FIRE! The Holy Spirit

FIRE! The Holy Spirit EDGE NIGHT OUTLINE SCRIPTURE & CCC: Judges 14:6, 15:14-16 Isaiah 61:1 Luke 3:21-22 Luke 10:10-12 Luke 12:49 Acts 1:8 Acts 2:1-13 Romans 8:26 CCC 731-741 CCC 1830-1832 CCC 2652 GOAL The goal of this Edge Night is to help the middle school youth understand and encounter the power of the Holy Spirit. The youth will learn that earthly power and strength is fleeting, but the power of the Holy Spirit is eternal. EDGE NIGHT AT A GLANCE The theme of the Edge Night is the third person of the Holy Trinity: the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit provides the power and strength for us to live the Christian life. It is through the events of Pentecost, when the disciples of Jesus received the Holy Spirit, that the world was transformed and changed forever. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Through his grace, the Holy Spirit is the first to awaken faith in us and to communicate to us the new life, which is to know the Father and the one whom he has sent, Jesus Christ (#684). Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we are also called to spread the Gospel in every area of lives family, community and the world. The theme for the night is power. The night begins with a game where the youth will have to power up a pyramid of battery-operated lights in order to win the game. As the night progresses, the youth will encounter the power of the Holy Spirit, specifically focusing on the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit and how those gifts are important in the Christian life. Finally, the Edge Night ends with each youth praying for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit. ENVIRONMENT The environment should make the room scream, Power! Have cutouts of words like pow and zap from the old Batman television show on the walls. Plug in Christmas lights, strobe lights or floodlights into different parts of the room (be sure not to blow a fuse). Have pictures of powerful things playing on a slideshow (loud speakers, tanks, weightlifter, professional wrestlers, etc). The youth should be reminded of strength and power as they walk into the room. GATHER OPENING MUSIC See song suggestions in Media Suggestions sidebar. W E LCO M E & INTRODUCTION 1. Welcome and introduce new teens. 2. Recognize and celebrate any youth or Core celebrating a birthday by singing Happy Birthday. 3. Present a brief overview of the session. OPENING PRAYER This prayer should be based on the overview of the session. Ask the Holy Spirit for guidance and understanding about the theme/topic for the night. POWER UP LIGHT PYRAMID (Adapted from Punch Your Lights Out game on Minute to Win It Game Show. Go to http://www.nbc.com/ minute-to-win-it/how-to/punch-yourlights-out/ for demonstration.) 30

Have one youth in sixth grade, one in seventh grade and one in eighth grade come up front to represent his/ her class. Inform the youth that the people up front are representing their class in the game. The winning class will receive a prize at the end. This should help motivate the youth not participating in the game to cheer on the people up front. Have three sets of six batteryoperated push lights set up in a pyramid structure on the wall. Each contestant stands behind a line about ten feet away from the wall. They should all have nine beanbags at their station. The lights should all be off. It is up to the three contestants to power up the lights. The first one to do it wins a prize for their class. Note: The beanbags should be handheld and heavy enough to turn the lights on. Here are the rules: 1. Prior to the start, the contestant must have hands at sides. 2. Once the game begins, contestants must throw beanbags from the same hand underhanded, one at a time from the designated zone. 3. To complete the game, all lights on the board must be turned on concurrently (at the same time). The first one to do so wins a prize for their class. If no one is able to turn (and keep) all lights on, the one who has the most lights on wins. The winning class should receive candy or some other prize that is easy to distribute to a large group. PROCLAIM SCRIPTURE PROCLAMATION Acts 2:1-13 PROCLAIM TALK I believe in the Holy Spirit What are some of the common symbols for the Holy Spirit? (Allow the youth to give a few responses.) Dove, wind FIRE! When we hear the story of Pentecost, we hear about tongues of fire descending upon the apostles and they were so filled with the Holy Spirit that they had to burst out of the upper room and spread the Gospel like wildfire. You received that same Holy Spirit at your Baptism and the gifts of the Holy Spirit that you received are strengthened in the Sacrament of Confirmation. At your Baptism, you receive a candle that is lit from the Easter candle and the flame is meant to represent the light of Christ burning within you. Think about the game we played at the beginning of the night. The goal was to turn on the power of each one of the lights so as to make them shine. It would be difficult for those lights to shine without that power. We are like that too. The Holy Spirit is the power that helps us to shine the light of Christ to the world. Demonstration: Fire of the Holy Spirit (Light a candle) I believe that the story of Pentecost has become a little mundane for us. We hear the event described with tongues of fire, and when we think SUPPLIES NEEDED: 18 battery-operated push lights At least 27 small beanbags Candy for the winning class in the game Candle and Matches Matches WD-40 spray bottle Handout A: Gifts of the Holy Spirit Match Game (page 36) Handout B: Prayer to the Holy Spirit by St. Augustine (page 38) Pen/Pencil MEDIA SUGGESTIONS: Song: Fire Fall Down by Hillsong United (United We Stand, EMI) Song: Holy Spirit by Third Day (Third Day, Reunion Records) Song: Come, Holy Spirit by Tom Booth (Captured, OCP) 31

NOTES: FIRE! The Holy Spirit EDGE NIGHT OUTLINE 32 about it, we think of the Holy Spirit as a little, itty, bitty flame like the one on this candle. The truth is, the Holy Spirit is POWERFUL! The Holy Spirit is not some little, itty, bitty flame. (Pick up the spray can of WD-40) If this flame represents the Holy Spirit, and we are to understand the Holy Spirit the way the Acts of the Apostles describes Him, the Holy Spirit the third Person of the Trinity should look more like this (Spray the WD-40 directly into the flame. Spray away from your face and keep it a good distance away from the faces of the youth. The spray will immediately cause the flame to explode into a fireball, creating a flamethrower. It is a great visual, but leaves a nasty burnt oil smell in the room. See Adaptation Ideas if you cannot do the demonstration in the room. Also, be sure to practice the demonstration so that you know what to expect. Be sure to clean up all materials so they are not accessible to the youth or high school leaders.) Jesus did not come to give us a candle. He came to set the world ablaze and He wished that it was already burning (Luke 12:49). When the apostles received the Holy Spirit, they received the gifts necessary to change the world. Gifts and Fruits of the Holy Spirit So what are the gifts of the Holy Spirit? In Isaiah 11:2 the prophet describes what the Messiah would be like, The spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, a spirit of wisdom and of understanding, a spirit of counsel and might, a spirit of knowledge and of fear of the Lord. Isaiah describes Jesus as possessing these gifts through the Holy Spirit. The Church teaches that we receive the same gifts through the Sacrament of Confirmation. The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit are wisdom, understanding, knowledge, counsel, fortitude/courage, piety/reverence and fear of the Lord/wonder and awe. These seven gifts of the Holy Spirit give us the power to live and witness to the Christian life. We need the grace of the Holy Spirit to live a life of love and faith. These seven gifts bring 12 fruits of the Holy Spirit into our lives. The gifts are charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self-control and chastity. Think about it this way: When you are at school and someone is making fun of you for going to church, the Holy Spirit gives us courage to speak truth. When we choose to stand up for our beliefs, we experience the fruits of the Spirit: joy, peace, patience, etc. Sanctifier It is the Holy Spirit that gives the priest the power to turn bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ. It is the Holy Spirit that gives the priest the power to forgive sins, to baptize and bring us into communion with Christ and the Church. It is the Holy Spirit that heals us physically and spiritually. It is the Holy Spirit that gives us the grace to live a Christian life in love and virtue. It is the Holy Spirit that makes it possible for us to pray and gives us the desire to pray to God the Father and God the Son. The Holy Spirit sanctifies us; He makes us holy.

How can the Holy Spirit help to sanctify you? You are never too young to begin developing virtues and allowing the Holy Spirit to make you holy. To be made holy means to be set apart. As Christians, we cannot do this on our own. We need the power of the Holy Spirit. Think about some times when you could really use the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit: When your friends want you to cheat on a test, the Holy Spirit gives you the courage to stand up and say, No! When you are at a party and you see people drinking, the Holy Spirit gives you right judgment to know that it is wrong and why you shouldn t be a part of the party. If you have questions about your faith or about God, the Holy Spirit gives you wisdom and understanding to find the answers and develop a deeper relationship with Jesus. Your life may be filled with a lot of noise from music, friends, family, TV, movies, etc. The Holy Spirit helps you develop a spirit of Reverence so that you can be quiet and hear God speaking to you. You may be caught up with the latest band or TV/movie star and cry when you see him/her performing. However, the Holy Spirit gives us the gift of wonder and awe to put God first and see Him as our Almighty Father the one who created all things. Being a Christian isn t something you have to do on your own. The power of the Holy Spirit is with each one of us to help us live boldly for God. Through prayer and the sacraments, we too can set the world ablaze with the love of God. BREAK SMALL GROUP PRAYER As your small group begins, say a prayer for the group and the activities for that session. SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION In your small group discuss the following questions: 1. Discuss the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit (wisdom, knowledge, courage/fortitude, understanding, reverence/piety, fear of the Lord/ wonder and awe). 2. Name the 12 fruits of the Holy Spirit (charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self-control and chastity). How can you experience the Fruits of the Spirit more in your life? (Through prayer, sacraments, doing charitable deeds, etc.) 3. How is the Holy Spirit like fire? What does it mean to set the world on fire for Jesus? 4. How can the Holy Spirit help us to share our faith with our family and friends? 5. Is the Holy Spirit powerful enough to help the problems of your life? Keeping in mind the power of the Holy Spirit, how and when should we pray to the Holy Spirit? 6. When the apostles received the Holy Spirit, they literally preached to the entire world and conquered the Roman Empire for Christ. Why is it that Christians today have NOTES: 33

ANNOUNCEMENTS: 1. FIRE! The Holy Spirit EDGE NIGHT OUTLINE 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. such a hard time living and sharing their faith? How can you live your faith and spread it more in your everyday life? GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT MATCH GAME Give each youth in your group a pen/ pencil and a copy of Gifts of the Holy Spirit Match Game (Handout A on page 36). Allow them a few minutes to work on the match game individually. Offer a small prize to the first youth to complete the game correctly. Ask the youth to take a moment or two to think about the question on the bottom of the handout. Encourage them to think about a specific way the Holy Spirit can work in their lives. Take some time to give the correct answers to the match game. Have the youth share their responses to the question at the bottom of the handout as well. This might help them to be creative when creating their skit/role play. BACK TO THE CREED If it has been a few weeks since your small group has looked at your Apostle s Creed poster, take it back out. Highlight or color the sections of the creed that you have already discussed. If time permits, ask the youth the following questions: 1. Are you remembering our lessons when you hear the Nicene Creed at Mass? 2. What parts of the Nicene Creed stick out to you when you are praying it? 3. Are you praying the Nicene Creed at Mass or just saying it? GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT ROLE PLAY Assign each small group one of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit - wisdom, understanding, knowledge, fortitude (courage), counsel, piety (reverence) and fear of the Lord (wonder and awe). Begin with the following verse: For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, love and selfcontrol (2 Timothy 1:7). In your small group, create a skit where you have to portray a situation in which you would need the power of the Holy Spirit and the gift that your group has been assigned. Create a skit for your group in which someone/group calls upon the Holy Spirit to help them in the situation. Be sure that everyone in the small group is able to participate. The skit should be about 30-60 seconds long. SEND LARGE GROUP PRESENTATION Present as many of the skits to the large group as time allows. PRAYER MINISTRY Explain to the youth that the power of the Holy Spirit already dwells within them as a result of their Baptism. In the time of Christ, the laying on of hands was a sign that God used to pass the power of the Holy Spirit from one person to another. This is why a bishop lays his hands on the heads of the confirmandi and priests 34

in the Sacraments of Confirmation and Holy Orders. He is passing on the power of the Holy Spirit. Invite all of the Core Team forward and have the youth minister or a member of the clergy lay hands on them and pray a very brief prayer over them. Have the Core Team return to their groups and lay hands on the head or shoulders of each youth, praying a brief prayer over them. During this time of prayer, have some worship music playing in the background and invite the youth to enter into worship. It may be a good idea to have male Core Members only pray over boys and female Core Members only pray over girls. It is also a good idea to instruct the Core Team to ask permission from each youth before they place a hand on their forehead. Once the prayer is complete, give each youth a copy of the Prayer to the Holy Spirit by St. Augustine (Handout B on page 38). SUMMARY CHALLENGE Before the middle school youth are sent home they will be challenged to remember: 1. The Church began on the day of Pentecost when the apostles received the Holy Spirit and they received the power they needed to spread the Gospel to the entire world. 2. There are seven gifts of the Holy Spirit and 12 fruits of the Holy Spirit that we receive though the Sacraments specifically the Sacrament of Confirmation. 3. When we allow the Holy Spirit to take hold of our lives, we allow the Holy Spirit to transform our life and everyone around us. 4. This week, remember to ask the Holy Spirit for strength and guidance to live a Catholic Christian life. If there is a specific area you struggle with, ask the Holy Spirit for the Gift(s) you need to work through your struggle. TO THE PARENTS OF Tonight we discussed the third Person of the Holy Trinity the Holy Spirit. It was the Holy Spirit that gave the apostles the gifts necessary to change the world by setting it ablaze with the Gospel. Specifically, the Holy Spirit gives us seven gifts, which bear the 12 fruits of the Holy Spirit. These gifts are intended to sanctify the Church to make it holy. At your youth s Baptism, they received an outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The Baptismal candle was given as a symbol of the light of Christ burning in our lives and our need to share the light of Christ with the world. If you still have your youth s Baptismal candle, this would be a good opportunity to show him/ her the candle and what his/her day of Baptism was like. Here are a few discussion starters for the drive home: 1. What were some of the examples and demonstrations of power used throughout the Edge Night What did you learn from these demonstrations? 2. What is your favorite gift and fruit of the Holy Spirit and why? ADAPTATION IDEAS: For smaller groups, have more youth compete in the Light Pyramid game during the Gather. For the Proclaim, if you cannot do the demonstration in the room, pre-record the demonstration or do it outside. If you have a capable worship leader, this is a great night to have him/her lead some praise and worship at the beginning or end of the night. If skits are not possible for each small group, have each group make a poster that explains the one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. 35

GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT MATCH GAME Handout A EDGE NIGHT HANDOUT INSTRUCTIONS Column A is a list the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Column B is description of each gift. Draw a line from the book of the Gift (Column A) to its correct description (Column B). COLUMN A: Wisdom Knowledge Understanding Courage/Fortitude Reverence/Piety Wonder and Awe/ Fear of the Lord Right Judgment/Counsel COLUMN B: We are aware of glory and majesty of God. Afraid of offending God because we don t want to spend eternity without Him. Helps us to live as a follower of Jesus. We can make begin to learn more deeply the truths of our faith. Allows us to see God at work in our lives and in the world. When something happens, we see God working. We know the difference between right and wrong and we choose to do right. Deep sense of respect for God. Realize you need God for everything and you come before God with humility. Always learning more about God, faith, the Church. The learning helps with living for God, not just gaining a bunch of facts. We have strength to follow Jesus and stand up for what is right, even if it means facing rejection. Pick one of the 7 Gifts of the Holy Spirit. How can you use that gift in your life? 36

GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT MATCH GAME Handout A (Answers) EDGE NIGHT HANDOUT INSTRUCTIONS Column A is a list the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Column B is description of each gift. Draw a line from the book of the Gift (Column A) to its correct description (Column B). COLUMN A: Wisdom Knowledge Understanding Courage/Fortitude Reverence/Piety Wonder and Awe/ Fear of the Lord Right Judgment/Counsel COLUMN B: We are aware of glory and majesty of God. Afraid of offending God because we don t want to spend eternity without Him. Helps us to live as a follower of Jesus. We can make begin to learn more deeply the truths of our faith. Allows us to see God at work in our lives and in the world. When something happens, we see God working. We know the difference between right and wrong and we choose to do right. Deep sense of respect for God. Realize you need God for everything and you come before God with humility. Always learning more about God, faith, the Church. The learning helps with living for God, not just gaining a bunch of facts. We have strength to follow Jesus and stand up for what is right, even if it means facing rejection. 37

Handout B EDGE NIGHT HANDOUT 38