HOW TO PREPARE A YOUTH SABBATH
General Information:
Date: Should not conflict with any of the local church activities.
Place: Your local church.
Meeting: Include ALL the youth, not just the church board appointed youth, to obtain their ideas.
Theme: Should be short attractive and to the point; can be bilingual; the whole program should be related to the theme. (ex. No te rindas, help is on the way. Make the call. Salvation’s here: take it or leave it.)
Color:The youth can pick out a color for the day. Everyone should come dressed in the chosen color or at least with a touch of the color. Be sure to let the whole congregation know, so they can join in.
Program essentials:
A- Praise & Worship: Use youthful music.
B- SabbathSchool: Utilize your church youth.
C- Divine Service: Youth topics and the speaker should be a person that appeals to the youth.
D- Lunch: Delegate a committee to organize the lunch potluck style.
E- Missionary Work: Should be coordinated with the Missionary Department of the local church.
F- Workshop: Should be interactive and dynamic. Should also be on a topic that is interesting to young people.
G- Concert: Encourage your church youth to develop their talents by participating in the concert.
H- Gym or Social Activity: This is a time when the youth can come together in a social gathering.
Please note: the program should not be done in the same format or order as it is done every Sabbath. Think outside the box.
Important Details:
n Music: This is a very important part of the day. It sets the mood.
n Audio/Visual: It is important that the A/V be on point. It is very distracting when the sound or the visual effects are in contrast with the program.
n Flyers: Becreative. Pick images that go with the theme. Post it where people can see it. Promotion of the event is essential to get people motivated.
n Souvenirs (ex. buttons, bookmarks, pencils, key chains): People will remember the event forever when they have a keepsake. Have the date, location and theme printed on the item. Try to match the souvenir with the theme of the day. For example, for Light it up, give out mini flashlights.
n Church Bulletin: Have a church bulletin that reflects the day. Use graphics and make it different than the norm.
n Ushers: Keeping the reverence in the temple is very important. Use young people as ushers or pathfinders.
n Decoration: Use simple but interesting decoration that go with the theme. It is important to have the words of the theme up high where people can see it all day. The flyers, souvenirs and church bulletin could all use the same graphics/image so people can always associate it with that special day.
n Groups: In order to make the event less of a burden, divide the youth into different groups that are in charge of every aspect of the day (e.g. SabbathSchool, Lunch, Promotion, Decoration, Workshop, etc.) Assign a leader to each group. Make sure to place youth in position they are interested in. Create a list of the needed groups and have them sign up to where they would like to work in.
n Schedule: Type up a schedule. Make sure all the group leaders have a copy.
n Timekeeper: In order to keep the day running smoothly, assign someone the task of keeping time in case something runs too long. But keep in mind that not everything will run like clockwork, but at least it can run in an organized fashion.
Remember:
n Do not carry the whole program yourself. Delegate.
n Do it differently each time.
n Use ALL your church’s youth in the area(s) that interest them.
SAMPLE Youth Sabbath Program
(Taken from an actual Youth Sabbath activity by Sábado Joven Ministries)
Date: July 29, 2006
Place:Brooklyn, NY
Theme: Jesus Uncut: Code or Truth?
Participation
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Minutes
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Time
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Sabbath School:
|
|
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Praise & Worship Session
(P&W Team)
|
15
|
9:15 – 9:30
|
“It’s More Than Just a Story”
Drama
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45
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9:30 – 10:15
|
|
Musical Selection
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4
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10:15 – 10:19
|
|
Lesson Overview
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15
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10:19-10:34
|
|
Offering
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6
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10:34-10:40
|
|
Musical Selection
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During the offering
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10:35-10:40
|
|
Final Prayer
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1
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10:40-10:41
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Heart to heart
(An inspiring interview of a young person who has made a great impact on others or has had a life changing experience or an extraordinary testimony)
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15
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10:41-10:56
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Announcements
(Focus on the day’s activities and other youth activities)
|
9
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10:56 -11:05
|
|
|
|
|
Divine Hour:
|
|
|
Praise & Worship Session
(P&W Team)
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10
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11:05 – 11:15
|
|
Invocation
|
1
|
11:15 – 11:16
|
|
Scripture Reading
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1
|
11:16-11:17
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Garden of Prayer
(Invite people who have special requests to come up front)
|
3
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11:17 – 11:20
|
|
Welcome
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7
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11:20 –11:27
|
|
Tithes & Offering
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5
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11:27-11:32
|
|
Special Music
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During the Tithes and Offering
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11:28– 11:32
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Youth’s Corner
(A mini skit with a important message geared towards the youth)
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5
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11:32 – 11:37
|
|
Music Selection
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5
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11:37 – 11:42
|
|
Presentation of Speaker
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1
|
11:42 – 11:43
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Praise & Worship Session
(P&W Team)
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10
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11:43 -11:53
|
|
Spiritual Meditation
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60
|
11:53 – 12:53
|
|
Final Praise
|
5
|
12:53-12:58
|
|
Final Prayer
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1
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12:58 -12:59
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lunch
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105
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1:00-2:45
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Parade*
(Marched from the front of the church to an outside location, giving out literature to the community and inviting them to the church.)
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60
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3:00 – 4:00
|
|
Workshop*
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60
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4:00 – 5:00
|
|
Concert*
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120
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5:00 – 7:00
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|
Clean-up
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30
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7:00 – 7:30
|
|
Sunset service
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30
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7:45 – 8:15
|
|
Social
|
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8:15 -
|
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*In the open air.
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