The Ashes to Fire Introductory Event

Sunday March 6, 2011 The Ashes to Fire Introductory Event

. . . for churches that are substituting the Ashes to Fire devotional studies for their Youth Faith Connections quarterly curriculum.

THIS SESSION COULD ALSO BE HELD ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, IF A CONGREGATION DECIDES TO LAUNCH ASHES TO FIRE AS PART OF ITS REGULAR MID-WEEK PROGRAM

Session Goal: To introduce the youth Sunday school/small group leader to the Ashes to Fire experience.

During this session, the leader will— ▪ distribute the Ashes to Fire Devotional Journal, ▪ introduce the devotional elements of the journal, and the Ashes to Fire scope and sequence (download the handout from this folder) ▪ introduce the music of Ashes to Fire ▪ and lead the class or small group in personal reflection and prayer.

Have the Ashes to Fire theme (Track 16 on the Ashes to Fire CD) playing as your students assemble. Even if you don’t normally do so, today would be a good day to provide juice along with a small breakfast/bakery item. Allow ample time for fellowship and conversation.

Call your group together and distribute the Ashes to Fire Devotional Journal.

The leader introduces the journal—

Today, we’re going to take the time to get acquainted with this entire resource and then close with a time of prayer to prepare our hearts for these 14 weeks of intentional and intensive fellowship with Jesus. Let’s take a moment to glance through the volume.

Give your group about 30 seconds to thumb through the pages, then say:

For the next 14 weeks, our Sunday school (small group) Bible studies will come from this Ashes to Fire Devotional Journal. Included are 14 biblical reflections based on a Gospel narrative (primarily from the Gospel of John). These devotionals will form the basis of our class discussions, one for each Sunday of the Lenten and Easter seasons, beginning on March 13, the first Sunday in Lent, up to and including Pentecost Sunday on June 12. We’ll look at those studies briefly in a few moments.

Let’s turn to page 22—the Sunday devotional reflection: Note that each devotional reflection (Bible study) includes a commentary and space for your own reflective journaling on the passage, along with discussion prompts to guide your preparation for class/group time conversation. In addition, there are other suggested Bible passages to complement the Gospel reading on which the devotional reflection is based—one from the Old Testament, plus a Psalm, and one from the Epistles. See page 24. Your Ashes to Fire CD (back cover) contains an inspirational song written especially for each particular devotional reflection. As you came in today, you were listening to the theme, Ashes to Fire. It’s track 16 on the CD.

Turn with me to page 26—the daily devotional guide: In addition to the devotional reflections for each of the 14 Sundays, there is a daily devotional guide for each day of the week. The first major heading is Morning Meditation and includes a morning prayer along with suggested Bible readings. The ideal devotional discipline during the weekdays is to read these passages—as listed under the heading for the day—in their entirety. If you cannot read them completely, there are brief summaries of those scriptures following the Morning Prayer that pick up a key idea from each Bible passage . Every day also includes an inspirational quotation from men and women of faith. In the evening, there is a section entitled Evening Reflections—a brief reading from the Psalms and a short prayer to be read just before going to bed.

An undated resource You will note that this volume is undated. This feature allows you to use this devotional volume in subsequent years. Your primary reference points are the various Sundays in the church calendar. For instance, turn to page 86, which is Palm Sunday on the church calendar, April 17, 2011 on our regular calendar. “What Are You Cheering About?” happens to be the devotional reflection for that Sunday.

Now, let’s take a few minutes to look at the Bible passages we will be studying each week (pass out class/small group handout):

Most churches in our tradition do not observe Ash Wednesday. Nevertheless, for the Ashes to Fire experience, the Wednesday before the first Sunday in Lent (March 9) is our starting point. It is a good place to begin. Thus, you’ll want to read the introductory essay on pages 12-14, perhaps record your reflections and response to the passages from Joel and Matthew noted on page 12, and listen to Burn Away, Track 1 on the Ashes to Fire CD. You will actually begin the Ashes to Fire devotional guide on Thursday, March 10.

You will prepare for next Sunday (1) by reading Matthew 4:1-11 and the devotional reflection, “No Shortcuts” (page 22), (2) by reading related passages as suggested at the end of the devotional reflection on page 24, (3) by journaling your reflections and responses to the discussion prompts on page 25, and (4) by listening to the Ashes to Fire CD, Track 2—Lead Me. Then, beginning on Monday, March 14 (page 26), you will follow the guide for daily devotions—the Morning Meditation (prayer and selected scripture passages, along with an inspirational quote) and Evening Reflections (a brief reading from the Psalms and a prayer—preludes to nighttime rest and renewal). Each week follows a similar pattern—On Sunday, reading the devotional reflection based on the gospel narratives of Ashes to Fire for both personal reflection and for discussion in Sunday school classes and small groups; then following the daily devotional guide, beginning on Monday of each week (See the Table of Contents). The Gospel passages we will study during these fourteen weeks of intentional and intensive fellowship with Jesus include— The temptation of Jesus (Matthew 4:1-11) on March 13, p. 22. CD: Lead Me (Track 2) Nicodemus and Jesus (John 3:1-17) on March 20, p. 34. CD: God Who Saves (Track 3) The Samaritan woman at the well (John 4:4-24) on March 27, p. 48 CD: Send the Water (Track 4) The healing of the blind man (John 9:1-41) on April 3, p. 62 CD: Love’s Already Won (Track 5) The raising of Lazarus (John 11: 1-45) on April 10, p. 74. CD: Dry Bones (Track 6) Palm Sunday (Matthew 21:1-11), on April 17, p. 86. CD: Here Comes the King (Track 7) The Empty Tomb (John 20:1-18), on April 24, p. 100. CD: The Empty Tomb (Track 8) Thomas Comes to Believe (John 20:19-31), on May 1, p. 114. CD: Open (Track 9) The Walk to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35), on May 8, p. 126. CD: Remember and Proclaim (Track 10) Jesus—the Gate for the Sheep (John 10:1-10), on May 15, p. 140. CD: Our Desire (Track 11) Jesus—the Way, Truth, and Life (John 14:1-14), on May 22, p. 152. CD: When Amidst the Storm I’m Shaken (Track 12) Jesus—Living in the Truth (John 14:15-21), on May 29, p. 164. CD: Give Me Music (Track 13) Jesus—Intercessor and Lord (John 17:1-11), on June 5, p. 176. CD: He Prays for Me (Track 14)

Pentecost (Acts 2:1-21), on June 12, p. 188. CD: Spirit Welcome (Track 15) Review and Preview These 14 Gospel passages will give both shape and substance to our class discussions each Sunday. For this week, begin reading the Ashes to Fire introductory reflection on page 12, listen to Burn Away (CD: Track 1) and begin your daily devotional readings on Thursday, March 10 (page 17).

Before Sunday, March 13, read the devotional reflection on page 22, and begin preparing for your Sunday school class or small group. Faithful journaling will preserve your best thoughts. You may want to share some of your written comments with other members of your class or small group as you participate in discussion.

Each week, you should find yourself both encouraged and inspired knowing that other members of your church are praying the same prayers and reading the same scriptures, and preparing thoughtfully for group conversations. On Sunday, everybody (children, youth, and adults) will be spending time in reflective learning and discussion about the same Gospel story.

Our prayer is that our Ashes to Fire experience will bring renewal to our personal lives and to our community life as members of this congregation. Are there any questions before we close with prayer?

Let’s recite the Apostles’ Creed together on page 5, and then close with prayer for our Sunday school class (small group) and for our entire church during the Ashes to Fire experience.