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Category Archives: Resource Updates

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Out of the Box: Making the Most of Life Support

Summer already??? Believe it or not – summer 2010 is upon us complete with a flurry of proms, graduations, summer trips and of course planning for next semester! As we say goodbye to the seniors and hello to a brand new group of rising freshman, take time to remember why you started youth ministry in the first place. Simply put – teens! This summer should be filled with opportunities to connect, laugh and pray with teens. Be surprised by their joy, wisdom and desire to know God. Seek out one new teen to reach out to each week this summer. We pray that the contents of this Life Support box helps you spend less time in your office and more time hanging out with young people this summer. Take some time to unpack the box and get familiar with the contents. As always, know that you are in our prayers.

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“Finding Yourself in Scripture:” Find It In Your Middle School Ministry

One of my favorite days in youth ministry (besides the times of amazing relational ministry, of course) was the day the delivery truck pulled up to the front door of the office and the newest Edge Support Box arrived. I loved tearing through the box and seeing what kind of cool toy… I mean resources… were included. For me, it was like Christmas morning.

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Free Life Night: Uum? A Life Night on the Triduum *Limited Time

In preparation for the passion of Christ, we offer you a Life Night on the Triduum called “Uum?” We hope that this resource can help lead your teens to a deeper understanding of God’s love for all of us through His life, death, and resurrection. Download “Uum?: A Life Night on the Triduum”

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Welcome to the Brand New Edge Support!

What is black and blue and blessed all over? Our new Edge Support Box. After a year of redesigns, planning and writing, we are happy to bring you the New Edge Support. This is the first box in our six-semester curriculum. We pray that the contents of this box will help make the daunting task of middle school ministry just a little easier. Here is what you will find in the March 2010 box…

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From Facebook to Saintbook

What’s your status? For a generation of teens that are more connected to the world and to each other than ever before, everything hinges on knowing and being known. Through Facebook pages, smart phones, Wikipedia, blogs and YouTube videos, the world is at their fingertips. How do we make prayer, Mary and the Saints accessible to teens who value immediate feedback and instant communication?

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Special Podcast: Interview with Mark Hart about His New Book “Finding Yourself in Scripture”

Earlier this week I sat down with our own Mark Hart to talk about Life Teen’s new book called Finding Yourself in Scripture. This is an exciting new book that will help young people better relate to individuals in the Bible. In the book Mark tells the stories of the Bible’s babysitters and rock stars, kings and queens, daydreamers and warriors, heroes and angels. This is good stuff!

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Edge Middle School Curriculum Introduction

Welcome to the brand new Edge Semester Planning Guide! The goal of this resource is to help you provide systematic and complete catechesis for your middle school youth while providing opportunities for evangelization and transformation as well. Each book contains a semesters-worth of catechetical Edge Night outlines. Beginning with the March 2010 resources, we will be presenting a six-semester Edge curriculum. This systematic approach to middle school catechesis is designed to create a foundation

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Introducing Come Adore

I remember the first time our Life Teen program had Eucharistic Adoration during a Life Night. Almost all of the teens in the room had not experienced Adoration before. Most of the Core Team wasn’t that familiar with this form of prayer either. All in all, a bunch of newbies. Between our Pastor and myself we did our best to explain (in 5 minutes or less) what Adoration is, what you need to do, and how Jesus is fully and truly present in the Eucharist.

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Youth-Focused Mass: Overview and Direction

What is a Youth-Focused Mass? A youth-focused Mass is nothing more than a vibrant liturgy that speaks to young people and challenges them to live as Disciples of Christ. It is not limited to just teenagers, people of all ages can attend youth Mass. The music, homilies and environment are set for youth and their families. The energy, reverence and prayerfulness that teens bring to the celebration that is contagious. Homily Within a youth-focused Mass, the teens are addressed directly at the homily.

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Utilizing Spotlight in your Youth Ministry Program

This resource is designed to help you stay current in the lives of your teens as well as in the world of youth ministry.  It is our desire that this book will give you important insights to help your ministry be more relevant and engaging for your young people.  This issue of Spotlight is filled with articles, Life Night outlines, and other tools to use in your ministry. So how can you use this resource?  First and foremost, it can be a valuable part of your semester planning.  When you begin