SAINTS FESTIVAL
By Rosemary Shumski
On October 9, 2005, the JOY club (Junior Orthodox Youth) of St. John Chrysostom Church, York, PA, held its first annual Saints Festival. Children from preschool to age eleven were invited to attend. They were encouraged to dress as a saint or Biblical figure (although it was not required) and to know one fact about their saint to share with everyone.
The social hall was decorated with a “heavenly” theme. The tables were covered with light blue tablecloths and centerpieces made from polyfill (used to stuff pillows.) I wrapped a bud vase in polyfill to represent a cloud and put silver star garland inside the vase and around the “clouds.” Using silver poster board, I cut out a crescent moon for each centerpiece, and placed it in the clouds. I used the remainder of the polyfill to make more clouds around the storytelling area, which was also decorated with silver star garland. I bought a pennant banner with crosses on it (which is usually used as a baptismal decoration) and put that up as well.
The children proceeded into the church where their parents were seated. They lined up by height, with the younger children in front, and the older, taller children in the back. Each child stepped forward, told the name of the saint they were portraying and at least one fact about their saint. Group photos were taken. Approximately twenty five children were in attendance.
Lunch was then served to the children in the social hall. Sign –up sheets had been posted in advance and parents brought specific items. On the menu were: “Heavenly ham and Cheese Sandwiches” “Fruits of the Spirit” (fruit salad) “Salt of the Earth” snacks (chips and pretzels) drinks (juice pouches) and desserts (such as Angel food cake.)
Once lunch was finished, a story was read. We used the book, “The North Star” (which again fit in with the theme) about Saint Herman of Alaska, in order to show the children that we have saints from North America. After the story, the children were asked 10 questions about saints. I then talked about Saint Raphael a bit, since he is an American saint and also to demonstrate that not all saints lived 2000 years ago. Books about the lives of saints were also on display for children and parents to peruse.
Next we did a craft. I cut gold poster board into pieces that were about 4 inches high and 9 inches long. I folded them in half. I printed icons of St. Michael the Archangel on the computer. In a fancy font, I printed the following prayer and cut it out using pinking shears:
St. Michael
Great victor over Satan,
Protect me from all evil.
The children glued the icon on one side of the poster board, and the prayer on the other. I purchased stick-on earrings at Wal-Mart (which were .97 cents per card) in the party favor section. These were used as little “jewels” to decorate the icon. I also found some cross stickers at Wal-Mart (.84 cents per sheet) and the children used one or more stickers to decorate their icon as well. (This provided them with something nice to take home which they could put in their rooms, and a prayer to say at night if they were afraid.)
After that, we played games:
“The Memory Game” (Items are placed on a tray. I used such things as a cross, prayer book, icon, prayer rope, etc. There should be about 8 items. Have the children look at the tray for about 15 seconds, and cover it up. Then have them write down as many items as they can remember. Young children can just tell someone verbally.)
“Toss Aside All Earthly Cares” (Bean bag toss game.)
“Pin the Halo on the Angel”
As the Saints Festival concluded, each child was given a treat bag to take home. Candy was donated by the parents and treat bags were tied with silver star garland.
The children had a lot of fun while learning about the lives of saints in the process. Both the children and the parents asked if we could do this again next year, so we’re planning on making the Saints Festival an annual event.
Photos:
Saints Questions and Answers
For younger children:
1. Which saint is the mother of God?
2. Which saint baptized Jesus?
3. This saint killed a dragon.
4. Which saint is the mother of Mary?
5. This saint gave bags of gold coins to a family who was poor.
For older children:
6. Which saint found the cross on which Jesus was crucified?
7. This saint’s name means “golden mouth” because he was a very good speaker.
8. Which saint was kept prisoner in a tower built by her father because he did not want her to learn about Christianity?
9. This saint was one of the first deacons in the church and the very first martyr.
10. This saint is considered to be an equal to the apostles because she converted so many people to Christianity. People tried to kill her because of her faith, but God saved her from death several times.
ANSWERS TO SAINTS QUESTIONS
1. St. Mary or Theotokos.
2. St. John the Baptist
3. St. George
4. St. Anna
5. St. Nicholas
6. St. Helen
7. St. John Chrysostom
8. St. Barbara
9. St. Stephen
10. St. Thekla
