boys’ and girls’ brigade enrolment service [15.10.01]

this service was put together for the boys’ and girls’ brigade annual enrolment service at cutler heights church, bradford - an act of worship where the members of the company make promises according to what it means to be part of the brigades. for more about the BB & GB visit: www.boys-brigade.org.uk and www.girlsbrigadeew.org.uk

the aim was to create a short service that would be interactive for all the ages present (from 5 years upwards) and accessible for parents and siblings who might not be used to a church service.

we re-wrote the traditional promises and split them into four parts around which we built the service: self, community, world, creation. the idea being that the promises made in the service were carried out into the world to be put into action.

we think with a little imagination this structure could be adapted to other ‘promise making’ services.

the service used a fairly typical ‘host’ style set up - 2x video projectors used for video and words, some projected slide images, music played over the PA. other gear: stickynotes and pens, an inflatable globe, large sheets of paper, candles

The Service:

1. ‘Self’

Centering meditation
- an extempore mspoken meditation thinking about our individual journeys to this place, where we’ve come from, who we are.

Sticky notes
- stickynotes and pens are handed out and everyone is invited to write or draw who they are beginning with the words “I am….” then stick it to themselves.

Promise 1: - being true to self & God

Chaplain: The aim of the Brigade is to help young people find true enrichment of life and to discover the love of Christ. Every year the officers, leaders and members of the brigade here at Cutler Heights make promises to themselves, to each other and to God based on this aim. At this time we also welcome new members into the company and present them with their membership card. Tonight we’re going to make these promises at three stages in the service. After the third promise we’ll invite the new members to come forward and ask them if they wish to be enrolled in the company here at Cutler Heights and also keep these promises.

All company stand:
Chaplain: The first promise is to God and to ourselves. The response to this promise is “we do”. Do you the officers, leaders and members of the Brigade at Cutler Heights Church promise to yourselves and to God to be faithful in all you think, say and do as a member of the Brigade?

Response: We do.

Chaplain: May God help you to be faithful to your promise.

Song: “I turn to you”

2. ‘Community’

Our Communities
The congregation are asked for suggestions of the communities they belong to (perhaps schools/work, bb/church groups, supporting football teams etc.) Aim to collect four similar communites each time. Each time the ‘communities’ are written on a large sheet of paper & held up at the four corners of the worship space and the congregation are invited to group into the community to which they belong.

Finally we recognise we are part of the community of BB, family & friends at cutler heights church. All invited to stick their ‘I am’ notes onto the wall together at the front of the church.

Promises 2: - promises to each other.

All company stand.
Chaplain: In this promise we remember that we are part of many communities and have a responsibility to each other. The response to this promise is “we do”.
Do you the officers, leaders and members of this company promise to each other and to the people of the communities in which you live, to be the best you can, whenever you can, for the good of other people?

Response: We do.

Chaplain: May God help you to be faithful to your promise.

3. ‘World’

Prayer Corners
A video image of a spinning globe is projected on to the top of the sticky notes now on the wall.
An inflatable globe is passed round congregation who are asked if they know people in or from specific parts of the world. These places are indentified on globe and a corner of the hall dedicated to that particular place until all 4 corners each represent a part of the world.

A large candle is lit in each corner to symbolise our prayers for the worldwide community. Then nightlites are passed round and congregation invited to go to one of the corners and light & leave their candles as their own prayer.

Promise 3: to the rest of the world.

All company stand.
Chaplain: The final promise acknowledges our responsibility to the rest of the world. The response to this promise is “we do”. Do you the officers, leaders and members of the Brigade at Cutler Heights Church promise to play your part in the world, to share peace and love with people all across the globe?

Response: We do.

Chaplain: May God help you to be faithful to your promise.

New members & Company Captain are invited forward.
Chaplain to New Members: The response to this promise is “I do”. Do you wish to be enrolled in the Cutler Heights company of the Brigade and to make these promises to God, to yourself, to your friends and the whole world as a member of the Brigade? New

Members: I do

Chaplain: I present you with your membership cards. May God support you throughout your lives and help you to keep your promises.

Company Captain shakes the hand of each new member to welcome them into the company.

Song: “Let love be your energy”

4. ‘Creation’

Video images of space projected whilst a reading/meditation about the monipresence of god based on one of the psalms was read (we seem to have lost this… we’ll put it up here if we find it).

Song: ‘Praise you’

Blessing
An extempore blessing encouraging the congregation to live their promises in all of creation.

Some people picked up a ‘prayer corner’ candle to take home with them.

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