sade065

If your kids enjoy the biblical story of David takes on Goliath, then they will be sure to find courage in the true modern day story of Saint Nestor and St Demetrios from Constantinople, Greece. With a few helpful talking points, these Saints who lived during the reign of Emperor Maximian, will come alive for your students! **Discuss what true Christian bravery is, why we take the blessing of our spiritual fathers when we kiss their hands, and what a bold confession for Christ can mean for others who are watching nearby! Click here to download the lesson for free.

Here's another fun group game for kids and teens that can be tailored to our Orthodox faith and gets everyone moving! Begin by creating a circle with chairs facing in and totaling one less than the number of kids you have, including yourself. Then start by having everyone take a seat, except you who begins in the middle. Explain that a question will be presented by the person in the middle, and if it applies to them, they are asked to swap seats. Whoever is left standing without finding a seat, becomes the person in the middle. For example... "Whoever is wearing a cross around their neck...." Go! "Anyone who has been baptized an Orthodox Christian..." Go! "Whoever has white socks on..." "If your Patron Saint is in September..." "If you own a Bible..." "Anyone who has brown hair..." "If you know what Theotokos means..." (be sure to follow up by asking for the answer) If anyone leaves the group, you'll have...

The life and example of Saint Katherine (Agia Aikaterini /Katerina) is truly a unique witness for all youth, and especially handmaidens of Christ. If you do not know her story, take a moment to be inspired for her feastday on Tuesday, Nov 25 and color the icon. Especially for all girls involved in speech & debate! Watch the life of St Katherine here for children on You Tube Watch video footage of Sinai and the Icon collection at he Getty Museum here Another video for children on her As a young woman of great beauty and intelligence, she came of age to be married, but her focus was elsewhere. She only agreed if a suitor was found that surpassed her own knowledge, wisdom and talent. What earthly man could compare? Her mother took her to meet a holy ascetic, outside the city, dwelling in a cave. He gave her an icon of Panagia and her son, to begin praying to meet such a worthy "man;" who else, but Christ Himself. But when the Mother of God appeared to her in a dream, Chri...

As we draw near to celebrating the Nativity of Christ, we often ask what gift can we offer to Christ, especially a tangible one for our children to make. It is easy to overlook and under value the simple things that we can do with our own hands. If we are attending Church, one of the greatest offerings we can bring to Christ is the bread used to become His Holy Body. "Prosforo" literally means offering, as in offering a gift....perfect for Christmas! See the lesson below for Scripture quotes and ingredient significance. Many of you may have held Prosforo workshops before at your parishes. Great! Do it again and again - the kids love it! Next time, arrange a few of the following activities to enhance the experience: NEW Lesson Plan & Puzzle activity of the Proskomidi: located here where each child cuts and glues the pieces of the Seal to understand their significance. NEW book from Potamitis Publishing " Yiayia and the Prosphoron" located here in many languag...

What a joy to discover a few new Orthodox resources, beautiful in illustrations and simplicity of faith for our young ones! Glory to God! The first, this small prayer book, has been VERY popular in our family for school-age kids starting to read. Little hands reach for it immediately...(one possible mistake is I think  it should say " Let everything that breathes, praise the Lord" rather than "prays the Lord"  ???)  But nevertheless, a nice prayer book to involve children under 7. http://www.orthodoxlighthouse.com/products/books/B-210 The second exciting resource that I am ordering today is this for Nativity fast - great timing.  I have not seen it in person yet, but it looks beautiful! http://www.sebastianpress.org/product-p/sp-bk-ch-2017-001.htm

  For the feast of the Cross on September 14, our classes have enjoyed putting on a skit re-enacting how St Helen found the Cross of Christ. It does not need much planning ahead of time, and most items you have at home! You'll need: An icon of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross Dark blanket for the earth/dirt Three large crosses cut from cardboard One shovel or more, plastic from sandbox will do A crown for St Helen, colored paper taped round If you choose, second crown for St Konstantine A Bishops' garment -drape a cloth around the neck and pin Fresh basil, found at site of buried crosses Extra: a cardboard coffin / tomb Assign the parts: St Helen and her entourage on the pilgrimage to Jerusalem...those who will dig! St Konstantine, her son the King, who was not present actually, but part of history Jude, the secret Jewish man, who helped find the way to Golgotha A child for the corpse in funeral passing by Bishop Makarios, Archbishop of Jerusalem, who will exalt the Cross and l...

A powerful way to get your tween/teens to start writing, thinking, and spending time with God is through a " Faith Journal !" As a parent or youth worker, you can use these for down time, and inspire them to discover the power of solitude in a location that's special to them. The only goal is that it's private and quiet. However, you might choose to lead them into understanding exactly what to do with this "time." Certain days, they'll write, other days draw, reflect, answer tough questions, read prayers or complete activities. Grab a smaller lined notebook or even sketchbook, and consider adding some of these components from the list below to get them started. Decorate the front/back as they wish, with guidelines that it is "spiritual" and inspiring. Provide papers, markers, icons, glue, glitter, etc Add Quotes : Ask them to write and decorate those pages: "What will you do with the time that is given to you?" Gandolf, Lord of the ...