B.C. Churches Unite for Youth-Focused Evening Worship

Twilight is the quiet beauty between sunset and dusk. It’s also the name given to an evening worship gathering, an initiative of four Christian Reformed churches in British Columbia.

Fleetwood, Hope Community, Immanuel, and Willoughby CRCs have partnered in their vision for a youth-focused evening service.  Individually, the four churches have long abandoned or never held a Sunday evening service. This new venture, billed as a contemporary liturgical service, came out of the churches’ youth pastors combining their efforts and talents.

Although the focus is on teens and young adults, people of all ages are invited, welcomed, and represented.  “We want to create a service that is relevant to our youth and young adults and still have the similar feel to their Sunday morning experience. In the liturgies we want space for confession and assurance and a message centering on the Word,” said Curtis Meliefste, youth pastor at Willoughby CRC. Kevin Lobert, youth pastor at Immanuel CRC, brought the inaugural message, the first of a planned series on the letters to the seven churches in Revelation. Following the formal worship, small groups met with leaders to continue a conversation on the sermon.

Jenna Rodermond was on the worship team and is a member of Willoughby CRC, where she is involved in the music ministry. “As I was singing, I was struck by the beauty of a young community. But there were not only youth there,” she commented. “There were all ages represented, and it would great if the age diversity increased [at future services].”

The first service, held October 15 at Immanuel CRC in Langley, B.C., was well attended and well received. The dream is for Twilight to become a monthly gathering of youth from these churches and the communities they represent. Immanuel CRC will again host the next service in November. Rodermond hopes more churches join in. “It was glimpse of heaven on earth for me.”