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SERIES

BELONGA LIFE NIGHT SERIES ON ISOLATION

CONTENT

ABOUT THIS SERIESIMPORTANT DETAILS ABOUT THIS SERIES

(Pg. 4)

ALONESOLITUDE VS. ISOLATION

(Pg. 8)

INVITEDTHE MYSTICAL BODY OF CHRIST

(Pg. 25)

ACCEPTEDDIVERSITY IN THE CHURCH

(Pg. 41)

NEEDEDOUR RESPONSIBILITY IN THE CHURCH

(Pg. 57)

Unless otherwise noted, Scripture passages have been taken from the RevisedStandard Version, Catholic edition. Copyright ©1946, 1952, 1971 by the Divisionof Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in theUSA. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Quotes are taken from the English translation of the Catechism of the CatholicChurch for the United States of America (indicated as CCC), 2nd ed. Copyright©1997 by United States Catholic Conference – Libreria Editrice Vaticana.

Author: Lily Hannan

Design: Casey Olson

Copy Edit: Angela Hamrick

Hispanic Inculturation: Stephanie Espinoza, Juan Aznaran, Stephanie Salinas, Andrea Vasquez-Tejada

©2018 Life Teen, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this book, including interior design, cover design, and/or icons, may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, by any means (electronic, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without prior written permission from the publisher.

The information contained herein is published and produced by Life Teen, Inc. The resources and practices are in full accordance with the Roman Catholic Church. The Life Teen® name and associated logos are trademarks registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Use of the Life Teen® trademarks without prior permission is forbidden. Permission may be requested by contacting Life Teen, Inc. at 480-820-7001.

54 BELONG SERIES

ABOUT THIS SERIES

ABOUT THIS SERIESAt some point in life, every person encounters the deep ache of loneliness and isolation. Many factors cause teens to experience this pain to a greater degree today and a multitude of solutions often leave them feeling even more alone. Belong addresses the importance of moving from isolation to solitude as well as our need for acceptance and community, which can be found and fostered in the Catholic Church.

STRUCTURE AND METHODBelong is a four-part series and is best used when the Life Nights are executed in order. If this is the first programming of your semester, implement a Social or Kick-Off Life Night before beginning.

The Life Nights in this series flow easily from one to the next. However, if you would like to take a certain topic further, you can schedule an additional, mid-week Life Night or add a Life Night to the series itself.

Between Belong and the next Life Night series or curriculum guide, offer a Social Life Night to add variety.

CORE PREPARATIONIsolation is not an experience confined to teenage years. Many adults struggle to encounter their “aloneness” and move toward solitude instead of isolation. A month or two prior to the Life Night series, consider reading Henri Nouwen’s book, “Reaching Out,” as a Core Team. Incorporate a discussion about the book into your regular Core Team meetings. During your last meeting before the series, use the Send and Break from the Life Night Alone to discuss isolation and solitude. Conclude the guided meditation from the Break by praying for each teen in your youth group by name. Pray especially that they will have the courage to move into a place of solitude before God, a renewed desire for authentic community, and the willingness to build community within your youth group and parish.

INTRODUCTORY MATERIAL Each Life Night begins with a Goal, Key Concepts, Key Terms, and Scripture and Catechism references. These sections provide an overview of the content and themes of the Life Night.

ABOUT THIS LIFE NIGHTAbout This Life Night briefly describes the Gather, Proclaim, Break, and Send. It provides a step-by-step framework for the Life Night.

ENVIRONMENTThe Environment section offers ideas on how to create a meeting space that supports the content and main themes of the Life Night. Not only can the environment be a part of the evangelization and catechetical process, but the effort and creativity put forth can also make the teens feel valued and welcomed.

MEDIA SUGGESTIONSMedia Suggestions provide music and video clip suggestions that creatively support the content and main themes of the Life Night. While planning, take a look at the media suggestions and consider weaving a video clip or song into the Life Night. Media communicates with our hearts and minds in a unique, powerful way — especially the hearts and minds of teens.

FLOCKNOTEFor those parishes who also subscribe to Flocknote, Parent Updates and text messages are loaded into the interface. Simply log in to schedule and send these communications. Find more information about subscribing to Flocknote at flocknote.com.

AS YOU GET STARTEDAs You Get Started offers adaptations to keep in mind as you read through and plan the Life Night.

HISPANIC INCULTURATIONThe Hispanic /Latino population in Catholic parishes across the United States is large and growing. According to the National Study of Catholic Parishes with Hispanic Ministry, 38 to 40

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percent of adult Catholics self-identify as Hispanic. Additionally, Hispanics account for 71 percent of growth of the Catholic population in the United States since 1960.

According to the USCCB’s survey, Hispanics in the United States and the Catholic Church, 54 percent of Catholic millennials (those born in 1982 or later) are Hispanic. To meet this growing need, Life Teen has added a Hispanic Inculturation section to Life Nights. This section was developed by a group of dedicated youth ministers who serve at largely Hispanic/Latino parishes throughout the United States and Mexico.

We recognize that not all Hispanic/Latino communities are the same. However, it is our hope that this section assists youth ministers in adapting to the needs of their specific community by providing insight into the Hispanic/Latino culture.

PROCLAIM In this series, you will find two versions of the Proclaim for each Life Night. The Proclaim Outline lays out the key terms and main points quickly so the person giving the Proclaim can expand upon them with their own insight and ideas. The Proclaim Details offers a more robust version of the teaching with examples, ideas for personal testimony, and suggested expansion on the key points. Use both to write a Proclaim that fits your youth group and local community.

SMALL GROUPSIn order to hold the teens accountable in attending all of the Life Nights in the series and to build a sense of trust and community, it is recommended that the teens are divided into small groups on the first Life Night of the series and stay with those groups for the duration of the series. This allows for deeper conversation and a greater sense of openness among the teens.

If possible, have Core Members lead the same small groups for each Life Night. This will lead to greater trust and deeper small group discussions.

HANDOUTSAll of the Life Night handouts can be found on the September 2018 Life Teen USB and online at lifeteen.com under Life Support: September 2018. The handouts are formatted for you to easily print on standard letter-size paper. Be diligent in accessing the handouts while planning the Life Nights.

SOCIAL MEDIA RECAP AND PACKAGEThe Social Media Recap and Package provides Instagram images, hashtags, and tweets that both you and your teens can use to engage social media throughout the week. They recap the main themes and remind the teens of the important aspects of the Life Night. They can be found at the beginning of every Life Night and on the September 2018 Life Teen USB.

PARENT LETTERThe Parent Letter contains Content Overview and Conversation Starters for each Life Night. The Parent Letter not only includes and equips parents in the formation and catechesis of their teens, but also provides them an opportunity for ongoing conversion and catechesis.

The Parent Letter can be emailed to parents before or after a Life Night. It can also be printed and handed out at the end of a Life Night. Consider having Core Members at the doors and in the parking lot during pick up, passing out the Parent Letter and looking out for the safety of the teens.

The Parent Letter is available in both English and Spanish. If you have a bilingual community, we recommend double-sided printing the Parent Letter in both English and Spanish. Teens, and sometimes even Core Members, have a tendency to grab any handout, not necessarily the right one. We want the right handout to get in the hands of parents. Also, if word gets out in your community that you are handing out bilingual materials, the Spanish speaking community will feel more welcomed and encouraged to become involved. USCCB FRAMEWORKFor parishes using the USCCB framework for high school catechesis, this series will work with your Church semester.

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LIFE NIGHT OVERVIEW

ALONEA LIFE NIGHT ON SOLITUDE VS. ISOLATION

GOAL

The goal of Alone is to help the teens recognize their experiences of isolation and loneliness and motivate them to move from isolation to solitude before God and into community with one another.

KEY CONCEPTS

• Being in solitude is good because it gives us an opportunity to contemplate who we are before God. We get to know our truest self and gain a deeper intimacy with God.

• Isolation is a result of the fall of humanity and is never good. It is a lack of self-awareness. It is a numb, dulled existence. Isolation is a lack of authentic friendships and community.

• Christ established the Church to help us develop a mature interior life and grow in authentic community.

KEY TERMS:Isolation Solitude

SCRIPTURE:Genesis 2Matthew 27:1-10Luke 5:16John 18:15-27

CATECHISM:763-768

ABOUT THIS LIFE NIGHT

The Gather is an activity that allows the teens to see what common experiences they have with one another, culminating in the experience of loneliness. A testimony from a teen transitions into the Proclaim, which unpacks the difference between solitude and isolation. The Break gives the teens an opportunity to reflect on and discuss Peter’s betrayal and Jesus’ prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane. The Send is a guided meditation on Jesus’ encounter with Peter after his betrayal.

ENVIRONMENT

Place carpet squares, chairs, or markers on the ground in the main meeting space in a way that separates the teens from one another. Divide the room in half using painter’s tape with one side representing “solitude” and the other “isolation.” The line of tape will also be used for the Gather activity. On the solitude side, create a peaceful and clean space with live plants. On the isolation side, create a chaotic and dark space with trash on the floor and blacked out windows or images.

Project the Alone environment image, which can be found on the September 2018 Life Teen USB and online at lifeteen.com under Life Support: September 2018.

MEDIA SUGGESTIONS

Life Teen: “Alone” (Life Support: September 2018)

Life Teen: “1 New Message” (Edge Support: March 2017)

Life Teen: “Locked From the Inside” (Life Support: May 2018)

“You’re Gonna Be OK,” Brian & Jenn Johnson (After All These Years, Bethel Music, 2017)

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SOCIAL MEDIA HASHTAGS: #LT_Alone

AS YOU GET STARTED...

For a Gather with a large group and a small space, consider splitting the teens up on multiple lines or simply have them move to different parts of the room for each statement.

For a Proclaim without a teen testimony, consider having the Core Members participate in the Gather activity and transition into the Proclaim with a testimony from a Core Member.

For a parish with perpetual Eucharistic Adoration or a Blessed Sacrament Chapel, consider inviting the teens to grow in solitude during the week by spending time in prayer before the Eucharist. Make sure teens know where the chapel is located, and be sure to give them the access code if there is one. HISPANIC INCULTURATIONBy Stephanie EspinozaContributors: Juan Aznaran, Stephanie Salinas, Andrea Vasquez-Tejada

Important Notes for Pastoral Care:Hispanic/Latino teens often feel at odds with their two cultural identities — the one rooted in Hispanic/Latino heritage and the one based on the American mainstream. During the Gather, consider adding statements related to isolation that are often associated with this ethnic/racial divide, such as the following:

• Most of your friends are of a different race/ethnicity.• Most of your friends are of the same race/ethnicity.• You don’t speak the language your parents and/or

grandparents speak.• You speak the same language your parents and/or

grandparents speak.

Notes: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________

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LIFE NIGHT: ALONE

GATHER

Welcome and Opening Prayer (5 min)Gather teens in the main meeting space. Welcome them to the Life Night, introduce any teens or Core Members attending for the first time, and begin in prayer.

Over the Line (10 min)As suggested in the Environment, use painter’s tape to create a line across the middle of the main meeting space. Instruct the teens to stand on the line and face the wall parallel to the line. Then, instruct the teens to take a small step backward. Using the statements on the Over the Line handout, which can be found on the September 2018 Life Teen USB and online at lifeteen.com under Life Support: September 2018, ask the teens to step across the line if (insert statement). Give the teens a moment to observe who stepped over the line and who remained in place and then invite those who moved forward to take a step back and rejoin the group. The last statement refers to the teen who will give the testimony at the beginning of the Proclaim. After this teen steps over the line, instruct the remaining teens to take a seat and invite the teen who is giving the testimony to the front of the main meeting space.

PROCLAIM

“Alone” Teaching (15 min)The Proclaim Outline and Proclaim Details can be found on pages 16 to 23.

BREAK

Small Group Scripture Reading and Discussion (30 min)Divide the teens into small groups of six to eight with one Core Member in each group. Pass out Bibles and begin the small group with a prayer. Read John 18:15-27 aloud and then instruct the teens to silently read the passage a second time. Use the following questions to facilitate a discussion:

• Was Peter isolated or in solitude? How so?• What might have happened if Peter was in solitude? • What are some common circumstances of isolation for

teens today? • What are some areas of isolation in your own life?

Read Matthew 26:36-46 aloud and then instruct the teens to silently read the passage a second time. Use the following questions to facilitate a discussion: • Was Jesus isolated or in solitude? How so?• What was the difference between Peter and Jesus?• What did Jesus do next? How did His solitude aid Him in

His upcoming mission?• How can you turn areas or times of isolation into

opportunities for solitude?

SEND

Guided Meditation (15 min)Gather the teens in the main meeting space. Create a peaceful and prayerful environment by dimming the lights and playing instrumental worship music. Have an image of Jesus in the front of the main meeting space. Pass out a blank piece of paper and writing utensil to each teen. Project and read John 21:15-17. Use the following to lead the teens in a silent reflection, allowing time to journal after each question:

After His death and Resurrection, Jesus sought out Peter only to find him fishing. Before Peter met Jesus, he was

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a fisherman. Jesus found Peter back in his old habits. He was distracting himself. He was isolating himself.

What are some things you do to purposefully distract or isolate yourself?

In what ways do you feel alone or isolated that are not necessarily a consequence of your own actions but rather, the actions of someone else?

What was Jesus trying to communicate to Peter in this passage?

What might Jesus be communicating to you in this passage?

How does Jesus seek you and find you in your isolation?

What are some changes you can make to your daily routine to move toward solitude and away from isolation?

Once teens have had time to reflect on the last question, conclude the Life Night with the following prayer:

Jesus, you found Peter and drew him out of his isolation. There are many times when we feel lonely and isolated. Help us to not fall into the temptation of masking our loneliness or distracting ourselves from it. Help us to move into a place of solitude where we know you and seek to know ourselves. Amen.

Notes: ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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PROCLAIM OUTLINE

ALONE

KEY TERMS

Isolation: Feeling unknown by God and others and being unknown to oneself.

Solitude: The state of trusting that we are known by God and seeking to know ourselves and God.

TEACHING POINTS

SOLITUDE• Prior to the Life Night, prepare a teen to give a testimony

on an experience of loneliness and the power of turning to God to grow in solitude rather than withdrawing in isolation.

• Being alone makes us uncomfortable, so most of us avoid it. However, everyone experiences being alone; no one is exempt. How we experience our “aloneness” can either be in isolation or solitude.

• In the beginning, Adam was alone, but his “aloneness” was one of solitude. He grew in self-knowledge and self-awareness of who he was through contemplation of God’s creation, but also through a relationship with God.

• We also see the importance and power of solitude in the story of Moses and the Ten Commandments, Jonah and the whale, and several times in stories of Jesus from the Gospels.

• In each of these encounters, they grow in intimacy with God, learn to trust Him more, and have a greater sense of their purpose and mission.

• Jesus, our model of holiness, often withdrew to pray. He went to the wilderness, mountain tops, and solitary places in order to know Himself and contemplate His Father’s will. He always spent time alone in solitude before making important decisions.

ISOLATION• Play the video “Alone,” found in the Media Suggestions.

After the video, project the following definitions of solitude and isolation.

• Solitude is trusting we are known by God and seeking to know ourselves. Isolation is feeling unknown by God and others and being unknown to ourselves.

• Solitude is part of God’s original design and results from taking time for prayer and reflection. Isolation is a result of our fallen world and causes us to surround ourselves with noise and distractions to avoid feeling lonely. Isolation is a lack of authentic friendships and community. It disconnects us from reality and the world.

• Because of the Fall of Humanity, God’s design is broken. We were made to know God, know ourselves, and be in relationship with other people. We can’t know ourselves if we don’t know God and we can’t have authentic relationships if we don’t know ourselves.

• Many people are afraid of being alone and find silence painful. We are often scared of discovering who we are, so it requires courage to spend time in silence and contemplation. We are afraid of our brokenness and worry that, because of our flaws, we won’t belong.

• God invites us to know Him, spend time with Him, and experience the depth of His love that goes beyond any flaw or failure. As we spend time with Him, we discover ourselves and encounter other people in a real and meaningful way.

THE CHURCH• Christ established the Church to help us grow in our

relationship with God. The Church gives us a place and the tools to practice solitude and develop a more mature interior life — our ability to enter into solitude, hear the voice of God, and know ourselves.

• We are given the sacraments and prayers such as lectio divina, the rosary, and the Liturgy of the Hours, along with thousands of years of wisdom and

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guidance through the Church’s teachings and the witness of the saints.

• Christ also established the Church for us to be in authentic community with each other. We can all share our journey toward solitude with each other if we are vulnerable, honest, and directed toward love of God and others.

• Though we each stand alone before God, we do not have to be isolated. We can be in solitude — knowing God, ourselves, and authentic community in the Body of Christ.

Notes: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

PROCLAIM DETAILS

ALONE

TEACHING

SOLITUDE

Prior to the Life Night, prepare a teen to give a testimony on an experience of loneliness and the power of turning to God to grow in solitude rather than withdrawing in isolation. Help the teen answer questions such as, “What is my desire when I feel lonely?” “Are there unhealthy ways in which I deal with that desire?” “What are healthy ways I have learned to deal with that desire?” “How has God answered that desire and transformed my heart when I turned to Him?”

Most of us avoid being alone because it makes us uncomfortable. What are we supposed to do? What are we supposed to think about? We pull out our phones when we are waiting in line. We fill our weekends with video game marathons. We join sports teams. We wouldn’t dare go out to eat alone because we don’t know what we would do if we had to sit all by ourselves. If we are home alone, we probably turn on the TV or scroll through social media.

Like we heard from (insert the name of the teen who shared the testimony), everyone experiences being alone; no one is exempt. However, how we experience our “aloneness” can either be in isolation or solitude.

In the beginning, there was a time when Adam was the only human on Earth. He was alone, but his “aloneness” was one of solitude. In his solitude, he was given a unique opportunity to know himself and his creator, God. What did Adam do in his solitude? God brought the animals before him, one by one, for him to name. In this time with God, Adam discovered that he was different than the animals.

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He grew in self-knowledge and self-awareness of who he was through contemplation of God’s creation, but also through a relationship with God.

Genesis 2

Adam being alone in the Garden of Eden is the first time we hear about solitude in Sacred Scripture. We also see the importance and power of solitude in the story of Moses and the Ten Commandments, Jonah and the whale, and several times in stories of Jesus from the Gospels.

After the Israelites were delivered from the tyranny of Pharaoh, the Lord wanted to establish a covenant with His people and summoned Moses to journey to the top of Mt. Sinai, alone. The people and priests were at the foot of the mountain, but Moses had to climb a fiery, heavily clouded mountain surrounded by lightning and thunder, alone. It was a task only he could fulfill. During this journey, Moses experienced a deep intimacy with God, gained a deeper understanding of his purpose and mission, and ultimately received God’s will for His people through the law (or Ten Commandments).

Exodus 19

Jonah was an Israelite who God called to be a prophet to Nineveh, but he refused to accept this mission. Instead, he ran away from the calling and presence of God and took a ship in the opposite direction of Nineveh. God then raised a great storm on the sea. The sailors, realizing that Jonah’s disobedience caused the storm, threw Jonah overboard in an attempt to save the ship. Jonah didn’t drown because he was swallowed by a great fish and vomited out on dry land. He was in the belly of the great fish for three days and three nights. During this time, he found solitude to which he gave thanks for. Through this time of solitude, Jonah realized his mission and came to trust God.

Jonah 1

Project and read Jonah 2:1, 7.

Jesus, our model of holiness, often withdrew to pray. He went to the wilderness, mountain tops, and solitary places. He made time for contemplation in order to know Himself and His Father’s will. After spending time alone in solitude, He made important decisions. He spent time in the desert before preaching the Kingdom. He went to a deserted place before calling His disciples. He spent time in prayer to prepare for the Crucifixion.

Luke 4:42, 5:16, 22:42; Matthew 14:23; Mark 1:35

ISOLATION

Solitude is different than isolation.

Play the video “Alone,” which can be found in the Media Suggestions. After the video, project the following definitions of solitude and isolation.

Usually we think about solitude and isolation as similar concepts in that a person is alone. However, for this series, we want to talk about them as separate ideas. For this series, when we use the word solitude, it doesn’t just mean being alone, but trusting we are known by God and seeking to know ourselves. When we talk about isolation, we mean feeling unknown by God and others and being unknown to ourselves.

Solitude is good; it is a part of God’s original design, and we should seek opportunities to grow in it daily. Isolation is a result of the Fall of Humanity; it separates us from God and others and should be avoided. Solitude results from taking time for prayer and reflection. It is choosing to be mindful during our daily activities when we are alone or with other people. Isolation is a lack of self-awareness, meaning we don’t know who we are or our purpose so we avoid opportunities to face ourselves. It causes us to surround ourselves with noise and distractions to avoid feeling lonely. It is a numb, dulled existence because we cannot enter into meaningful relationships with others. Isolation is a lack of authentic friendship and community. It is being disconnected from reality and the world.

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Because of the Fall of Humanity, God’s design is broken. We were made to know God, know ourselves, and be in relationship with other people. However, our fallen world and fallen nature make it difficult. We can’t know ourselves if we don’t know God and we can’t have authentic relationships if we don’t know ourselves. We are afraid of being alone because silence is painful and we don’t know what to do with it. We are often scared of discovering who we are, so it requires courage to spend time in silence and contemplation. We are intimidated by our brokenness and worry that, because of our flaws, we won’t belong. However, God invites us to know Him, spend time with Him, and experience the depth of His love that goes beyond any flaw or failure. Along the way, we discover ourselves and encounter others in a real and meaningful way.

THE CHURCH

So how might we go about forming a more mature interior life? How can we enter into solitude rather than isolating ourselves when we encounter loneliness?

Christ established the Church to help us grow in relationship with God. The Church gives us a place and the tools to practice solitude. Within the Church, we are given the sacraments — the Sacrament of the Eucharist and the Sacrament of Reconciliation deepen our relationship with God and others. We are given prayers such as lectio divina, the rosary, and the Liturgy of the Hours. We are given thousands of years of wisdom and guidance through the Church’s teachings and the witness of the saints. The physical church is a great place to go to for silence, reflection, and prayer. All of these tools help us develop a more mature interior life, which is our ability to enter into solitude, hear the voice of God, and know ourselves.

CCC 763

Christ also established the Church for us to be in authentic community with one another. The Church is for people who are in need of a more mature interior life. We can share our journey with each other if we are vulnerable, honest, and

directed toward love of God and others. This series is going to delve into the reality of the Church as the Body of Christ and how each and every one of us is invited, accepted, and needed in the Church. We make up the Church; we make up the Body of Christ. Though we each stand alone before God, we do not have to be isolated. We can be in solitude — knowing God, ourselves, and authentic community.

CCC 765, 768

Notes: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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CORE TEAM OVERVIEW

ALONE: Solitude vs. Isolation

GOAL: The goal of Alone is to help the teens recognize their experiences of isolation and loneliness and motivate them to move from isolation to solitude before God and into community with one another.

GATHER (15 MIN):Welcome and Opening Prayer: _______________________Over the Line: ____________________________________

PROCLAIM (15 MIN):“Alone” Teaching: _________________________________

BREAK (30 MIN):Small Group Scripture Reading and Discussion: __________________________________________________________

SEND (15 MIN):Guided Meditation:________________________________

Notes: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

LIFE NIGHT OVERVIEW

INVITEDA LIFE NIGHT ON THE MYSTICAL BODY OF CHRIST

GOAL

The goal of Invited is to help the teens grasp the reality of the Mystical Body of Christ in a way that sparks a desire to belong in the Church. It explains the role and importance of Baptism and the Eucharist in the Body of Christ.

KEY CONCEPTS

• Jesus chooses you, invites you, and pursues you.

• Baptism is the sacrament by which we accept God’s invitation to join the Church, the Body of Christ.

• God invites us to sustain our relationship with Him and the Church by becoming food for us in the Eucharist, thus uniting us to Him and His Body, the Church.

KEY TERMS:BaptismEucharistMystical Body of Christ

SCRIPTURE:Luke 22:17-20John 6:56John 15:161 Corinthians 10:16-17

CATECHISM:1262-12711391-1396

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ABOUT THIS LIFE NIGHT

The Gather begins with an invitation for the teens to get to know one another and then has several teens act out invitations to different events in an increasingly silly way. The Proclaim explains Baptism as the invitation to be part of the Body of Christ and the Eucharist as our way to continue to accept that invitation. The Break is an individual reflection that allows the teens to think about invitations of faith they have received and extended. The Send is a time for the teens to pray with one another and offer gratitude for the invitations God has extended to them.

ENVIRONMENT

Place carpet squares, chairs, or markers on the ground in the main meeting space in a way that pairs teens off. Seal the About Me Questionnaire in envelopes that say, “You’re invited!” on the front and place an envelope and writing utensil on each seat. The questionnaire can be found on the September 2018 Life Teen USB and online at lifeteen.com under Life Support: September 2018.

Project the Invited environment image, which can be found on the September 2018 Life Teen USB and online at lifeteen.com under Life Support: September 2018.

MEDIA SUGGESTIONS

“Come to Me,” Bethel Music (The Loft Sessions, Kingsway Music, 2012)

“You Came (Lazarus),” Bethel Music (Starlight, Bethel Music, 2017)

“Reckless Love,” Cory Asbury (Reckless Love, Bethel Music, 2018)

SOCIAL MEDIA HASHTAGS: #LT_Invited

AS YOU GET STARTED...

For a deeper Send, consider concluding the Life Night with Eucharistic Adoration. Gather the teens in the chapel or church for an individual reflection during the Break and transition into the Send by exposing the Blessed Sacrament. If you are unable to move to a chapel or church, set up an altar in the main meeting space when creating the environment for the Life Night.

As an additional challenge, ask the teens to extend an invitation to one friend for the next Life Night, Life Night series, or Social Life Night.

HISPANIC INCULTURATIONBy Stephanie EspinozaContributors: Juan Aznaran, Stephanie Salinas, Andrea Vasquez-Tejada

Cultural Insights:During the Gather, consider adding a quinceañera, the mañanitas on the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, or a Dia de los Muertos celebration to the invitation options.

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LIFE NIGHT: INVITED

GATHER

About Me (10 min)Gather the teens in the main meeting space and have them sit in pairs in the order they enter. Welcome them to the Life Night, introduce any teens or Core Members attending for the first time, and begin in prayer.

Ask the teens to open the envelopes on their seats. Invite them to fill out the About Me Questionnaire for the teen sitting next to them. The teens ask their partners the questions and write down the answers on the survey. Have the Core Members collect the questionnaires and let the teens know that they will be used at the next Life Night.

Plus One (15 min)Invite six teens to come to the front of the main meeting space and divide them into pairs. Invite a pair of Core Members to participate as well. Explain that one person in each pair will be the inviter and the other the invitee. Prior to the Life Night, write several events on slips of paper and put them in a hat. The following are sample events to get you started, but be sure to add events specific to your teens:

• The movies• Prom• Graduation• Grandma’s surprise 90th birthday party• Church (give this event to the pair of Core Members and

have them rehearse a poorly done invitation to church prior to the Life Night)

The inviters pull a piece of paper from the hat and try to convince the invitee to join them at the event. Give the teens a few minutes to act out the invitation and then say, “That was good, but now do it incorporating this prop,” and hand each inviter a prop (an umbrella, a piece of luggage, a shower curtain, a bouquet of fake flowers, ski goggles, a cup of coffee, etc.).

After they act out the invitation with the prop, say, “That was good, but now do it like you are (insert the name of a different celebrity for each teen).”

After they act out the invitation as the celebrity, say, “That was good, but now do it without using the words ‘you’ and ‘me.’”

The challenges build upon each other. The inviters end up inviting the invitees to a specific event with a prop, as a celebrity, and without using the words “you” and “me.” The invitees choose whether or not they will attend the event after each round by saying, “yes, they will go,” or, “no, they will not go.”

Transition into the Proclaim by commenting, in a humorous way, on the invitations. Mention how poorly we may have been invited to church or have invited others to church. Introduce the idea that even though we may have been invited poorly, or invited others poorly, God has invited us and will continue to invite us to be members of His Church.

PROCLAIM

“Invited” Teaching (15 min)The Proclaim Outline and Proclaim Details can be found on pages 32 to 39.

BREAK

Invited Journal Reflection (15 min)Instruct the teens to spread out throughout the main meeting space. Create a peaceful and prayerful environment

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by dimming the lights and playing instrumental worship music. Consider projecting an image of Jesus. Pass out the Invited Journal Reflection handout and a writing utensil to each teen. Handouts can be found on the September 2018 Life Teen USB and online at lifeteen.com under Life Support: September 2018. Invite the teens to silently reflect on the questions.

SEND

Prayer of Gratitude (20 min)Transition into a time of prayer by instructing the teens to find their partner from the beginning of the Life Night. Pass out the Prayer of Gratitude handout, which can be found on the September 2018 Life Teen USB and online at lifeteen.com under Life Support: September 2018.

Invite the teens to share with their partner the ways in which God has invited and is continuing to invite them to know Him. Encourage them to talk about the people and experiences they are grateful for and areas in which they would like to grow in gratitude for the way God is working in their lives.

After several minutes, invite them to pray with one another using the Prayer of Gratitude handout, or by creating a prayer of their own. End the time of prayer by encouraging the teens to pray for their partner throughout the week. Conclude the Life Night by praying the Glory Be as a group.

Have Core Members hold bowls of holy water by the exits of the meeting space. Invite the teens to intentionally bless themselves as reminder of their baptism as they exit.

Notes: __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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PROCLAIM OUTLINE

INVITED

KEY TERMS

Baptism: The first Sacrament of Initiation in which a believer receives the remission of original and personal sin, begins a new life in Christ and the Holy Spirit, and is incorporated into the Church, the Body of Christ.

Eucharist: The Holy Eucharist completes Christian initiation into the Body of Christ (along with Baptism and Confirmation), and is the ritual, sacramental action of thanksgiving to God.

Mystical Body of Christ: The Church is called the (Mystical) Body of Christ because of the intimate communion Jesus shares with His disciples; the metaphor of a body, whose head is Christ and whose members are the faithful, provides an image which keeps in focus both the unity and diversity of the Church.

TEACHING POINTS

WEIRD THINGS CATHOLICS DO• Catholics grow up doing a lot of things that simply

become habit. For someone who is just being introduced to Catholic practices, though, it appears that we do some weird things.

• Project and read a list of weird things Catholics do, such as wearing ashes on our foreheads and paying to light a candle. Use dipping our hands in a communal bowl of water for the final example.

• Most of us have used holy water our whole lives. If you are Catholic and living your faith intentionally, it’s not considered a weird practice, but rather, a huge blessing.

• Holy water aids us in overcoming temptation and the works of the devil. If we are properly disposed, it can cleanse us from venial sins and temporal punishments.

• Most importantly, holy water reminds us of our baptism, the moment our parents accepted an invitation on our behalf to a relationship with God and His Church.

INITIATED• God invites each of us to become a member of

His Church. When we are baptized, we enter into a relationship where we are fully known and loved, and we gain a family — the Church.

• When we are baptized, we are adopted by God, become His daughter or son, and are united to one another as brothers and sisters. No matter what our earthly family looks like, we now have an eternal family. We belong.

• Consider sharing a story about the time you were first invited into a relationship with Christ through the Church.

• When we become members of the Body of Christ, we become intimately and mystically united with Jesus and one another. It is a union different than any other. Within the Mystical Body of Christ are the baptized on Earth, those in purgatory, and the saints in heaven.

SUSTAINED• Once we are baptized, we are always baptized.

However, we must sustain our relationship with the Church by saying “yes” to invitations to a deeper relationship with Jesus and His Body. We do this through active participation in the life of the Church, most importantly the celebration of the Mass and reception of the Eucharist.

• We become united to Jesus when receive Him in the Eucharist. The Eucharist augments our union with Christ and separates us from sin. Because we are more united to Christ and distanced from sin, we are more closely united to our community members.

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• Share a story about a time when you were nourished or strengthened by the Eucharist.

INVITED• Project and read John 15:16.• Jesus chose you. He invited you and continues to

invite you to be known and loved within His family. Sometimes we think we are the ones doing all of the work, but that is backward. Jesus chooses you, invites you, and pursues you first.

• We renew our commitment to this family every time we accept His invitation to receive His Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity in the Eucharist. Every good act and inspiration to turn to God is initiated by God.

• You accept His invitation every time you are inspired to pray or spend time with Him in the Sacred Scriptures. You accept His invitation when you show up for Mass every Sunday.

• When we recognize that God always initiates and extends the invitation to a relationship where we are known and loved, we should be grateful. As our gratitude grows, we begin to realize that God is unceasingly inviting us into a relationship with Him.

• We never have to be isolated. If we are, it is because we are choosing to ignore the invitation from God in our life.

Notes: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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PROCLAIM DETAILS

INVITED

TEACHING

WEIRD THINGS CATHOLICS DO

Catholics grow up doing a lot of things that simply become habit. We don’t think twice about them. We rarely question them or try to learn why we do them. For someone who is just being introduced to Catholic practices, though, it can appear that we do some weird things.

Project and read the following list, adapting it as needed:

Ten Weird Things Catholics Do1. Go vegetarian on Fridays.2. Get down on one knee before we sit in a pew.3. Dig up bodies to see if they have decomposed.4. Fast for an hour before receiving the Eucharist because

we need to “prepare space.”5. Transport human bones (relics) so everyone can

experience them.6. Wear ashes on our forehead on Ash Wednesday.7. Say some parts of the Mass in Latin and other parts in

English. 8. Eat the body and blood of Jesus.9. Pay money to light a candle.10. Dip our hands in a communal bowl of water as we

enter a church.

Have you ever thought about the holy water at the entrance of the church? When you think about it, it’s really quite gross. Everyone’s hands, which have touched runny noses, dirty shoes, bathroom doors, greasy hair, and oily faces, have been in there! It is something most of us have done our whole lives. If you are not Catholic, it may seem pretty

weird to dip your hand in holy water and then put it on your face, but if you are Catholic and are living your faith intentionally, you know it’s a huge blessing.

Holy water helps us overcome temptation and the works of the devil. The prayer used to bless holy water petitions God so that “every delusion and wickedness of the devil, and all unclean spirits, may fly and depart.” The devil flees the moment holy water touches us!

Order of the Blessing of Holy Water

Holy water can also cleanse us from venial sins and temporal punishments if we are properly disposed. Being properly disposed means we are not in state of mortal sin, desire to love God more, and want to detach ourselves from sin. When you bless yourself with holy water with this intention, you are forgiven. Similarly, if you were to die, you would not have any punishment for sins committed before dipping your hand into holy water!

Most importantly, holy water reminds us of our baptism, the moment we accepted our invitation to a relationship with God and His Church. If we were baptized as infants, our parents accepted this invitation for us and promised to raise us with an awareness of this great invitation.

INITIATED

God invites each of us into a relationship where we are known and loved. When we are baptized, we gain a family — the Church. We may think of the Church as a place we simply go on Sundays, but this definition falls short. At its depth, the Church is a people — the Body of Christ. When we are baptized, we are adopted by God, become His daughter or son, and are united to one another as brothers and sisters. No matter what our earthly family looks like, we now have an eternal family. We belong.

CCC 1262-1271

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Consider sharing a story about the time you were first invited into a relationship with Christ through the Church.

When we become members of the Body of Christ, we become intimately united with Jesus and one another. We call it a mystical union because it is different than any other union we can experience. The bond is greater than the bond between our biological or adopted family. It’s greater than the bond we experience with our closest friends. It’s even greater than the bond between a husband and wife. It is a union that even death cannot separate. Within the Mystical Body of Christ are the baptized on Earth, those in purgatory, and the saints in heaven. We are all united in a mystical way and will one day be fully united in heaven.

CCC 954

SUSTAINED

As we all know, belonging to a family is so much more than a “one and done” event. Once you are baptized, you are always baptized and will always belong to the Church. However, our relationship with Christ and our spiritual family must be sustained. We must continue to say “yes” to invitations to a deeper relationship with Jesus and His Body, the Church. We do this through active participation in the life of the Church, most importantly through the celebration of the Mass and reception of the Eucharist, which is the body and blood of Jesus.

It sounds weird — Catholics eat the body and blood of Jesus. It’s a shocking reality that caused Jesus to lose many followers. God wants to nourish and strengthen us, so He becomes food for us to eat. We become united to Jesus when receive Him in the Eucharist. We become so united to Him that He dwells within our very being. The Eucharist augments our union with Christ and separates us from sin. Because we are more united to Christ and distanced from sin, we are more closely united to our community members.

CCC 1391-1396; 1 Corinthians 10:16-17; John 6:56-66

Share a story about a time when you were nourished or strengthened by the Eucharist. Share how the Eucharist separated you from sin, strengthened you to live out holiness, and drew you into greater union with those around you.

CCC 874

INVITED

Project and read John 15:16.

Jesus chose you. He invited you and continues to invite you to be known and loved within His family. Sometimes we think we are the ones doing all of the work — we are the ones pursuing God by coming to Life Teen, praying every day, and inviting others to church. The idea that we are the ones initiating is backward, though. Jesus chooses you, invites you, and pursues you first. While we definitively accepted this invitation at our baptism, we renew our commitment every time we receive His Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity in the Eucharist.

Every good act and inspiration to turn to God is initiated by God. You accept His invitation every time you are inspired to pray or spend time with Him in the Sacred Scriptures. You accept His invitation when you come to Mass every Sunday.

When we recognize that God always initiates and extends the invitation, we should become grateful. As our gratitude grows, we begin to realize that God is unceasingly inviting us into a relationship with Him. We never have to be isolated. If we are, it is because we are choosing to ignore the invitation from God in our life.

Close the Proclaim with a prayer, using the following or something similar:

God, we thank you for choosing us and revealing yourself to us. Thank you for inviting us into your Church and for continuing to invite us to receive you in the Eucharist and be an active member of your Church. Help us respond to your invitation, daily. Amen.

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CORE TEAM OVERVIEW

INVITED: The Mystical Body of Christ

GOAL: The goal of Invited is to help the teens grasp the reality of the Mystical Body of Christ in a way that sparks a desire to belong in the Church. It explains the role and importance of Baptism and the Eucharist in the Body of Christ.

GATHER (25 MIN):About Me: _______________________________________Plus One: _________________________________________

PROCLAIM (15 MIN):“Invited” Teaching:_________________________________

BREAK (15 MIN):Invited Journal Reflection: _____________________________

SEND (20 MIN):Prayer of Gratitude: __________________________________

Notes: ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

LIFE NIGHT OVERVIEW

ACCEPTEDA LIFE NIGHT ON DIVERSITY IN THE CHURCH

GOAL

The goal of Accepted is to unpack the term “diversity” and showcase the diversity of the Church in a way that allows the teens to see themselves within the Body of Christ.

KEY CONCEPTS

• The Church has a complementary unity and diversity because she is made up of people from various countries and cultures with different gifts, personalities, and experiences, who are all bonded by a common faith.

• The Church accepts each of us and provides a place where we can be uniquely ourselves and at the same time, radically united to every person despite our differences.In turn, we are asked to accept and trust the wisdom of Church in her teachings.

• Diversity is divisive without unity and unity is destructive when the uniqueness of each person is not respected. True unity comes from an understanding that God loves us, communicates with us, and works through each person

KEY TERMS:AcceptanceDiversityUnity

SCRIPTURE:1 Corinthians 12:12-26Galatians 3:27-28Ephesians 4:1-7

CATECHISM:7918148351202

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ABOUT THIS LIFE NIGHT

The Gather utilizes the questionnaire filled out during the Life Night Invited for an activity that reveals the diversity of the teens. The Proclaim explores the relationship between acceptance, diversity, and unity within the Church. The Break begins with a testimony from a Core Member and encourages the teens to have compassion for one another through a small group discussion. The Send concludes the Life Night in the spirit of unity by praying the Nicene Creed.

ENVIRONMENT

Label the four corners of the main meeting space “A,” “B,” “C,” and “D.” These labels will be used for the Gather. Place flags from different countries, logos from local organizations, and pictures of mascots from surrounding high schools around the room. If providing food, serve cuisine from different cultures.

Project the Accepted environment image, which can be found on the September 2018 Life Teen USB and online at lifeteen.com under Life Support: September 2018.

MEDIA SUGGESTIONS

Jamil Dababneh: “World Youth Day 2016 Official Anthem Video” (youtube.com) “Who You Say I Am (Live),” Hillsong Worship (There Is More (Live), Hillsong (HIL), 2018)

SOCIAL MEDIA HASHTAGS: #LT_Accepted

AS YOU GET STARTED...

If you were unable to collect information for the Gather at the previous Life Night, consider gathering information about the Church, your local parish, and statistics about the teens that you have from parish registration to play the game.

For a Break with a smaller group, consider having the teens write out the quote from Pope Francis about diversity and unity found in the Parent Letter for Accepted. Provide them with a long sheet of paper, such as bulletin paper, and multi-colored markers. Lead a discussion about the quote as they write it out and decorate it. You can also divide the teens into small groups and give each group a section of the quote to write out. If your meeting space allows, place the quote on the wall and surround it with pictures of the teens.

To build greater community among the teens, begin advertising a Summit or Unleashed small group. Give teens a couple of weeks to sign up and kick it off after the last Life Night in this series, Needed.

HISPANIC INCULTURATIONBy Stephanie EspinozaContributors: Juan Aznaran, Stephanie Salinas, Andrea Vasquez-Tejada

Important Notes for Pastoral Care: Hispanic teens in the United States often believe their presence is perceived negatively by others. They are used to hearing that they tend to do worse in school compared to other ethnic groups or are more likely to be incarcerated or join a gang. They also hear that their parents, or other adult family members and friends, are taking away Americans’ jobs and are a burden to taxpayers.

When affirming the diversity of your youth group during the Proclaim, address this narrative head on and shift it from one of burden to one of gift. Share that the Church is a better place because of our diversity and highlight ways in which the different cultures of your parish or diocese have come together, learned from each other, and borne fruits of greater faith due to their unity.

Cultural Insights: For the Send, consider dividing the Creed into eight parts and reciting it bilingually, alternating between English and

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Spanish. Project the text side by side so the teens can follow along.

If additional languages are represented in your youth group, allow members from those communities to participate as well by reciting a part of the Creed in their native tongue.

Notes: __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

LIFE NIGHT: ACCEPTED

GATHER

Welcome and Opening Prayer (5 min)Gather the teens in the main meeting space. Welcome them to the Life Night, introduce any teens or Core Members attending for the first time, and begin in prayer.

Four Corners: About Us (15 min)Use the information from the About Me Questionnaire handout collected at the previous Life Night to create a four corners game about your youth group. Use the questions on the Four Corners handout to lead the game or create your own. Handouts are found on the September 2018 Life Teen USB and online at lifeteen.com under Life Support: September 2018.

Introduce the activity using the following: Last week you answered a questionnaire. We compiled that data and created trivia about our youth group. As I read the trivia question, go to the corner that corresponds to what you believe is the correct answer. PROCLAIM

“Accepted” Teaching (15 min)The Proclaim Outline and Proclaim Details can be found on pages 48 to 55.

BREAK

Core Member Testimony (10 min)Have a Core Member share a personal story about a teaching of the Church they struggled to understand and believe. Have

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them explain that though they wrestled with the teaching, they remained obedient to it. Have them emphasize that wrestling with Church teaching is beneficial because it leads to greater understanding and conviction. Have them conclude the testimony with how they came to understand and embrace the teaching of the Church by wrestling with it. An example of an impactful closing line that ties into the Life Night is: “The Church accepted me, now I accept the Church.”

Small Group Discussion (20 min)Divide the teens into small groups of six to eight with one Core Member in each group. The goal of the small group is to offer compassion to teens who may not have felt accepted by the Church at one time or another, not to answer questions about Church teaching. Try to keep the discussion focused on the Church accepting each teen with their diverse backgrounds and experiences. Begin in prayer and then use the following questions to facilitate a discussion:

• Read 1 Corinthians 12:12-26 aloud. Why, or by what experience, are we made part of the Body of Christ? What are some reasons you think you do not belong to the Body of Christ? What is the benefit of people having different roles within the Body of Christ? Why should each part of the Body have equal concern for the other parts?

• How do you see the Church working together to create an unrivaled community?

• What unique qualities do you bring to the Church? Background, culture, personality, experiences, talents?

• How might you be called to contribute to our church community?

• We are united in one faith. What is a teaching of the Church you celebrate? (I’m forgiven of sin through Jesus in confession, the Eucharist is the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus, etc.)

• When have you felt accepted by the Church?

• When have you felt rejected by the Church? Have you resolved this? If yes, how? If no, how can you resolve it?

SEND

Profession of the Nicene Creed (10 min)Create a prayerful environment by dimming the lights. Ask the teens to stand. Use the following to introduce the Nicene Creed:

We are united in one faith, a faith we profess every Sunday when we recite the Nicene Creed at Mass. Although we understand most of our beliefs, there are some we may not fully understand. Even if we don’t quite get them, we should still adhere to the Church’s teachings while we wrestle with them. We have an opportunity to renew our adherence to these teachings every time we prayer the Nicene Creed. I invite you to join me in confidently professing our faith.

Project and profess the Nicene Creed.

Notes: __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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PROCLAIM OUTLINE

ACCEPTED

KEY TERMS

Acceptance: The act of receiving a person as they are; the act of assenting or believing.

Diversity: To be composed of different elements and qualities; the inclusion of different types of people.

Unity: The condition or state of oneness based on common beliefs or convictions without eliminating the uniqueness of each person.

TEACHING POINTS

DIVERSE YET UNITED• Restate some of the youth group trivia and share

facts about the diversity of the Catholic Church. • The Catholic Church is made up of people from

varying cultures in different states of life and with many different passions and talents. Yet, we are all united in one shared belief and mission.

• We believe in one God, the Father almighty. We believe in His Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life. We believe in one, holy, Catholic, and apostolic Church.

• The Catholic Church is like an orchestra. When you bring unique musicians and instruments together and unite them under a singular conductor, the music is truly magnificent.

• When each person — with their unique culture, gifts, personalities, and experiences — is united in one faith, a beautiful community where everyone has something different to offer and receive is created.

I’M ACCEPTED• The Church accepts every one of us with our culture,

gifts, personality, and experiences. The Church provides a place where we can be uniquely ourselves while radically united to one another.

• Many people do not feel accepted by the Church. They feel judged, looked down upon, or ostracized because of their choices or lifestyle. While there are many difficult situations we wrestle with and work through, the Church still accepts and loves us. No one is ever unwanted by God.

• The Church is made up of imperfect people on their way to holiness. We must work to forgive others, receive forgiveness, and accompany one another toward the happiness and joy that is found in a life with Christ.

I ACCEPT• Happiness and joy only come when we live the life

Christ modeled for us. Jesus accepted all people but challenged them to live the way they were created to live.

• The Church is a place where we should encounter God’s mercy and love and leave behind the isolation caused by sin. We should never feel alone in our struggles but be encouraged to overcome them with the grace of Christ and the love of our brothers and sisters.

• Because we are completely accepted by God and His Church, we are asked to accept Christ’s teachings, which are handed down by the Church. The teachings are not arbitrary; they lead us to deeper communion with God and one another.

DIVERSE NOT DIVIDED • An enemy must divide to conquer. Pride is a tool that

is often used by our enemy to divide the Church. No one’s gifts or contributions are more important than someone else’s.

• Diversity is divisive if God is not the underlying unifier. Unity in God creates a space for us to embrace our differences because it is built on our understanding

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that He loves us, communicates with us, and works through us differently. Our attempts at unity are destructive when the uniqueness of each person is not respected.

• We can polarize and become entrenched in our differences — content on proving we are right, needed more, or superior. If there is nothing to unify us, no faith, no mission, no love of God and others, we become like clanging gongs, instead of a magnificent orchestra.

• Project and read 1 Corinthians 12:12-26.• Each part of the body belongs, is unique, and has an

equal role to play. We can’t all have the same role and we need each other to be able to play the unique role we are given.

• You are accepted by the Church. You have a home in God’s family and an irreplaceable role to play, but you must accept the faith in return.

Notes: ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

PROCLAIM DETAILS

ACCEPTED

TEACHING

DIVERSE YET UNITED

Transition into the Proclaim by restating some of the youth group trivia and marveling about how the community is so diverse, yet at the same time, united in one faith. Then, share the following facts about the diversity of the Catholic Church. Consider projecting pictures of the Eucharistic celebrations from each of the Eastern Rites as you share. We may be used to celebrating Mass in the Latin Rite, but there are a variety of ways people can celebrate Mass, called “rites,” which are all valid. There are 22 Eastern Rites throughout the world. Although they go by different names and have diverse expressions of faith, they are part of the Catholic Church and share our one, united faith. Consider projecting pictures of cultural Catholic celebrations as you share the following:

Brazil has more Catholics than any other country with close to 127 million, or 11.7% of the world’s Catholic population. It is followed by Mexico (96 million), the Philippines (76 million), the U.S. (75 million), Italy (49 million), Columbia (38 million), France (38 million), Poland (35 million), Spain (35 million), and the Democratic Republic of Congo (31 million).

Huffington Post, “Most Catholic Countries Worldwide,Increase Seen in Global South,” Barooah, Jahnabi

The number of Catholics around the world has tripled from 291 million in 1910 to 1.1 billion in 2010. The population has remained relatively stable over the past 100 years, so the growth has largely come from the Catholic populations in the Sub-Saharan

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Africa and Asia-Pacific regions.Huffington Post, “Most Catholic Countries Worldwide,

Increase Seen in Global South,” Barooah, Jahnabi

Add facts about the diversity of your region of the country, state, and parish community. Our youth group, and the Catholic Church as a whole, is made of people from varying cultures and countries. While we don’t always see or experience this diversity, it is still part of our Church. We are all united in one shared belief and mission. We believe in one God, the Father almighty. We believe in His Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life. We believe in one, holy, Catholic, and apostolic Church. Our diversity goes beyond culture and country. Think of all of the people in our Catholic community. We have athletes, musicians, academics, artistic creatives, missionaries, caregivers, single people, married couples, religious men and women, and priests. We have those who bring insight into situations, those who bring humor, those who bring compassion, and those who inspire. We have the young with their zeal and the old with their wisdom. We have children with their trusting faith and teens with their insightful and probing questions. Take time to affirm teens by name for the diverse gifts they bring to the community. Prepare these affirmations in advance. The Catholic Church is like an orchestra. Musicians can produce music — maybe even beautiful music — on their own, but if you bring each unique musician together and unite them under a singular conductor, the music is truly magnificent. The same is true for the Church, the Body of Christ. Each person — with their unique culture, gifts, personality, and experiences — when united in one faith, comes together to create a beautiful community where everyone has something unique to offer and receive.

CCC 791, 814

I’M ACCEPTED

The Church accepts each of us. There is a place for our culture, gifts, personality, and experiences. Our uniqueness is important and valued. The Church provides a place where we can be uniquely ourselves and at the same time, radically united to every person despite our differences.

Unfortunately, many people do not feel accepted by the Church. Some of you may not feel accepted by the Church. You may feel judged because you wore a particular outfit, hang out with certain people, or don’t know as much about the Catholic faith as others. At times, people feel judged or ostracized because their choices or lifestyle do not line up with the teachings of the Church. Some people don’t feel accepted because they experience same sex attraction or don’t feel at home in their bodies. Others don’t feel accepted because they had a child outside of marriage or currently live with their boyfriend or girlfriend. Some women don’t feel accepted because they want a greater role in the Church and see mostly men in charge. Although these are difficult situations, the Church still accepts, loves, and has a role for everyone.

While the actions and judgments of others may say otherwise, no one is ever unwanted by God; everyone belongs in His family. We must remember that the Church is made up of people on the way to holiness. We must work to forgive others when they hurt us and receive forgiveness when we fall short. We must accompany one another toward the happiness and joy that is found in a life with Christ.

I ACCEPT

At the same time, happiness and joy only come when we truly follow Christ and live the life He modeled for us. Jesus accepted all people, but He challenged them to live the way they were created to live. He established the Church as a place where we can encounter His mercy and love, a place where we can leave behind the isolation caused by

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sin and brokenness. The Church is a place where we should feel encouraged to overcome our struggles with the grace of Christ and the love of our brothers and sisters.

We are completely accepted by God and His Church. In turn, we are asked to accept Christ’s teachings, which are handed down by the Church. We are not asked to blindly accept these teachings, but rather, to recognize the value of the Church’s voice. Jesus sent His Spirit to guide and instruct the Church and we trust that the teachings we receive will guide us to know God and ourselves when authentically lived out. The teachings are not arbitrary; they lead us to deep communion with God and one another. This doesn’t mean we become robots; it means we become fully alive and radically unique while still fully united to one another.

DIVERSE NOT DIVIDED

We must not let our differences divide us. If an enemy wants to conquer, he must first divide. Pride is a tool that is often used by our enemy to divide the Church. We think our gift or contribution is more important than someone else’s. We think our way of worship is superior. We play too loud and ruin the harmony of the orchestra, or we think we know better than the conductor and try to take over or change the music. Unity in diversity only arises when God is recognized and trusted as the conductor.

God has to be the underlying unifier of diversity. Our attempts at unity are destructive when the uniqueness of each person is not respected. Unity in God creates a space for us to embrace our differences because it is built on our understanding that He loves us, communicates with us, and works through us differently.

Saint Paul speaks of this to the Church in Corinth.

Project and read 1 Corinthians 12:12-26. Each part of the body belongs and has a unique and equal role to play. We can’t all be eyes or ears. We need each other in

order to play the unique role we’ve been given. “God arranged the organs in the body, each one of them, as he chose” (1 Corinthians 12:18).

Diversity can be divisive when there is no unity. We can polarize and become entrenched in our differences — content on proving we are right, needed more, or superior. If there is nothing to unify us, no faith, no mission, no love of God and others, we become like clanging gongs, instead of a magnificent orchestra.

1 Corinthians 13:1

You are accepted by the Church. You have a home in God’s family and an irreplaceable role to play. The Church is diverse; all people are welcome and accepted. Do you accept the Church and her teachings, which hold the tension of our diversity? We are united by a shared faith. Do you accept this faith?

Notes: _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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CORE TEAM OVERVIEW

ACCEPTED: Diversity in the Church

GOAL: The goal of Accepted is to unpack the term “diversity” and showcase the diversity of the Church in a way that allows the teens to see themselves within the Body of Christ.

GATHER (20 MIN):Welcome and Opening Prayer: _______________________Four Corners: About Us: _____________________________

PROCLAIM (15 MIN):“Accepted” Teaching: _______________________________

BREAK (30 MIN):Core Member Testimony : ____________________________Small Group Discussion : ____________________________

• How do you see the Church working together to create an unrivaled community? What is the benefit of people having different roles within the Body of Christ? What unique qualities do you bring to the Church?

• How might you be called to contribute to our church community?

• We are united in one faith. What is a teaching of the Church you celebrate?

• When have you felt accepted by the Church?• When have you felt rejected by the Church? Have you

resolved this? If yes, how? If no, how can you resolve it?

SEND (10 MIN):Profession of the Nicene Creed : _______________________

LIFE NIGHT OVERVIEW

NEEDEDA LIFE NIGHT ON OUR

RESPONSIBILITY IN THE CHURCH

GOAL

The goal of Needed is to reveal to the teens the importance of their specific role in the Church and inspire them to serve others and build community.

KEY CONCEPTS

• The Church was instituted by Christ and answers the problem of isolation by giving us a place to practice solitude, a community to belong to, and a role to fulfill.

• As members of the Church, the Body of Christ, it is our responsibility to make visible the invisible union of the Body of Christ through our interactions and care for one another.

• Each person is a gift that is needed and meant to be given to others in love. We look to Jesus as our model of self-giving love.

KEY TERMS:Community

Kingdom of God

SCRIPTURE:Matthew 15:29-37Matthew 18:1-5John 11John 19:341 Corinthians 12:22

CATECHISM:613766

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ABOUT THIS LIFE NIGHT

The Gather is a time for a meal during which some teens are not offered a seat at the table. The Proclaim processes the Gather and discusses the importance of taking an active role in the Church. The Break includes small and large group discussions that shed light on unique ways to help those in need. The Send is a wristband activity that challenges the teens to anticipate the needs of others.

ENVIRONMENT

The environment in the main meeting space is simple and comfortable. Arrange the seating so it is cozy and encourages the teens to socialize in the middle of the room. Place chairs along the walls, but cover them in caution tape so the teens do not sit on them.

Project the Needed environment image, which can be found on the September 2018 Life Teen USB and online at lifeteen.com under Life Support: September 2018.

In a separate space, set up dinner tables to fit two-thirds of the teens as instructed in the Gather activity. MEDIA SUGGESTIONS

Life Teen: “One Moment” (Life Support: September 2017)

“Come Holy Spirit,” Vertical Church Band (Frontiers, Essential Worship, 2016)

SOCIAL MEDIA HASHTAGS: #LT_Needed

AS YOU GET STARTED...

For a simple Gather, consider having snacks available rather than a buffet-style meal. You can also begin dinner as the teens are entering so that teens who arrive late are the ones without a seat. Instead of serving dinner to them

during small group, allow them to eat while you gather the other teens into the main meeting space.

For an alternative Break, consider inviting someone from a local organization or a parishioner who serves those in need to answer questions instead of having a large group discussion.

For a deeper Send, consider having your music minster lead the teens in singing the Come Holy Spirit prayer.

HISPANIC INCULTURATIONBy Stephanie EspinozaContributors: Juan Aznaran, Stephanie Salinas, Andrea Vasquez-Tejada

Important Notes for Pastoral Care:When talking about people on the margins or people lacking a seat at the table during the Break, be aware that this may be the reality of some of the teens and/or their families. In the event that teens share experiences of being on the margins, use the following questions to guide the small group discussion:

• What do hope and support look like for someone on the margins?

• What is one thing you wish people knew about what it is like to not have a seat at the table?

• How can we become more aware of the different kinds of margins and the ways in which people experience different ones at different times?

Cultural Insights:The Hispanic/Latino presence in the Church is essential in order for the Church to go out and make more disciples who live in the love of Christ. The bicultural reality of the Hispanic/Latino-American teen is an asset to evangelization because both cultures involve building bridges for people to go freely between two seemingly opposed worlds. Let your Hispanic/Latino teens know

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that their ability to navigate two cultures makes them ideal candidates to share the Gospel with the world today.

For more on this topic, check out the Dear Young, Hispanic/Latino Catholics blog, which can be found online at lifeteen.com.

Notes: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

LIFE NIGHT: NEEDED

GATHER

Buffet (20 min)Prepare a meal that is served buffet-style. Have tables, chairs, and placemats set up as well as a buffet table with plates, cups, and silverware.

Have an equal amount of blue, red, and yellow notecards. As the teens enter, hand each teen a notecard. Invite the teens with blue and red notecards to take a seat at the tables. Once they are seated, instruct them to get food from the buffet.

Allow time for two thirds of the teens to eat and the remaining one third to watch and wait. Then, gather the teens to the front of the main meeting space.

Since one third of the teens will not eat during this time, set aside plates for them to eat during their small group. Make sure they are unaware of the food that is set aside until after the Gather is debriefed in the Proclaim.

PROCLAIM

“Needed” Teaching (15 min)The Proclaim Outline and Proclaim Details can be found on pages 64 to 71.

BREAK

Small Group Discussion (15 min)Divide the teens into small groups of six to eight with one Core Member in each group. Instruct the small groups to stay close, preferably in the same room since they will come together for a large group discussion shortly. Begin in prayer and then use the following questions to facilitate a discussion:

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• In general, who is on the margins looking in? Where are the margins?

• Who are the people in your everyday life who do not have a seat at the table? What can we do to anticipate the needs of those on the margins?

• What can we do to anticipate the needs of those near to us?

Large Group Discussion (15 min)Gather the teens in the main meeting space for a large group discussion. The goal of the discussion is to challenge the teens to think beyond typical responses to helping those in need. Use the questions from the small group discussion to begin the dialogue. The youth minister must be prepared to ask thought provoking follow up questions.

SEND

Wristbands (5 min)Have the Core Members give each teen a wristband that can only be removed with scissors and instruct the teens to put them on. Once the wristbands are on, inform the teens that the wristband is being given to them as a challenge to anticipate the needs of someone else. Encourage them to leave the wristband on until they have done something to help another person without being asked. This action should work toward building community in their daily life.

Prayer for the Holy Spirit (5 min)Conclude by projecting and praying the Come Holy Spirit prayer, repeating it three times. The prayer can be found on the September 2018 Life Teen USB and online at lifeteen.com under Life Support: September 2018. Use the following to introduce the prayer:

We are going to pray for the Holy Spirit to come. The Holy Spirit can guide us in our day-to-day lives. He can teach us to see the needs of others, prompt us to aid others, convict us of the good that can be done, and most importantly, fill our hearts with God’s presence so we stay tuned to God’s will. Join with me in asking the Holy Spirit to come.

Notes: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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PROCLAIM OUTLINE

NEEDED

KEY TERMS

Community: Fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals.

Kingdom of God: The reign or rule of God; the Kingdom of God draws near in the coming of the Incarnate Word; it is announced in the Gospel; it is the messianic Kingdom, present in the person of Jesus, the Messiah; it remains in our midst in the Eucharist.

TEACHING POINTS

DON’T BE A LEECH• Process the buffet dynamic as a large group.

• We are all part of the larger community of the Catholic Church. Community members are invested and active. If we don’t try to see, feel, and anticipate each other’s needs, we are more like leeches.

• Our community needs us. If there is a problem, we need to be part of the solution. Too often we complain about shortcomings or inconsistencies in the Church without recognizing our own need to improve.

• Jesus came to bring about the Kingdom of God, which is ruled by love and mercy.

• We are responsible for making it known and present to each other. As members of the Church, it is our job to make visible the invisible union of the Body of Christ through our interactions with one another.

• We do this by considering and anticipating each other’s needs, working together for the good of the community, rejoicing when a member rejoices, and suffering when a member suffers.

JESUS AS A MODEL• If we are searching for our role in the community,

we can start by looking to Jesus as a model of self-giving love. He didn’t serve others for the attention or to feel good about Himself.

• He poured Himself out for everyone He met and ultimately gave His life so that we could have a place to belong in the Church. In fact, the Church was born from the pierced heart of Christ hanging on the cross.

• Read John 19:28-34 while projecting an image of Divine Mercy.

• Jesus gave Himself daily by taking time to be with people. He let the crowds follow Him and taught them about the Father. He gave the gift of His time and presence to all He encountered.

• Provide examples of Jesus being present to people from the Gospels.

• It can be easy to look at the problems in the world and seek large-scale solutions. We may aspire to change the world and make it a better place for everyone.

• While we have to work toward rectifying injustices, many people pursue global changes and fail to recognize the influence they have in their day-to-day life.

• We can model Jesus simply by being present to those around us. It is often more difficult to serve others in this way than it is to send money to an organization or march for a cause.

• While we are called to work for large scale changes, that work should always build on the love, mercy, and justice we extend to those around us every day.

ACTIVE AND DEDICATED• A consequence of the Fall of Humanity is isolation —

isolation from God and one another. Jesus died so that we may be reunited to God and each other in the Body of Christ.

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• We may be hesitant to give of ourselves like Jesus did for the Church. We may have been let down, neglected, or forgotten by those we love, so we have safeguards in place to protect us from getting hurt again.

• The Church is both divine and human. While the human side makes mistakes and is growing in perfection, the divine side is perfect. Jesus established a structure in the Church that we can trust, a structure that will never be defeated.

• Project and read Matthew 16:18.

• We can make the divinity of the Church a tangible reality by modeling Christ, starting by being present in little ways. See how others are being present to you. Experience the benefits of playing an active role in the community and grow from there.

• The Church was instituted by Christ as His body and answers the problem of isolation. It is a place to grow in solitude and a community in which we can belong.

• We have a role to play; we are needed. We cannot be leeches but must be active and dedicated members who persevere toward our ultimate goal and community in the Kingdom of God.

Notes: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

PROCLAIM DETAILS

NEEDED

TEACHING

DON’T BE A LEECH

Process the buffet dynamic as a large group. Ask the teens who got to eat what the meal was like. Was it filling? Did it taste good? What did it feel like to have others watch them as they ate? Ask the teens who didn’t get to eat if they are hungry and what it felt like to watch the other teens eat. Then, ask the teens who got to eat why they didn’t offer their seats so the other teens could eat, or what cue they were waiting for? Finally, ask both groups if an action means more to them if someone told a person to do it, or if they just did it.

We are all part of our youth group community and part of the larger community of the Catholic Church. We are also part of other communities, such as a sports team, show choir, theatre club, student government, debate team, band, etc. When we are part of a community, we have a role to play. Community members are invested and active. They see, feel, and anticipate each other’s needs. If you don’t see your community members’ needs and act on your own accord, you are not truly a member of the community and are more like a leech.

Because we each have a particular role to play, our community needs us. If there is a problem, we need to be part of the solution. If everyone isn’t eating, we should say something or offer our seat to another. If Life Teen is boring, we should ask how we can be involved in a leadership role. If there is an injustice, we should fight for justice. If there is a lack of love, we should be loving.

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Too often we complain about shortcomings or inconsistencies in the Church. We feel that the Church is failing us, but we are the Church. We are not only accepted by the Church, we are needed by the Church. If we see an area in which the Church can improve, we should first look at the way we may contribute to the problem and begin making changes there. For example, if we find ourselves frustrated with someone who causes drama and division, we should first examine ourselves and improve the areas in which we perpetuate drama and division. Do we ignore or avoid that person? Do we talk about them behind their back? Do we encourage others to isolate them? Do we make them feel small and unwanted? It is difficult to recognize our own contributions to the problem, but it can help us reach a solution with more compassion and understanding.

As members of the Church, it is our job to make visible the invisible union of the Body of Christ through our interactions with one another. Jesus came to bring about the Kingdom of God, but we are responsible for making it known and present to each other by considering and anticipating each other’s needs, working together for the good of the community, rejoicing when a member rejoices, and suffering when a member suffers. It is often when we are suffering that the support of our communities become the most evident.

1 Corinthians 12:22

Share a brief story about a difficult time in your life when the Church community supported you, or about a large-scale crisis or tragedy in which the community supported each other in incredible ways.

JESUS AS A MODEL

We all desire to play an important role. If we are searching for our role in the community, we can start by looking to Jesus as a model of self-giving love. He didn’t serve others for attention or to feel good about Himself. He poured Himself out for everyone He met and ultimately gave His life so that we could have a place to belong. In fact, the

Church was born from the pierced heart of Christ hanging on the cross.

CCC 766; John 19:34

Read John 19:28-34 while projecting an image of Divine Mercy.

The way in which Jesus gave of Himself was not just in this extreme sacrifice, though. Jesus had an incredible presence and took time to be with people. He let the crowds follow Him and taught them about the Father. He patiently answered questions and took care of the needs of those around Him — from feeding them to healing them to raising their loved ones from the dead. He mentored His disciples. He was friends with Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. He ate with outcasts and sinners. He allowed children to come to Him. He gave the gift of His time and presence to all He encountered.

Matthew 15:29-31, 15:32-37, 18:1-5, 19:13-15; John 11; Mark 2:13-17

It can be easy to look at the problems in the world and seek large scale solutions. We may aspire to change the world and make it a better place for everyone. We may want to eliminate war, hunger, thirst, and discrimination. While we have to work toward rectifying these injustices, many people pursue global change and fail to recognize the influence they have in their day-to-day life. We can model Jesus simply by being present to those around us — our friends, family, and community members. Listening to our friends in need, patiently helping our siblings with homework, and being hospitable to new teens at youth group are all ways we can be present. It is often more difficult to serve others in this way than it is to send money to an organization or march for a cause. We are called to work toward global change, but it should always accompany the love, mercy, and justice we extend to those we encounter every day.

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Take time to affirm ways you have seen teens be present to others at Life Nights, retreats, and community events.

ACTIVE AND DEDICATED Ultimately, Jesus gave the gift of His life for the Church so that we might join His Body and be saved. A consequence of the Fall of Humanity is isolation — isolation from God and one another. Jesus died so that we may be reunited to God and each other in the Body of Christ.

CCC 613

We may be hesitant to give of ourselves like Jesus did for the Church. What if you have loved and served your family only to be let down by them? You showed up to your sister’s game, but no one showed up to your play. What if you feel forgotten by your own family? Maybe your parents have been working multiple jobs and seem to overlook your own needs. We have safeguards in place to protect us from getting hurt again. While that’s OK, we have a need for community and others need us. We have to find healthy ways to open up to people, so that we can be healthy and holy members of the Body of Christ.

The Church is both divine and human. While the human side makes mistakes and is growing in perfection, the divine side is perfect. Jesus established a structure in the Church we can trust, a structure that will never be defeated.

Project and read Matthew 16:18.

We can make the divinity of the Church a tangible reality by modeling Christ. Start by being present in the little ways. See how others are being present to you. Experience the benefits of playing an active role in the community and grow from there.

The Church was instituted by Christ and answers the problem of isolation by giving us a place to practice solitude and a community in which we can belong. However, we also have

a role to play. We are needed. We cannot be leeches but must be active and dedicated members who persevere as the Church toward our ultimate goal and community in the Kingdom of God.

Notes: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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CORE TEAM OVERVIEW

NEEDED: Our Responsibility in the Church

GOAL: The goal of Needed is to reveal to the teens the importance of their specific role in the Church and inspire them to serve others and build community.

GATHER (20 MIN):Buffet: __________________________________________

PROCLAIM (15 MIN):“Needed” Teaching: _________________________________

BREAK (30 MIN):Small Group Discussion: ____________________________• In general, who is on the margins looking in? Where are the

margins?• Who are the people in your everyday life who do not have a

seat at the table? What can we do to anticipate the needs of those on the margins?

• What can we do to anticipate the needs of those near to us?

Large Group Discussion:_____________________________

SEND (10 MIN):Wristbands: ______________________________________Prayer for the Holy Spirit : ___________________________

Notes: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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