September 2006

After having received the blessings of His Grace Bishop JOSEPH and of our parish priest Archimandrite Fr. Michel Boghos, the Sunday School Department at St. Joseph the Damascene Church hosted a teacher training event on March 17th and 18th of this year. The training was part one of the workshop, “Educating Ourselves and Our Children in Godliness” and was led by Presbytera Linda Funk, Coordinator for Christian Education in the Diocese of Eagle River and the Northwest.

Seventeen teachers from various Orthodox churches in the lower mainland received a certificate from the OCEC. It was a great blessing to witness this unity between the Antiochian, Greek, Romanian, Russian, and Serbian churches. A teachers’ contact list was compiled in order for the graduates to keep in touch with each other in the future. One issue that was raised during discussion was the desire for a pan-Orthodox private school in Vancouver, Candada. We ask all the faithful to pray for us as we study the feasibility of an Orthodox school. It was our pleasure to host Presbytera Linda Funk. The event was very enlightening, and we are looking forward to having the advanced training workshop sometime next year.

Submitted by Nada Shami, Church School Director and Sunday School Teacher.

On Sunday, June 18, the teens at St. Nicholas Cathedral of Brooklyn hosted their fi rst Saints festival. Each child was assigned a saint and given his or her history and icon. The children and their families then created a costume. While the children paraded, the story of their Saint was read to the audience, which was divided into two teams that guessed which saint each child was depicting. The afternoon was both enjoyable and educational; everyone was amazed at the feats and strength of the Saints.

Submitted by Kh. Claudia Zain

  

PHOTOS: Left: George Zain as St. Raphael of Brooklyn. Center: Helen El-Achkar as St. Barbara. Right: Gabi Bleam as St. Martha.

Anthony Kolomietz as St. Spyridon, Hannah Youssef as St. Elizabeth, Masha Kolonietz as St. Christina and Simone Zain as St. Helen.

In February 2006, Kh. Linda Funk presented “Educating Ourselves and Our Children in Godliness, I” in Post Falls, Idaho. The story appeared in the April issue of The Word. The first photo is of Fr. Gregory Horton, Kh. Cynthia, and Michelle Fellegy, Church School Director, and her family. Participants in the second photo are creating lesson plans.

We are beginning another landmark year in terms of what we can provide to enhance the effectiveness of Church School educators Knowing Your Faith. The newest program is based on the first book of the OCEC revision project, The Way, The Truth, and The Life. Church school educators were pleased with the concept of educational standards built into this program, and asked how they could prepare their students for the high school text. In response, a listing of standards has been prepared for the K-5 books, and a program created for their use. This program, “Knowing Your Faith,” includes a teacher letter with a game, a teacher package with visuals for the classroom, and a letter to the parents with a listing of the standards for the year. I am pleased to offer this program as a significant step towards my goal of firm knowledge of the faith for our children. (See article for more details).

To Tithe is To Share. As you may know, all churches soon will be required to tithe to the Archdiocese from their budgets. This will allow for expansion of necessary services as well as larger gifts to charity. Hence, it is imperative for us to tithe and to teach our children to do so. Keep in mind that God does not ask of us anything that is not for our own good. If you can’t tithe yet, come as close as you can! This year’s program will have the theme, “Raising the Cross of Christ,” and will begin with the Sunday of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (September 14). We are offering nine monthly lesson, of 10 minutes each, as well as posters and other materials. Watch our website for details, as the program will be offered via the web.

I urge all of you to attend this year’s Orthodox Institute or other training event. We want to be the best we can be, for the salvation of those we teach. May God bless you all!

Please contact the Diocesan Coordinators for updates on trainings and other events in your region.

V. Rev. George Alberts (203)798-1771

frgeocar@sbcglobal.net

Toledo and the Midwest: Robert Snyder

(330)493-4029; bobsny1107@aol.com

Los Angeles and the West: Joseph Tershay

(831)335-8350; josephtershay@yahoo.com

Eagle River and for Northwest: Linda Funk

(306)934-1695 lfunk@shaw.ca

Ottawa and Upstate New York: Jacquelyn Fadel

(716)282-8243 imretired604@yahoo.com

Wichita and Mid-America: Vasiliki Oldziey

(512)459-6264 vas@austin.rr.com

Worcester and New England: Anna Hughes

(978)686-3274 matannah@aol.com

Miami and the Southeast: Betty Randolph

(864)639-2204, bettyrandolph@bellsouth.net

Educational Standards for OCEC

Grades K-5

In most parishes, children do not come regularly to Church School, and teachers can become discouraged. If you have wondered, “Just what did I teach the students this year,” this program, based on the OCEC publication, The Way, The Truth, and The Life, will help you answer that question.

The educational standards found in The Way, The Truth, and The Life, have been cross-referenced with the lessons of the current OCEC texts for grades K-5. The program will be offered free via the website. For updates on its availability, go to www.antiochian.org/christ..., or www.orthodoxed.org.

All Orthodox are welcome at these various events hosted by OCA and Antiochian churches! Contact your Diocesan Coordinator if you are interested in hosting a training.

St. Mark’s Antiochian Parish, Irvine, California.

Contact: Fr. Michel Laffoon, (949) 851-8933, fml4542@telocity.com.

St. George Church, Washington, DC

Contact: Rose Fakhoury 703, 912, 9173; fakhouryr@aol.com

St. Tikhon’s Seminary, New Canaan, Pennsylvania

Contact: Sasha Safchuk saf.ga@verizon.net

Church of the Annunciation, Calgary, Alberta

Contact: Rachel Huebert, (403) 451-8944, rhuebert@gmail.com

St. George Church, Portland, Oregon

Contact: Alexandra Obeid, (503) 761-6859, obeid-05@comcast.net

St. George Church, Little Falls, NJ

Contact: Brian Nafash, (973) 204-7074, bnafash@massood.com.

Keynote Speaker:

His Grace, Bishop MARK

Diocese of Toledo and

the Midwest

Courses will assist teachers when asked questions such as:

- Why do we have to go to church?

- Why do we fast?

- Why are there other Christian denominations?

- What is so special about our faith?

- How do I explain why my friend can’t come to Communion?

Brochures are available at www.antiochian.org/christ..., or contact the department at dce@antiochian.org.

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/christianeducation