loving youth in their midst.

I am thankful for parents who bring their youth to church, who have faith conversations at home, who pray for their teenagers.

I am thankful for students.  Period.

I am thankful for lay people who volunteer, staff members who go the extra mile, and pastors who make the commitment to be in ministry with youth.

I am thankful for opportunities to share God’s love with young people.

I am thankful for the cultural challenges before us, and the Bible to guide us in facing them.

I am thankful for the individual trials that await, and the Gospel that breathes life into the dead places.

I am thankful for the opportunity to be involved in youth ministry in Indiana, and for you, my friends within and outside of Indiana, who share the passion to share the Good News of Christ with young and old alike.

Happy Thanksgiving!

“I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now. “  -Philippians 1:3-5

Thank you!!! For your ministry with youth, thank you!  For the time and energy you give, thank you!  For the sacrifices you make to be in ministry and share God’s love with youth, thank you!  For answering God’s call to be in ministry with young people, thank you!

Thursday, November 4, is Thank a Youth Worker Day around the globe.   I wanted to get a head start by thanking all of you who make such a difference in the lives of young people in our churches.  You obviously don’t do it for the money or the recognition, and some days are filled with joy and some are filled with (let’s just say not so much joy).  Ultimately you are in ministry with youth because you have faith, you know Christ’s love, and you have answered God’s call to share that amazing love with the youth and children among us.  So thank you for being a blessing!

And if you’re like most youth workers who don’t want the attention and desire to pass on credit to God and others, then after reading this take a moment on November 4 to thank a youth worker who has impacted your life or your community.