Description: This evening program helps young adults understand that accountability is very important in living a Christian life.
Get Ready
- Prep Time: Two to three hours of initial planning (including a few planning team meetings or conference calls to organize, as well as finding people for the presentation) and another 45-60 minutes before and 30 minutes after for set-up and clean-up.
- Volunteers Needed:
- One program planner (who will also be the program leader/emcee for the evening).
- One speaker (can also be the program planner, if comfortable with the topic).
- Eight volunteers: two greeters (who can also run the laptop/projector during the presentation), one volunteer at the check-in table, one volunteer at the drink table, two volunteers at the food table, one photographer, and one prayer leader. During program, volunteers sit at tables to facilitate small group discussion (at least one volunteer at each table). All volunteers can help with set-up and clean-up.
- Five young adults for the skit. They will need to schedule practice prior to the evening of the program.
- Supplies: Music, projector, laptop, screen, video of road signs, red plastic party cups, information cards (3- by 5-inch cards to collect names, e-mails, phone numbers), markers/pens, nametags, handouts, fliers for future events, evaluation forms, ice, cups, plates, napkins, colorful tablecloth (for prayer table), crucifix, Bible with stand, battery-operated candles, Post-it note pads, pens, card stock, and ribbon (or small photo albums for each young adult participant — see Ice Breaker), microphone/sound system, white board/easel with easel pad. Internet access is optional.
- Reserve the Space: Reserve a room for one evening for this program. Estimate how many young adults might attend (10-60) and make sure you have enough space. You’ll need round tables and chairs for everyone (8-10 per table), plus extra tables for check-in, food and drinks, a projector, and centering objects. Set up a check-in table with information cards, markers/pens, nametags, handouts, fliers for future events, and evaluation forms. Set up a table or tables for drinks and snack food with ice, napkins, plates, and cups. Cover a smaller table with a colorful tablecloth and arrange the crucifix, Bible, and candles. Set up the projector and screen for speaker and video. Make sure there are plenty of garbage bags/cans in the room for participants to throw away napkins, plates, and cups.
- Ideal Group Size: 10 to 60 people.
- Who is this for? Young adults, college students, young married couples.
- When is a good time for this? Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday nights from 7 p.m.-9 p.m.
- Publicize the Program:
- Create a flier, e-mail, Facebook event, and/or webpage to announce the program. Ask participants to RSVP so you can prepare materials and plan for food. You should follow-up with anyone who RSVPs to remind them about the program.
- Postcard, Evite, Facebook event, and e-mail with save the dates should be sent out six weeks before program night.
- Schedule announcements at Mass starting one month before program night.
- Prepare bulletin announcements starting one month before program night.
- Resend postcard, Evite, Facebook event, and e-mail with save the date three weeks before program night.
Prayer for Program Planner: Lord, make me an instrument of your love. May I see each circumstance in my life as an opportunity to grow in your love. May I see my environment as a place to grow in your love. May I then take this love to other people. And, may your love make us what you have called us to be. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Community Building:
Introduce New Young Adults — 5 Minutes
- Take a few minutes to introduce young adults who are with the group for the first time, so that everyone will get to know them.
Love One Another Ice Breaker — 15 Minutes
- Have young adults sit in small groups of 7-10 participants. They should sit in a circle with one chair placed in the middle of each group.
- Each young adult is given a Post-it note pad with a pen. One by one the young adults take turns (going around the circle) and sitting in the “Love Chair” that is in the middle.
- As each one sits down, the young adults in the group write something positive about that person on the Post-it.
- Then each one takes a turn, reads out loud what they wrote and shares why they wrote that particular thing.
- Then they place the Post-it on the young adult in the middle of the circle covering them with positive messages.
- This is a powerful way to make each young adult feel loved and appreciated and shows them the effect they have on another person.
- At the end — when all young adults have had a turn sitting in the middle “Love Chair,” they take the Post-its off of them and place them in a small blank note book. This is something tangible they can look back at when they need encouragement.
- Note: You can make simple books for each young adult out of card stock that is punched on the side with two holes and tied together with ribbon. If you want to make something more permanent, purchase small photo albums.
