Goal for the Life Night:
The first goal is to express our appreciation to the CORE for their willingness to humbly enter into service to the teens in our parish LIFE TEEN program. The second goal is to affirm CORE in their role as relational ministers and ones who lead teens closer to Christ
Life Night at a Glance:
“Give ‘Em’ a Break” is a night of rest, relaxation and prayer for the CORE team. In a surprise turnabout, the teens will be putting this night into action. The night should be marketed and “scheduled” ahead of time as a “Q & A Night with Father” or as a “Surprise Guest Speaker” to keep the CORE from finding out. In either case, the point is for the CORE to think their only responsibility is to be present but not to “present”. In truth, this night will require all of your teens’ participation and necessitate weeks of preparation, but the rewards will undoubtedly be worth it.
The night begins with a “kidnapping” of CORE to a parishioners’ nearby home for appetizers and fellowship. After a brief period of time, the CORE will then return to the church or LIFE Night area which (in the mean time) will have been decorated honoring them. There will be a brief video or PowerPoint presentation about the CORE (pre-produced by the teens). There will also be a game (time permitting), followed by a brief affirmation time. The night concludes with Appreciation Letters from the teens and their parents and a time when the teens pray over the CORE in thanksgiving for the gift they are, from God.
*This night could go long on time, depending on the location of the house, how many people help decorate, the size of your CORE and the length of the Affirmations. You may want to allot extra time on this night, or choose a Sunday (like the day before a holiday) where the teens are able to stay at the Church a little later. On the plus side, since parents will be involved, you won’t have to communicate to as many parents that the night will be going longer.