September here again ... commissioning the leaders

September, for me, is really a new year ... It has always been that way I suppose, right through Uni and before that School.

A new diary, a tidy up of the curatage office, the planning for the new term of parish activities.

Tomorrow, Sunday sees our youth leaders and sunday School teachers in the parish commissioned ready to begin a new session of exciting activities. It will be great to see everyone again.

We will commission the leaders and dedicate our young people - setting out what they will be doing over the year. It is sooooo important that we pray for all those in helping all our young people.

DEDICATION OF SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS AND YOUTH LEADERS

We have come together today to commission all those involved in the youth ministry of this parish - our leaders, helpers and Sunday School teachers and to dedicate the Children entrusted to their care for this coming year. As leaders in this parish, you have a great responsibility in the example you set both in your everyday life and in your spiritual life to live for God and in his service. The role of a Sunday School Teacher and of a Youth Leader is one, which is highly respected and appreciated within the service of the church and should be seen and undertaken in this way.

I invite our Sunday School Teachers and Youth Leaders to please stand.

Do you as Sunday School Teachers and as Youth Leaders here before God and this congregation dedicate both your time and talents to teach the children in your charge the truths of the Bible, to encourage them in their Christian Faith and to help them in whatever way you can.

I do God being my helper

I invite all young people in the congregation to please stand.

Do you as young members of this parish whether as members of the Crèche, Mums and Toddlers, Sunday School, Doves, Brownies, and the H2O Youth Group here before God and this congregation undertake to seek to learn and understand the ways of God under their guidance and instruction of your leaders

I do God being my helper.

As a congregation, we have a responsibility to God, those whom we commission this day and our Children, to see that they will be encouraged in their service to God and in teaching and learning of his word. Will you as a congregation therefore promise before God to pray for the teachers and children and help in any way to encourage them in the work

We do God being our helper.

Let us pray

Almighty God and Father

the only wise God, source of all truth and Grace enlighten the minds of those who have been charged with responsibility for the youth ministry in this parish. Give them understanding of their task, a true love for you and those they serve. Help them in both their lives and by their teaching to bring the message of the Bible alive for the young people in their care. Help the Children to listen and to take in the messages they are taught so that they may grow in the faith and knowledge of Jesus Christ in whose name we pray. AMEN