Newbies Week 1: For pairs meeting together for the first time.

Mentors and Mentees: Start your meeting together by sharing your highs and lows from the new year til now. What's been the best thing & worst thing that's happened? 

Then take a few minutes and get to know each other with the following questions. You don’t have to answer all of them, but pick and choose ones that you are interested in asking and answering…

Also included is a Bible reading & some questions if you'd like to go that route.

Just make sure you get in to the Ash Wednesday service by 7:00!

v  Where:

·         Where do you live?

·         Have you always lived there?

·         What school do you go to?

·         What do you like/dislike about where you are?

·         What’s your family like?

·         The best and worst thing about being in your family

·         If there is one thing I should know about your family, what should it be?

v  Hobbies:

·         What are your hobbies?

                                                              i.      Sports? Music? Art? Etc…

·          Do you have a favorite?

·         Who got you started in your hobby?

·         What keeps you interested in it or pursuing it?

·         Have you ever been able to use them to serve another person before?

v  Activities & Events:

·         What’s your schedule like?  Do you have any free time?

·         What’s the last big event you went to? (i.e. game, concert, party, etc.)

·         Are there any events you’re looking forward to? (i.e. birthday, break, etc.)

·         By the way, when is your birthday?

·         What’s an event you hope to get to someday?

·         What makes something exciting/interesting to you?

v  People:

·         Who are your best friends? Why?

·         Who have you been friends with the longest?

·         What is the most important quality in a friend?

·         What’s your favorite thing to do when you’re hanging out with friends?

v  Places:

·         Have you taken any trips recently?

·         Where’s your favorite place you’ve visited?

·         Where’s somewhere you hope to go someday?

v  Share, Save, Spend

·         Let’s say you just won a crazy big lottery!

o   Who would you share some with & why?

o   How much would you save & what for?

o   What will you spend some on right away?

Bible reading, Questions & Prayers

Find Matthew 6:1-16 & 16-21. Read it out loud together.

• Almsgiving is a way to give money to help others. When have you given something to someone in need? How did that person respond?

• Hypocrite is a strong word. Why would Jesus use it to describe someone who gets attention for praying in public?

• Fasting isn't always about food, it's about diverting your attention away from things that distract us from our spiritual life. It's a common practice to give something up for Lent, or take something on to better focus on Jesus. Are you giving anything up or doing something new?

• What do you truly treasure? Is it stuff? Is it an activity? A person or group of people? How do people know what you treasure?

• This year our theme for Lent is “Thin Places” & we’ll be hearing stories from different people who have had memorable “encounters” with God…Have you ever experienced something you consider a God moment? What happened?

• Tonight we’ll experience the practice of “the imposition of ashes.” Ashes symbolize our remorse for our sins and our dedication to repentance. They remind us of our need for God’s salvation. As you come forward for communion, ashes will be placed on your forehead in the sign of the cross to underscore Christ’s sacrifice on the cross for our salvation.  Are there any occurrences in your daily life that remind you of Jesus?

*Prayer time – Pray for each other’s highs & lows.

          Dear God, thank you for (highs). Please be with us as we deal with (lows).

          In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.