1 Into the Dark: A Retreat Series. Into the Dark: A Retreat Series

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2 INTO THE DARK An Edge Retreat Series SERIES CONTENT Unless otherwise noted, Scripture passages have been taken from the Revised Standard Version, Catholic edition. Copyright 1946, 1952, 1971 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Quotes are taken from the English translation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church for the United States of America (indicated as CCC), 2nd ed. Copyright 1997 by United States Catholic Conference Libreria Editrice Vaticana. Writing Team: Amanda Grubbs Design: David Calavitta, Casey Olson Copy Edit: Elizabeth Bayardi 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 INTRODUCTION Important Details About This Series OUT OF THE DARK Session One: Sin and Fear SEEING LIGHT Session Two: Forgiveness of Sin ENCOUNTERING LIGHT Session Three: Casting Out Fear INTO THE DARK Session Four: Sharing Christ s Light Pg. 5 Pg. 10 Pg. 24 Pg. 36 Pg

3 INTO THE DARK Series Introduction and Overview ABOUT THIS RETREAT SERIES Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. (John 8:12) Darkness and light this imagery is continually used as a representation of the Christian life. Throughout this retreat series, Into the Dark, the youth will learn more about the darkness of sin and fear, and how Jesus not only forgives them of their sins but also has the power to cast out fear. They will have opportunities to draw closer to Jesus in the sacraments and will be empowered to go forth and share the light of Christ with others. USING THIS RETREAT SERIES We suggest that you utilize this Retreat Series over the course of a weekend to help the youth enter fully into the topics and discussions that build upon each other in an organic way. If you are not able to do a weekend retreat, this Retreat Series can also be used as a day retreat or a four-part series in place of regularly scheduled Edge Nights. PREPPING THE CORE TEAM Give the materials to the Core Team well in advance and discuss any questions, concerns, or ideas for adaptations. If a Core Member is giving a talk or leading a small group, make sure that they are well prepared. Cover any specific needs for the retreat setting, or any special tasks that will need to be completed by the Core Team according to the retreat location. Outline the retreat rules with the and, if possible, create a fun rules video to show the youth at the beginning of the retreat. 4 5

4 INTRODUCTORY MATERIALS The Goal, Summary, Main Ideas, Scripture, and Catechism give a snapshot of what will happen during the sessions and what the main focus will be. Review these points before each session and use them as a guide when preparing content. ENVIRONMENT The environment serves the purpose of preparing the youth before the session begins; it is meant to help the youth refresh their mindset as they enter the room. The environment sets the tone and helps the youth begin to think about the topic before the session begins. Since this is a retreat, take extra time to create a special environment and allow the environment for each session to build upon one another. This will give the youth visual cues that remind them of what they have discussed and guide them throughout the retreat. MEDIA SUGGESTIONS Media Suggestions provide music and video clips that creatively support the content and main themes of the retreat session. While planning, take a look at the Media Suggestions and consider weaving a video clip or song into the session. Media communicates with our hearts and minds in a unique and powerful way especially the hearts and minds of youth. PROCLAIM The attention span of modern middle school youth is not very long. To cater to the audience, the teachings should be no more than ten minutes. The Proclaim is written in a bullet point fashion to encourage the speaker and youth minister to shape and mold the content to be specific for the middle school youth they are serving. SMALL GROUPS Due to the great range of development during the middle school years, it is recommended that youth are divided into both grade and gender-specific small groups. For the youth to really get to know one another and feel comfortable opening up and sharing their faith, it is also recommended that they stay in these same small groups with the same Core Member(s) for the entirety of the retreat. Consider having an identifying item to give each youth, such as a bracelet or bandana, to build an extra sense of community among the small group. HANDOUTS All of the handouts for the Retreat Series can be found on the November 2018 Edge USB and online at lifeteen. com under Edge Support: November The handouts are formatted for you to easily print and copy on standard letter-size paper. Be diligent in accessing the handouts while planning the retreat. FLOCKNOTE For parishes who also subscribe to Flocknote, Parent Letters are loaded into the interface. Simply log in to schedule these communications to be sent. You can find more information about subscribing to Flocknote at flocknote.com. SUGGESTIONS AND STEP IT UP The Suggestions are helpful tips and pointers for running different activities. Step It Up involves different ways to amp up the activities for those parishes with more resources, bigger budgets, and more time to invest in big ideas. PARENT LETTERS The Parent Letter contains a brief overview of the retreat session, along with discussion questions for the family to use as a follow up from the retreat. The Parent Letter can either be ed in advance or after the retreat. It may also be helpful to give the parents the content that will be covered throughout the retreat during the registration process so they know more about the retreat ahead of time. The Parent Letter can be found in both English and Spanish on the Novemeber 2018 Edge USB and online at lifeteen.com under Edge Support: November

5 SAMPLE WEEKEND RETREAT SCHEDULE Friday: 4:00 pm Meet at church and sign in 5:00 pm Leave for the retreat site 7:00 pm Session One: Out of the Dark 9:00 pm Snacks and board games 9:30 pm Lights out Sunday: 7:30 am Morning Prayer 8:00 am Mass 9:00 am Breakfast 10:00 am Session Four: Into the Dark 11:30 am Pack and clean up 12:00 am Depart (lunch to go) Saturday: 7:30 am Morning Prayer 8:00 am Breakfast 9:00 am Free time or a hike 10:00 am Light snack 10:30 am Session Two: Seeing Light (includes Reconciliation) 12:30 pm Lunch 1:00 pm Free time: small group competitions, team building activities, site-specific activities like low ropes, rafting, or archery. See the Free Time Suggestions handout, which can be found on the November 2018 Edge USB or online at lifeteen.com under Edge Support: November :00 pm Clean up/shower/rest 3:30 pm Mass 5:00 pm Dinner 6:30 pm Session Three: Encountering Light (includes Eucharistic Adoration) 8:00 pm Ice cream social or bonfire 9:00 pm Lights Out 8 9

6 GOAL SESSION OVERVIEW The goal of this session is for the youth to understand that they will encounter different types of darkness in their lives including the darkness of sin and fear and that they need to be aware of the darkness in their lives in order to come out of the dark and into the light. SUMMARY The Gather includes a retreat welcome, an introduction of the Core Team, and a reveal of the theme for the retreat. The youth then play a game where they are challenged to put together a puzzle while blindfolded. The Proclaim is a teaching about what sin is and the darkness of sin and fear, which helps the youth understand that the first step to coming out of the dark is recognizing where there is darkness. During the Break, the youth discuss what they learned in the teaching. They also learn more about the examination of conscience and examine their fears. The Send concludes the session with a glow-in-the-dark obstacle course and Night Prayer from Liturgy of the Hours. MAIN IDEAS OUT OF THE DARK Session One: Sin and Fear We sin when we do, say, or desire something that goes against what we know to be right; sin is an offense against God. (CCC 1849) While there are a lot of things we may be afraid of, we do not have to live in fear we can choose to not be afraid because we have a loving God in whom we can trust. ENVIRONMENT Create a base environment that can be adapted throughout the retreat. The theme for this session is darkness. Cover the walls with black paper, fabric, or plastic tablecloths. Dim the lights and cover anything that lets in natural light. The room should not appear creepy, but rather, stark and empty. MEDIA SUGGESTIONS You Are the Light, Josh Blakesley (You Are the Light, Spirit and Song, 2012) Edge Video Support March 2017: The Devil Made Me Do It (lifeteen.com) SCRIPTURE 1 Peter 2:9 CATECHISM , 1849, We were not created to live in darkness, but that does not mean that we will not struggle with sin or fear. We are not perfect, so we need to continually work to overcome our sin, trust in God, and not be afraid

7 GATHER SESSION OUTLINE Retreat Welcome and Introduction (15 min) Welcome the youth and outline any rules for the retreat or retreat site. Introduce the Core Team, giving small group assignments as each Core Member is introduced. After the Core Team is introduced, instruct the youth to find their assigned Core Member and sit with their small group. Introduce the theme of the retreat, using the following as an example: Darkness is the total or partial absence of light. Darkness in the spiritual world is associated with many things, including sin and fear. Light, on the other hand, makes things visible; it allows us to see. In the spiritual world, light is associated with truth, goodness, right decision, joy, and Jesus, the light of the world. Throughout this retreat, we will learn that we are called out of the dark to live in the light of Christ, which is more powerful than any darkness. Puzzles in the Dark (15 min) The youth remain in their small groups for this activity. 1. Give each small group one puzzle and a bandana for each youth. 2. Instruct the youth to blindfold themselves with the bandana. 3. The Core Members put the puzzle pieces in the middle of the small group and the youth try to complete the puzzle while blindfolded. 4. After two to three minutes, allow the youth to take off their blindfolds and finish the puzzle. PROCLAIM SUGGESTIONS Choose puzzles that have no more than 20 pieces. Consider asking the Core Team or parishioners to donate puzzles, or purchase them from garage sales or used goods stores. Out of the Dark Teaching (10 min) This teaching can be found on pages 17 to 20. BREAK Small Group Discussion: Sin (20 min) Divide the youth into their retreat small groups. Begin in prayer and then use the following questions for discussion: What happens when we do what is right or good? What happens when we do what is wrong or bad? What are some ways that we learn right from wrong? How do we know if we have sinned? After this discussion, give each youth a copy of the Examination of Conscience handout, which can be found on the November 2018 Edge USB and online at lifeteen.com under Edge Support: November Use the following as an example to explain the examination of conscience: When God s people were first brought out of slavery in Egypt by Moses, they had to learn an entirely new way to live. They were no longer slaves and were no longer to worship the gods 12 13

8 of the Egyptians, so they had to learn a new way of living as God s people. However, God did not leave them to figure it out all by themselves; rather, He sent very clear instructions to Moses: the Ten Commandments. The commandments outlined what was right, what was wrong, and what it looked like to live as God s people. These same commandments apply to us today we are God s people and are called to follow the guidelines that our creator has given us so we can live lives of goodness. When we are unsure of what is right and wrong, we can turn to the Ten Commandments now laid out in what we call an examination of conscience and they will provide us clear guidance so we can reflect on the decisions we have made in our lives. Allow the youth a few minutes to read the examination of conscience and let them know that they will be using it again later in the retreat. For now, allow them to ask any questions they may have about the examination. Small Group Discussion: Fear (20 min) Keep the youth in their retreat small groups and transition to talking about another type of darkness they may encounter in their lives fear. Use the following questions for discussion: What are people usually afraid of? Why do you think they are afraid of those things? If you knew someone who was afraid, what would you say or do to help them not feel afraid anymore? After the discussion, give each youth a sheet of paper and a pen. Have them spread out and take a few minutes to reflect on and write down what they are afraid of. After all of the youth have finished writing their fears, collect their piece of paper and examination of conscience, as they will use them again in a later session. SEND Glow Stick Obstacle Course (30 min) Gather the youth back in the large group and introduce the next activity, using the following as an example: Jesus does not want us to live lives of darkness He brings light to our sins and fears. Ultimately, light illuminates darkness. Tonight we will have an opportunity to see the importance of light as we complete a glow stick obstacle course. Prior to the session, create an obstacle course outside that includes various stations with challenges for the youth to complete in their small groups. The stations are done in the dark, but there should be fun lighting at each station. Give the youth glow sticks to wear and the Core Team flashlights to guide the youth to each station. If the retreat site provides a rope course, use its elements for the different stations of the obstacle course and add fun glow in the dark decorations to the elements. If the retreat site does not have a rope course, use the following to create different stations for the youth to rotate between in their small groups: Army Crawl: Use small stakes that are at least two feet tall to create two rows that are about six feet apart. String soft string or Christmas lights from stake to stake, creating a net for the youth to crawl army style under. Glow Stick Relay: The youth line up in a single file line and, one by one, race from one end of the course to the other, passing off a glow stick as one person finishes and another begins. Glow Stick Batting: Insert glow sticks into wiffle balls and have one bat (or tennis racquet) for each small group. The youth line up and take turns using the bat 14 15

9 (or tennis racquet) to hit the wiffle ball. Each youth must hit a wiffle ball with the bat (or tennis racquet) in order to complete the challenge and advance. Glow-In-the-Dark Egg Hunt: Place glow sticks inside plastic Easter eggs and hide them in a designated area. Each youth must find one egg before the group can advance. To keep the stations moving smoothly, have the youth stand where they found their egg and hold it up. Once they are all holding up an egg, have them put it back where they found it. This makes it so the eggs do not need to be hidden between groups. SUGGESTIONS If you are unable to have the obstacle course outside, use the suggestions above to create it in a large indoor space. If you do not have space for an obstacle course, consider having each small group participate in a glow-in-the-dark craft or build something out of glow sticks. Night Prayer (10 min) Gather the youth in the main meeting space and then lead them in Night Prayer from Liturgy of the Hours before sending them to their rooms for the night. Consider giving any instructions for the remainder of the night or morning before they leave. OUT OF THE DARK DARKNESS AND LIGHT Proclaim Details Begin by reflecting on the puzzle activity. Ask the youth how they felt about the activity, specifically how it was different when they were no longer blindfolded. It is harder to do just about anything in the dark. You experienced this firsthand when you were trying to complete the puzzle while blindfolded. In our spiritual lives, we encounter different types of darkness that make it much harder to do a lot of things. One type of spiritual darkness is sin. Sin makes it difficult for us to love God and those around us. It wounds us spiritually and can cause us to become slaves to our sins. Ultimately, our unrepented sins lead to spiritual death. Another type of darkness is fear. Fear can keep us from acting and steal our joy. It oftentimes is harder to do things even good things when we are afraid. Both of these types of darkness cause us to lead unhappy lives because we were not created to live in sin or fear we were created for the light, not for the darkness. That does not mean, however, that we will never struggle with sin or fear. We are not perfect, so we need to continually work to overcome our sin, trust in God, and not be afraid. The first step to being able to overcome the darkness is to recognize our sins and what we are afraid of. We cannot escape the dark and enter into the light unless we understand the darkness we are living in

10 DARKNESS OF SIN You make many choice every day, and these decisions are either morally right or morally wrong. There are consequences for our actions. When you do something that is wrong something that goes against God s commandments you commit a sin. Sin was not a part of God s original plan for humanity. However, He created us with the incredible gift of free will and ability to make decisions, so we often fail to do what is right. When Adam and Eve committed the first sin, all of humanity was affected. When they failed to trust God and did what He asked them not to do, sin, sickness, suffering, and death entered into the world. (CCC ) Our actions not only hurt those around us, but they also wound our relationship with God. Ultimately, the consequence of sin is death. We sin when we do, say, or desire something that goes against what we know to be right; sin is an offense against God. (CCC 1849) When we sin, we fail to love God and our neighbor; it wounds our relationship with God and with others. Our sins hurt not only us, but also the people around us. (CCC 1849) There are two degrees of sin mortal and venial. Venial sins weaken our relationship with God and with others, but do not eliminate charity. Mortal sins, on the other hand, destroy charity in our hearts. (CCC 1855) For a sin to be mortal, it must be gravely wrong. The action must be done willingly and with full knowledge that what we are doing is wrong. (CCC 1857) Sin is equated to living a life of darkness because Jesus is the light of the world, and we reject His light when we choose to sin. Maybe you are aware of the sins in your life and have had a lot of help in forming a good conscience, or maybe this is the first time you have heard about sin. Either way, you must always work to be aware of the sins in your life and form your conscience if you want to come out of the darkness they create. There are many tools that can help us form our conscience the Ten Commandments, what is revealed in Scripture and through the Church, and the right guidance of others. God calls us out of the darkness of sin and will forgive our sins, but we have to first be aware of the sin in our lives so we can ask for forgiveness. When we turn away from our sin and toward God, we begin to experience a change in our hearts that will lead us to true joy. DARKNESS OF FEAR Another type of darkness that many of us encounter is fear. Share a story about a time you were afraid when it was dark, emphasizing why you were afraid. We can experience fear when things are dark because we cannot see what is around us. We might jump at the softest noise and assume the worst simply because we are surrounded by darkness. Darkness can cause fear, and fear is much like darkness. Fear is an emotion that is caused by the belief or knowledge of coming danger, or that something or someone will cause us pain or is a threat. Fear is morally neutral it is neither good or bad but it can cause a great deal of hardship in our lives if we are ruled by it. If fear leads us to wrongful action, it can also lead us into sin

11 Give a few examples of fears that you have or have had in your life both small fears, like fear of insects, as well as bigger fears, like the loss of a loved one. Fear is oftentimes rooted in a lack of trust in the goodness of God, or a fear of death. We are afraid in both cases because we do not have control over different situations in our lives. Fear is not an easy emotion to deal with. When we are filled with fear, we can feel like we are stuck in a cloud of darkness. In some cases, fear can even lead to anxiety or depression. While there are a lot of things we may be afraid of, we do not have to live in fear. The truth that we have a loving God, who we can trust and who wants the best for us, can cast out all fear. If you feel like you are filled with anxiety or are experiencing depression, it is important that you tell a trusted adult. Sometimes we need help from other people or professionals to overcome anxiety and depression. While we will sin and experience fear, we were not created to live lives of sin or fear. Read 1 Peter 2:9. God desires so much more for us, which is why He came to call us out of darkness and into His light. Notes: 20 21

12 THE EIGHTH COMMANDMENT: YOU SHALL NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS AGAINST YOUR NEIGHBOR God knew from the beginning that it was not good for man to be alone. God created you to live in friendship and community with one another. Glorious things can come from good friendships. Never forget that every person you encounter is created in God s image and likeness, so they should be treated with respect and love. Do not make up stories about people that are not true, spread gossip, or tear other people down. Do I lie or tell lies about others? Do I spread gossip about other people? Do I act differently around certain people just to be accepted? Do I share information about other people that they asked me not to share or that is not necessary for other people to know? THE NINTH & TENTH COMMANDMENTS: YOU SHALL NOT COVET YOUR NEIGHBOR S WIFE OR GOODS God will always provide for you. Even if you do not understand His ways, He always has your best in mind. Do not get caught up in comparing your life to the lives of those around you. Do not be jealous of where they live, who they are, who they are dating, or what they have. God will always lead and guide you according to what is best for you, so stop trying to make your life like your friends lives. Your life is unique and remarkable, so be yourself and keep your eyes fixed on God. Am I jealous of what others have? Do I compare myself to others or wish THE that FIFTH my life COMMANDMENT: was different? YOU SHALL NOT KILL Do I suffer from the fear of missing out on what other people are doing? Do I ever wish I was someone else? Every human life God creates is irreplaceable, unique, and special. Every human deserves great respect. You deserve to be respected and you must respect yourself. Life is precious. God asks us to protect and take care of it especially the lives of those who are most in danger. Your life is of great THE FINAL REFLECTION value, so take care of yourself and the magnificent body God has given to you. Do not treat your life or the lives of others as something that can just be thrown away or disregarded. God will always show you the way. He gives you these guidelines of what you need to leave behind of the sins you need to rid your life of not to hold you back, but to bring you to true freedom. You Am I killing my body by using drugs or consuming alcohol? will never know true happiness if you continue to seek happiness in things other than God. Am I killing the bodies of others by advising them to do things that are harmful or hurtful to their bodies or souls? God will do whatever it takes to bring you back to Him, to bring you out of darkness and into the Do I stand up for the right to life and promote the end to abortion and euthanasia? light. God has given His very life for you don t you know how much He loves you? Come to God, Have I ever killed someone s reputation by spreading lies or gossiping about them? seek forgiveness, and feel the power of His unending mercy. However, the decision is yours. Will you follow Him? Will you take His hands that are outstretched for THE SIXTH COMMANDMENT: YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY you? Will you let Him into your life? Will you let go of your sin and come into His light? The act of sexual union with another human person is beautiful and powerful. It creates a strong bond between a man and a woman and has the potential to bring new life into the world. Therefore, God commands that sex should always remain in the context of marriage between one man and one woman. Sex is not something that was ever meant to be casual, simply for pleasure, or used for entertainment. Do not be misled by the lies of the world that try to make sex less than it is. Do not be afraid to go against the culture and wait until marriage to have sex for that is what God has created it for. Do I watch movies or TV shows that promote sex outside of marriage? Have I had sex? Have I encouraged or supported my friends who are having sex? Do I look at inappropriate images or entertain impure thoughts? Do I touch myself or others in an inappropriate way? Do I dress modestly? THE SEVENTH COMMANDMENT: YOU SHALL NOT STEAL THE FIRST COMMANDMENT: YOU SHALL NOT HAVE OTHER GODS BEFORE ME HANDOUT EXAMINATION REFLECTION God has given you Middle so much School and Ministry blessed by your Life life Teen in many God ways. has formed You may you feel from like the you dust. do not God have knew you before you were born. He is your creator, your enough or that God has given more to others than to you. God. Remember, He loves though, you. Do not that turn God to has lesser a perfect gods or let things of this world take God s place in your life. plan for you. He has given all of humanity free will and He the has capability glorious to plans work for and your create life, if beautiful only you would follow Him and put Him first. lives. Do not take what is not yours or that for which you have not worked. God will not forget you or fail to provide for you. Trust in Him and do not turn to stealing. Do I love God above all else in my life? Do I put material possessions, friendships, popularity, or money before God? Do I take things that are not mine from others? Do I make prayer a priority so I can strengthen my relationship with God? Do I steal from stores, my parents, or my school? Have I been involved in the occult or other New Age practices? Do I encourage my friends when they steal things or participate with them just to be accepted? Do I share the many things with which I have been blessed with those who are in need? THE SECOND COMMANDMENT: YOU SHALL NOT TAKE THE LORD GOD S NAME IN VAIN Your words matter; what you say matters. Use your words wisely and speak of what is true, good, and beautiful. God s name is holy and sacred. Do not use it as a bad word, out of frustration or anger, or mix it in with bad language or intentions. The name of the Blessed Mother is special; do not use her name improperly. Names are a part of who you are. They are a part of your identity, so they should always be spoken with respect. Have I used God s name as a curse or bad word? Have I sworn using God s name? Have I lied after promising in God s name that I was telling the truth? THE THIRD COMMANDMENT: KEEP THE SABBATH DAY HOLY God created Middle the world School in Ministry six days by and Life rested Teen on the seventh day, making it holy. He asks you to rest on the Sabbath on Sunday and to remember Him and all that He has done for you. He does not ask this for His own sake, but for yours. It is important that you rest and set aside time to worship God because that is what you were created for. Have I deliberately missed Mass on Sunday? Do I rest on Sunday or is it just as busy as every other day of the week? Have I deliberately missed Mass on a holy day of obligation? THE FOURTH COMMANDMENT: HONOR YOUR FATHER AND YOUR MOTHER Every human person is born into a family, born of a father and a mother. The family is important. God has given your parents a special task to raise and educate you, to lead and guide you. It is important that you respect and honor your parents because God destined you to be their child. Even Jesus was obedient to His parents, Mary and Joseph, and learned from them. Show your parents the respect and love they deserve. Do I disobey my parents? Do I say mean and hurtful things to them? Do I lie to them or steal from them? Do I respect other authority figures like teachers and other adults? Middle School Ministry by Life Teen EXAMINATION OF CONSCIENCE HANDOUT Use this handout during the Break to lead the youth through a reflection on their sins. This handout can be found on the November 2018 Edge USB and online at lifeteen.com under Edge Support: November Notes: 22 23

13 SEEING LIGHT Session Two: Forgiveness of Sin ENVIRONMENT Add a few elements of light to the previous all-black environment by placing one or two lights at the front of the room or uncovering some of the windows. The room should be semi-lit for this session. GOAL SESSION OVERVIEW The goal of this session is for the youth to understand that Jesus conquered the darkness of sin once and for all through His death and Resurrection. It will also remind them that they can seek forgiveness for their sins through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. SUMMARY The Gather is a blindfolded trust walk. The Proclaim is a teaching about the power of Jesus death and Resurrection, which overcame the darkness of sin and death. The youth will also learn that they can go to the Sacrament of Reconciliation to be forgiven of their sins and brought to new life in Jesus. The Break is a small group discussion about the teaching. The Send provides the youth an opportunity to seek forgiveness in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. MAIN IDEAS While we freely choose to sin, God does not leave us in the darkness or abandon us to our bad choices. From the very beginning, God had a plan to save us. (CCC 410) Jesus died to save us from the darkness of sin and death. By His Resurrection, He brings us to new life. We experience forgiveness for our sins and receive the graces to live in the light of Christ through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. MEDIA SUGGESTIONS Edge Video Support 19: In Color (lifeteen.com) Edge Video Support March 2017: Captives (lifeteen.com) Edge Video Support November 2016: Heartbeat Dreams (lifeteen.com) SCRIPTURE John 3:16-21, 8:12; Romans 6:8-11 CATECHISM 402, 410, Notes: 24 25

14 SESSION OUTLINE PROCLAIM GATHER Session Welcome (10 min) Have loud and upbeat music playing as you gather the youth in the main meeting space. Begin in prayer and then briefly recap what the youth learned in the previous session and introduce the topic for this session using the following as an example: In the last session we talked about the reality of the darkness caused by sin and by fear. But we were not created to live in that darkness, and Jesus provides for us ways to come out of the dark and to see the goodness of His light and the freedom and forgiveness that He offers us. Blindfold Trust Walks (20 min) The youth complete this activity in pairs. 1. Give each pair a blindfold. 2. Instruct one person to put on the blindfold; the other person will be the guide. 3. The guide leads the blindfolded youth around a designated area. This area can either be outside or in the main meeting space. 4. The guide first leads the blindfolded youth first through words only, and then by holding their hand. 5. After several minutes, the youth switch roles and repeat the activity. STEP IT UP For an extra challenge, create an obstacle course for the youth to guide one another through. Seeing Light Teaching (10 min) This teaching can be found on pages 30 to 32. BREAK Small Group Discussion (25 min) Divide the youth into their retreat small groups. Begin in prayer and then use the following questions for discussion: SEND Have you ever heard the Scripture verse John 3:16? What does it say? Where have you heard it? Why do you think this is such a popular Bible verse? What does this verse explain about our faith and what we believe? What does it mean that Jesus died for the sins of all humanity? Does His sacrifice exclude anyone? If yes, who? Have you ever been to the Sacrament of Reconciliation? Why is this sacrament so important? If you had to tell someone who is not Catholic about the Sacrament of Reconciliation, what would you say? The Sacrament of Reconciliation (50 min) Prior to the session, prepare the meeting space for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Gather the youth back in the large group. Give them clear instructions on how to prepare for the Sacrament and what to do when they are in confession. If needed, refer to the How-To Guide for Reconciliation, which 26 27

15 can be found on the November 2018 Edge USB and online at lifeteen.com under Edge Support: November Give the youth their examination of conscience from the previous session, instructing them to use it to help them identify areas in their lives where they see the darkness of sin. Encourage them to bring those sins to confession and then use the following to explain this time of prayer: We were not created to live in darkness, God does not want us to live lives of sin. We have been given the Sacrament of Reconciliation as a way to encounter the great love and mercy of God and be forgiven for your sins. Today, you will have the opportunity to go to the Sacrament of Reconciliation and experience God s light pouring into the darkness of sin. Have prayerful music playing in the background or invite your parish music minister to lead the youth in praise and worship. When they are ready, invite the youth to seek forgiveness for their sins in the Sacrament. Have a Core Member monitor the line to ensure a prayerful and reflective environment is maintained. End the session with a praise and worship song and closing prayer. SUGGESTIONS To help the flow for confession, have the youth remain in their small groups and go to the Sacrament one small group at a time. Once all of the youth who want to go have had a chance, have the youth discuss the Sacrament in their small groups. After the discussion, gather the youth in the main meeting space and have your parish music minister lead praise and worship to close the session. SUGGESTIONS If possible, have the priest hear confessions after the session for any youth who did not have a chance to go during the session, or have him available during lunch and free time to hear confessions. Notes: 28 29

16 THE LIGHT OF CHRIST Begin with a demonstration of how light breaks through the darkness. As you stand at the front of the room, turn off all of the lights so the room is completely dark and then light a single match or candle. Darkness is simply the absence of light; it has no power of its own. Darkness cannot overcome light, but light always overcomes darkness. Just like this one small flame casts out the darkness of the room, the light of Christ has the power to overcome all of the darkness in our lives. Turn on the lights and blow out the flame. Jesus tells us, I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. (John 8:12) In the last session, we learned about the darkness of sin. Now that we are aware that this darkness exists, we are able to turn to the light of Christ. LIGHT AND SALVATION While we freely choose to sin, God does not leave us in the darkness or abandon us to our bad choices. From the very beginning, God had a plan to save us. (CCC 410) Read John 3: SEEING LIGHT Proclaim Details God sent His only Son, Jesus, to bring light into the darkness. Jesus life was filled with both actions and words that revealed His love, mercy, and justice. Throughout His public ministry, Jesus taught about what it looks like to live lives of goodness and called out those who were living lives of sin. He warned people of the consequences of sin, but also showed them His great love and mercy by forgiving and healing them. Refer to the Gather game and highlight how important it is to have a guide who can see clearly and lead us, emphasizing that Jesus is our ultimate guide. But Jesus did not come just to be our teacher or spiritual guide He came to save us once and for all from the consequences of our sins and death. Out of sheer love, He sacrificed Himself for us. By His death on the cross, He took upon Himself the consequences of the sins of every human person. (CCC 402) Then on the third day, He rose from the dead. The Resurrection proves that Jesus was who He said He was. It reveals that He has total power over sin and death. In rising from the dead, He brings to us to new life. (CCC 654) Jesus Resurrection opens the gates of heaven for us and brings us all of the graces we need to live in the light of His love and truth. (CCC 655) BUT WHAT ABOUT THE DARKNESS NOW? Jesus took on the consequences of our sins on the cross. He calls us to new life, but we still sin. We have free will and even though Jesus died for our sins, we have the ability to make choices right or wrong. Read John 3: When we see the light of Christ, we become aware of the darkness we have been living in. Through Jesus, we are both saved from our sins and shown how to live lives of truth, lives of light

17 By His death and Resurrection, we have the ability to be forgiven of our sins and freed from death. We are given the graces to overcome sin in our lives and not fall into the temptations that lead us to sin. We experience the forgiveness of our sins and receive the graces to overcome sin in a tangible way through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Jesus passed on to His apostles the ability to act in His power to forgive sins. This carries on to our priests today, who act in the person of Christ to forgive us of our sins in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. (Matthew 18:18) In order to be brought out of the darkness and into the light and life of Christ, we must go to the Sacrament of Reconciliation and confess any mortal sins we have committed. We should also confess our venial sins so we can continue to overcome temptation. (CCC ) Through the Sacrament of Reconciliation, our sins are washed away; the light of Christ overcomes the darkness in our lives. Notes: 32 33

18 HOW TO: PREPARE YOUTH FOR THE SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION These How To guides cover an array of situations in youth ministry. They are quick tips and explanations to help you implement various activities in your Edge program. INTRODUCTION Give a brief introduction to the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Use the following as an example: We are all in need of the love and mercy of God for we all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). Any time that we choose ourselves over God and make decisions that go against what God has revealed as right, we commit a sin. God in His great love and mercy does not want us to live lives apart from Him or to be enslaved by our sins, that is why He gave us the Sacrament of Reconciliation. It is important that we go to the sacrament because Jesus Christ gave priests the authority to act in His place to absolve sins - the priests participate in the power of Jesus and wipe away all of our sins completely and forever (Matthew 18:18, CCC 1441). There is no reason to be nervous or afraid; there is no sin you could reveal that would shock the priest, and he is not there to judge you but to stand in the place of Jesus to forgive you. Priests usually do not remember what you confess, and they are sworn to secrecy by the seal of the sacrament - meaning they can never reveal anything someone has confessed. Draw near to Jesus and receive this great gift of love and forgiveness to be brought back into right relationship with Jesus and the Church. VIDEO SUPPORT Edge Video Support 05: I Confess (lifeteen.com) TIPS Consider implementing the following tips to help this time of prayer run smoothly. Give the youth age appropriate Examinations of Conscience (see Edge Support: August 2016 USB). Break the youth into their small groups and send small groups to confession one or two at a time rather than having a long line for confession. Give small groups questions to go over before and after the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Give the youth a handout with all the prayers and the format of confession. Have the priest give the introduction to reconciliation and answer any of the youth s questions. If you are not able to do reconciliation during an Edge Night, parents with all the times for confession in your area and encourage them to go together as a family. HANDOUT HOW-TO GUIDE FOR RECONCILIATION HANDOUT Use this handout during the Send to introduce the youth to the Sacrament of Reconciliation. This handout can be found on the November 2018 Edge USB and online at lifeteen.com under Edge Support: November Notes: 34 35

19 GOAL ENCOUNTERING LIGHT SESSION OVERVIEW The goal of this session is for the youth to see how they can invite Jesus Christ into any suffering they may be experiencing and that the light of Christ has the power to cast out all fear. SUMMARY The Gather includes a fun video that demonstrates how the light of Christ reveals the truth. The Proclaim is a teaching that helps the youth see how Jesus can help them in the face of fear and suffering. During the Break, the youth reflect on different Scripture verses and share in small groups which one stood out to them and why. The Send closes the session with Eucharistic Adoration, during which the youth are able to tangibly lay down their fears at the feet of Christ. MAIN IDEAS Session Three: Casting Out Fear While we will continue to experience fear throughout our lives, Jesus does not want us to be controlled by our fears we can choose to turn to Him and His perfect love, which casts out all fear. (1 John 4:18) The truth about who Jesus is and the love He has for us can free us from our fears. Jesus knows what it is like to suffer, which is why He invites us to unite our suffering with His so He can help us in our suffering and bring good out of even the worst situations just like He did on the cross. ENVIRONMENT Set up the meeting space for Eucharistic Adoration. Have a table with a white tablecloth at the front of the room. Place the monstrance on the table and set candles on both sides of it. Have a basket near the table, which will be used during the Send. Hang white lights throughout the room, or use candles to create soft lighting and a peaceful environment. MEDIA SUGGESTIONS Edge Support November 2018: Is It Safe? (lifeteen.com) The Cross Speaks Forever, Matt Maher (Echoes (Deluxe Edition), Provident, 2017) SCRIPTURE Matthew 6:31-33, 18:20, 26:36-39; John 3:16, 14:2, 16; Philippians 4:6-7; 1 John 4:18 CATECHISM 1769, 1772 Notes: 36 37

20 GATHER SESSION OUTLINE Session Welcome (10 min) Have loud and upbeat music playing as you gather the youth in the main meeting space. Begin in prayer and then briefly recap what the youth learned in the previous sessions and introduce the topic for this session: We have seen the reality of the darkness in our lives and in our world that is caused by sin and by fear. In our last session we experienced the freedom of forgiveness in the Sacrament of Reconciliation and now it is time for us to tackle fear and how Jesus too has the power to cast out all of our fears when we encounter His light. Is It Safe? Video (5 min) Play the video, Is It Safe? from the Media Suggestions. PROCLAIM Encountering Light Teaching (10 min) This teaching can be found on pages 42 to 44. BREAK The Light of Christ (25 min) Divide the youth into their retreat small groups. Hand each youth a pen and a copy of the Casting Out Fear handout, which can be found on the November 2018 Edge USB and online at lifeteen.com under Edge Support: November Give the youth a few minutes to read the Scripture verses on the handout and then use the following questions for discussion: Which verse stood out the most to you? What about that verse caught your attention? What might Jesus be trying to tell you through that verse? After all of the youth have had a chance to share, give them the paper they wrote their fears on during the first session. Allow them to add to it if needed and then instruct them to hold onto it for the Send. SEND Laying Down Our Fears (40 min) Gather the youth back in the large group and then use the following as an example to introduce this time of prayer: We were not created to live in darkness; God does not want us to live lives of fear. God loves us more than we could ever imagine and His light is able to cast out all of our fears. In a few minutes, you will have the opportunity to come forward and lay down your fears at the feet of Jesus. This does not mean that you have completely overcome your fears, but rather, that you are entrusting your fears to Jesus; you are inviting His light into your fears or any suffering you may be experiencing. Transition into Eucharistic Adoration. Give a brief explanation of Adoration using the How-To Guide for Eucharistic Adoration, which can be found on the November 2018 Edge USB and online at lifeteen.com under Edge Support: November During Adoration, allow small groups to approach the monstrance one at a time. While in their small groups, the youth place their 38 39

21 piece of paper with their fears in the basket. They can take a few moments for prayer closer to the monstrance before they return to their seats and the next group comes forward. After all of the groups have come forward, continue Adoration for as long as time allows. Be sure to include times for praise and worship as well as silence. Once the Blessed Sacrament has been reposed, end the session with a group prayer. Notes: 40 41

22 ENCOUNTERING LIGHT ILLUMINATING TRUTH Proclaim Details Refer to the video from the Gather, highlighting how the light helped us discern what was good and what was bad. The light of Christ reveals the truth to us. In the video, the light revealed what was hidden in the darkness and in our lives. Similarly, the light of Christ reveals to us what is hidden in the darkness of our fears. One of the trickiest parts of fear is that we can let the emotion control us, but at the same time, not really understand what caused us to be afraid in the first place. When we bring our fears to light meaning we take time to invite Christ into our fears and really look at what is causing them we begin to overcome them. Everyone has different fears and sometimes those fears can run very deep. We can struggle with the fear of being unloved, the fear of being alone, the fear of being forgotten, the fear of loss, the fear of sadness, etc. While we will continue to experience fear throughout our lives, Jesus does not want us to be controlled by our fears. When we are faced with fear, we can choose to turn to Him and His perfect love, which casts out all fear. CASTING OUT FEAR But how does Jesus cast out our fears? The truth about who Jesus is and the love He has for us can free us from our fears. With Jesus, we do not need to fear being unloved. He loved us so much that He came and died to save us. Read John 3:16. With Jesus, we do not need to fear being alone. He tells us that He will always be with us and will send the Holy Spirit to always be with us as well. Read Matthew 18:20 and John 14:16. With Jesus, we do not need to fear the future. He has a plan for our lives. We were created with a purpose and He will guide us to true happiness. We can trust Him; we do not need to be anxious about what will happen in the future. Read Matthew 6:31-33 and Philippians 4:6-7. With Jesus, we do not need to fear punishment for our sins. When we come to Him in the Sacrament of Reconciliation and are truly sorry for what we have done He will forgive us and shower us with His great love and mercy. Read 1 John 4:18. With Jesus, we do not need to fear death. While we will still die an earthly death, He promises that there is hope for heaven and eternal happiness when we follow Him. Read John 14:2. We may not have all of the answers right now and we may still be fearful but with the truth of God s love and care for us, we can turn to Him and His perfect love, which can cast out our fears

23 FEAR AND SUFFERING But what about the fear we have of suffering or pain that we or a loved one are experiencing? What if we are fearful of things that are outside of our control, or are due to the actions of another person? Jesus is no stranger to suffering, pain, or the fear of something that is inflicted upon Him because of the actions of others. Read Matthew 26: Jesus was sorrowful. He knew what was going to come and the suffering He would have to endure, so He prayed to the Father. He accepted God s will, but not without fear and sadness. While Jesus experienced raw human emotions, He is also fully God and therefore, had the strength to endure the suffering of His Passion and death. He knew that there were greater things to come after His suffering; He knew all that it would lead to overcoming sin and death to bring us new life. Jesus knows what it is like to suffer, which is why He invites us to unite our suffering with His so He can help us in our suffering and bring good out of even the worst situations just like He did on the cross. God s perfect love will cast out our fears. Jesus will suffer along with us and bring us new life through our suffering all we have to do is turn to Him. We can do this through prayer and in the Sacrament of the Eucharist at Mass, where we encounter Jesus in the most profound way possible. It doesn t mean it will be easy, but allowing Jesus to bring His light into your suffering will remind you that you are not alone and help you endure. Notes: 44 45