SHARING THE FAITH
NEWS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF CHRISTIAN EDUCATION & TITHING
From the Directors’ Desk
Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
We have begun a colllaborative effort with the Orthodox Christian Education Commission, to offer an intitial teacher training program called "Educating Ourselves and Our Children in Godliness." Matushka Myra Kovalak, of the OCA, is coordinating trainings on behalf of our Archdiocese, and all who are members of the OCEC. There has been a very good response to this program. If your parish would be interested in hosting this workshop, please let me know, and I will forward your request to Mat. Myra.
Our Orthodox Institute 2004 was a great success, with participants learning, sharing and enjoying our beautiful Antiochian Village. There are more photos on the website in "Photo Gallery." We thank Bishop Basil, and Sr. Magdalen for four excellent presentations, and for being with us during the weekend.
As we enter a new year, I wish to highlight two new initiatives begun at year end.
Teacher Training.
"To Tithe is To Love."
I ask that church school directors, pastors, and parents let me know how the tithing program worked in your parish. I can be reached by email at DCE@antiochian.org.
Website. May God bless all of us with a fruitful new year! With great enthusiasm the Department launched a more extensive website. With the coordination of several volunteers, we have made progress, although by "fits and starts--" my sincere apologies! If you have not checked out the Antiochian Gospel program, that follows the lectionary for the year, please do so! After the Gospel program, my next goal is to have material posted for all the feasts, in "Celebrate the Feasts!" I am not going to indicate a timeframe, so as not to disappoint. Be a web-watcher and be surprised!First, and most importantly, the Department met the challenge of Metropolitan PHILIP who mandated that tithing be taught to the children. It is God whom we imitate when we give, sacrificially. In Jesus birth, and death and resurrection, we see that "giving" is what (Christian) life is all about. We give our tithe so that our churches may be strong in order to become what we are, the Body of Christ, for the world. The children are to continue to bring in their tithe, and teachers are to continue collecting their offerings, throughout the year. If this seems God does not ask of us anything that is not for our own good!
Carole Buleza
Department of Christian Education
Regional Coordinators
Please contact the Regional Representatives for updates on trainings and other events in your region
Eastern: V. Rev. George Alberts (203)798-1771
Midwest: Robert Snyder (330)493-4029
Western: Joseph Tershay (831)335-8350
Can-Am: Jacquelyn Fadel (716)282-8243
Southwest: Vasiliki (Billie) Oldziey (512)459-6264
New England: Anna Timko-Hughes (978)686-3274
Southeast: Betty Randolph (864)639-2204
The Department of Christian Education newsletter is published in the months of September, December, February, and April.
The office is staffed from 9:00-3:00 Monday through Wednesday. Phone (717) 747-5221. FAX (717) 747-5832. E-mail: DCE@antiochian.org. Web page: www.antiochian.org/christ...
The Department of Christian Education gratefully acknowledges the financial contribution of the Order of St. Ignatius which funds, in part, its operations and programs.
"Following the Star into the New Year"
by Carole Buleza
As I write this in December, I am listening to the familiar Christmas carol, "O Come! O Come, Emanuel!" The song continues with, "and ransom captive Israel, who moans in lowly exile here, until the Son of God appear." Pondering the phrase, it occurs to me that the traditional carols have some common threads, evidenced in these familiar lyrics, "Joy to the world, the savior reigns!" "Hark, the herald angels sing, glory to the newborn king!" "O holy night, the stars are brightly shining! It is the night of our dear savior’s birth. Long lay the world in sin and error pining, ’til he appeared, and the soul felt its worth!"
At the time when these carols were written, as well as long before Christ, life and what it meant, was different than today. Centuries ago, many grew their own food, or labored hard in a trade. Life was about the cycle of the seasons, and hard work. For those who suffered from disease, war, famine and other handships, life was about surviving bad situations, and hoping that there was an afterlife that would be better. Even if one survived hardships, death generally came earlier than today—often in the fourth or fifth decade of life. There is an adage more appropriate to earlier centuries, but still around, "As soon as you are born, you begin to die."
Enter the nativity of the Son of God, sent to save us
In the traditional carols we see the words, "ransom," "captive," "exile," "savior," "king," "sin," "error," "pining." The carols speak to the longing of humanity, for a savior who will rule the world with truth and justice, and who will save us from our sins. They speak to, perhaps, a different experience of life—one where hardship predominated, death was never far away, and sin was real. Today, for most of us in the western world, life is not too hard. We sing the traditional carols as glibly as "Rudolf, the Red-Nosed Reindeer." Our Orthodox children know that Christ’s birth is celebrated at Christmas, but I venture to say that they don’t bring to the feast the understanding of what it is like to be in need of anything, much less salvation. We have, in the western-secular world, become the Pharisees—the ones who didn’t need Christ.
The situation needs to be corrected, first by contemplating our own need for salvation, and then by addressing the situation in our families. I have a few thoughts to share. First, in the home, the children must have a focal point, where the family prays together, where children can be brought to ask forgiveness of one another, and where a candle can be lit in time of need. This is known as "the icon corner." Also in the home, the children need to learn
heartfelt "thankfulness" for even the cup of juice that Mom or Dad serves, so as to be formed into people who realize their dependency on others, and most especially, on God. Second, the children must see church as their second home. They must see their parents venerating the icons, asking for the Mystery of Confession, and they must be brought to it often. By attending services, and participating in church activities, the children see that church is of utmost importance for their family.
In regard to the third idea, it is imperative that the family discuss what it means to offer the weekly donation. The Department of Christian Education and Tithing has provided a kit to every parish for the program, "To Tithe is To Love." By helping our children learn to tithe, or offer 1/10th of all they receive and earn, we are offering a priceless education. One who tithes learns obedience, stewardship, and trust in God--all these are qualities on the path to salvation. One who tithes grows into the knowledge that one’s whole life is to be "at God’s service." In Christ, the soul feels its worth. Christ becomes the reason for living, "Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Luke 12:34).
The three kings, or wise men, of the nativity story, have much to teach us. As we know, from the carol, they traveled over field, moor and mountain, from "afar" to see the newborn king. Our troparion also speaks of them, "Thy Nativity, O Christ, our God, hath given rise to the light of knowledge in the world; for they that worshipped the stars did learn therefrom to worship Thee, O Sun of justice, and to know that from the east of the Highest thou didst come O Lord, glory to Thee." We, like the kings, must be ever-seeking, Christ, our savior, even if it means a journey that makes us change our life. We, like the wise men, need to turn from worshipping material goods, money, or prestige, and turn to worshipping God. We, like the kings, need to present our treasure to God, in church, out of love, so that our church grows strong to become a beacon of salvation for the community.
The Christmas themes of "awaiting," "seeking salvation" occur regularly during our fasting periods. As we enter into the Lenten season, Zaccheus, the Publican, and the Prodigal Son are all offered to us as models of ever-seeking God and salvation, with each having his own lesson to offer.
Let us follow the star of Bethlehem into the new year. Like the wise men, let us overcome all obstacles and distance to come into God’s presence. Let us, like the wise men, offer our treasure to God humbly and with gratitude. Let us find our treasure in Christ.
from the consequence sin, namely, eternal death; and for eternal life with God. To the weary he said, "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls" (Matthew 11:28-29). To the sick, he gave healing, and to the sinners, he offered forgiveness and a new life. The ones who did not listen to his words were the Pharisees, who needed nothing, and were content in their self-judged righteousness.
Photos from the 2004 Orthodox Institute
