Wondering where all the teens went? If your typically vibrant youth ministry program has felt a little like a ghost town for the past month or so, don’t panic. May is traditionally one of the slowest months in youth ministry. Between proms, spring fever, finals and graduations, teens might not be around the Church as much. But the end of another school year brings another opportunity to recommit and refocus on relational ministry. Grab a couple of Core members and go where the teens are! Take advantage of the nice weather by hosting a couple of outdoor events and invite the rising freshman! Summer is a perfect time to be reminded why you got into youth ministry in the first place by getting out of your office and hanging out with teenagers! May this summer be blessed with laughter and prayer.
Today we shipped out over 1000 Life Support boxes to parishes in 22 countries. We pray that the contents of this Life Support box will help you make the summer and coming school year the best ever. Below is a short description of everything you will find in this box and ideas on how to use the resources in your program:
Liturgy Planning Guide
This book is designed to enhance your youth-focused liturgies with music and teen-friendly homilies. It can also be used as a basis for a lectionary-based Bible Study. Be sure to share this valuable resource with your music ministry as well as the priests. This books covers the 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time (August 2, 2009) through the 34th Sunday in Ordinary Time (November 22, 2009).
Curriculum Guide: Social Justice Semester
This is the seventh book in an eight-book series. This semester helps the teens understand how the Social teachings of the Catholic Church and how we are called to uphold and defend the dignity of every human being. Social Justice calls us to recognize Christ in every person and treat him or her accordingly. This semester is filled with ways for the teens to put their faith in action. Based on the USCCB’s “National Doctrinal Curriculum Framework for High School,” this resource gives 8 educational Life Nights that can be used in building an engaging and educational semester for your teens. These nights are meant to be adapted to meet the needs of your teens, but work as a great starting point for your planning.
Video Support #7
This DVD contains videos that support the Curriculum Guide Life Nights. There are several videos that can be used within the Life Nights. In addition, we have included several videos for your Core Team. These training pieces are valuable tools to help in ongoing formation of your Core Team.
Spotlight: Volume 7
This resource is designed to keep you informed about what is going on in youth ministry as well as provide social and issue nights to use in semester planning. This volume has two Issue Life Nights and one social Life Night. Filled with valuable information, this resource is meant to be shared among your Core team! Be sure to check out our second annual “Give It Away Now” Global Life Night; we want the entire Life Teen family to come together and feed the hungry!
Joyful Noise: A Weekend Retreat based on the Psalms
Music is a universal language for teens and adults alike. Regardless of the type they are “into,” teens connect and find expression in music. Music also has the power to draw us into true prayer and worship. This retreat takes the Psalms, the songs of David and some of Scripture’s most honest prayers, as the basis of each session. The goal for this weekend is to bring teens into a deeper, more honest, more intimate relationship with Christ and develop a rhythm of prayer in their lives.
40 More: 40 Days of Scripture, Reflection and Prayer
How can you encourage your teens to make a retreat more than just a weekend? How can summer camp be more than just a fun week? 40 More walks the reader through a 40-day commitment to prayer and Scripture. It can help your teens follow through on a commitment to reading Scripture and develop a lifelong habit of daily prayer. Give a copy of 40 More to your teens after a weekend retreat, summer camp or Steubenville conference and challenge them to give God the next 40 days.
Come Clean: a Teen Guide to Reconciliation
Have you ever wished there was something you could put in your teens hands to help them overcome their fears and misconceptions about the Sacrament of Reconciliation? The newest resource from Life Teen will help answer your teen’s questions about this powerful Sacrament and prepare them to encounter Christ in the confessional. Come Clean is a great resource to order in bulk before your next retreat or conference.
Tom Booth “Captured” CD
For his new album, Tom Booth added a sweet Martin acoustic to his electric guitar and amps. A chamber orchestra squeezed in beside his rock band. The result: a more driving, organic, intimate collection. Like candles in a small chapel, the 12 songs on Captured illuminate the face of the Lord, guiding listeners to a place of deep prayer and praise.
Brandon Heath “What If We” CD
It’s a simple but powerful question. What if we? What if we take a risk? What if we choose to follow our hearts, what if we don’t? What if we sit in the quiet and truly listen to God’s voice, what if we continue to fill our lives with noisy clutter? What if we look at others through the eyes of Jesus? Singer songwriter Brandon Heath continues to inspire the possibilities on the follow up to his debut album Don’t Get Comfortable. Brandon’s latest offering is an honest, heart-spoken journey that further solidifies his voice in our community of believers.
