Teen Ministry Teen Make up Class for Ash Weds. February 18, 2015 using Spirit Issue for Feb. 22 nd .
 Please answer all questions .
 Please be sure to have your name at the top of your paper and the date .
 Email, mail or drop off to Sr. Terry by first week of March
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SCRIPTURE BACKGROUND
Called to New Life is SPIRIT’s theme for Lent 2015. Christian life is a process of transformation into Christ that begins at baptism and intensifies in the Church each year during Lent. As catechumens make final preparation for baptism, we already-baptized believers journey with Jesus to the desert, the mount of transfiguration, and to the cross, seeking as we go what the gospels ask of us this year in our lives. The first two Sundays of Lent look at the beginning and end of Jesus’ public ministry. The gospel for the first Sunday focuses on Jesus’ 40 days in the desert, the transforming time that impels him into his public ministry. The gospel for the second Sunday focuses on Jesus’ transfiguration, a vision that anticipates Jesus’ resurrection for his disciples, who have not come to terms with a messiah who suffers.
Jesus’ desert time recalls Israel’s 40 years in the desert and launches his public mission. It gives him the good news he begins to proclaim, “God’s reign is near,” and the challenge he lays on us this Lent, “Change your attitude.” In the
SPIRIT story a sixteen year old tells her own true story of choosing to break up a relationship rather than lose herself and her values.
SHARING LIFE STORIES Objective: Choosing a positive Lenten practice.
1. Read the left hand side: Lent is… and Pray the different feast and fast.
Choose 3 of them and write suggestions on how you could do this, where and with whom.
Story: Under Pressure (pages 1-3) Look at the title and illustrations
2. Before reading the story, what do you think it’s about?
3. What feelings do the illustrations suggest?
4. What pressures do teens experience in dating?
Read the story
5. After reading the story, what are your thoughts on this subject?
6. Why does the author let Ben dominate?
7. Conflicts are bound to happen in a relationship. What seems valuable about some you have experienced?

8. What tempts the author to stay in the relationship?
9. What does it mean to say I Love You?
REFLECTING ON THE GOSPEL Objective: To appreciate the value of Jesus’ 40 days in the desert.
The desert tests Jesus (page 3) Read the quotation at the top of page 3 that connects Jesus’ time in the desert and our celebration of Lent as a time of renewal.
Read the gospel and answer the following:
10. What do you think must have been valuable for Jesus about time alone in the desert?
11. How does his time alone prepare him for giving back?
12. How can you give back this lent?
Our Catholic Faith: Israel’s History Time Line (page 4) The Lenten Old Testament readings highlight great moments in Israel’s history, providing candidates for baptism a short course in this story of God’s love.
Look at the five events on the time line. The flood is prehistory. Abraham and Sarah begin Israel’s history.
Read: We remember our History then from the bible read Genesis 9: 8 – 15 ( if you don’t have a bible go to Biblegateway on the internet)
13.
What promise does God make to Noah and what does God use as a symbol to make this promise?
14. On the Internet, go to: Busted Halo you don’t know Jack about lent and answer the following questions:
Lenten Quiz
1.
Lent last: a.
All spring b. 4 weeks c. until the groundhog sees its shadow d. 40 days
2. The ashes used for Ash Wednesday are from blessed …… branches from the previous
Lent. a. tree b. palm c. Christmas tree d. dogwood
3. . Prayer, fasting, and almsgiving are the three…
a. rules of the righteous b common penances given during Lent c. pillars of Lent d. Sacraments of Lent
4. . The Church teaches that all Fridays throughout the year are to be days of....
a. penance b. relaxation c thanking God d. partying and celebrating

5. . On Good Friday, Catholics are invited to venerate the ---
a. saints b. Blessed Mother c. church d. cross
6. At the start of Lent, ashes are placed on the --- as a sign of repentance.
a. hand b. forehead c. altar d. fireplace
7. As a penitential practice, Catholics abstain (go without) eating … on Fridays during Lent.
a. McDonald Big Macs b. vegetables c. candy d. meat
8. “Fasting and abstinence” on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday means…
a. no fun b. no food c. limited food and no meat as a form of penance, sacrifice, and self denial d. only drinks
9. What is fasting?
a. the opposite of slowing b. going without something we like, usually food
Closing Prayer Loving God of all that is, you call all people to yourself. You call us to authenticity and honesty. Draw us closer to yourself. Allow us to deepen our faith this Lent, to grow more intimately in relationship with you and to live as you desire. We pray this in Jesus name. Amen