Announcing:
Saint Mary's Press winner for the week of March 20, 2009!
Congratulations to Kelly Kearney!

Kelly Kearney will receive a copy of Breakthrough! The Bible Board Game, a $29.95 value.

Learning the Bible has never been so much fun!

Travel through various biblical eras (primeval history to early Christianity) answering questions about people of the Bible that address the who, where, when, what, how, and why of their places in salvation history. Players determine length of time and game play by choosing from any of the designated starting and stopping points on the board--the Garden of Eden, Egypt, the Promised Land, the Temple--with New Jerusalem as the final destination. The team or individual that collects the most character cards wins the game. Board game comes packaged with a Bible!

Includes

• 35.5-x-9.5 folding game board
• instruction sheet
• 1 60-second sand timer
• 1 die,
• 4 game pieces
• 250 Bible people character cards
• 50 action cards
• a copy of Breakthrough! The Bible for Young Catholics
  
  Look Inside: You can view an online sampler of the Breakthrough! The Bible Board Game on the SMP Web catalog. Search for "Breakthrough! Board Game," or use this link to go to the product description, http://www.smp.org/ItemDetail.cfm?ItemNum=3457.
  
  Breakthrough! The Bible Board Game
  ISBN 978-0-88489-926-6, board game, $29.95,
  http://www.smp.org/ItemDetail.cfm?ItemNum=3457

More Games from Saint Mary's Press

Good News! Card Game
by Dorothy Ederer

Help young people learn more about their faith and have fun at the same time! Deepen their knowledge of the Gospels, Sacraments, Fruits of the Spirit, Gifts of the Spirit, Beatitudes, Parables, Miracles and Healings, lives of the Apostles, Women Disciples, and the Works of Mercy.

Did You Ever Wonder . . . ?
A Deck of Questions

With dozens of intriguing and thought-provoking questions designed to inspire self-exploration, promote discussion, and stretch young people beyond what they currently see, Did You Ever Wonder . . . ? asks all those questions no one ever thinks to ask and will inspire thoughtful reflection and answers to a variety of values- and life-centered issues.

Bible People Flash Cards
from Breakthrough! The Bible for Young Catholics

Teachers and catechists can use these story cards to help students learn about the men and women found in Scripture. These cards are a great addition to a religious education course on the Old or New Testament. The cards can be used as flash cards or as part of a game.

The A, B, C's of Biblical Literacy
by Ginny Halbur

Establishing a sound foundation in biblical literacy among young people can seem like an overwhelming task. One way to approach it is by focusing on the A, B, C's of biblical literacy, as adapted here from the Saint Mary's Press® Essential Quick Charts: Interpreting the Bible and Bible Basics.

A. Give young people the tools they need to Access the Scriptures. Teach them that the Bible is a library of books that is divided into two sections the Old Testament (before Jesus) and the New Testament (after Jesus' birth). The two sections each contain a collection of 73 books grouped into sections: the Old Testament contains the Pentateuch, historical books, wisdom and poetry books, and the prophets; the New Testament contains the Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles, and the letters and Revelation. Then show them how they can find specific verses in the Bible by looking up the title, chapter, and verse in each book.

B. Walk young people through the Big picture of salvation history by sharing with them some of the epic stories and key people in the Bible. Help them recognize essential themes in God's revelation--like covenant, faith, sacrifice, and redemption--that are woven throughout the Scriptural stories and how those themes point to Jesus, who is epicenter of salvation history and the culmination of God's revelation.

C. Give young people the skills they need to understand God's Revelation by helping them understand the Context in which the Scriptures were written. Examining the historical context helps young people understand the conditions of the time and culture. Understanding the literary context teaches them the different literary genres that were used at that time. Looking at the cultural context helps them understand the different modes of feeling, speaking, and narrating that was prevalent then. By helping young people understand the context in which the Scriptures were written, we will be helping them understand not only what the original authors intended to communicate but also understand the deeper truth that God intended to reveal.

Saint Mary's Press® Essential Quick Chart: Interpreting the Bible
by Brian Singer-Towns, ISBN 978-0-88489-856-6,
4 insertable laminated pages, $5.95,
http://www.smp.org/ItemDetail.cfm?ItemNum=4344

Saint Mary's Press® Essential Quick Chart: Bible Basics
by Gary Dreier, ISBN 978-0-88489-942-6,
4 insertable laminated pages, $5.95,
http://www.smp.org/ItemDetail.cfm?ItemNum=4330

What is Emo?
by Javier Bravo

It can be quite difficult to keep up with the social trends that our students go through. Nonetheless, as teachers and youth ministers, it is important for us to be at least aware of some of the social trends embraced by those whom we minister to. "Emo" is one trend that is being embraced by some youth.

Being a social trend, it can be somewhat difficult to trace its roots. For the most part, it can be said to be a derivation of Punk and Goth. Emo separates itself from an angry self expression to simply a more sensitive and emotional self expression. Consequently, Emo music is highly emotive and expressive and slants more towards the alternative genre as opposed to heavy metal.

Some physical features one may notice in a youth who may be embracing emo is the wearing of tight pants, possible body piercings (such as on the lips), and long black or dark colored hair that covers their face while spiked in the back. The claim is that Emo is more than fashion or music but rather an outward expression of who the person really is.

Have you ever encountered one of these youth and made a judgment about them? Have you made an attempt to reach out to them and help them feel welcome in your youth gatherings, retreats, Campus Ministry activities, or religion classroom? Take time to talk to them. Invite them to share with you the music they like and why it is appealing to them. Invite them to share with you their emotions. Be non-judgmental and listen to their story. Keep in mind that their hearts yearn for God just as much as ours.