The Department of Religious Education is launching two new catechetical tools

Vacation Church School Program

This new Vacation Church School program prepared by Rhonda Webb, Laura Morton, and Barbara Harris of St. Louis, MO is structured as a five-session, half-day program for elementary school students. A robust curriculum keeps children moving and engaged with hymns and original songs, crafts, puppet theater, prayer services, classroom activities, daily full-group assemblies, spotlights on missions, and more. The comprehensive materials also provide suggestions for adapting VCS to a parish's needs, such as alternative schedules and age groupings. This year's VCS explores the four Great Feasts of the Church dedicated to the Theotokos, focusing on the theme of "Traveling on the Ark of Salvation." Preorder and start planning now; kits will be shipped in June.

For more information, call the Department of Religious Education (617-850-1218)

Journey through Holy Week

Journey through Holy Week, a 20-page zine for middle school students, follows Christ and the Church from the Saturday of Lazarus through the Agape Vespers. The full-color booklet is designed for use during retreats, in church, at home, or in the classroom. Order now for delivery by April 15.

THE CHURCH AT RISK: MEETING THE CHALLENGING NEEDS OF TEENAGERS TODAY

09/04/2007 - The Teenage Taskforce on Religious Education, appointed by His Eminence Archbishop Iakovos in December 1987 to address the question, "How can the Church today best meet the needs of her teenagers?" submits the following report with a sense of critical urgency. Read More»

ORTHODOX CATECHESIS

09/04/2007 - The purpose of Orthodox Christian Education (catechesis) is to help build up the Church, the Body of Christ, by nurturing every person in the life of personal communion with the Holy Trinity (theosis), and thus, through this ministry, to bear joyful witness to God’s loving and redeeming work in the world. Read More»

Thinking of doing "Vacation Church School" at your parish?

8/16/2007 - An Orthodox vacation "church" school program embraces the teachings and traditions of Orthodox Christianity: Scripture, saints, feasts, worship, music, and prayers. A vacation "Bible" school focuses primarily on stories from the Bible and may or may not incorporate other dimensions of the Orthodox Church. Read More »

Getting Started as a Church School Director

8/2/2007 - It’s the middle of the summer. It’s vacation time. Vacation Bible School and Summer Camp are over! While Church and school activities have slowed down considerably, it’s not too early for the Sunday Church School (SCS) Director to start thinking about the next Sunday Church School year. Read More »