We continue to build momentum with the latest event in collaboration with churches from both London and Southwark Dioceses, as the Archbishop of Canterbury joined to find out what we get up to and celebrate the Eucharist with us.
We (Youth Ministry in Communion, known often as YMIC) are a movement pioneering sacramental and collaborative youth ministry. We have been growing steadily since 2021, thanks to a faithful group of founding partner parishes with an injection of funding to form a team and deploy youth workers into multi-parish collaborations.
On 6th October, along with 111 young people, we welcomed the Archbishop of Canterbury, to a milestone event at St Mary’s Putney. Another thing to celebrate is new funding within Southwark Diocese to replicate YMIC further south. We'll continue to work closely with our friends in Southwark Diocese through YMIC Southwark - watch this space!
This event was focused around the theme of peace and reconciliation - a topic which is also close to Archbishop Justin's heart. As usual, there was simple structure of activities happening simultaneously in rotation by groups and we had lots for young people to get involved in: laser tag in the main church, a gaming & social zone, peace themed graffiti and art banners, alongside an interactive discussion space with pizza van.
The graffiti was messy but incredibly fun, as young people's designs featured peace doves, words of love & peace, and the odd Banksy! Banny N'Gola, Community Youth Worker at St Andrew's Fulham Fields reflected:
"Graffiti is seldom celebrated as an art form. It was inspiring to see young people excited and enjoying it, incorporating themes from their faith into their creations."
The Archbishop was keen to explore the activities too and quickly found himself with spray paint in hand decorating a tote bag with his own flair after seeing what the young people had been coming up with!
Throughout the evening there were the obvious organised-chaos elements of large events, but also moments to behold.
The 'discussion and pizza' activity involved young people responding to various statements by moving around the room before having the opportunity to explain (it was a "stand there for X, or there for Y" type of activity. Many deep points were made, but one in particular was especially poignant when a young person shared about their faith and hope for peace in a dark world, which was met with applause. Many in that space recognised that they can find collective hope and peace through their faith, discussion and prayer.
A couple of teenagers who had been coming to YMIC events for a few years were asked what they enjoyed the most about coming along. One of them pointed at the dais and said "this" (referring to the time of worship that was going to begin soon). The events are not just about young people coming to have fun with all the activities on offer; they come to worship and receive, too.
A Licensed Lay Minister from St Mary's reflected that this was the first visit from an Archbishop in their time serving there for 57 years, and it just so happened to be a service for young people which he found incredibly moving.
And then, there was the Archbishop of Canterbury, on his knees breaking bread amongst the young people after a long day of visitations and conversations, as a small choir led us in song. After communion, the lights were dimmed as the Archbishop shared 'the light of Christ' from the altar candles as a symbol of God's presence in the darkness, before all were sent out into the world to live and serve.
Moments of profound connection amidst the chaos and joy created an evening to treasure. At the heart of YMIC is a desire to see young people meeting Christ together and thriving in the love of God.
[Article adapted from a Diocese of London article originally written by Levi Phillips]
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