– Ask youth what season in the church calendar we are about to enter. (Lent)
– Tell the youth we are going to do a Lent Trivia Game. Tell them that it is okay if they don’t know the answers to the trivia. This is a learning game. (The trivia comes from rethinkingyouthministry.com.)
“One Step Forward, One Step Back” Lent Trivia Game:
Line group across the middle of the gym and ask the questions below. Those who think the answer is true should take one step forward. Those who get the question wrong take one step back. The “winner” (and aren’t we ALL winners?) is the first one to cross the finish line where you are standing. What do they win? Hmmm? How about something purple?
• The official (liturgical) color of Lent is red. True of False? (False. It’s purple – representing royalty and repentance.)
• Lent lasts for 40 days, not counting Sundays. True or False? (True.)
• The word Lent comes from an old Anglo-Saxon word meaning “midwinter.” (False. It translates “springtime” since that is the time of year the season generally falls.)
• The 40 days of Lent are a reminder of the Bible story in which Jesus spends 40 days alone in the wilderness and is tempted by the Devil. True or False? (True. It also recalls the 40 years the Israelites wandered in the wilderness.)
• Lent begins with Ash Wednesday, when people often have the sign of the cross made of ashes placed on their foreheads. Most often, these ashes are made by burning palm leaves from the previous year’s Palm Sunday service. True or False? (True.)
• The ash is supposed to represent the story in which Jesus places dirt or ash on a blind man’s eyes to make him see again. True or False? (False. The ashes represent humility and our own mortality – from dust we came and to dust we shall return.)
• Many people give up something during Lent. The point of this practice is to show your willpower. True or False? (False. It is a practice of self-denial that allows room in your life for God to do something new.)
• Fasting is a common practice in Lent but the one day people don’t fast during Lent is Sundays. True or False? (True. People traditionally do not fast on Sundays as Sundays are to be reminders or a foretaste of the coming resurrection.)
• The phrase “Glory to God” is traditionally never spoken during Lent and does not make its return until Easter morning. True or False. (False. “Alleluia” is the what many churches abstain from saying in worship during Lent.)
• The last week of Lent is known as “Holy Week.” True or False? (True.)
On Maundy Thursday, the last Thursday in Lent, we recall the last night and meal that Jesus shares with his disciples. True or False? (True.)
EXPLORING SCRIPTURE:
Read: Matthew 4:1-11
DISCUSS:
TESTING:
– How many days and nights was Jesus in the desert? (40) – Does that remind you of any other story you might have heard about (Moses and the Israelites wandering in the wilderness for 40 years in our Hebrew Scriptures.)
– What happens in our passage? (tempted or tested by the devil.)
* Note: Greek word for devil is also translated: “accuser,” “tempter,” “adversary,” “one who opposes us,” “any one who is an enemy”
– How many times does the devil or accuser tempt or test Jesus?
– What are the three temptations and how does Jesus respond?
– What do you think all three temptations have to do with? (The three temptations have to do with earthly power, control, domination, and glory. In each case Jesus responds by quoting from Deuteronomy.)
(Below is some background info on the three temptations from workingpreacher.org.)
• Temptation One (4:3-4): To turn stones into bread. Response: Deuteronomy 8:3: “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone.'” Context in Deuteronomy: Moses reminds the people of Israel that God tested them in the wilderness by hunger, but he fed them with manna in order to make them understand that one does not live by bread alone.
• Temptation Two (4:5-8): To rule all the kingdoms of the world. Response: Deuteronomy 6:13: “It is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.'” Context in Deuteronomy: Moses addresses the people of Israel prior to entering the land of promise. He calls upon the people to fear and love the Lord always. He provides a creed for them, the Shema, “Hear, O Israel….” (6:4), tells them not to forget who gave the land, and admonishes them to worship and serve the Lord.
• Temptation Three (4:9-12): To throw himself down from the pinnacle of the Temple in Jerusalem. Here the devil quotes Psalm 91:11-12. Response: Deuteronomy 6:16: “It is said, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'” Context in Deuteronomy: The setting is the same as the previous episode (Deut 6:13). Moses exhorts the people not to test the Lord as they did at Massah, a place of quarreling, where the people of Israel demanded water from Moses, which he finally obtained by striking a rock (Exodus 17:1-7).
SON OF GOD:
– What word or phrase is repeated by the devil? (Son of God)
– Why do you think Son of God was repeated by the devil three times? (When we read a text from Scripture, often times the language used in the Scripture is important: it’s poetic or emphasizes what an author was trying to point to. So it’s important.)
– Why do you think this is important? What do you think it means?
– A few things to note about Son of God in biblical times:
A. In the Jewish tradition (as we see in the some of our Old Testament texts, kings were often called sons of God: like in Psalms or 2 Sam.)
B. In the ancient world a son represents his father, and in the Old Testament the king is sometimes called God’s son, meaning that he represents God on earth, and at best he is obedient to God.
Explain: Jesus was tested concerning his vocation given in baptism of being the Son of God. But, though he would likely have been able to do all things the devil was tempting to do, he said “no” to these things. He didn’t want to abuse his power. While these worldly powers may have been what the worldly kings (who were called sons of God) sought, this is not what the true Son of God, Jesus Christ, was all about.
EXPLORING DEEPER AND APPLYING THIS TO OUR CONTEXT
– How might this story apply to our lives? (Jesus was tested, just like we all go through times of testing and tempting. He can understand what we go through. “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin.” Hebrews 4:15)
– What are some ways we have felt tested or tempted?
WILDERNESS
– People sometimes say that they go through wilderness periods in their lives. What might it mean to go through a wilderness period? (times of loss or struggle, feeling lost, etc.) What are some examples of wilderness periods: that you have been through, others you know have been through, or people in our city, country, or around the world are going through.
– How might we find hope in our wilderness periods? (Ex: God meets us in the wilderness and helps us along the way. In Lent, the resurrection comes after the wilderness, and throughout Lent, we see glimpses of Easter each week. This reminds us of that hope in the resurrection and that new life will come after the wilderness.)
40 DAYS and 40 NIGHTS
– Most of this text focuses on the temptation. But was the temptation at the beginning of Jesus’ journey in the wilderness? When did it occur? (After 40 days and 40 nights of Jesus in the wilderness.)
– What do you think Jesus did and experienced in the wilderness for those 40 days and 40 long nights? (Jesus went directly from his baptism to the wilderness before he began his ministry. He was actually driven into the wilderness by the Spirit. He was there for a purpose: to prepare for what was to come: to prepare for his ministry and his journey to the cross and the resurrection. So he fasted, prayed, and prepared as he got away from everything.)
VIDEO:
Explain: Our Bible doesn’t tell us much about what specifically happened during that time of preparation for those 40 days and 40 nights. But I am going to show you an artist’s depiction of what happened. In this video, there are 40 drawings of Jesus in the wilderness, one for each day. Watch and think about what it was like for Jesus in the wilderness as he prepared for His ministry.
Watch Video: “A Video of Jesus in the Wilderness”
DISCUSS:
– What are your thoughts on the video?
– Who was the tempter or accuser in the drawings? (a stronger version of Jesus, himself.) What do you think the artist meant by that? How might we take that to mean in our own lives?
– Do you think that the wilderness was a good thing for Jesus?
– Would a wilderness be a good thing for us? Why? (Have any of you ever been in a wilderness – in a place that is secluded, quiet, etc? What was it like? How did you feel? Was it rejuvenating or renewing?)
REFLECTION AND RESPONSE:
Explain: during Lent, we are invited to follow Jesus and enter the wilderness to prepare ourselves for times of testing and to become more aware of how God is present in our lives and around us. It is a time to get away from the busyness of life, to simplify our lives, and to look at ourselves and our lives and reflect on how our lives have and can have meaning in the world. We are all constantly a work in progress, and Lent (entering the wilderness) is a time for us to return to God.
There are 3 traditional practices that have been taken up during Lent:
(Write on a white board)
– Prayer (justice towards God)
– Fasting: (justice towards self)
– Almsgiving: (justice towards neighbor)
Ask the youth to make Commitments: (Hand out notecards)
Have the youth write on one side of the card one thing that they will fast from or “give up” during Lent (an indulgence or something that consumes them and/or distracts them from seeing or connecting with God.)Examples: facebook, tv, chocolate, soda, video games, etc.
Have the youth write on the other side of the card one practice that they will “take on” during Lent (prayer or spiritual practice, community service/volunteer work, random acts of kindness, family activity or ritual.)
*Make sure to explain that these practices are not about willpower or about losing weight, etc. They are about making space for God (fasting) and filling that newly created space with time for God and others.
O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on the whole human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us; unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in your good time, all nations and races may serve you in harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
CLOSING BENEDICTION:
Close with a benediction together: (from d365.org)
There before you lies all the world, Given as a gift. Go into the world as a work in progress, Someone who is not yet who you will be, But someone who is on the way. The world will be better and blessed , Because you are in it. Growing, becoming, gleaming with the light reflected from above.
Donald posing with his plaque and certificate of appreciation.
KOTA KINABALU (Mar 14): Donald Soh Sun Kheng was part of the first batch of Boys Brigade (BB) established in Sabah around 50 years ago.
Now 72 years old, he was also the first Sabah BB president (1982-1985) to serve under the uniformed Christian youth organisation, which was founded in Glasgow, Scotland, by Sir William Alexander Smith in 1883.
Prior to becoming a BB member, he was a Boy Scout for six years. When the organisation stepped foot in Sabah in 1967, Donald and a friend decided to join BB, attracted by its two main pillars of religion and discipline.
“There were ten of us in the first batch. At the time, Jesselton had just been renamed to Kota Kinabalu. We did not have much resources, not even proper uniforms. Everything had to be ordered from Singapore as it was BB’s main headquarters for the Asia region at the time before Malaysia took over.
“We had a lot of outdoor campings, drills, learned to cook and tie knots, plus various other useful skills. Things they do not teach you in classrooms. The most important thing that I have gained from BB, however, was a strong sense of discipline,” he said during Sabah BB’s 50th Anniversary Dinner at Hakka Hall, here, recently.
Donald started out as a staff sergeant and completed his first training course in Johor Bahru before moving up to the rank of an officer in 1973, which was when he took part in the BB International 90th Anniversary in Singapore.
The Brunei-born explained that they would often have their activities and programs on the weekends, and how he had to sacrifice time away from his family to focus on BB while also working on the weekdays.
“I had a brief stint as a shipping clerk at a harbour. That was before my first BB captain, the late Seah Yun Khong, encouraged me to go into the technical field. He had told me, ‘Donald, you better do something else. Do not stay as a clerk your whole life. Pursue something technical’.
“He told me this on a Saturday. Two days later, he passed away from a heart attack. After his death, his words had been imprinted at the back of my mind. So I went to Kepayan and knocked on the Public Works Department’s (JKR) door. I joined them in 1971 and worked there for 36 years as an engineering assistant,” he said.
In 1974, Donald started his own company (troop) and steered its wheel for 38 years as the captain before retiring at the age of 60, handing over the baton to the young bloods. Six years prior to his retirement, he went on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, Israel, after he retired from JKR in 2006.
“It has been one of my life dreams to go back to my faith and see for myself what I believe in. I got to walk the same steps Jesus Christ did 2000 years ago. I also got to carry the cross and received a certificate from my pilgrimage,” he said.
He recalled fond memories during his time at the organisation, travelling to many countries such as Scotland, Ireland, Australia, and even to New Zealand to meet members of Steadfast – an alumni group consisting of former members of BB.
Despite his retirement, he is still quite active within the organisation and often holds educational classes and courses for BB members during his free time. Aside from BB-related matters, he is also pursuing other hobbies such as photography and videography.
During the anniversary dinner at Hakka Hall, he had brought along a camera and a bodycam to document the momentous event, where he was conferred a plaque and certificate of appreciation from BB Sabah state commissioner Foo Ming Chung.
Aside from the aforementioned hobbies, he also likes to work on other technical endeavours such as solar panels and constructing emergency lights. Recently he has been learning how to use the bodycam he bought a while ago to take videos alongside his camera for pictures.
On an unrelated note, he had noticed that the interest of the youth in uniformed bodies has waned since the advent of modern technology such as smartphones, with most of them only joining due to being forced by their parents.
In this regard, Donald, equipped with the experience and wisdom gained from his 56 years at BB, would like to dispense advice to the youth.
“Join a uniformed body. It does not matter whether it is BB, Girls Brigade (GB), Red Crescent, or Boy Scouts. It is a different atmosphere compared to learning in schools. They will teach you how to be disciplined and, in my case, also become a more outgoing person. Even at my age, I still go out and play badminton once in a while,” he concluded.
As of 2022, BB has 17 companies throughout Sabah, eight in Kota Kinabalu, Kudat (3), Sandakan (3), Tawau (2) and Keningau (1), with a total of 1,498 members made up of 107 officers, 30 instructors, 692 seniors, 623 juniors and 46 pre-juniors.
The movement was first brought to Sabah and Sarawak by Anthony Fong Cheng who initiated Jesselton’s first BB company with Charles Chu and David Lee on 8 April 1967, comprising 20 members. The company was sponsored by the Young Men Christian Association (YMCA).
Seah, who was a former lieutenant of the second Singapore BB company, then took up the seat as captain of the first Jesselton company alongside Father Peter Dodd as the chaplain, officers Charles, David, and Jimmy Ng, sergeant Peter Chau, corporals Wong Won Chong and Donald, lance corporals Yee Ting Kong, David Tham and Joseph Tham, warrant officer Anthony Ching, staff sergeant Henry Shang, and music teacher Albert Yong.
In June 1967, Fong was appointed as Seah’s second in command and they had their first meeting at the Y tuition centre at Nosmail Court, Beach Street. In August 1967, the meeting venue was moved to All Saints Cathedral after permission was granted for their use of the parish court.
Almost immediately, Seah appointed the first batch of non-commissioned officers (NCOs). He trained them in drill, Christian faith as well as social and physical principles. He further trained Fong in economic, social, youth work and other aspects of BB.
The first BB camp was held in 1968 at Kionsom, Putatan, with 20 boys and one officer.
After Seah’s sudden passing on 13 December 1971, Fong assumed his position as the head of the company. Soon after, the company formed a musical band and made its first appearance at the former Head of State Tun Mohammad Fuad Stephen’s birthday parade in 1973.
Under the helm of former state presidents Donald (1982 – 1985) and David Liew Chew Kong (1986 – 1995), former state commissioners Stephen Liew Nyuk Kiong (1996 – 2008), Henry Liew Yun Ye (2009 – 2013) and Ho Hee Mang (2014 – 2018) as well as current state commissioner Foo, they soared to great heights and achieved many milestones.
BB Sabah is currently paving its way to develop a more vibrant and spiritual growth as well as provide a more holistic training and development for all its members by forming more companies in partnership with churches, Christian organisations and schools at all towns in Sabah.
“Previous humanitarian emergencies have shown us how vital it is to address the fears and anxiety of young people when life as they know it gets turned upside down. We hope that this beautifully-illustrated book, which takes children on a journey across time zones and continents, will help them to understand what they can do to stay positive and keep safe during the coronavirus outbreak.”
Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General
UNICEF
“All over the world, children’s lives have been completely upended — the majority of them living in countries with some form of restricted movement or lockdown. This wonderful book helps children understand and navigate this new landscape and learn how they can take small actions to become the heroes in their own stories.”
Henrietta Fore, Executive Director
UNHCR
“This is an important resource for children around the world with a strong message of inclusion at its heart – that this pandemic can only be beaten if everyone is included in its prevention and response. Children, including those who are refugees, displaced and stateless, can help too. No-one is protected unless we are all protected”.
Filippo Grandi, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
UNESCO
“Sharing facts and reliable information is vital to respond to COVID-19, and I wish to commend the creativity and passion of all artists, writers and publishers who find compelling ways to translate and craft stories and artwork so they can reach children and families to comfort and guide them through a distressing situation. UNESCO is proud to support this initiative and we see this as an example of the contribution of the artistic community to the well-being and resilience of all."
The Church of England has launched its first ever Green Lent campaign, #Live Lent.
There will be plenty of ways that you can get involved across Essex and East London. On this page you’ll find weekly blogs, a programme of lectures as well as podcasts and videos. We hope you’ll join us for reflection, prayer and by taking action to tackle the environment and climate emergency.
This year Earth Day falls on Sunday! On April 22nd, you can bring the sacred to Earth Day. Here are four different resources for making the most of this special Sunday:
Connect God’s Creation to God’s Children – The UCC Council for Climate Justice has spearheaded an interfaith effort to preach a thousand sermons in solidarity with the 21 children and youth who are suing the federal government over climate change. One of the youth plaintiffs is the son of a UCC pastor. Youth are especially encouraged to preach as part of this effort. A full webpage is devoted to call for a thousand sermons and a liturgical resource can be downloaded.
Focus on Your Local Ecosystem – Creation Justice Ministries has created materials for Earth Sunday on the theme "Sense of Place." Develop a worship service that reflects on living in harmony with local ecosystems and watersheds, rightly sharing places with a diversity of people, and respecting the history of your place.
Climate Action Week – Interfaith Power & Light shares a wealth of resources for its Climate Action Week that runs from April 14th to the 22nd. This year their theme is Charged with Faith: Leading the Way to a Clean Energy Future. A toolkit is available along with online worship resources and more.
Share Our Love of Creation Video – In worship or out of worship, share this video that the UCC made in collaboration with Blessed Tomorrow.
The idea for this ice breaker comes from the online meeting service Lucid Meetings.
Ask team members to take a picture of their shoes and upload it ahead of the meeting. This activity is best for videoconferences, but it can work on teleconference calls if everyone has access to a screen.
Then, at the start of the meeting, ask each participant to discuss his choice of shoe, and any "story" behind it. For example, one person might be wearing running shoes – and this might lead to a discussion about his hobbies – or sandals, flip-flops or sneakers.
Vary the exercise by asking team members to take a picture of an object on their desks, and getting them to talk about it.
The Social Question
The idea for this ice breaker comes from the online training service Guided Insights.
Ask each participant a "social" question. So, you could find out what someone enjoys doing outside of work, or ask if she has a funny story she can share about something that happened to her recently, and so on. Ask everyone the same question, or different ones if you want more variety in the responses.
Here are some more examples of what you might ask:
Give an example of something you've done this week that you feel proud of.
If you weren't on this call, what would you like to be doing?
If you could eat any dish right now, what would it be?
If money and time were no object, where would you most like to go on vacation?
The Time Machine
The idea for this ice breaker comes from the About Continuing Education website, which provides resources for students, teachers and parents.
Ask the following question, to one participant at a time: "If you were able to travel through time, either forward or backward... :
Where would you go?
If backward, to which time period? Why?
If there was a person you could go back in time and meet, who would it be, and why?
Would you just want to visit and come back, or would you stay?"
Two Lies and a Truth
The idea for this ice breaker was developed by new media consultant Joitske Hulsebosch.
Ask each team member to prepare a list of three interesting "facts" about themselves, two of which must be made up. These could comprise anything, from a pet they own or a hobby they love to a famous person they say they've met, and so on.
Then, get other team members to decide on the facts they think are true. The team member who receives the most incorrect votes "wins."
Key Points
Virtual ice breakers can help remote team members improve their relationships with one another, and they can promote creativity and problem solving within the group.
Consider whether a virtual ice breaker is appropriate for your meeting, organization or participants. Think hard about your goals and objectives before you design or choose it. You'll also need to take into account the functionality of your participants' technology, as well as any differences in time zones and culture.
1 O LORD God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before thee:
2 Let my prayer come before thee: incline thine ear unto my cry;
3 For my soul is full of troubles: and my life draweth nigh unto the grave.
4 I am counted with them that go down into the pit: I am as a man that hath no strength:
5 Free among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, whom thou rememberest no more: and they are cut off from thy hand.
6 Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit, in darkness, in the deeps.
7 Thy wrath lieth hard upon me, and thou hast afflicted me with all thy waves. Selah.
8 Thou hast put away mine acquaintance far from me; thou hast made me an abomination unto them: I am shut up, and I cannot come forth.
9 Mine eye mourneth by reason of affliction: LORD, I have called daily upon thee, I have stretched out my hands unto thee.
10 Wilt thou shew wonders to the dead? shall the dead arise and praise thee? Selah.
11 Shall thy lovingkindness be declared in the grave? or thy faithfulness in destruction?
12 Shall thy wonders be known in the dark? and thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?
13 But unto thee have I cried, O LORD; and in the morning shall my prayer prevent thee.
14 LORD, why castest thou off my soul? why hidest thou thy face from me?
15 I am afflicted and ready to die from my youth up: while I suffer thy terrors I am distracted.
16 Thy fierce wrath goeth over me; thy terrors have cut me off.
17 They came round about me daily like water; they compassed me about together.
18 Lover and friend hast thou put far from me, and mine acquaintance into darkness.
2 Corinthians 12:5-10
2 Corinthians 12:5-10 (KJV)
5 Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.
6 For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me.
7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
When we are troubled, we should run to our Father especially when the storm. Of life hit us.
Psalm 88:5
88:3 For my soul is full of trouble and my life draws near the grave.
88:4 I am counted among those who go down to the pit; I am like a man without strength.
88:5 I am set apart with the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave, whom you remember no more, who are cut off from your care.
88:6 You have put me in the lowest pit, in the darkest depths.!!?
Psalm 13:1 How long, O God?
Ask the right question, don't ask Why but ask what can be done
In life, learn to trust God even in suffering. We can experience victory even when we are not victorious.
In serious illness, we may not be cured but we can be healed.
Joy is not the absence of sadness or suffering but it comes from deeper faith in God.
V1 O LORD, the God who saves me, day and night I cry out before you.
V13 But I cry to you for help, O LORD; in the morning my prayer comes before you.
