Youth Sunday -- step 7 The service itself

The service itself

• Make sure everyone is present and accounted for
• Distribute the internal bulletins and printouts of all written parts. (Don't plan on their remembering to bring their copy.)
• Do a walk through in the worship space. Longer items like sermon, Postlude can be shortened, depending on time available. Again encourage them to speak clearly, slowly and loudly.
• Especially practice movement. Nothing is more amateurish than people going to the wrong spot, not moving at the right time and panicking or tripping over each other. Movement should be so smooth that no one notices.
• Leave enough time to give them a potty break before regathering. Set an exact regathering time and place (not in the worship space). When everyone is ready, have a prayer together, then do whatever has been planned for entry.
• If there is more than one service:
  • Have a place where they can hang out between services and have snack food and soda/pop/coke available.
  • when gathered explain that they are at half-time and the game is not won until the end. There is a natural tendency to let down after completing the service once. They need to get “psyched” and ready to do the subsequent service(s) with the same energy as the first. The energy needs to come from the energy of the leaders and the encouragement they give the youth.
  • It is acceptable to make adjustment between services but don't sweat the small stuff or be very critical. It is too late for that and it can discourage the group. Be positive, report any positive feedback you have received after the first service.
  • Once it is over, squash (gently) any negativity, second thoughts, regrets, accusations and complaints. There is no value in “evaluating” other than complementing and expressing pleasure in a job well done.