Study
Youth Religious Education
St. Theophan the recluse once said, “of all works, the education of children is the most holy.”
Youth Religious Educators offer their time and talent, assisting our youngest stewards grow in Christ. Religious instruction begins within the context of Divine Services. Classroom instruction for our youth begins following the reception of the Eucharist. Adults will remain in Church for their age appropriate lesson, the homily, while the youth will advance to their classes for formal instruction for 45 MINUTES. Of course, a spiritual lesson lasting forty-five minutes cannot combat a week’s worth of spiritual neglect! So, we ask you to: read Scripture; pray prior to meals and also in the morning and evening; place icons and religious items significant to our Faith throughout your home, making them accessible for prayer and; participate fully in the liturgical life of the Church.
Our Program is comprised of five age-appropriate classes. The defined Goal and Learning Objectives are detailed below:
Preschool-Kindergarten
Goal: To explore and answer initial questions: Who is God? Who is Jesus? What is the Church? What and who you see in Church? Hear? Touch? Taste? Smell? Essentially making the religious journey of our “little angels” an enriching experience filled with joy and creativity.
Objectives:
1. Ensure knowledge of beginning and closing prayers.
2. Follow the celebration of each holy day.
3. Explain excerpts of the Bible.
4. Introduce the essence and Tradition of Orthodox Christianity
Elementary Classes 1st-3rd grade
Goal: To build upon primary understanding through an introductory study of Scripture, liturgical hymns, the Lord’s Prayer, the Creed, and Holy Tradition.
Objectives:
1. Learn the framework of the Bible and how to use it.
2. Build a relationship with God through prayer, worship and stewardship
3. Expose children to aspects of Orthodoxy: the meaning of the Cross, Sacraments, Iconography, Scripture, lives of saints and basic Church history.
Elementary Education 4th-5th grade
Goal: To present the most important aspects of Old Testament scripture, with emphasis on their relation to the gospel of Christ.
Objectives:
The year will begin with two (2) lessons designed to familiarize the students with navigating the Bible. The students will also be presented with a cursory introduction to the origins and structure of the Old and New Testament scriptures. The following twenty-two (22) lessons will progress through the Old Testament in a chronological fashion while exploring the themes of covenant, redemption, and the promise of God’s messiah. The students will be shown the fulfillment of Old Testament stories and prophecies in the Orthodox Church’s teaching regarding Jesus Christ, the Theotokos, and the saints.
Middle School 6th-8th grades
Goal: To build upon previous knowledge of Orthodox Christianity, expanding the horizons of Middle school students, and making it applicable to their lives.
Objectives:
1. To structure a framework of session that will encourage discussion and participation by attendees.
2. To review the Ten commandments, the Creed.
3. To introduce the Beatitudes and the book of Proverbs
4. Introduce stewardship as a way of life as well as the mysteries of repentance and confession.
5. Study the book of Acts and the history of the Church.
6. Reference the writings of the Church fathers and the lives of Saints.
High School 9th- 12th grade
Goal: To complete the process of formation of an Orthodox Christian through a four year curriculum. This year’s lessons will focus upon developing a habit of reading scripture.
Objectives:
1. To empower our young adults to:
- Know and articulate their faith
- Practice their Orthodox Christian Faith
- Apply this knowledge and understanding to their stewardship to the Church, and to their world.
2. Delve deeper into:
- The Old and New Testaments.
- The Ecclesiastical year.
- Contemporary moral issues
