By Susan Shinn
sshinn@salisburypost.com
SPENCER ó Lauren West is leading the youth at Central United Methodist Church in a new endeavor, and they’re more than up to the challenge.
I think.
It’s hard to tell.
They’re wearing all black. And hoodies. And sunglasses. In the dark.
Some 20 youth at the church have worked hard the past couple of months to creative Together Hands in Christ ó a Youth Blacklight Ministry.
The group’s debut performance is this evening at Central in “An Evening of Hope.”
A dinner begins at 6 p.m., followed by a performance of the Grand Central Ringers handbell group and ending with the youth’s inaugural performance. Proceeds from the event will go toward a mission trip to eastern Tennessee this summer.
For its first public foray, Lauren chose the song “Who Am I?” by Casting Crowns. The lights will go out, and the youth will put on white gloves under the blacklights, creating symbols through the song.
In all, it’s about a 10-minute performance, and groups of 40 will be able to rotate into the church’s chapel during dessert time.
There’s been a lot of preparation by the young adults to bring Lauren’s idea to fruition.
“Make sure you don’t smile because your teeth will show,” Lauren tells the group before the lights go out during practice.
The group forms three rows, some kneeling, wearing hoods, facing away from the audience, some sitting some standing.
As the music begins, a dove flies over the earth, following the lyrics of the song.
The group works together to form such images as a person, ocean waves, the cross, a flower, the word “God” and the word “yours.”
While the lights are on, the kids are very serious ó no smiles, as Lauren as reminded them.
“That was good, guys,” she says, when the song ends. “Y’all did good.”
She gives them various pointers, such as the fact that the “G” and the “O” have to be even when they make the word “God.”
They go over the “falling man” segment one more time to get it just right, and then it’s time to practice with the lights off.
In the blacklight, the white gloves take on a purplish glow, and all the symbols they make seem to jump out of the darkness.
There’s a big heart, and letters that dissipate as hands flutter away and disappear.
The dove reappears at the end, flying over the solitary figure standing on a hill.
“I’m so proud of you,” Lauren says, and reminds the group about Saturday morning’s dress rehearsal. She hopes a last-minute run-through will help calm any jitters. Most of the kids go to North Rowan High School, says Caitlin Crawford, the youth group’s president. Most are members of Central but there are some young people from the community as well.
Several months ago, Lauren saw a video on YouTube, and decided to choreograph the song for her youth group.
“It’s fun,” Evan O’Neil says. “It’s a great idea.”
“It’s the best thing we’ve ever done in our youth group,” Catherine Crawford says. “It’s an emotional thing. It’s brought us closer together. It’s neat and different.”
They’ve practiced every Sunday since February.
“I asked the kids that were in the central location to commit to every single Sunday,” Lauren says. “If somebody’s missing, it throws it off.”
And practice really does make perfect.
“Repetition,” Caitlin says. “That’s all it is. It’s just adding on to it every single time.”
Now it’s time for the youth group members to share this unique talent.
“I hope the audience can see we worked really hard and put a lot of work into it,” Cailtin says. “We do have a great group of kids and I hope they can see that.”
Lauren rebuilt the youth group last summer, starting with just five kids.
“The kids are so good and bring so much joy to my life,” Lauren says.