My Orthodox Family
Introduction (Ages 10-12)
" For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother, and sister and mother. " - Matthew 12:50
My Orthodox Family , a parish-wide, self-study program, is designed to help us discover and develop ways we can continue to become living examples of Christ in our lives, while we help to build up society (i.e. “the world”). We are responsible for our behavior in all the communities and “families” in which we live: home, church, school, neighborhood, government, the environment, etc. Our coming together as a community in Christ is the essence of our faith. “The word church, as we remember, means a gathering or assembly of people specifically chosen and called apart to perform a particular task.” (Hopko, The Orthodox Faith II, Worship). No matter what our background, this is what binds us as Christians, and family members of His Holy Church.
The journey begins when Christians leave their homes and beds. They leave, indeed, their life in this present and concrete world, and whether they have to drive fifteen miles, or walk a few blocks, a sacramental act is already taking place, an act which is the very condition of everything else that is to happen. For they are now on their way to constitute the Church, or to be more exact, to be transformed into the Church of God. - Schmemann, For the Life of the World
As Orthodox Christians in America, we are a diverse mixture of peoples from throughout the world. Looking back on four or five generations, many of us can trace our families to immigrants from Greece, the Middle East, Russia, Central and Eastern Europe, Siberia and the Far East. Traveling long distances, our ancestors established new families and communities on the North American continent. They discovered here the same Orthodox faith that Native Alaskans had adopted in 1794 from Russian Missionaries to America. In a little over 200 years, Orthodox parishes have populated North America with more than 4-5 million people!
Our parish communities today include many new people who have found their home in the Orthodox Church. They or their ancestors have come from a multitude of nations—Irish, Italian, English, Scandinavian and German cultures from Western and Northern Europe, as well as a mixture of traditional cultures from Africa, Asia, Mexico, and South America. We not only live in multicultural societies, but in multicultural parishes in Canada, the United States, and Mexico. As Orthodox Christians in America, spending time finding out who we are and where we want to go as an Orthodox community will help us see ourselves as a part of our local, regional, national, and world communities. Along with those roles comes responsibility. Every person within the parish community has a role to play; from the newly baptized, to the oldest. How we see ourselves and our role as a Family of God is critical to the survival of the parish, as well as the entire Church in this world.
As God’s children we are called to witness our faith. We are called to understand who we are as Orthodox Christians, and to bear witness to God with our families and friends by being good neighbors, reaching out to help others, and standing up and protecting those who are being mistreated, or are victims of discrimination or prejudice. We are also called to know and live our faith; to correct misconceptions and wrong information about our beliefs, as well as to respect people of other faiths.
Overall Objectives of the Unit
Throughout the duration of this FOCUS Unit, teachers will find it helpful to keep two main overarching objectives in mind:
- Identify ourselves as Orthodox people, bound together as a family in Christian Love.
- Understand that, as faithful Orthodox Christians, we must commit ourselves to His Commandment to love one another through acts of compassion and charity to all of God’s people.
Objectives are things which the students should be able to do as a result of the session. Keeping the two main obj,ectives in mind can help us, as teachers, focus on the important fact that our parishes were established for the purposes of worship, community, mission, and good works for each other, and for those in the world around us.
God made us His People through the sacraments of the Church. We became God’s Children in Baptism. He anointed us with the Holy Oil of Chrism and called us to be His People; to hear, understand, and proclaim His Word as God’s prophets; to protect and care for the world as His anointed Kings—clothed in the white garment of Holiness; and to offer up to Him everything we are and do as a holy gift and service, as gifts offered by priests. God calls us to restore the world as the Paradise He created for His people in the Garden. He calls us to everlasting life in His Kingdom. It is through life in the Church that we become His holy people who are called to do His work in this world!
How the Unit is Arranged
The unit is comprised of six sessions of about 45 minutes each. The first five deal with identity, self-study, and involvement within our parish; while the last focuses on our involvement within our communities. The suggested prayers are just that. Singing the Troparion of the parish is certainly appropriate as an opening prayer, with the closing being whatever hymn or prayer is your parish tradition for gatherings. Students at the youngest level should probably keep the same prayers throughout the sessions for consistency.
The lessons have been developed based on five age levels: ages 4-6, ages 7-9, ages 10-12, ages 13-17, and 18-older. Every age level has its own individual lesson plan. All the lesson plans contain the following parts:
- FOCUS Unit Title, Lesson Title & Age Level
- Lesson Objectives
The lesson objectives are the things measurable by the teacher. Through questions, discussion and activity participation teachers can measure whether students were able to fulfill these objectives. If they cannot, teachers will know that review or repetition may be necessary.
- Materials
Materials are the various items required to teach the lesson. These include items such as craft materials and classroom Bibles. - Resources
Resources are items the DCE has provided for use while teaching the lesson. These include printable icons, line drawings, handouts, liturgical texts, Bible stories, planning worksheets and many other kinds of professionally developed teacher resources to aide in teaching the lesson. The resources have been categorized into two groups: Required Resources and Supplemental Resources. Required resources are specifically referred to within the lesson plan. Supplemental resources are generally useful in gathering background information. Often, the supplemental resources will be links to external web sites and suggested books for the teacher to read. - Lesson Procedure
This is a step-by step outline of how the session should go. Please be aware that some lessons require advance preparation--read lessons, prepare for them, and think prayerfully about them well before you meet students in the classroom.
Every Family Has a Story (Ages 10-12)

Overview
Family is Love
- Every family’s story is different, and each generation tells a different story about their traditions, music, culture, ways-of-life, joys, and hardships.


Objectives
By the end of this Lesson, learners should be able to:- Recall and orally share their own family ancestry with stories, music, and traditions
- Draw/paste pictures of family members on a page in a unit scrapbook
- Write shared oral family stories and add to scrapbook
- Interview parish families about their ancestors
- Record and report parish family stories of ancestors. (Roots Oral History)
- Identify on a world map places where their family and parish family members live or lived as part of a unit project (Roots Map)
- Begin a Roots Coffee Hour Project incorporating all above projects.


Materials
- Construction paper (9” x 12”) with holes punched with 3-hole punch
- White lined paper (8½” x 11”) with holes punched
- Scissors (if necessary to fit photos)
- Glue sticks
- Pencils, pens, markers
- Paper hole punch
- Yarn cut into 6 inch strips, three per student
- Large world map for “Roots” Ancestors Map
- Large foam board on which to mount world map
- Scissors
- Rulers
- Thin yarn or string in varying colors
- Thumb tacks
- Sewn-in notebooks for journals
- Labels for names and captions in scrapbook and on journals
- Interview forms for parish member interviews
- Icon for prayer


Resources
Required Resources


Procedure
1 |
Opening Prayer |
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. |
2 |
Discussion Starter |
Begin by asking the following: What do you love the most about your family? (Answers should reflect student’s awareness of ways their families express their love.) As students answer, interject statements making comparison of family love with God’s love for us.
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3 |
Family Memories Scrapbook |
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4 |
Roots Ancestors Map |
5 |
Oral History Project |
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6 |
Optional-Extra Activity |
Teacher Resources: Journals |
7 |
Wrap-up |
As students are cleaning up and preparing for closing prayer, ask the following:
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8 |
Closing Prayer |
O Lord, save Thy people, and bless Thine inheritance. Grant victories to the Orthodox Christians over their adversaries; And by virtue of Thy cross, preserve Thy habitation. In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen |

Life Together as a Family (Ages 10-12)

Overview
Family Means Cooperation
- Family members need to work together on rules, daily tasks, good habits, and relationships to “make families work” as a unit.


Objectives
By the end of this Lesson, learners should be able to:- Give examples of rules or responsibilities they must abide by at home, school, etc.
- Discuss from where rules, values and traditions come (home, church, Bible, school, society, workplace, etc.)
- Identify who creates rules/responsibilities, and who changes them
- Discuss church school rules and why they are important
- Remaining Objectives from Lesson 1 and collect and update interviews of parish members for Roots Project
- Record and report parish family stories of ancestors. (Roots Oral History)
- Continue work on Roots Map
- Plan Roots Coffee Hour Project


Materials
- Large butcher chart paper
- Examples of rules (See Procedure #3 for this lesson)
- Markers and/or tape
- Thumb tacks
- Family Memories scrapbook and materials (See Lesson 1)
- “Roots” Ancestors Map (See Lesson 1)
- Journals (See Lesson 1)
- Interview forms for parish member interviews (See Lesson 1)
- Icon for prayer


Procedure
1 |
Opening Prayer |
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. |
2 |
Discussion Starter-Bridge |
Begin by asking the following: What did we discuss last week about our families? (Answers should recall ways students' families express love, and what they love most about their families.)
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3 |
How To Generate Rules |
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4 |
Roots Ancestors Map |
5 |
Oral History Project |
Continue interviewing of parishioners by collecting finished interviews and updating those in progress.
|
6 |
Journals |
Journals (for use with extra/extended sessions) Materials:
Have students label date and write about their reactions to rules and responsibilities. |
7 |
Wrap-up |
As students are cleaning up and preparing for closing prayer, ask the following:
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8 |
Closing Prayer |
O Lord, save Thy people, and bless Thine inheritance. Grant victories to the Orthodox Christians over their adversaries; And by virtue of Thy cross, preserve Thy habitation. In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. |

God's Story and God's People (Ages 10-12)

Overview
God's faithful family became God's people
- When God created people, He created family. Some of God’s people were faithful; others turned away from God. They sinned against Him, doing evil and separating themselves from God and each other. God appointed many leaders and prophets from among His people to call them away from their evil ways and return to God, but still some did not listen or change. God sent His Own Son, Jesus Christ, to bring His people back to Him. Jesus taught us to repent, turn away from evil, and change our lives.


Objectives
By the end of this Lesson, learners should be able to:- Research in the Bible the following Old Testament events in the life of Gods people: Passover
- Crossing the Red Sea
- Moses and the Israelites wandering through the desert to the Promised Land of Canaan
- The giving of the Law or Commandments
- Illustrate, in a Picture Time Line, events researched in the Bible.
- Determine that these events and giving of the Laws and Commandments helped the Hebrew people to understand they were God's people, chosen to do His will and follow His ways
- Report and illustrate by mapping, dioramas, or murals, some of the journeys made by people in the New Testament: Mary, Joseph, and the child, Jesus from Bethlehem to Egypt and Nazareth
- Jesus and His parents from Nazareth to Jerusalem
- Christs Journey to the Cross
- Connect the laws researched with the rules discussed last week as being important to us in our daily lives.
- Recognize the importance of our obedience to Gods laws, as His People
- Remaining Objectives--See Session 1 Collect and update interviews of parish members for Roots Project
- Continue recording and reporting parish family stories of ancestors. (RootsOral History)
- Continue work on Roots Map from interviews
- Continue planning the Roots Coffee Hour Project


Materials
- Large butcher chart paper
- Bibles
- Markers
- Old and New Testament Maps
- Can enlarge to poster size by putting on an overhead and tracing on chart/butcher paper. (See Resources.)
- Rulers, yardsticks
- Colored yarn (3-4 colors)
- Glue stick
- Shoeboxes
- Construction paper
- Transparencies for copy machine
- Copy machine
- Overhead projector
- Pencils
- Thumb tacks/tape
- Family Memories scrapbook and materials (See Session 1)
- "Roots" Ancestors Map (See Session 1)
- Journals (See Session 1)
- Interview forms for parish member interviews (See Session 1)
- Icon for prayer


Resources
Required Resources
- New Testament Holy Land Map (PDF)
- "Roots" Coffee Hour Parish Event (PDF)
- Ancestor Roots Map (PDF)
- Family Memories Scrapbook (HTML)


Procedure
1 |
Opening Prayer |
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. |
2 |
Discussion Starter-Bridge |
Begin by asking the following: What did we discuss last week about families and rules? (Answers should recall ways their families express their love, and how rules bring harmony and cooperation within families and groups working together.) As students answer, interject statements making comparison of family love with God’s love for us. Ask: How does God show us He loves us? (Answers should recall God’s love for us as His people—His giving us His Son, Jesus Christ, who taught us how to live in the Light of God’s love.) Continue by asking students to recall rules discussed, showing the chart/butcher paper from Session 2. Ask students: How many of you know the story of Moses and the Ten Commandments? Passover? Journey to the Promised Land? (Allow students to recall what they know, or ask what they would like to know.) |
3 |
Illustrated Timeline |
These projects can be done in the Cooperative Learning Style. Each student will be designated a position/task and will execute it in an organized and “cooperative” manner, working together with other students as a unit. As each person is assigned a task from the list below, he or she should set about a plan and work it to completion. Illustrated Timeline
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4 |
Mapping |
Earlier: Photocopy map from Bible or New Testament Maps and Charts (OCEC) onto a transparency for copiers. Place transparency on overhead projector, hang chart paper on wall. Focus map transparency on chart paper and trace map. Label countries, areas, cities, etc.
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5 |
Roots Ancestors Map |
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6 |
Oral History Project |
7 |
Extra Activities |
Dioramas:
Murals:
Journals:
Procedures:
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8 |
Closing Prayer |
O Lord, save Thy people, and bless Thine inheritance. In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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Members of God’s Family (Ages 10-12)

Overview
Every Parish Has a Story
- We become members of God’s family when we are baptized. We are made clean in the waters of baptism. The white robe is a sign of a new life in Christ. We are sealed with the gift of God’s Holy Spirit when we are anointed with the oil of Holy Chrism. We become “living temples” of God.


Objectives
By the end of this Lesson, learners should be able to:- Research and outline the main actions in the Service of Baptism and Chrismation
- Describe what each Sacrament says about us as members of the church
- Using the 1st Ode of the Paschal Canon, tell how our baptism and Chrismation is related to the meaning of Pascha
- Reflect in journals on how to become members of Christ's Holy Church by recalling our Baptism and Chrismation as our death, Resurrection (Pascha), and Pentecost
- Remaining Objectives--See Session 1 and collect and update interviews of parish members for Roots Project
- Continue recording and reporting parish family stories of ancestors (RootsOral History)
- Continue work on Roots Map from interviews
- Continue planning the Roots Coffee Hour Project


Materials
- Large butcher chart paper
- Bibles
- Markers
- Rulers, yardsticks
- Pencils
- Tape
- Family Memories scrapbook and materials (See Session 1)
- Ode 1 of Paschal Canon written on Chart Paper
- “Roots” Ancestors Map (See Session 1)
- Journals (See Session 1)
- Interview forms for parish member interviews (See Session 1)
- Icon for prayer


Resources
Required Resources
- Ancestor Roots Map (PDF)
- Family Memories Scrapbook (HTML)
- My Orthodox Family: General Teacher Lesson Notes (HTML)
- Oral History (HTML)


Procedure
1 |
Opening Prayer |
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. |
2 |
Discussion Starter-Bridge |
Begin by asking the following: What were some of the journeys of God’s People we researched last week? (Point to the maps and Time Line for prompts. Answers should recall Moses, Passover, Ten Commandments and Journey to the Promised Land. As students answer, interject statements making a comparison of family love with God’s love for us.) Ask: How did God show His love for the People of Israel? (Answers should reflect an understanding of His protecting them during the Passover, their escape form bondage in Egypt, the fulfillment of the Promised Land.) Ask: Do you know why Jesus’ Resurrection from the Dead is called the “New Pascha” or “Passover”? Explain that Pascha is Greek for Passover and that Christ’s Resurrection gave us the new Passover from death to life. After this explain to students: Today we are going to examine our Baptism and its impact on our lives as God’s family. We will see how our Baptism and Chrismation are related to the meaning of Pascha. |
3 |
Outline |
This project can be done in the Cooperative Learning Style . Each student will be designated a position/task and will execute it in an organized and “cooperative” manner, working together with the others as a unit. As each person is assigned, he or she should set about a plan and work it to completion.
Our Holy Baptism and Chrismation into God’s Holy Church and Parish Family I. Reception into the Catechumenate:
II. Order of Holy Baptism:
III. Order of Chrismation
IV. Tonsuring
A. Prayer of St. Simeon Note: It is better to have students look things up for themselves in the service books than to
The Canon of Pascha
Pascha? (Answers should reflect our passing from death to life. Our going into the baptismal water is the death and our immersion and rising is the resurrection. Our Chrismation is the bestowing of the Seal and the gift of the Holy Spirit.) You can go on to quote from p.12, |
4 |
Journals |
5 |
Roots Ancestors Map |
|
6 |
Oral History Project |
7 |
Wrap-up |
As students are cleaning up and preparing for closing prayer, ask the following: (Have Baptism Service outline from chart/butcher paper tacked to a wall or bulletin board.) What did we learn about our Baptism today? (Answers should reflect our personal Pascha and membership into Christ’s Holy Church) How does our Baptism and Chrismation make us a family? (Answers should reflect the love we have for each other is part of our membership in His Holy Church.) |
8 |
Closing Prayer |
O Lord, save Thy people, and bless Thine inheritance. In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. |

Being an Orthodox Christian (Ages 10-12)

Overview
Members of God’s Family Together
- We become members of God’s family when we are baptized. God calls us to love all people. Our “neighbor” is any person who stands before us at any given moment. A personal inventory helps us become more aware of who we are, what strengths we need to build upon, and what weaknesses we need to correct.


Objectives
By the end of this Lesson, learners should be able to:- Discuss how St. Paul's words (in Romans 12:3, 9, 14-18) relate to our interactions with people in our daily lives (family, school, activities, mall, etc.)
- Work together in cooperative effort to solve a problem
- Reflect that, when working in groups, we each have a role to play
- List ways we can better know our classmates who come from different backgrounds or schools
- Reflect in journals on how to become more understanding and accepting of other's differences
- Remaining Objectives--See Session 1 and collect and update interviews of parish members for Roots Project
- Continue recording and reporting parish family stories of ancestors (RootsOral History)
- Continue work on Roots Map from interviews
- Continue planning the Roots Coffee Hour Project


Materials
- Large butcher chart paper
- Bibles
- Markers
- Peace Group Puzzle Piece statements (See Activity Resource at end of session)
- Pencils
- paper
- Tape
- Scissors
- Disposable camera
- Family Memories scrapbook and materials (See Session 1)
- “Roots” Ancestors Map (See Session 1)
- Journals (See Session 1)
- Interview forms for parish member interviews (See Session 1)
- Icon for prayer


Procedure
1 |
Opening Prayer |
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. |
2 |
Discussion Starter-Bridge |
Begin by asking the following: What did we learn about baptism last week in relation to Pascha? Becoming God’s People? (Point to the Baptism outline for prompts. Answers should recall Baptism as death to Resurrection, Pascha, Pentecost) As students answer, interject statements making a comparison of family love with God’s love for us. Ask: How does God show His love for us as members of His Church? (Answers should reflect an understanding of His love by giving us a place in His Kingdom through our Baptism and Chrismation.) Ask: Do you know why Jesus asked us to live in peace? Why is this important for us as God’s people? |
3 |
Cooperation Puzzle |
This project is a group dynamics and cooperation exercise, and is an excellent activity for enhancement of the Cooperative Learning Style. Students must work together to, first, find the problem, then try to solve it by examining all the information. The problem is: Who will go to Vespers and the concert at church next Saturday? Each student will be given several cards, each with a written statement. There are 18 “puzzle pieces” in all. They are as follows: (These are not numbered on the cards)
Problem: Who will go to Vespers and the concert at church next Saturday? Answers: John TomAlex Paul Sarah Mary Elizabeth Mrs. Miller Anna Tom’s parents George
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4 |
Discussion and Listening |
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5 |
Journals |
6 |
Roots Ancestors Map |
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7 |
Oral History Project |
Continue interview of parishioners by collecting finished interviews and updating those in progress. They will have two weeks to finish their interviews. Explain to students that interviews are to be conducted at an arranged time and place and they are to be present to carry out their interviews at that time, or by phone, or using bulletin insert. Tell students they may NOT make arrangements to meet anyone outside of the parish setting without their parent’s and your knowledge. |
8 |
Wrap-up |
As students are cleaning up and preparing for closing prayer, ask the following: (Have Baptism Service outline from chart/butcher paper tacked to a wall or bulletin board.) Ask: What did we learn about our Baptism today? (Answers should reflect our personal Pascha and membership into Christ’s Holy Church) How can we incorporate what St. Paul said about living with others? (Give time for student response) How can we use what St. Paul said to help us find out more about each of us here? What can we do to make help us get to know and respect each other? (Give time to reflect. Answers should include talking to one another, getting to know differences and similarities, looking toward the positives in each other, treating each other with respect, perhaps get ting to know each other by seeing each other outside of the classroom.) Let’s keep the words of St. Paul with us this coming week as we grow together in God’s love for us. |
9 |
Closing Prayer |
O Lord, save Thy people, and bless Thine inheritance. Grant victories to the Orthodox Christians over their adversaries; And by virtue of Thy cross, preserve Thy habitation. In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
|

The Work of God’s People (Ages 10-12)

Overview
Following God in Our Lives
- Building community in our local and in the neighborhood where our church is located is an important form of witness, mission, and outreach. As Orthodox Christians we need to: bring new life in Christ to others outside our parish community, support and assist in up-building, and address critical needs of community as we reveal our commitment to God through steadfast integrity, compassion, and responsibility to all of God’s people.


Objectives
By the end of this Lesson, learners should be able to:- Compare the description of the first Church in Acts 2:41-47 with the life of our parish today and describe how the members of this first community influenced the people around them, and how our parish community continues this witness
- Give one or two examples of a way that we have helped someone by being faithful, responsible, or trustworthy
- Describe how you felt about what we did, or why faithfulness, responsibility, and trust are important in society
- List ways we can make a difference in our local communities as Orthodox Christians and contributing members of society
- Reflect in our journals how we can continue to help those within our parish and our surrounding communities by doing deeds which bring out our compassion, integrity and responsibility as Gods people.
- Remaining Objectives--See Session 1 and collect and update interviews of parish members for Roots Project
- Continue recording and reporting parish family stories of ancestors. (Roots Oral History)
- Continue work on Roots Map from interviews
- Continue planning the Roots Coffee Hour Project


Materials
- Large butcher chart paper
- Bibles
- Markers
- Pencils
- paper
- Tape
- Scissors
- Family Memories scrapbook and materials (See Session 1)
- “Roots” Ancestors Map (See Session 1)
- Journals (See Session 1)
- Interview forms for parish member interviews (See Session 1)
- Icon for prayer


Procedure
1 |
Opening Prayer |
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. |
2 |
Discussion Starter-Bridge |
Begin by asking the following: What did we learn about baptism last week in relation to becoming God’s People? (Point to the Baptism outline and class list and picture from last week for prompts. Answers should recall Baptism as our personal Pascha, Pentecost, life together as God’s people.) Ask: How do the words of St. Paul show us how to live together as members of His Church? How do we now know and respect each other? (Answers should reflect the love and respect St. Paul prescribed to us as children of God.) Ask Students, How can we put in action some of the things we have learned in our parish? Our neighborhoods? Our communities? |
3 |
Beginning Parish Communities |
In the Cooperative Learning Style, have students use Bibles to look up and read Acts 2:41-47. Have another students list the actions newly baptized Christians took (i.e. breaking of bread, sold, divided possessions, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, braking bread from house to house, with simplicity of heart.). Ask students how they as a class can mirror the actions of those early Christians. Have a student list suggestions. Suggest activities to help in: parish, neighborhood, deanery, diocese, national church. |
4 |
Parish Model |
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5 |
Journals |
6 |
Roots Ancestors Map |
|
7 |
Oral History Project |
8 |
Wrap-up |
As students are cleaning up and preparing for closing prayer, ask the following: (Have Baptism Service outline from chart/butcher paper tacked to a wall or bulletin board.) Ask: What did we learn about our tasks as Orthodox Christians and members of God’s family today? (Answers should reflect our personal commitments to those around us as membership into Christ’s Holy Church) How can we incorporate what the Book of Acts said about parish community? (Give time for student response) What are we going to try to do to show our faithfulness, responsibility, and trustworthiness? (Give time to reflect. Answers should include list of what they have committed to.) Let’s keep the words of St. Paul and the Acts of the Holy Apostles with us this coming week as we grow together in God’s love for us. |
9 |
Closing Prayer |
O Lord, save Thy people, and bless Thine inheritance. Grant victories to the Orthodox Christians over their adversaries; And by virtue of Thy cross, preserve Thy habitation. In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. |
