The purpose of our Celebration Feast is much like communion: We remember Christ's sacrifice and celebrate a quality of who Christ is together as a community. The cup and the bread of communion ultimately represent the sacrifice of the blood and body of Christ, and fittingly, this past Sunday we focused on sacrifice, especially as we enter the season of Lent.

Lent is a tradition in which Christ-followers give up something for the 40 days leading up to Good Friday and Easter. This moves us to better connect to the ultimate sacrifice Christ made for all of us on the cross. This is a time to fast from something. God has a lot to say about fasting and so we challenged the teens to the type of fasting described in Isaiah 58:2-8.The kind of fasting God asks requires in this passage is sacrificing out of abundance in order to serve those who are without the blessings we enjoy.

Through a powerful video (Click here for a short clip), questions and stations, the teens were prompted to reflect upon their lifestyles in how much time, money and resources they use daily. I asked them to sacrifice an aspect of their lifestyle that would tie into serving the needs of others; if they give up some kind of food, they're challenged to take the $ they'd normally spend on that and donate it to a charity. Or maybe it's going through their wardrobe and donating clothes to the Penn Manor clothing drive. Or maybe it's volunteering a free afternoon at Water Street. We're called not simply to sacrifice, but to serve through sacrifice.

We had 45 teens on Sunday night, including 5 new faces.

THIS WEEK:

• Deeper Bible Study: Wednesday 3:45-5:15 in the Youth Room (Genesis 42-45) We finish Genesis this month and take a break from Weds. starting March 25th.
• Disciple: Dinner at House of Pizza(6pm), Disciple runs 7-8:30 in Youth Room Click here to read all about what we've been looking at!
• Love to Pray Small Group: Friday after school at Elena Hart's house
• Sunday morning Encounter
• Sunday Night Live Destination Unknown: meet at 5:45, back at 8:45. No money or special clothes are needed, teens to come as they normally would to youth group.
  

Remaining Sunday Night Live Live Themes
March 15th: Guy/Girl Night: Girls read chapters 5 & 10 in their books!
March 22nd: Board Game Night
March 29th: Theme TBD

SPECIAL EVENTS

• SNL Destination Unknown, This Sunday 5:45-8:45pm
  

We're meeting at a special time (5:45pm) to head to an unknown location to do an unknown activity...Ok, so I have an idea of where we're going, but all I'll say is that it involves the band SIGNS OF SCARLET and we'll be back by 8:45pm.

• Imagine the Impact, Friday March 20th, Time/Location TBD
  

We will be meeting for a meal and time of fellowship before talking together about the ministry, This is an opportunity for teens to become more involved in planning for the ministry, including preparing for a 6th G4raders only event in April.

• Messiah Youth Conference: Sat Mar 28th, 7am - 5:30pm
  

We will meet at the church at 7am to leave for Messiah College. The conference offers great training for both adult volunteers and high school teens to be a deeper influence in their schools and communities. The keynote speaker is Reggie Dabbs, one of the most sought after communicators to teens in the country. Visit this link to get more details on the workshops offered.

Adults can go for free, teens are $25. The conference ends at 4:15, so we expect to be home around 5:30pm. Teens and adults MUST sign up by March 15th at the latest to be included.

• Easter Egg Making: After school the week of March 30th

Yes, it's that time of year again...Peanut butter, coconut, mint and butter cream filling covered in chocolate...Yum yum yum! Please encourage your teens to help us make and especially SELL these treats as the proceeds go to support our summer service trip.

• DANCE: Sun March 15, 22, 29th 5-6:30pm
  

The girls will have Sundays to themselves as Youth Band takes a break from practicing. Dance will be held in the gym on March 15, 22, and 29th.