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1 PUBLISHING GROUP: PRODUCT PREVIEW Totally Lent! A Teen s Journey to Easter 2015 Junior-Senior High Edition: Grades 7 12 From Ash Wednesday, Feb. 18, through Easter Sunday, April 5, each day features a new page of reflections to help young teens understand the significance of the Lenten season. The daily mini-journaling helps them develop their faith and fosters their spiritual growth. The Lenten journey for teens is enriched by features which highlight life lessons from daily Scriptures, inspire ways to live out those lessons, and develop appropriate prayer experiences. 64 pages, 6 x 9 #H3653 Sample pages you ll find in this Product Preview: Introduction: (pages 3-5) First Tuesday of Lent Feb. 24 (page 13) Third Thursday of Lent March 12 (page 31) Fourth Tuesday of Lent March 17 (page 37) Scroll down to view the pages

2 Introduction What do you want to do when you grow up? You have most likely heard that question many times from parents, teachers, and others. A better question might be: What is God calling you to do and to be? How can you use the gifts and talents God has given you in service to others? Go ahead, take a minute to write down what you feel God is calling you to do with your life. These are your responses today. How will you continue to figure out, or discern, what God wants you to do with your life? The answer is prayer, communicating with God. Just as communication between two friends can take many forms a phone call, a text message or , a letter, or a face-to-face conversation our communication with God also can take many forms. 3

3 Introduction In this book, you will learn about many ways to talk with God, some more familiar than others. You will look at each of these forms of prayer: lectio divina, an ancient prayer form developed by Benedictine monks the Jesus Prayer, introduced in Russia a long time ago the labyrinth, a prayer of movement developed in Ireland the rosary, Mass, and faith sharing The prayer form, however, that underlies this entire book is journaling. Perhaps you have kept (or still keep) a diary or a trip log. For a diary or trip log, you write your experiences of the day or trip with little reflection about what you learned or how you grew through that experience. Journaling is quite different from keeping a diary or trip log. When journaling, you write your experience but also your reflections about how God was present in the midst of it. 4

4 This book will offer various ways to help you reflect on your experience with God. You will: read and reflect on Scripture learn about the experience of other young people who find different ways to talk with God experience new ways to pray journal your thoughts So, get ready for a journey of discovery. When you begin to see your relationship with God as a conversation, you never know what you or God will say. You just might discover what you are called to do and called to be. And then the journey is worth the effort. Enjoy the trip! You ll be asked to create a symbol, or icon, for each prayer form described in this book. Use this space to draw an image that represents journaling for you. 5

5 First Tuesday of Lent February Jesus taught us to pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not bring us to the time of trial, but rescue us from the evil one (Matthew 6:9-13). What Teens Say Everyone has their own unique way of praying. It can be dancing, singing, or even saying a simple, Thank you, God. Prayer has helped me so much in my life. Brian, 17 Describe your favorite way of praying. Why is this a good way for you to pray? Create a symbol for your favorite way to pray. 13

6 Third Thursday of Lent March In Jesus time many thought that a person who was deaf or mute or lame was possessed by a demon. When Jesus would cure someone who was deaf or mute or lame, people were suspicious! They wondered where his power came from. In this passage Jesus is answering this question. But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out the demons, then the kingdom of God has come to you. When a strong man, fully armed, guards his castle, his property is safe. But when one stronger than he attacks him and overpowers him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted and divides his plunder. Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters (Luke 11:20-23). What was Jesus trying to tell people who were reluctant to believe in him? What Teens Say Prayer is powerful and essential. Prayer is a passageway to God for me, and I like to walk it often. Nicole, 16 31

7 Fourth Tuesday of Lent 17 Feast of St. Patrick March 17 A big part of reaching any goal is your willingness to do what it takes to achieve it. Wishing is not enough; effort is a necessary ingredient. Jesus saw a man who had been sick for thirty-eight years. Jesus asked the man, Do you want to be made well? The sick man answered him, Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; and while I am making my way, someone else steps down ahead of me. Jesus said to him, Stand up, take your mat and walk. At once the man was made well, and he took up his mat and began to walk (John 5:6-9). Jesus recognized the effort the sick man was making to become well, and he cured the man. What goal are you pursuing? What effort are you making to reach your goal? What role does Jesus have in your goal? Did You Know? Today is St. Patrick s day. Do a library or Internet search to learn about his adventures. Saint Patrick stained glass window from Cathedral of Christ the Light, Oakland, CA 37 Preview Another Edition Go to Online Catalog Go to Pflaum Home