Reaching the young with the Faith

[JoyToTheWhirled]

Have had a fascinating conversation with my children today about church. They range in age from 11 to 16 and all attend the local happy clappy CofE that is losing its way a bit. They have been interested in my conversion this Easter, but I am quite private and non-pushy, so I haven’t been evangelical about it.
I’m travelling along a fine line of wanting to share my faith with them, and being aware that I don’t want to undermine their own faith and stoke their unhappiness with the church they currently attend.

But what I found so interesting was what they got excited about in our discussion. They loved the idea of a lectionary, of regular holy communion, of a church year, and a sense of the holy. They have all lapped up the tradition they have encountered when they visit my church with me. They said how tired they were of a feeling that they were consumers at church, when they wanted a sense of connection with God and with the whole of their faith. “How can I invite my friends to meet with Jesus when I can’t really explain properly who He is, Mum?” My eldest daughter asked me.

I read all over the place that we need to reach young people with the Faith, and I am so intrigued by what it is I am hearing from them about how to do that.

 

[Loud-living-dogma]

Hmm. I attended Mass at an unfamiliar parish in my town, just for fun.
It was a school Mass, but it was interesting to observe the music selections. Literally a lot of clapping, hand gestures. It really seemed more like the songs were for pre-schoolers, rather than K-8. If I was older than 6 or so, it would seem embarrassing to have to do all the gestures, etc.
I wonder why priests, music directors are so eager to get rid of the sense of holiness, to dumb it down as much as possible? I was kind of discouraged when I left.