Youth Ministries Manual Saint Barbara Greek Orthodox Church

Youth Ministries Manual
Saint Barbara
Greek Orthodox Church
Children Are the Church!
“Fathers and mothers: Go and lead your child by the hand into the church.”
-Saint John Chrysostom
We often hear the youth of a parish being described as “the future of the Church.” We
at Saint Barbara Greek Orthodox Church believe that children are the Church. We love
our youth, and their presence reflects the life of the parish – from teenagers down to the
smallest infant. As the old saying goes, “What is worse than a crying baby in church?
No crying babies in church!”
It is for this reason that this Youth Ministries Manual has been created. Within this
manual you will find all the ministries Saint Barbara’s offers to our youth throughout
the 2014-2015 ecclesiastical year. A description of each ministry, along with how you
and your family can participate is presented. We hope that through these ministries,
your family will grow closer to Christ and His Church!
“The primary lesson for life must be implanted in the soul from the earliest age. The
primary lesson for children is to know the eternal God, the One Who gives everlasting
life.”
-Saint Clement of Alexandria
Index
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Acolytes
Christmas Program
CrossRoad Program
Dance Program
Greek School
Lenten Youth Retreat
St. John Chrysostom
Oratorical Festival
Saturday of Lazarus
Scholarship Program
Social Media
Summer Camps
Sunday School
Youth Choir
Youth Family Night
Youth Sunday
Page 9
Page 4
Pages 9 - 10
Page 11
Page 11
Page 8
Pages 5 - 7
Page 5
Page 14
Page 14 - 15
Pages 12 - 13
Pages 3 - 4
Page 7
Page 8
Page 8
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Sunday School
“With us everything should be secondary compared to our concern with children, and
their upbringing in the instruction and teaching of the Lord.”
-Saint John Chrysostom
The philosophy of our Sunday School Program is based on a Christocentric approach,
which prepares students with the principles of the Orthodox Faith, encouraging them
to grow in God’s Service. Our program builds a solid foundation for the children of
our community through exemplary lessons in the Teaching and Worship Practices of
the Greek Orthodox Christian Faith.
Our Sunday School Program is for children in Preschool through High School:
Pre-K to Kindergarten — Angela Canfield, Megan Burge
1st Grade to 4th Grade — Angelique Chuchas
5th Grade to 8th Grade — Olya Benbow
High School — Margo Kwiatkowski
Classes began on September 7th; it is never
too late to join. Our families attend the
Divine Liturgy together, and classes begin
after Holy Communion is distributed.
Goals of our Sunday School Program
1. To encourage all students from nursery
age to seniors in high school to participate in our Sunday School Program.
2. To make our Sunday School spiritually enriching for our children.
3. To establish a stable Christian educational environment.
4. To provide Christian awareness and education in a learning format geared to children of all abilities in an inclusive classroom environment.
5. To provide well rounded and theologically based lessons on the Bible, Liturgical
Worship, Prayer Life, Sacramental Life, and Mission Awareness.
6. To have a dependable volunteer staff, who because of their personal commitment
to Christ, serve His Church as teachers.
7. To provide the staff and students with text books and other resources (i.e. craft
supplies, videos...) which inspire and enhance Christian learning.
8. To provide Sunday School students the opportunity to learn about Stewardship and
caring for our Church, community center and grounds.
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Ways Parents Can Help Strengthen the Foundation of Religious Education
1. Plan to be in Church when the Divine Liturgy begins - 10:00 am.
2. Be consistent. Attend Church regularly.
3. Visit the classroom and meet with the teacher to see what lessons your child is
learning so that lesson material can be re-enforced at home; ask your child if they
have any special handouts from the teacher.
4. See that your child comes to class prepared with books, homework assignments
etc.
5. Practice the faith at home, observe fast days and schedule family prayer time.
Children are great imitators; what they see you do, you will see them do.
6. Be realistic in setting your goals as you grow in the Faith. God will always provide more than you will ever need, but you need to be willing and ready to be
called and to follow Him in every aspect of your life.
7. Do not feel alone, or overwhelmed, but turn to Him in prayer at all times. Stand
Firm in Holy Tradition and Be Well In Faith.
Christmas Program
Every year, the youth of our parish present a Christmas Program on one of the Sundays
in December to share the Nativity story - the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. The Program includes scripture readings, hymns, and the Nativity story presented by nearly 30
children.
The day’s activities begin with the celebration of the Divine Liturgy, followed by the
Christmas program. Included with the program are carols sung by both the Adult Choir
and the Youth Choir. Following the
dismissal, fellowship continues with a
festive Lenten meal. During the meal,
Santa Claus arrives and gives gifts to
the children.
The Christmas Program this year will
be on December 14, 2014. Practices
will be on the previous Sunday, December 7, and Saturday, December 13.
To participate in this annual program,
contact our Sunday School Director,
Angela Canfield.
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Saturday of Lazarus
On Saturday of Lazarus, April 4, 2015, our parish will celebrate a family day with special activities for everyone. Following the Divine Liturgy and a Lenten waffle breakfast, we engage in several activities: folding palms, decorating eggs for Pascha, decorating the church with palms, and ensuring the church grounds are ready for Holy Week.
St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival
The 2015 St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival will be
held in the Saint Barbara Education Center at 12 noon on
Sunday March 15, 2015. We are planning to make this
year’s festival the biggest and best one yet! The District Oratorical Festival will take place in April 2015, and the Metropolis Oratorical Festival will be on Saturday May 9, 2015 at St.
Nicholas Ranch & Retreat Center. The National Oratorical
Festival will be on Saturday June 6, 2015 at St. Anthony’s in
Pasadena. The Saint Barbara Parish Festival Chairman is
Presvytera Stephanie Thomas.
As in the past, we will have three divisions of speeches:
Elementary Division - This division is non-competitive (i.e. no judging) and open to
all Saint Barbara Sunday School students. All participants will receive a gift and a
certificate. Students may choose any topic of faith (Jesus, Prayer, Icons, etc.) and
speak for 60-90 seconds. Be creative!
Junior Division - Open to Grade 7-9 students of the Saint Barbara Sunday school.
Students will write and deliver a three to four minute speech on one of the Junior Division topics. Gift cards will be offered for the top three speeches. Division finalists
will advance to the District Festival.
Senior Division - Open to Grade 10-12 students of the Saint Barbara Sunday school.
Students will write and deliver a four to five minute speech on one of the Senior Division topics. Gift cards will be offered for the top three speeches. Division finalists
will advance to the District Festival.
Last year the festival was expanded, adding essays and poetry to the public speaking
competition.
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Two divisions of essay:
Junior Division - Open to Grade 7-9 students of the Saint Barbara Sunday school.
Students will write and submit a 300-400 word essay on one of the Junior Division
topics. Prizes will be offered for the top three essays. The top finalist will advance to
the Metropolis Festival.
Senior Division - Open to Grade 10-12 students of the Saint Barbara Sunday school.
Students will write and submit a 500-600 word essay on one of the Senior Division
topics. Prizes will be offered for the top three essays. The top finalist will advance to
the Metropolis Festival.
Two divisions of poetry:
Junior Division - Open to Grade 7-9 students of the Saint Barbara Sunday school.
Students will write and submit a poem in any form (sonnet, open verse, etc.) of between eight and thirty lines on one of the Junior Division topics. Prizes will be offered for the top three poems. The top finalist will advance to the Metropolis Festival.
Senior Division - Open to Grade 10-12 students of the Saint Barbara Sunday school.
Students will write and submit a poem in any form (sonnet, open verse, etc.) of between eight and thirty lines on one of the Senior Division topics. Prizes will be offered for the top three poems. The top finalist will advance to the Metropolis Festival.
A student may only participate in one category of the Saint John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival: Speech, Essay or Poetry.
2015 St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival Topics
Junior Division (Grades 7–9)
1. The theme of the 2014 Clergy-Laity Congress was “The Orthodox Christian family:
A dwelling of Christ and a witness of His Gospel.” Discuss how today’s Orthodox
Christian families can strive to live according to this ideal.
2. St. Paul writes, “An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the
rules” (2 Timothy 2:5). Discuss the virtue of honesty in a time when cheating in
school, sports, and other activities is reported more and more.
3. Discuss the Orthodox Christian practice of fasting from certain foods & the spiritual
discipline it teaches, especially in light of the Lord’s directive in Matthew 6:16–18.
4. Malala Yousafzai is an inspirational example of fighting fearlessly for a noble cause
in spite of threats against her life. Discuss a young saint or person from the Bible
who illustrates such courage.
5. Several leaders in the political and religious arena have been described as people
with a prophetic gift. What really is a prophet? Discuss their actions in light of the
Old Testament prophets and in comparison to other contemporary examples.
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Senior Division (Grades 10–12)
1. The Lord said, “I was in prison and you came to me” (Matthew 25:36). What does
this teach us about our attitudes toward those in jails and imprisoned?
2. Psalm 50 (51) begins, “Have mercy on me, O Lord…” It is considered the psalm of
repentance. Discuss how praying this psalm might affect our understanding of repentance, confession, and forgiveness.
3. Women apostles, martyrs, and saints have spread the Gospel and advanced the
Church from the beginning of Christianity. Discuss the significance of their roles
and examples for all Christians today.
4. The St. Nicholas Church at Ground Zero, which was destroyed on September 11,
2001, is soon to be rebuilt. Discuss the ways in which this tiny church building will
now become a symbol of the universal themes of victory over evil; healing and
hope; and being a beacon of Orthodox Christianity.
5. Using the parable of the poor widow's offering to the Temple (Luke 21:1–4), discuss
the Orthodox Christian attitude of offering to the Church’s ministries.
All participants in the Saint Barbara Saint John Chrysostom 2015 Oratorical
Festival must register not later than March 8, 2015. Final form essays and poems
are due no later than March 8, 2015. Speech draft texts must also be submitted no
later than March 8, 2015. This is a firm deadline!
Please Note: Everyone who is interested is encouraged to visit the Archdiocesan
website for topics, speaker tips, and to view the official festival rules, which have been
updated for 2015. The website is:
http://www.goarch.org/archdiocese/departments/religioused/sjcof
Youth Choir
If your children love to sing, then Youth Choir is for them! The Saint Barbara Youth
Choir encourages children to chant hymns and become active participants during the
Divine Liturgy and other church services. Through Youth Choir, your child will develop his or her God-given talent and offer it back to the Lord. The Youth Choir also
leads the faithful in the singing of the carols during the Annual Christmas Program, providing inspiration for all who attend.
The Saint Barbara Youth Choir is a volunteer choir that is open to all children in our
parish. Don’t worry about whether your child has “a good voice”! All voices raised in
song to the Lord are beautiful! Practices take place every other Sunday following Sunday School. Please contact Father Simon at the Church Office or our Youth Choir Director, Sophia Kenrick, if you would like more information.
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Youth Family Night
“Young people must be made to distinguish between helpful and injurious knowledge,
keeping clearly in mind the Christian’s purpose in life. So, like the athlete or the musician, they must bend every energy to one task, the winning of the heavenly crown.”
-Saint Basil the Great
Youth ministry begins with the family in the home. It continues in the Church as we
strive to provide for the spiritual needs of the children of our parish. The foundation
of all youth ministry is the cultivation and education of our children, so that they may
become active members of the Body of Christ.
This ministry incorporates the “Four Circles of Ministry” - liturgia (worship), koinonia
(fellowship), diakonia (service), and martyria (witness). Our Youth Family Nights will
take place about once a month. We will begin with a prayer service, followed by a
meal, then an outing or social event. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Father Simon at the Church Office.
Youth Sunday
Youth Sunday will be on May 3, 2015. On this Sunday, we will showcase the youth of
our parish, as they will have an opportunity to: prepare the prosphoro for the Liturgy,
be ushers, read the Epistles, present their St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival
speeches/essays/poems, host coffee fellowship, along with other surprises. This is a
wonderful opportunity to show that our youth are an integral part of our parish—that the
youth are our parish!
Lenten Youth Retreat
The Lenten Youth Retreat will be a weekend retreat March 27
-29, 2015. This retreat will be in cooperation with the Holy
Cross Greek Orthodox Church in Belmont. The retreat will
take place at the Marin Headlands just north of San Francisco,
and will include religious discussions, nature hikes, and Divine Liturgy Sunday morning at the camp. We will also visit
the relics of Saint John (Maximovitch) of Shanghai and San
Francisco at the Holy Virgin Mary Cathedral in San Francisco.
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Acolytes
This ministry is designed for young men between the
ages of 8-18, who wish to help the priest during the
Divine Liturgy on Sundays, along with other sacred
services during major Feast days. It requires a great
deal of dedication on behalf of both the young men, as
well as from their parents who transport them to
church on Sundays. This is a most sacred ministry of
the church.
Acolytes are asked to arrive properly dressed (i.e. a
white or light colored dress shirt, a tie, dress pants, and
black dress shoes) at least 15 minutes before the service. The Divine Liturgy begins at 10 am, so plan to
be at church by 9:45 am.
Acolytes should prepare themselves to receive Holy
Communion as often as possible. As Christians we
prepare by fasting on the appropriate days (i.e.
Wednesdays and Fridays and/or throughout other festal periods) as well as limiting our
thoughts, words, and actions to only those things that glorify God. We also fast completely on Sunday morning, not eating or drinking anything until we receive Holy Communion.
Serving in the Holy Sanctuary is a privilege. These young men have shown responsibility and dedication to the Lord and His Church. The Acolytes assist the priest under the
supervision of Jackson Kwiatkowski.
CrossRoad Program
CrossRoad is a ten-day academic summer institute that prepares
high school juniors and seniors to make big life decisions and
connect with the Orthodox Christian theological and spiritual
tradition. Hosted on the scenic Hellenic College/Holy Cross
campus, overlooking the beautiful Boston skyline, participants
experience daily worship, visit local parishes, tour Boston, and
spend a day at the beach.
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The students study their faith in an Orthodox academic setting as two seminary professors offer five days of mini-courses on various subjects. They participate in service projects at different outreach ministries in the Boston area, hang out together as
a group and have fun and fellowship time with other Orthodox Christians teenagers
from around the United States, forging friendships that will last a lifetime!
In all of this the CrossRoad program hopes to help its participants discern their life
callings, matching their personal gifts with the needs of the world. The staff of
CrossRoad believes that whatever direction you choose for your life, it can be of service to God and to your neighbor, which is Christ’s call to us all.
Eligibility:
CrossRoad is designed to best meet the needs of Orthodox teens in their junior or senior year of high school who desire to deepen their faith in an Orthodox setting. For
this reason, applicants must be between the ages of 16 and 18 years old, and should
not have graduated high school prior to April of the year they apply. For CrossRoad
2015, we will accept students in the high school class of 2015 or 2016 (juniors and
seniors). We are actively seeking a 50/50 male/female ratio, as well as students from
as many Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Christian backgrounds as possible. Preference
will be given to Orthodox Christian youth who reside in North America.
Applications:
For more information and to fill out an application to participate in the CrossRoad
Program please go to: http://www.hchc.edu/studentlife/vocation/crossroad
Application Deadline: March 2
Two Sessions:
June Session: June 20-30
July Session: July 7-17
Tuition:
For summer 2015, there is a tuition charge for the CrossRoad Summer Institute of
$500 for the ten-day session. Travel arrangements to and from Hellenic College in
Brookline are also the responsibility of the student. Participant accommodations,
meals, and activities related to CrossRoad are covered by the scholarship and partial
tuition charge, although we recommend that students bring some spending cash for our
outings into Boston. (Scholarships are available through Saint Barbara’s and the
CrossRoad Program.)
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Greek School
This year, we do not have a formal Greek class, as in years past. However, learning
Greek from the comfort of your own home has never been easier. Here are some great
resources that several of our families are using:
Papaloizos Publications: www.greek123.com
I Learn Greek resource page: www.ilearngreek.com
The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America Department of Greek Education has a
Kindergarten curriculum, along with several textbooks for higher levels:
http://www.goarch.org/archdiocese/departments/greekeducation/
Learn Greek Online is a course provided by Kypros.Net in collaboration with
the Cyprus Radio Foundation: www.Kypros.org/LearnGreek/
Dance Program
“Let the children praise the Lord with dance!” (Ps. 149:3)
The Saint Barbara Greek Folk Dance Program is committed to teaching the traditional
dances of our Greek heritage in a Christian environment. Our dancers are aged 2 – 15,
and perform at the Greek Festival, Greek Independence Day Celebration, and select
other events through the year.
The instructor for both dance groups is Presvytera Stephanie Thomas, with the assistance of Anna Crossman. If you have any questions, would like more info, or would
like to enroll your
child(ren), please contact Father Simon at
the Church Office, or
Presvytera Stephanie.
We currently have two
dance groups:
Zoi - Ages 7 – 15
Toumba - Ages 2 – 6
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Summer Camps
St. Nicholas Ranch
Just outside of Fresno, St. Nicholas
Ranch is nestled in a beautiful valley
in the Sierra Nevada foothills, just a
short drive from Sequoia National
Park. Campers sleep in the dormitories, enjoy meals in the dining hall,
and participate in sessions in two
large conference rooms, picnic areas, athletic fields, a pool, a lake,
and hiking trails.
Every summer, hundreds of children and teenagers from throughout the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of San Francisco gather for our summer camp program. Their Orthodox Christian Faith comes alive for young people as they develop lifelong friendships
and memories that will last forever. Summer camp activities include: arts and crafts,
swimming, canoeing, campfires, archery, nature hikes, Olympics, skit nights, daily
worship services, a visit to the Monastery of the Theotokos of the Life-giving Spring,
and Orthodox life discussions.
Has anyone from Saint Barbara’s ever gone to St. Nicholas Ranch Camp?
Yes! Dimitri Richardson has gone the past two years (2013 & 2014) and Cainan Iorio
went last year (2014). Father Simon has been a camper, counselor, and priest at St.
Nick’s. Plus, Presvytera Stephanie has also been a camper and counselor.
St. Nicholas Ranch Camp is for
children 8 years old (or entering 3rd
grade in Fall 2015) – 18 years old
(or will be graduating High School
in Spring 2015). Sessions are typically scheduled for the month of
July. If your family would like to
participate, please contact Father
Simon in the Church Office.
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Ionian Village
Teens and young adults that participate in Ionian Village travel
across Greece, venerate the relics of saints, walk in the footsteps
of the Apostles, and visit significant sites of Greek history and
culture. Ionian Village is a summer camping program located in
Greece and operated by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of
America. Ionian Village offers its participants a unique experience that is unavailable elsewhere. At the end of the program,
staff and campers return to their homes with strengthened faith and with a greater appreciation for the Church and for Greek culture and heritage.
Teens and young adults have the time of their lives while at Ionian Village. Staff and
campers from across the United States form bonds and friendships at Ionian Village.
Since 1970, almost 16,000 teens and young adults have experienced a 40+ year old tradition committed to building, “Faith and friendships that last a lifetime.”
Ionian Village operates from a beautiful seafront campsite on western Peloponnesus in
Greece on the coast of the Ionian Sea. The camp facility accommodates nearly 200
campers and 50 Staff Members in white-washed cabins and bungalows. The campground was developed and built with the intention of fostering an Orthodox Christian
community and providing a Greek village experience. The facilities are centered around
a traditional white-washed Chapel and include a private beach, an oversized swimming
pool, shady pine forests, an amphitheater, a large hall, an open-air cafeteria, a soccer
field, volleyball and tennis courts, and a basketball court.
Ionian Village Summer 2015 Camp Programs
Each 20-day session is open to young people who have completed grades 8 -12.
Session 1: June 22–July 11, 2015
Session 2: July 19–August 7, 2015
Has anyone from Saint Barbara’s ever
gone to Ionian Village?
Yes! Francesca Richardson went three
years ago (2012). Yianni Magoulias
was a counselor for the past two years
(2013 & 2014). Both Father Simon
and Presvytera Stephanie have been,
along with several members of Saint
Barbara’s many years ago.
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Scholarship Program
The Saint Barbara Greek Orthodox Church Scholarship Program was established for
young people participating in the life of the Church to encourage academic excellence
and to offer moral support and financial assistance to high school graduates who are furthering their undergraduate education at a university, college, or vocational school.
Funding for the Scholarship Program comes from the Greek Festival Raffle, donations,
and investment earnings. Scholarships range from $500 to $2,500 based on the following criteria: 1. Church Involvement; 2. Financial Need; 3. Academic Record; 4. Community Service. Awards are for one year only. Scholarship Recipients may reapply in
subsequent years. Over the past 16 years (1999-2014), 96 scholarships have been
awarded to 44 different students, totaling $121,350.
High school graduates of Saint Barbara Greek Orthodox Church may apply, whether
they are attending school in the Santa Barbara area, or elsewhere. Students from other
parishes attending the three major schools in the Santa Barbara area (UCSB, Westmont
College, and SB City College) may also apply while they are active in our Saint Barbara
Parish.
If you have any questions regarding the criteria or eligibility, please contact Father
Simon in the Church Office, or Lisa Markos, the Scholarship Committee Chair.
Social Media
The Greek Orthodox Archdiocesan
Department of Youth and Young
Adult Ministries has expanded into
the social media sphere! Join the
conversation!
Like us on Facebook: GOA Youth
Follow us on Twitter: @GOA_Youth
Snap with us on Intstagram:
@goa_youth
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Reflect with us by following us on our
Blog: The Ladder
(http://blogs.goarch.org/y2am/
theladder)
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Saint Barbara Greek Orthodox Church
1205 San Antonio Creek Road
Santa Barbara, CA 93111
(805) 683-4492 / fax (805) 964-2774
www.saintbarbara.net
office@saintbarbara.net