A Call to Serve
in the Middle
Read: Matthew 18:20
Late last spring I
attended a YCM meeting at which parents of middle and high schoolers
were invited to voice their thoughts about future programming at the
church. I surprised myself with how many ideas I had pouring out, and
was quick to disagree with those who raised concerns of having too
few kids to make it "worth it," or the idea of planning
only quarterly events. Fast-forward to the end of the summer and I
realized that the one with all the big ideas was now being asked to
head it all up. Because I come by my Methodism honestly, I certainly
wasn't going to say no.
As the first
official meeting of the new Middle School Youth Group approached I
decided I had better pull in the 4th graders too so I would have more
potential participants. The day of our first event, I hoped and
prayed that there would be at least 1 other child who didn't come
from my own house. I was so relieved when we had 4 youth and a
smiling and ever-encouraging Reverend David show up. If you're
wondering, this means we had 2 kids outside of my own join us, thus
doubling my goal! The kids had fun, ate pizza, and shared lots of big
ideas for the coming year. It showed me that it didn't take a lot but
that we had much room to grow. Fast-forward to January, and while
gathering photos to make a bulletin board, I found it hard to limit
myself to an amount that would fit in the space I had. I looked back
and saw all of the fun things we did together, like baking a monster
batch of cookies (that left me in the kitchen until 10:30pm), a
failed movie night that turned into a way more fun game night, a very
messy pumpkin carving extravaganza, and the list goes on and on.
Even more meaningful
for me was looking back and remembering the friends who joined our
small core group of church youth, and the friends that the friends
brought. The excitement and joy that bubbled over at the simplest of
pleasures. The commitment that these youth have not only to come for
the fun, but also to step up to serve. Whether it was decorating and
table setting for a Soup Supper, staying to do the dishes after the
fun, harvesting the last of the garden produce to share with the
congregation, packing lunches for the Noah Project, sorting rummage
for the Rummage Sale, making luminaria to light the way on Christmas
Eve, or cutting and tying 20 blankets for our Shelter Week guests,
these kids have answered the call to live and love like Jesus.
It is my hope that
even though they may not fully understand the difference they are
making now, that they will carry on fellowshipping together, bringing
others in, and serving out of a place of joy in their hearts for many
years to come.
I am most grateful
for the calling to serve these youth, and lead them down this
righteous path. I have felt myself challenged and been exhausted at
times, but I have always received more back from these experiences
than I have given.
Before closing with
a scripture and prayer, I would be remiss not to thank those GPUMC
members who make up a list too long to name here who have come to
offer support during a meeting, share new (and old) ideas and
encourage me along the way. Most especially I need to thank my
husband, Georg, for unwittingly agreeing to be my sidekick at almost
every event, for without his help I don't think I would have been
able to do this.
In closing, on
September 10th, during the church service on the day of our first
meeting, Reverend David offered a scripture that would inspire and
comfort me that morning, then continue to guide me as I planned and
anticipated each of our meetings. It was from Matthew 18:20: "For
where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them."
This has stayed with
me and reminded me always that if 2 kids come, God is there. If 20
kids come and I think to myself, "What have I done?" God is
there. Where God is, there is great love, and these youth will surely
carry that with them as they go on about their weeks.
Prayer: Dear
Heavenly Father:
We feel your Spirit in the quiet moments as we
learn and grow together. We feel you there in the joy and laughter of
a bustling room overflowing with energetic kids. We thank you for
meeting us wherever we are and in whatever we are doing, calling us
to serve and spread your love. We thank you for giving us the time,
the resources, and the youth and adults to answer this call. We pray
that you continue to bless and watch over our youth in all they do.
In your holy name we pray. Amen.
Emily Zerling,
Middle School Youth leader