Mike Houston’s wig and headband at GCR’s annual Groovy Gala last night was a shockingly hilarious surprise. But not nearly as funny as the way Mike walked around with that fake (I’m pretty sure) doobie between his fingers. Mike joined Kathy Futrell and Jerry and Lisa Pullen as the top winners in the costume contest in what has become one of my favorite yearly events at our church.

Our amazing youth group puts on a ’70s themed shindig for everyone in the congregation over the age of 60. The teenagers serve the dinner, they refill our drinks, and they sit with us and ask us questions about the music of our youth, first generation video games, and how much a gallon of gasoline cost when we got our drivers licenses. Of course, Carrie-Anne and I are a LONG way from 60, but we get invited every year on some kind of special preacher card. And we’re thrilled to do it. Carrie-Anne always buys the perfect accessory for her outfit like two months in advance and I always throw on the same “peace sign” T-shirt, while some of these cats merely go to the backs of their closets. And, yeah, I know one or two just wear whatever they wore to church that morning.

We were delighted last night to be hosted by Gabby and Finley at their table, along with Peggy Geer and Herman and Patty Kincaide. Peggy openly defied the rules of the trivia game and I’m not sure all of Herman’s stories about Army life from 1969-1971 were accurate, but we had a ton of fun. Singing the songs together with our GCR house band, Faces in the Crowd; learning and practicing disco dance moves to the Bee Gees and the Village People; remembering the great movies from the ’70s; and explaining to the young people what the numbers 33-1/3 and 45 mean in the middle of a vinyl record–it’s a blast! I was reluctant–no, completely opposed–to joining the folks on the floor for one particular dance. But what do you do when the kids are chanting your name?!?!

This youth group, man. They are something else. I love these young men and women and they love us and our church. They’re personally engaged with what God is doing in them and through them, they’re totally locked in with each other, and they are a critically important part of our congregation. They are demonstrating divine joy and sacrificial service, they are leading us in worship and  teaching us about unity, and they are showing us what it looks like to be changed by God to love like Jesus.

I am so thankful to belong to a church where the youth group WANTS to be a part of the larger congregation and where the congregation delights to encourage the youth group. It’s a mutual thing, a heavenly inter-generational thing. It’s much more rare than it should be. And I don’t ever take it for granted.

Peace,

Allan