Youth Sunday

On January 2, as tradition holds for the first Sunday of the new year, the high school and college ministries stepped in to commandeer Gateway's Sunday services.

Coming out of the Christmas season, the theme of the service focused on gratitude and thankfulness in the life of the believer. Special guest worship leader Heath Hollensbe and his team led the congregation in a variety of worship, ranging from the recent "Spirit Waltz" by Something Like Silas and "Forever" by Christ Tomlin to vintage hymns such as "Come Thou Fount" and "It is Well." This team did an incredible job of creating a spiritual reverence and atmosphere of worship.

Several students added to the focus with readings like Jenny Flynn quoting Psalm 100 and Jenna Stovall reading a traditional doxology. Pastor Tedd, following in the footsteps of Youth Sunday giants like Justin Windham and Dan Buxton, delivered a message exposing the obstacles to gratitude in our lives and means by which to overcome said issues.

What followed was a time for participation, in which the congregation had the opportunity to take communion, spend time at the altar, or write notes of thanks to God, which were then placed on a stately 8' cross constructed by our own Rick Buxton and his son Steven (special thanks to them for their generous donation of time and materials).

The service was closed out with prayer and announcements, sending out the congregation with the Aaronic blessing. It was an incredible time of celebration and reflection which blessed many... but prayerfully was a fragrant offering to God.

View pictures of Youth Sunday.