While my wife and I don't have kids we love Coming of Age. I don't know if this is standard across UU, but our youth take turns reading personal statements written with the input of an adult mentor. Sometimes the talks focus on their theologies, but other times they get more personal focusing on challenges they've faced or things that they are passionate about. I'm always impressed these young people's intelligence and poise. While I agree that our youth should decide themselves what kind of talk to give I typically find ones where they talk about their love of music, interactions with peers or relationships with their parents/siblings to more engaging than more abstract topics such as their beliefs surrounding a deity (though, in fairness, I wasn't raised UU so didn't do Coming of Age, but I'm sure at that point in life I would've been far more comfortable talking about theology than myself).
I agree that these services are something everyone should attend.
RE Sunday should not be the same as the school (or church) talent show! Remember that there will be people in the pews who are grieving, lonely, and looking for solace. Keep it spiritual please. One of my favorite services of all time was a Coming of Age theme where several young people described their concept of a higher power. Each was very different and all were moving and powerful, giving hope for the future to those of us without children in the pulpit.
Since it is April I also encourage congregations to plan their Earth Day worship from a spiritual foundation. There is so much that can be worshipful about our world; a worship service is not the place to remind people to use less and recycle, call their legislators, or to shame people for eating eggs. Those messages can be delivered at tables in the social hall! Let's spend an hour contemplating the interdependent web and how that is truly a power greater than ourselves.
While my wife and I don't have kids we love Coming of Age. I don't know if this is standard across UU, but our youth take turns reading personal statements written with the input of an adult mentor. Sometimes the talks focus on their theologies, but other times they get more personal focusing on challenges they've faced or things that they are passionate about. I'm always impressed these young people's intelligence and poise. While I agree that our youth should decide themselves what kind of talk to give I typically find ones where they talk about their love of music, interactions with peers or relationships with their parents/siblings to more engaging than more abstract topics such as their beliefs surrounding a deity (though, in fairness, I wasn't raised UU so didn't do Coming of Age, but I'm sure at that point in life I would've been far more comfortable talking about theology than myself).
I agree that these services are something everyone should attend.
AMEN, and...
RE Sunday should not be the same as the school (or church) talent show! Remember that there will be people in the pews who are grieving, lonely, and looking for solace. Keep it spiritual please. One of my favorite services of all time was a Coming of Age theme where several young people described their concept of a higher power. Each was very different and all were moving and powerful, giving hope for the future to those of us without children in the pulpit.
Since it is April I also encourage congregations to plan their Earth Day worship from a spiritual foundation. There is so much that can be worshipful about our world; a worship service is not the place to remind people to use less and recycle, call their legislators, or to shame people for eating eggs. Those messages can be delivered at tables in the social hall! Let's spend an hour contemplating the interdependent web and how that is truly a power greater than ourselves.