At a Church Lock-In, there is going to be worship. The question is: What time to have it? I’m a fan of waiting until midnight to have worship for a few reasons:
- Everyone is there. Those who have to arrive late from sports events and other things will be there by midnight.
- Gives time for youth to help plan & participate in worship. The most meaningful worship services I have been at during Lock-Ins have been planned and led by the youth.
- Sets a tradition of worship. Youth will get used to having worship at midnight and it will become a tradition and be seen as a part of the Lock-In. When worship is held at different times every year, you will usually get reactions of whining as it is seen as a “surprise and interruption to fun.”
Simple Lock-In Worship Order
- Light Candle – My friend Brian introduced me to lighting a candle before each worship service with youth and explain that this is a “holy” time or a time that “is set apart” for God
- Opening Prayer
- Opening Song – cool opportunity to involve any youth who has any musical skills
- Scripture
- Reflection on Scripture – you can invite the youth to come up with something with your guidance
- Song
- Offering – this has the potential to be really powerful and cool – the sky is the limit (ex. everyone writes down how they want be more faithful to God and brings that forward for the offering)
- Prayers of the People – let the youth voice their prayer concerns
- Closing Song
Lock-Ins are a really amazing tool in the youth ministry tool box. Don’t take it too seriously and learn from each one – even if it is your 100th.
Do you have any cool Lock-In ideas? Anything you do for worship that has really worked or bombed?
