On Sunday, Castle Street Methodist Church was bursting with energy and colour as our young people led the morning service, sharing stories, laughter, and faith from their weekend at 3Generate – the Methodist Church’s annual gathering for children and young people.
The theme at 3Generate this year was Journey of a Lifetime – Waves, exploring the highs and lows of life and how God travels with us through every swell and storm. Our young leaders brought that theme vividly to life, guiding the congregation through an hour of creativity, joy, and deep reflection.
The service began with Isaac and Nick leading a lively call to worship, reminding us that God is with us through every “wave” of life – both the calm and the chaotic. Together, they introduced the theme and recalled the fun (and occasional chaos!) of taking on a mechanical surfboard at 3Generate, where balancing on a wobbly board became a perfect picture of faith itself: sometimes steady, sometimes shaky, but always worth climbing back on for another go.
There was laughter all around as Matthias, Rosa, and Izzy led the congregation in a quick-fire quiz before Iris brought the story of Noah’s Ark to life with a beautifully clear reading from Genesis 8. What followed was pure delight – a comedy sketch written especially for the service called “Waves on the Ark.” With a cast of goats, dinosaurs, and even a long-suffering “poo shoveler,” the sketch explored the funny – and sometimes smelly – side of living through a storm, reminding us that God’s promises hold firm even when life feels messy.
When the dove returned to him in the evening, there in its beak was a freshly plucked olive leaf! Then Noah knew that the water had receded from the earth.
Martha and Ethan then led an imaginative prayer activity, teaching everyone how to fold an origami boats (surfboards were a bit hard!) as we thought about what helps us stay balanced – family, friends, faith, and the quiet assurance of God’s presence. Rosa offered a thoughtful reflection, comparing the surf simulator to the ups and downs of our own faith journeys. They reminded us that, like Noah, we’re called to trust in God’s plan even when we can’t see dry land ahead. “When you’re feeling down,” she said, “trust that God knows how it’s all going to end. God’s got a big plan for you – and it’s not this!”
The prayers of intercession, written and read by all the young people, were particularly moving. Each prayer focused on a different part of life – the world, home, school, creation, and our church family – with the congregation joining in the simple but powerful response: “God, help us to ride the waves.”
We ended the service with a joyful rendition of Shine, Jesus, Shine, the young people’s voices and enthusiasm filling the sanctuary with hope and light.
This special service was a true celebration of faith in action. Our young people didn’t just tell us about their 3Generate experience – they invited the whole church to share in it. Their confidence, creativity, and faith inspired everyone present, especially other young people who hadn’t attended 3Gen this year. It was a reminder that the future of the Church is full of promise, and that God continues to speak powerfully through the youngest among us.
