the great trilogy

EDGE SEMESTER PLANNING GUIDE

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SCRIPTUREEphesians 3:9Romans 4:25 John 10:18Matthew 26:391 Corinthians 15:142 Corinthians 5:15Matthew 28:1-10

CATECHISM# 1067# 1076# 515-517

# 608, 612, 618# 651-655

YOUCAT# 104-108# 171

SUPPLIES NEEDEDȏ�Notecards with the trilogy

movies written on them ȏ� Poster board for the names

of the trilogy movies

ȏ� Poster board for the Stations of the Cross if you are not using a church with existing Stations of the Cross

ȏ� "Stations of the Cross" Handouts

ȏ�Cardboard and art supplies (paint and markers) to construct the tomb – see environment

ȏ�Musician or a means to play music

GOALThe goal of this Edge Night is to help the middle school youth understand and apply the Paschal Mystery to their lives.

EDGE NIGHT AT A GLANCEThis Edge Night will break down the three parts of the Paschal Mystery: Jesus' Passion, His Death, and Resurrection (Jesus’ Ascension will be addressed in a separate Edge night). The Paschal Mystery is the central mystery of our redemption; it is here where God’s plan to save His people is DFFRPSOLVKHG�WKURXJK�-HVXVȇ�VXHULQJ�DQG�GHDWK�on the cross. It is completed in Jesus’ Glorious 5HVXUUHFWLRQ��:H�HQFRXQWHU�WKH�VDYLQJ�HHFWV�RI�the Paschal Mystery through the sacramental life of the Church.

The night will begin with the a game called “Find Your Trilogy,” which will give the middle school youth an opportunity to meet two new people. Then we will move into the Proclaim, which will focus on the "trilogy" of the Paschal Mystery. Following the Proclaim, the middle school youth will have some time for discussion in their small groups. Each small group will have the opportunity WR�ZULWH�D�UHȵHFWLRQ�DQG�SUD\HU�IRU�WKH�6WDWLRQV�RI�the Cross, which will be used during the Send. In the Send, the whole group will gather together to pray the Stations of the Cross and “walk” through the events of Jesus’ Passion and death. The night will end with a celebration at the empty tomb to commemorate Jesus’ Glorious Resurrection!

THE GREAT TRILOGYPASCHAL MYSTERYEDGE NIGHT OUTLINE


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GATHERWELCOME & INTRODUCTIONS(10 min)

As the youth enter, have fun upbeat music playing in the background.

The youth minister should gather all the youth together, welcome them to Edge Night, and lead an opening prayer. He or she should introduce DQ\� \RXWK� DW� (GJH� 1LJKW� IRU� WKH� ȴUVW� WLPH� DQG�present a brief overview of the session.

FIND YOUR TRILOGY (15 min)

Have the Core Members go around and hand each youth a card with a movie title from a famous trilogy (some examples are below). Without saying a word, only using gestures, the middle VFKRRO�\RXWK�QHHG�WR�ȴQG�WKH�RWKHU�WZR�SHRSOH�that complete their trilogy. If they have not seen the movie then they can act out the movie title. This is similar to charades but everyone is playing DW�WKH�VDPH�WLPH��7KH�JRDO�LV�WR�VHH�ZKR�FDQ�ȴQG�their trilogy the quickest without using words.(Trilogy examples: Toy Story, Lord of the Rings, 6SLGHU� 0DQ�� 7HUPLQDWRU�� 3LUDWHV� RI� WKH� &DULEEHDQ��Matrix, Shrek, etc.)

BEFORE THE NIGHTYou will need to make the tomb for the environment and Send. This will need to be prepared ahead time. The handouts for the Stations of the Cross (found on pages 36-37) will also need to be printed out in advance.

ENVIRONMENTThe night will start with a game called “Find Your Trilogy,” using examples from well-known movie trilogies. You may post names of those movies on poster boards around the room (for example: The Godfather, Lord of the Rings, Spider Man, Toy Story, etc.). The following may change depending on where you are going to do your Send; if you are planning on doing the Stations of the Cross in a church or chapel, then this will not apply to you. If you are using a youth room or another space without Stations of the Cross, then you will need to hang posters to designate the 14 Stations of the Cross.

Lastly, wherever you are planning on having your Send, you will need to make a tomb. This will be ZKHUH�WKH�ȴQDO�6WDWLRQ�RI�WKH�&URVV��-HVXV�ΖV�/DLG�in the Tomb) will end; this will also be where you celebrate the Resurrection and the Empty Tomb.

How to make a tomb:

ȏ�Get a large appliance or refrigerator box.

ȏ� /D\�LW�RQ�LWV�VLGH�DQG�FXW�WKH�ȵDSV�R��\RX�FRXOG�use two boxes to make it even larger and piece them together).

ȏ�Once it is the desired size, you can begin using marker or paint to make the outside look like stone; you can paint or cover the inside with black.

ȏ� You can make the stone out of another piece of large cardboard and paint it to look like stone, or you could also use fabric to drape the front and sides.

ȏ�At the end of the night the “stone” will be rolled away to reveal the empty tomb.

MEDIA SUGGESTIONSSong: “Christ is Risen from the Dead” by Matt Maher (Alive Again, Essential Records)Song: “Resurrection Day” by Matt Maher (2YHUȵRZ, Essential Records)


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to Jesus to be arrested. Have you ever been betrayed by someone you love? Imagine the hurt that Christ felt, imagine His passion. Jesus was sentenced to death because He claimed to be King; but, like He said, “my kingdom is not of this world” ( John 18:36). Before they gave Jesus His cross to carry, they scourged Him. We don’t use this term often anymore; scourging someone was the most brutal form of torture. Their instructions were to beat Jesus to the point of death but keep Him alive.

These are the events of Christ’s Passion. Did you notice that He didn’t run away? He freely accepted WKH�SDLQ��+H�GLG�QRW�VK\�DZD\�IURP�WKH�VXHULQJ�that would eventually lead to His death. Christ says, “No one takes my life from me, but I lay it down of my own accord” ( John 10:18). We believe that Jesus is fully man and fully God, which means WKDW�+H�H[SHULHQFHG�VXHULQJ�MXVW�OLNH�DQ\�RWKHU�PDQ��+LV�VXHULQJ�ZDV�UHDO��-HVXV�NQHZ�+H�ZRXOG�have to die, and in His darkest hour the people closest to Him abandoned, denied, and betrayed +LP��-HVXVȇ�VXHULQJ�ZDV�VR�UHDO�WKDW�+H�FULHG�WHDUV�of blood in the Garden of Gethsemane. But even WKRXJK�+LV�SDVVLRQ�ZDV� JUHDW� DQG�+LV� VXHULQJ�was tremendous, He remained faithful to His Father’s will. Jesus stayed the course because He knew that He would have to die; this brings us to the second part of our epic story.

Part 2: the Death Jesus was given His cross and He was to carry His own cross to the place of His death, Calvary. While Jesus hung on the cross ready to die, the people still mocked Him. Think of His 12 Apostles; where were they? Think about all the people He healed; where were they? At the foot of the cross were Jesus’ mother, Mary Magdalene, and His beloved disciple, John. And even though almost everyone had left Him in His darkest hour, Jesus NQHZ� WKLV� VDFULȴFH� ZRXOG� VDYH� HDFK� RI� WKHP��Above Jesus’ head was a sign, and this sign read “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.” This sign was accurate — Jesus was a king, but He would be everyone’s king. This is our king! Jesus died on the cross.

The death of Christ is unique. It is the perfect VDFULȴFH� ȃ� WKH� SHUIHFW�� VLQOHVV� 2QH� GLHV� RQ�the cross for sinners. It is through this perfect VDFULȴFH�WKDW�RXU�VLQ�LV�FRQTXHUHG��<RX�DQG�Ζ�KDYH�

PROCLAIMSCRIPTURE PROCLAMATION(5 min)

2 Corinthians 5:15

“THE GREAT TRILOGY” TEACHING(25 min)

the Great trilogy: the Paschal mystery Every great story has three parts — a beginning, middle, and an end. And many stories are so great that they are divided into three books or three movies. At the end of each movie or book there LV�D�FOL�KDQJHU�WKDW�OHDYHV�\RX�LQ�VXVSHQVH�XQWLO�the next movie is released! The same is true with the story of Christ; the story of how Jesus saves us is the greatest story ever told! There are three parts and we need all three parts of this trilogy in order for it to be complete. The trilogy I am referring to is the Paschal Mystery. This trilogy is D�OLWWOH�GLHUHQW�IURP�RWKHUV�ZH�PLJKW�NQRZ��ZH�not only get to read about it, we also get to live it!

7KH�3DVFKDO�0\VWHU\� LV�GHȴQHG�DV�&KULVWȇV�ZRUN�of Redemption, which is accomplished through His Passion, Death, and Resurrection. Each part is important; together, not only does it make a great story, it can also change our lives!

Part 1: the Passion The word passion� PHDQV� ȊWR� VXHUȋ� RU� ȊWR�endure.” We use the word Passion when we speak RI�&KULVWȇV�VXHULQJ�WKDW�OHDG�WR�+LV�GHDWK��-HVXVȇ�VXHULQJ�PDUNV�WKH�EHJLQQLQJ�RI�RXU�WULORJ\��QRW�a fun way to begin a movie, but this is a drama). The Passion of Christ begins when Jesus takes His disciples to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. It is there that He prays with great anguish to His Father. In fact, He asks His father to spare Him from death. He prays, “Father if it possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will” (Luke 22:42). Jesus knew that +H�ZRXOG�KDYH�WR�VXHU�DQG�ZH�VHH�WKDW�+H�ZDV�not thrilled about it! Have you ever been afraid of VXHULQJ"�+DYH�\RX�HYHU�GRXEWHG�LQ�WLPHV�RI�WULDO"�In the Garden, Jesus was betrayed by one of His close Apostles, Judas. We call Judas the Betrayer because he is the one that led the Roman soldiers


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the opportunity to be forgiven because of Christ’s death. Jesus was obedient to the point of death to make up for our disobedience. In the Garden of Eden, Adam was disobedient to God’s will. Adam ZDV�ZHDN�DQG�EOLQGHG�E\�KLV�VHOȴVK�GHVLUHV��&KULVW�undid the sin of Adam and, through His death, He undoes our sin. We can imitate Christ’s death in our own lives. We can actually participate in the Paschal Mystery when we “take up our cross and follow him” (Matthew 16:24). Are we willing to die to our sin, die to our former way of life? His death not only conquered our sin, but it also gave us an example to follow. We know all of this now, but imagine standing at the foot of the cross and watching the one who you believed was God die. There was despair, there was fear, there was panic, and there was doubt. His lifeless body was taken from the cross and He was buried in the tomb. Everything that Jesus’ disciples knew had been taken from them, so they hid. At this point in the story we are left empty and feeling like we could never recover. But the story does not end…

Part 3: the resurrection 7KH�ȴQDO�SDUW�RI�WKLV�WULORJ\�LV�WUXO\�DQ�HQGLQJ�WKDW�everyone will be talking about. In fact, everyone has been talking about it for over 2000 years. We conclude our trilogy with the Resurrection! 2Q�WKH�PRUQLQJ�RI�WKH�ȴUVW�GD\�RI�WKH�ZHHN��WKH�stone of the tomb was found rolled back and the tomb was empty! Everything we do as Christians and as Catholics is because of the Resurrection. Imagine, what if Jesus stayed in the tomb? It says in Scripture that “If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:14). If Christ had not been raised, there would be no churches, there would be no Christmas and Easter, and we would still be dead in our sin. But He has been raised, Alleluia!

The Resurrection is not only central to our faith but it is also the strongest evidence that Jesus was who He said He was. Jesus was truly God. 7KH� 5HVXUUHFWLRQ� FRQȴUPV� DOO� WKDW� &KULVW� GLG�and taught while on earth. Jesus’ Resurrection LV� WKH� IXOȴOOPHQW� RI� HYHU\� SURPLVH�PDGH� LQ� WKH�Old Testament. The Resurrection is the greatest miracle in history, and people have been trying to disprove it for years because the enemies of Christianity know that if you disprove the Resurrection then you disprove everything about

Christianity! This is reason to rejoice; we have reached the climax of our trilogy and we can be FRQȴGHQW�WKDW�WKH�VWRU\�HQGV��KDSSLO\�HYHU�DIWHU��

Conclusion The Paschal Mystery really has two aspects: by His death, Christ frees us from sin; and by His Resurrection, He opens for us the way to new life. We celebrate the Paschal Mystery of Christ every year during Holy Week — Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday. These are the three parts of our trilogy: the Passion, the Death, and the Resurrection. We don’t just celebrate it once a year, we commemorate the Paschal Mystery every time we go to Mass. That is why we pray the Proclamation of the Faith just before we receive Communion: “Dying He destroyed our death; rising He restored our life.” This is really WKH� SDWWHUQ� RI� RXU� &KULVWLDQ� OLIH�� ȴUVW�� ZH�PXVW�die to ourselves so we can rise with Christ. We are challenged to put to death our sin so we can rise with new life. This is the Good News that has saved us, and this has the ability to change us if we let it. Saint Paul encourages us to “live no longer for [ourselves] but for Him who for [our] sake died and was raised” (2 Corinthians 5:15).

BREAKSMALL GROUP DISCUSSION(20 min)

As your small group begins, say a prayer for the group and the activities for that session.

Discuss the following questions:

ȏ� Before tonight, when you heard the words “Paschal Mystery,” what did you think it meant?

ȏ� 7KH�ZRUG�ȊSDVVLRQȋ�PHDQV�WR�VXHU��/LNH�&KULVW��KDYH�\RX�HYHU�H[SHULHQFHG�VXHULQJ�LQ�\RXU�OLIH"�Describe a time in your life that was particularly GLɝFXOW��

ȏ� In Jesus’ darkest hour He was abandoned by the people He loved the most. Have you ever experienced something similar?


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ȏ� -HVXV�GLG�QRW�UXQ�DZD\�IURP�+LV�VXHULQJ�DQG�death. How can we apply that same truth to our lives?

ȏ� The Gospel calls us to take up our cross and follow Christ. How can you, a middle school youth, take up your cross? What does that mean for your life?

ȏ�How has the Resurrection impacted your life? Think of examples of how the Resurrection has changed the world and even changed your life.

ȏ�Can we apply the Paschal Mystery, which took place over 2000 years ago, to our lives today? If so, how?

WRITE YOUR REFLECTIONS

For the Core member: As a whole group, we are going to pray the 6WDWLRQV�RI�WKH�&URVV��2HU�D�EULHI�H[SODQDWLRQ�RI�the Stations of the Cross (see below). As a small group, we will lead one of the Stations (assign these ahead of time — if you have seven small groups, they will each have two stations). We are UHVSRQVLEOH� IRU� ZULWLQJ� D� VKRUW� UHȵHFWLRQ� DQG�prayer for this particular Station.

stations of the Cross explanation: From the earliest of days, followers of Jesus told the story of His Passion, Death, and Resurrection. When pilgrims came to see Jerusalem, they were anxious to see the sites where Jesus was. These sites become important holy connections with Jesus. Eventually, following in the footsteps of the Lord along the way of the cross became a part of the pilgrimage visit. The stations, as we know them today, came about when it was no longer easy or even possible to visit the holy sites. In the 1500's, villages all over Europe started creating "replicas" of the Way of the Cross, with small shrines commemorating the places along the route in Jerusalem. Eventually, these shrines became the set of 14 stations we now know and were placed in almost every Catholic Church in the world. Here are the 14 Stations:

1. Jesus Is Condemned to Death 2. Jesus Carries His Cross 3. Jesus Falls for the First Time 4. Jesus Meets His Mother5. Simon of Cyrene Helps Jesus Carry His Cross

6. Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus 7. Jesus Falls for the Second Time 8. Jesus Meets the Women of Jerusalem 9. Jesus Falls for the Third Time 10. Jesus Is Stripped of His Clothes11. Jesus Is Nailed to the Cross 12. Jesus Dies on the Cross 13. Jesus Is Taken Down from the Cross14. Jesus Is Laid in the Tomb

stations of the Cross As a group, read through the “Stations of the Cross” handout (pages 36-37). The entire group will be praying the Stations of the Cross together DQG�XVLQJ�WKH�UHȵHFWLRQV�WKH\�ZURWH��

SENDSTATIONS OF THE CROSS (30 min)

Have all the small groups stand and move to the First Station. At this time you may move to the church or chapel for the Stations of the Cross. If not, you may just want to post around the room fourteen poster boards with the number and name of the station (example: Station 1 — Jesus is Sentenced to Death). This should begin a prayerful time; you may want to dim the lights and play soft background music.

The idea is that you are going to move as a group and walk through the Stations together. Each middle school youth and Core Member can use the Stations of the Cross handout to guide them. Each small group will be assigned to at least one Station (depending on the number of small groups), and they will lead their assigned station. At the 14th Station, “Jesus Is Laid in the Tomb,” the group will be in front of a tomb (see Environment for ideas on how to create a tomb). At the conclusion, everyone will kneel for a few moments of silence before the tomb where Jesus' body lay.

the empty tomb After the group has completed the Stations of the Cross, allow for a few moments of silence and then remove the “stone” or curtain to unveil the empty tomb. Read the Resurrection account


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from Matthew 28:1-10. Invite everyone to stand and pray in thanksgiving for the Resurrection. You may want to turn on the lights (or a spot light) to highlight the empty tomb. Sing “Christ is Risen from the Dead” (see Media Suggestions); you may play a few other songs, depending on your time.

SUMMARY CHALLENGE

Before the middle school youth are sent home, they will be challenged to remember:

ȏ� This is the great trilogy of our faith: the Paschal Mystery, which includes Jesus’ Passion, Death, and Resurrection.

ȏ� The Church invites us to share in this Paschal 0\VWHU\�ZLWK�RXU�OLYHV��WR�VXHU��GLH�WR�RXU�VLQV��and rise with Christ.

ȏ� Your challenge this week is not to be afraid WR� VDFULȴFH�� ZKHQ� ZH� VDFULȴFH� ZH� FDQ� XQLWH�ourselves to Jesus.

ȏ�:H�KDYH�KRSH�WKDW�&KULVW�ZLOO�OLIW�XS�RXU�VDFULȴFH�just like He raised himself from the dead.

TO THE PARENTS OF

This night will introduce the most sacred events of our faith — Jesus’ Passion, Death, and Resurrection, which is known as the Paschal Mystery. We address these three saving events with the theme of "trilogy." The Proclaim will

break open what each of these events mean for our faith and for our lives. The basic challenge to each of us is to apply the Paschal Mystery to our lives by daily dying to our sin and rising into new life with Christ. Here are some questions to discuss with your child:

ȏ�What did you learn about the Paschal Mystery tonight? What are the three events that are included?

ȏ�:KDW� ZDV� VLJQLȴFDQW� DERXW� WKH� VXHULQJ� DQG�death of Jesus? How does that impact our lives?

ȏ�Why is the Resurrection central in our faith as Christians?

ADAPTATION IDEAS

ȏ� If you do not have a church or chapel in which to pray the Stations of the Cross, make your own Stations in the space that you have. You can simply do this by writing on poster board and hanging them throughout your room.

ȏ�Depending on the size of your group, you may need a wireless microphone for the Proclaim and the Stations of the Cross.

ȏ� If you have a musician you can use him/her GXULQJ� WKH�ȴQDO� WLPH�RI�SUDLVH�DQG�ZRUVKLS�DW�the Empty Tomb. If not, have music cued up on a an iPod or CD.

Notes

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EDGE NIGHT CHECKLISTTHE GREAT TRILOGY CHECKLIST

CORE PLANNING TEAM:

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

____________________________________________

DATE OF LIFE NIGHT:

____________________________________________

ONE MONTH PRIOR TO THE NIGHT:

ഋ Give copes of the Edge Night to each of the members of the planning team. Each person should read the Scripture, Catechism, and YOUCAT references as well as review the planning guide before the brainstorming meeting.

ഋ Have the planning team meet for a brainstorming meeting (this should last no longer than 1 hour). The team prays and discusses where the youth are in their faith MRXUQH\� LQ� UHODWLRQ� WR� WKLV� WRSLF�� 8VLQJ� WKLV�planning guide as a starting point, the team adapts the Edge Night to meet the needs of the youth and the parish.

ഋ Assign the person responsible for the following:

Environment ________________________________

Before the Night (when needed) _______________

Audio/Visual Needs __________________________

Opening Prayer ______________________________

Scripture Proclamation ________________________

Proclaim (discuss with YM) ____________________

Summary Challenge __________________________

TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO EDGE NIGHT:

ഋ Turn in your notes for the Edge Night to the youth minister. Allow the youth minister to give feedback and make necessary changes.

ഋ Create a list of needed supplies and materials. Assign a person to be responsible for collecting and/or purchasing the items needed.

ഋ Discuss with the youth minister who will be giving the Proclaim/witness for the Edge Night. Be sure that this person is given the script and/or teaching. Inform them of any practices, time limits, and/or deadlines.

WEEK OF THE EDGE NIGHT:

ഋ Person giving Proclaim checks in with youth minister.

ഋ Check that all supplies have been obtained/purchased.

ഋ Create/collect items for environment. Have volunteers ready to help if needed.

ഋ Email Core Team an overview of the Edge Night.

DAY OF THE EDGE NIGHT:

ഋ Set up the environment. Make sure the room is clean and presentable.

ഋ If needed, set up audio/visual equipment. Test the video clips to make sure both picture and sound work.

ഋ Pray! Pray for the youth attending the Edge Night. Pray for God’s will to be done through the night. Pray over those involved.


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EDGE NIGHT EVALUATIONTHE GREAT TRILOGY EVALUATION

1. On a scale of 1-10, how well did this Edge Night accomplish the goal we set? Explain.

2. What was the strongest aspect of this Edge Night?

3. What kind of follow-up do we need to do after this Edge Night?

4. What can we improve for future Edge Nights? How can we accomplish this?













InstruCtIons:8VH�WKH�IROORZLQJ�TXHVWLRQV�WR�GLVFXVV�DQG�HYDOXDWH�\RXU�(GJH�1LJKW��


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Notes

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the great trilogy

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