1,000 thank you notes: A YOUTH-LED WORSHIP SERVICE

Group, Nov/Dec 2004 by Case, Steve

Look ahead-all that has come before is nothing...

Compared to what God has up his sleeve.

God took Joseph, bruised and beaten...

And made him a king.

God took Jacob...

And made him the father of a nation.

God took Moses and Aaron...

And sent them into the dark land.

It rained frogs, bugs, blood, and death.

They led the slaves out of the darkness...

Carrying enough treasure to start a kingdom.

The God of Abraham keeps his promises.

Thank God.

Do it loud with music and dancing.

Amen.

1,000 THANK YOU NOTES

As your student leader speaks, have your teenagers move through the congregation passing out the 1,000 slips of paper and writing utensils.

Have a student leader say something like: This service is about thanking God. Not big, loud "Thee and thou" thank yous. Not "Thank you for the universe." But 1,000 everyday thank yous. In a moment, start writing things that you are thankful for-one thing per slip of paper. You can write about Twinkies, or getting to the elevator just as the doors open, or the smell of your wife's shampoo when you hug her close. Write the little gifts God offers us every single day. When you finish one, hold it up and a youth group member will take it from you. Then do another and another until you're finished.

At this point play songs from the Music Suggestions list, or play your own selections. This music is intended as background music and should help set a celebratory atmosphere.

Have your kids grab the slips of paper as people hold them up, then immediately bring them forward and tape them to the wooden cross at the front of your worship area. Encourage your kids to run and jump and laugh during this time. Their job is to keep the mood joyful-that will help people think of things they're thankful for.

When your kids tape the last thank you note to the cross, let the current song finish, then have a student leader pray something like: God, we've taped to this cross 1,000 reasons why we love you. None of them would be possible without you. None of us would be here if it were not for the gift your Son gave us on the cross. For each thank you note on this cross, God, there are 1,000 more that we've forgotten. We're grateful, God. Help us to show you our gratitude in our words, our thoughts, and our lives. Amen.

Close by playing "Thank You for Hearing Me" by the David Crowder Band. Explain that the lyrics are simple, and invite your congregation to join in as soon as they can.

STEVE CASE is a veteran youth minister and a contributing editor for group. He recently authored the book The Youth Worker's Big Book of Case Studies (Youth Specialties/Zondervan).