Inspire
Down in West Cork, in the town of Rosscarbery, there's been something building over the last two years. A youth service is what they call it I guess. We call it Inspire, roughly defined as "an alternative worship experience meant to push you expectations of church through creative and relevant ways." It has been the platform that has given youth in the area a voice into how they would like to do church. What began as one of the first services to utilize music from the band U2 throughout the service has moved from the pews and into the Ross Cathedral narthex, transforming the place into a truly unique, laid back, cafe style approach to church. Coffee and tea are provided throughout the service and people that show up early can enjoy some of the theme based decorations and abstract art painted by the local youth hanging on the walls. The worship music has been provided by Sean Bastable, a worship leader who flew in from Den Haag in the Netherlands. Sean's laid back approach to worship provided a great atmosphere and hopefully an opportunity for people to experience God in a new way. Worship is approached in many ways throughout our various services to include interactive prayer movements and video worship experiences. The goal of each Inspire is to take one message and figure out how many different ways we can bring that message forward. The Fringe (a combined youth group of Rosscarbery and Clonakilty) has put many hours into the setup and preparation of this service and they take pride in seeing it take shape.
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In November 2007, we kicked it all off again with our first cafe style Inspire called "Why...is the question?" that really challenged us to ask the questions in order to grow in faith. The night went well and it was an exciting fresh look for many at what the possibilities could be. Some things went well while other could be improved, but that's what it's all about. It's about trial and error together in order that we bring something before God that speaks from the hearts of the youth. |
| March 9th, we had "Movement" asking the question "Where are we heading as a Church?" The evening went very well as we locked in a bit more on figuring out what to focus on. We set up the stage like a sitting room where Sean and Ben played from and where Chris and Sean had their casual chat time. The creative aspects moved forward as well from the surrounding walls being covered in the youth's footprints to a massive video (inspired by chariots of fire) projected against the side of the cathedral. |  |
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On May 17th, we had "Ignition" Which asked the question "How do we respond to the Holy Spirit?". The night continued our progression in realizing how we can be progressing in worship and bring our creativity unto God as a form of worship. Key points were our intro videos and fire inspired abstract art by our youth group. |
| Sept. 13th brought to the Inspire team a new challenge, how would communion look through the eyes of an inspire service. What came about was "Connect" a night that seemed to bring a connection between the ancient and the modern styles of worship and a reintroduction to the practice of communion. This was also the final evening of having Sean Bastable in leading worship with us. His heart and passion helped really set a mood of worship amidst our young people and he is missed. Sean is currently living in South Africa and currently working in ministering to the young people there. |  |
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Nov. 17th was our last Inspire service of 2008. Entitled "Involve", it served as a challenge to us as the church and that challenge was "how are we going to be involved in service in our homes, communities, nation, and world?" |
Jan 31st 2009 will bring us to our next instalment of Inspire services. Entitled "Still"...'Be still and know that I am God' it should be unlike anything experienced in an Inspire service before.
Throughout it's short history, the Inspire service has given us an opportunity to give the youth a voice in the church and allow them to bring their gifts before God and worship in a way that might better represent where their hearts are at. It's still early days and the skies the limit as far as possibilities go. We're excited at the possibilities on the horizon and looking forward to what God will do amidst His people here in Rosscarbery.