Letting Go, Giving In,  Giving Up It's Your Move Work Zone and High Way Common Meal Set up - We're giving up stuff for Lent, soooo&ldots; don't set up any tables or chairs and let the Youth sit and eat on the floor. Introduce the session:Tonight's lesson is "Letting Go, Giving In, Giving Up" Ask: What do you think the title of this lesson means? (Get only a few answers.) Say: Ash Wednesday is the beginning of the Lenten season. Putting ashes on our heads as a form of remorse is a practice inherited from Jewish tradition. In Old Testament times, fasting expressed sorrow for sins and the desire to get right with God. Ashes, for Jews and Christians alike, are a sign of sorrow, and mourning. The King of Nineveh believed the prophecy of Jonah and fasted forty days wearing sackcloth and sitting in ashes to save the city, and ordered the people to do so, too [Jonah 3:4-10]. A spirit of fasting can include restriction of luxuries such as television watching, shopping and going out with friends. Your entire family could choose some "give-ups" such as desserts, television, or a favorite show for Lent (No fair giving up homework or not bugging your sibling!). Tonight is all about letting go, giving up and giving in. Read: "Letting Go, Giving Up and Giving In" A man was hiking alone in the mountains when he stumbled over a cliff, he fell about 20 feet before managing to catch himself on a tree growing precariously from the rocks. He pulled himself together and began to check out the situation. He had lost his equipment. He had sprained an ankle and cracked a couple of ribs. He was hovering 50 feet above the ground with no way to climb up or down. The man cried out for hours, "Is there anybody there? Help! I'm hurt!" But no one heard. As night began to fall the wind became cold. He felt himself going into shock. The man prayed for God to help him. Nothing happened. As the last rays of sun faded away he cried out one more time in desperation, "Is there anybody up there?" He was startled to hear a voice from out of the darkness right on the edge of the cliff above answer, "I'm here." "Thank you," the man yelled. "I'm injured, do you have a rope?"  "No," came the reply. "But that's OK; I don't need one. You see, I'm God." After a few minutes of stunned silence the man stammered, "How do I know you're God?" "You prayed silently for my help. And I came."  The man's mind raced with thoughts and questions. After a while he was convinced that God had really come to help. "I knew You were up there. I knew You would come. Thank You, God! How are You going to save me?" "Do you have faith that I am the Great Creator and capable of anything?" "Yes, I believe," replied the man.  "Do you have faith that I want to do what's best for you?"  "I believe!" shouted the man with great anticipation.  "Good," God said. "Then just let go!"  A long silence followed. Finally the man yelled out, "Is there anybody else up there?"   Living faith is more than just believing God exists. Living faith is trusting that God loves us so much that He will do what's best for us-even when we don't understand-even when we suffer-even when we don't know how He'll answer a prayer, we still trust Him to do what's best for us. Sometimes the greatest test of faith is when God's answer is no. Just like the man hanging over the precipice, our faith isn't real until letting go, giving up and giving in tests it. Leader Prayer: Lord, protect us in our struggle against evil. As we begin the discipline of Lent, make this night holy by our self-denial. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son Amen   Break into Journey Groups   Which Way Are You Moving? Work Zone & High Way The Right Kind of Kids Say: The season of Lent calls Christians to imitate the forty days of prayer and fasting of Jesus. The period of forty days is significant. When God punished the sinfulness of mankind by the Flood, the rain lasted forty days and forty nights. Moses led the Hebrew people out of bondage in Egypt, but they wandered forty years in the desert before reaching the Promised Land. Elijah fasted and sought God's will on Mount Horeb for forty days. Jonah prophesied the destruction of Nineveh in forty days. Tonight we have been presented with a "memo" detailing some things that we should consider giving up for Lent, the memo follows&ldots; Read: The Right Kind of Kids TO: Youth Director FROM: Administrative Board Re: The right kind of kids I'm sure you'll agree that attracting the right kind of kid to the program will then attract the right kind of parent. Remember we're all about families here. The more family-giving units we can bring on board, the quicker we can pay off the family life center. It's recently come to our attention that your youth program may not be attracting the right sort of kids to our church. Mildred Fleener, who has been at this church since 1809, graciously volunteered to create a sub-committee on youth activities and came up with the following list of suggestions on which kinds of kids may NOT be entirely appropriate for our church. Kids who wear too much black. (This includes hair dye and lipstick.) Kids who smoke. (Smell them when they come in.)  Kids who drink. (Pay attention to kids who pop a lot of Tic-Tacs. See Also: Smoking) Kids who have their own cars. (Kids who drive themselves to church make parents uncomfortable.) Kids who have more than one piercing. (One in each ear is plenty. Girls only!) Kids who use the word "suck."  Kids who slouch during church.  Kids who pass notes during church.  Kids who don't know all the words to Our God Is an Awesome God. Kids from broken homes.  Kids who have&ldots;uh&ldots;more than one mommy.  Kids who have jobs or sports activities that interfere with youth activities. Kids who give "that look."  Kids who aren't familiar with even the most elementary Bible stories. Kids who come to youth meetings but not to real church.  Kids who come to church but don't sing.  Kids who come to church but sing too loud.  Kids who ask too many questions.  Kids who don't participate in the youth fundraisers.  That one kid who keeps taking six of the good cookies from the "fellowship time" table and then going to the youth room to eat them. That girl with the eye makeup and the perfume.  That boy with the eye makeup and the perfume.  "That" kid from "that" family.  Kids who wear T-shirts that feature bands that sing lyrics that make adults uncomfortable. Kids who wear T-shirts depicting Jesus the Son of God as a "homeboy." Kids who wear T-shirts that bare the midriff (See also: Piercing) Kids who wear shorts with words on their backsides that may cause others to actually look there. (NOTE: Shelly Smith frequently wears shorts and midriff-bearing shirts that say, "Our God Is an Awesome God." This clothing is still unacceptable despite her attempts to call it evangelism.) As we have new visitors every Sunday, it's important that they see a happy, close-knit group of well-adjusted, happy teenagers who enjoy church and enjoy sitting with their families. Please keep these guidelines in mind when visiting the high schools or welcoming friends of current youth group members. Yours in Christ, The Administrative Board Sub-Committee on Youth Activities   Say: Okay, so if you haven't already figured it out &ldots;this memo is not really real. But we do have some questions for you. (Work Zone - break into smaller groups) Ask:     Could you try to change one of your behaviors for Lent?     Do your behaviors fall in line with your values and beliefs?     Use your fingers to rate yourself on a scale of 1-10 (1 being "my behaviors don't reflect my values at all" and 10 being "my behaviors match my values all the time").     When you think that something is wrong or disrespectful, but you go ahead and do it anyway-How do you feel?     Why did you choose to do it?     Do you feel guilty later? Should you?     What would you like to change most about your behaviors and values?   Moving In  Work Zone  How Far Are You From God? (Stay in small groups) Form a circle so that each person's right shoulder is in the center. Say: Imagine that the center of this circle is God and you are as close as you can be to him, now as I read the following sentences follow the instructions as it applies to you..... BE HONEST!!! Ask:     If you spoke out of turn this week, step away     If you covered the truth or didn't tell the complete truth this week, step way     If you used your bible at least twice this week, step closer.     If you talked about someone behind their back this week, step away     If you prayed somewhere other than church this week, step closer     If you lived your faith with your actions this week, step closer     If you didn't, step away     If you were honest on all these questions, step closer Say: Notice where you are standing in regards to where you were when you started. Sit down Ask:      Were you embarrassed when you had to take a step away from the circle?     How did you feel when you were able to take a step closer to the circle?     Did you notice a difference in the size of your steps when you had to go away and then when you were able to come back? Did you take smaller ones away and larger ones towards the center?     What part of the circle had all the activity or movement?(outside or inside)      How does this relate to your relationship with God today?   Moving In  High Way  How Far Are You From God? Say: Imagine that where you are sitting is God and you are as close as you can be to Him, now as I read the following sentences follow the instructions as it applies to you..... BE HONEST!!! Ask:     If you spoke out of turn this week, stand up     If you covered the truth or didn't tell the complete truth this week, stand up     If you used your bible at least twice this week, sit down     If you talked about someone behind their back this week, stand up.     If you prayed somewhere other than church this week, sit down.     If you lived the Christian faith with your actions this week, sit down     If you didn't, stand up.     If you were honest on all these questions, sit down. Say: Notice how much more comfortable you are when you are sitting down - close to God. (I know -cheesy.) Everyone sit down Ask:     Were you embarrassed when you had to stand or keep standing?     How did you feel when you were able to sit down?     Did you notice yourself looking for an alternative meaning in the questions so you could sit down?     Was there more standing or sitting?     How does this relate to your relationship with God today?   Moving Up Work Zone & High Way Giving in (Work Zone - stay in small groups)  Read: Mar 14:29-31, Peter said to him, "Even though they all fall away, I will not." And Jesus said to him, "Truly, I say to you, this very night, before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times." But he said very truthfully, "If I must die with you, I will not deny you." And they all said the same. Peter denied Jesus three times after proclaiming his faith. Ask:     How do you think Peter felt when he realized what he had done?     How do you feel when you disappoint God? Do you even realize it?     How do you respond when you try to live up to your promises?     What's most important the way Peter dealt with God or the way that God dealt with Peter?   Moving On  Work Zone  Giving up noise Needed: one large paper bag for each person. (Try to time the beginning of this with the other Work Zone group.) Give everyone a paper bag, and then have kids scatter around the room and sit on the floor. Say: I want you all to sit silently for three minutes with your bags over your heads. This experience won't work unless everyone maintains perfect silence, so don't communicate with anyone in any way. I'll tell you when three minutes are up. Ready? Bag it! After three minutes call time and collect the paper bags.  Then ask:     How did you feel during this experience? Could it have been good?     How was this experience like lonely times you've had? Explain.     How easy or difficult is it for you to stay quiet? Why?     Is giving up talking for three minutes a "Lent" experience?   Moving On  High Way  Give It Up! Say: We are going to continue the rest of this session in silence for Lent. This experience won't work unless everyone maintains perfect silence. We will practice the act of repentance by being silent. You are free to move around in the Youth and Activity Centers. Do not leave these areas. Any silent activity is okay. You can play cards/quick board games, write notes to each other, take a nap, read, walk, or pray focusing on the ways you've notice God's glory all through the week. In addition to actually participating in a Lenten exercise you will be learning to anticipate and respond to others' needs in silence. By doing this together we hope to strengthen our group's unity.   Moving Out Work Zone  Honey If You Love Me Say: What if God was asking you, "Honey if you love Me"? Would you take Him seriously? Think back to the story at the beginning of this session, remember the guy who fell off the cliff??? What if God is saying "Honey if you love me" Let go, give in, give up - live you life as a Christian. Stop taking the easy way out. Have faith and live in such a way that everyone can tell you are a Christian just by the way you treat others. We're going to play "Honey if you love me now, so everyone set the chairsin a circle. Here's the catch. We are doing this Lent style. We're all going to give up talking, but still play the game. Use any facial expressions you want, dance, and mess up your hair. Touching is okay but remember to be respectful of others and yourself. This will be similar to trying to get closer to God. With all the distractions and previous experiences of talking and shouting during this game a Lenten experience will be difficult. Laughter is okay, but remember - NO TALKING. Play for the rest of the time.    Moving Out High Way  Continue Give It Up! In silence Return to Fellowship Hall for the closing.   Closing Work Zone & High Way HANG IN THERE Say: Lent is walking with Jesus toward his sacrificial death in Jerusalem. Therefore, let us show that we as Christians are not just hanging out at church. Let us be bold to join Him, over a cliff, out on a limb, fasting in the wilderness for forty days during Lent; let us be bold to pray with Him in the garden on Maundy Thursday, and let us fearlessly stand at the foot of His cross on Good Friday, so that we may witness the birth of Easter. When we make Lent more than just a little bit of fluff, the new life of Easter leaps out in contrast, like a butterfly emerging from a chrysalis, like the "wow" of a dark room vividly lit up, like the smile on a homeless person's face when someone serves them a delicious bowl of hot soup. God has given us a great and comforting gift. ... But it's easy to forget what God has done for us. By giving something up we have a chance to experience life without it and hopefully realize where true comfort comes from. Let go of the bad, give in to the good and give up your life for Christ.   UMYF Benediction