celebrating st. valentine's day

Group, Jan/Feb 2005 by Case, Steve

A YOUTH-LED WORSHIP SERVICE

There's more to St. Valentine's Day than the bricklike sugar hearts you find in the "seasonal" aisle at your local grocery store. Much of the history of St. Valentine is lost to the ages. However, it's generally accepted that he was a priest who defied the laws of Rome and married Christian couples at a time when that sort of thing was a crime.

Valentine was arrested, but the Emperor Claudius took a liking to the priest and often got him out of his prison cell to bring him to his dinner parties, where he prodded Valentine to debate his Christian faith for entertainment purposes. It was during one of these gatherings that Valentine tried to convert Claudius to Christianity and was ordered beaten to death. When Valentine stubbornly refused to die, Claudius had him beheaded.

Pope Gelasius declared February 14 as St. Valentine's Day in celebration of the priest's martyrdom. There's a legend that St. Valentine cured a prison guard's daughter of blindness from his cell just before his execution. From his cell he sent a note to the girl that said: "From your Valentine."

This youth-led worship service is designed to bring a sense of respect and reverence to a day that's become just another reason to sell chocolate.

WHAT YOU'LL NEED

* Construction-paper hearts-one or two for each person participating in the service.

* Pencils or pens-one for each person participating in the service.

MUSIC SUGGESTIONS

Opener:

* "Hearts" by Lost and Found, from the Something album. (Use this one if you're looking for something lighter and fun to start off the service.)

* "Desert Rose" by Sting from the Brand New Day album. (Use this one if you're looking for something that more seriously addresses the emotion of love and Valentine's Day.)

* "Our Love Is Loud" by the David Crowder Band, from the Can You Hear Us? album; or "Love Divine All Loves Excelling" by Lost and Found, from the Speedwood Hymns album. (Use one of these if you want to keep the music in this service sounding more churchlike.)

Closer:

* "Every Breath You Take" by UB40, from the 50 First Dates soundtrack album. (For something a little more serious-sounding.)

* "Love Song for a Savior" by Jars of Clay, from the Jars of Clay album. (Use this one if you want to keep the music in this service sounding more churchlike.)

THE SERVICE

Have a teenager say something like: In the mid-fifth century a young priest named Valentine defied the law of the land and married Christian couples. He was eventually arrested and beheaded for his so-called crimes. Tonight we celebrate this worship service in memory of the life and deeds of a man who believed in love, fostered love, guided love, and died for love.

Start by playing one of the suggested opener songs or one of your own choosing.

SCRIPTURE RESPONSIVE READING

Have a teenager say: Join me in this responsive reading from 1 John 4:7-8. Please respond with "Show us how to love one another."

God, we're running around in circles. (Response)

We're hurting each other. (Response)

We are your children. (Response)

We should be acting like it. (Response)

We need to reach out. (Response)

Support. (Response)

Uplift. (Response)

Be. (Response)

Share. (Response)

Understand. (Response)

Gather together. (Response)

Become who you intended. (Response)

Find the love we're supposed to find. (Response)

God, bring us into you. You are love. (Response)

Amen.

SCRIPTURE READING

This choral reading from 1 Corinthians 13:1-8 is tricky, but if you can pull it off it sounds very cool. You'll need three teenagers who work well together. One should begin reading 1 Corinthians 13:1-8. When the first reader gets to verse 4 and beyond, the others should repeat the "Love is" statements as an echo. Here's the catch. The first echo reader should say "God is" instead of "love is." The second echo reader should say, "Jesus is" instead of "love is." End on the first sentence in verse 8-"Love (God/Jesus) never fails."

RESPONSIVE READING

Have a teenager say: Join me in this responsive reading. Please respond with "Love never fails."

God, we get angry sometimes. (Response)

We feel as though we're alone. (Response)

God, we get hungry sometimes. (Response)

We wonder where you are. (Response)

God, we get lost sometimes. (Response)

We wonder why you have left us. (Response)

God, we get tired sometimes. (Response)

We wonder when we can rest. (Response)

God, we get stressed out sometimes. (Response)

We long for your calming presence. (Response)

We are not alone. (Response)

We need not be hungry. (Response)

You are with us. (Response)

You give us energy. (Response)

You give us peace. (Response)

PRAYER EXPERIENCE

Have a teenager say something like: In addition to being called the patron saint of young lovers, St. Valentine was also a healer. He was considered a saint for happy marriages, engagements, sent greetings, travelers, beekeepers, and people with epilepsy. We're going to pass out paper hearts. In the center of the heart, please write the name or names of people who need prayer for healing of any kind. At the end of the service the basket of hearts will be at the back of the church. On your way out, please take one at random and pray a special prayer of love and healing for that person every night for the next week.