I love it when the young people of St. Mark’s lead a service. There is always something bare bones about it. They cut through the pomp and stuff and get right down to engaging with God. If you forgive the analogy (and no desire here to be offensive) but sometimes I feel that people leading worship feel that adults need worship ‘foreplay’ before they can connect with God. I wonder if that’s because as adults we find ourselves compartmentalising worship, life, work and so on.

The young people we work with don’t seem to do that. To think of ‘warming people up’ for worship is bizarre to them – they lead you straight into it with a 2 minute introduction. It’s clear, refreshing and excellent. We are, however, incredibly blessed as I do think the young people of St Marks Landmark are an excellent, creative and very talented bunch of young people.

Tonight zones were set up.There were chill zones, art zones, chat zones, meditation zones, to receive prayer zones, to pray zones and of course the cafe.

Tonight people were free to be able to connect with God in an appropriate way for them. Afterwards I brought the boys home in the car and tears came to my eyes as Tom said that God told him in the service that ‘God loves me massively’ and Joe said ‘God told me he will never leave me’. Beth came home later with Sarah wide eyed and knowing that God loves her.

Those 3 reactions mean more to me as a dad than words can ever express.