Lenten Challenge

Today's challenge: Send a handwritten letter or card to someone who means a lot to you (a parent, grandparent, friend, teacher, cousin, aunt, uncle, etc). Tell them how much you love or admire them. Snail mail is always a fun treat!

Today's challenge is to pray for the homeless. Pray for those that are physically without shelter and also those without protection emotionally, physically or spiritually. Want to reach out to serve those who are homeless? Join us for S.A.S.S.Y. (Service After School for Students and Youth) and we will be serving dinner at KARM Mission. Register at: https://www.allsaintsknoxville.org/ym-event-registrations

Today's challenge: Spend 10 minutes (or more) of screen-free silence. Spend those 10 minutes in prayer and see how your day improves.

Today's challenge is a hard one! Today fast from ALL complaining. Don't complain out loud, to others, or in your head. Every time you feel the urge to complain, take a moment to ask God for help in finding opportunities for grace and gratitude. Need help curbing the complaining? Click the heading above for how to Fast from Complaining.

Today's challenge: do a chore or task for someone else without being asked. Ideas: unload/load the dishwasher, clean the bathroom, cook a meal, wash and fold a load of laundry, or mow the grass. Need some ideas? www.verywellfamily.com/over-50-ideas-of-chores-for-teens-2609291

Serve the Community: Today's challenge involves finding a way to serve others in the community. Some ideas: Donate some food to a food bank, clean up trash in a park, or sign up for our upcoming S.A.S.S.Y. Project (Service After School for Students & Youth). We have slots open on 3/24 and 4/20 for middle schoolers, high schoolers and adults. Register at: www.allsaintsknoxville.org/ym-event-registrations

Today's Challenge: give someone a sincere compliment. "I love your outfit. You have such a kind heart. You are such a talented singer. You are such a great friend." Looking for inspiration? Check out this article: https://www.houseofwellness.com.au/wellbeing/advice/give-receive-praise-compliments

Take a minute and say a prayer for someone you know who is lonely or struggling. If you are feeling lonely, know I am praying for you. Want to know how loneliness can be a blessing? Check out this blog: https://lifeteen.com/blog/jesus-ruined-my-senior-year/

Reconnect to a person or group which helps you grow. Reach out. If you haven't been to youth ministry in a while, join us for EDGE and LifeTeen tomorrow. EDGE (gr. 6-8) is 4 to 5:30 pm; Summit Bible Study (gr. 6-12) is 5:30-6 pm; LifeTeen (gr. 9-12) is 6 to 7:30 pm

Take a break from your phone/tablet/computer/tv or another screen for an hour, an evening, or even a whole day. Spend this time with loved ones or in prayer.

Lenten Challenge Day 8: Spend some time outside and praying in nature. Go for a walk, hike or picnic. Thank God for his glory and the many blessings in your life.

Pay It Forward. Buy someone a coffee or treat, pay for the order of the person behind you in the drive thru line, leave a surprise for someone anonymously.

Introduce yourself to someone new, try a new food, take a walk somewhere new, or join our Climbing in Faith Retreat on 3/6. WE will have a service project and also participate in a high ropes course/climbing tower at Mountain Challenge at Maryville College. Open to MS/HS/Adults. A few spots remain and spots are first come-first served. Signup by Feb. 28 at: www.allsaintsknoxville.org/ym-event-registrations

Monday Minute of Prayer: Today's Challenge: Take a moment to pray for someone you don't talk to anymore. Ask God to heal any wounds and bless them.

Part of our Lenten tradition is almsgiving which means donating money or goods to the poor and performing other acts of charity. Jesus makes it clear that almsgiving is a core part of what makes us His followers. When He speaks to his disciplines about feeding the hungry, welcoming the stranger, clothing the naked and visiting the lonely, he leaves them with the words “just as you did it to one of the least of these… you did it to me” (Matthew 25:40). Today's challenge: Pick up one of our Rice Bowls from our church lobby and donate some money throughout Lent to the Rice Bowl. This money will be donated to Catholic Relief Services which is an organization primarily focused on almsgiving. To learn more about almsgiving, check out this article: https://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/liturgical-year/lent/almsgiving-sacrifical-giving-catholics-lent

As Catholics, we abstain from meat on Fridays during Lent as part of our Lenten practices and sacrifices. The Catholic Church instructs members to abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and Fridays during Lent, a season of penitence and renewal leading up to Easter. The practice of forgoing meat dates to the early Church, when meat was considered a luxury, and is meant to be an act of self-discipline. Check out more info at: lifeteen.com/blog/why-catholics-abstain-eating-meat-on-fridays-during-lent

Share with someone how you plan to make this Lent different. Write down your Lenten goals/sacrifices or tag us on social media at #allsaintsymknoxlent