2004: The Year in Review

Diocesan Christian Education

January’s the best time to look back and evaluate the past year. We have a lot of progress to report, just for your information. Of course, much remains to be done. With God’s help (and yours!) 2005 will be an even better year.

Curriculum revision project

Although temporarily put on hold, curriculum revision continued with further editing of the Kindergarten text and an outline of its final two units. Format and supplement research with other denominational materials - including the use of original CD resources - have helped further shape a vision for Pre-K through grade 8. Writer/editor meetings defined the scope and goal of the kindergarten text with such additional refinements as, for example, the plan for an original bible storybook to accompany the text.  By year’s end, the storybook and the first draft of  the teacher/student texts were completed for release in 2005 and writers and outlines for the balance of texts 1-8  put in place. A 16-session high school course on the Divine Liturgy was outlined and begun for release in 2005.

Reissuing a Classic

The Sacraments: The Symbols of Our Faith, second edition, was released in December. Having sold out, it was born again, completely revised and re-designed, and remains an important resource for understanding the theology and ritual of the seven sacraments.

A Lenten Course Geared to High Schoolers

My Lenten Journal, a seven-week Great Lent mini-course designed to help high-schoolers focus on their personal relationship with God during the most “spiritual” of seasons, was issued and enthusiastically received.

New Family Resource

A set of Lenten Family Bookmarks was created to help families read Scripture regularly and together during Lent. Six different full-color bookmarks featuring daily Scripture verses and discussion questions and designed with Armenian miniature motifs were distributed free of charge to Sunday School students and staff as this year’s Lenten family resource.

New Teen Mini-courses

Four teen mini-courses (Sunday School mini courses are generally 5 to 8 sessions) were released bringing to eleven the number of choices teen-level Sunday School teachers have to supplement or replace units of the standard curriculum. These are Having It All (Success), Called to Serve (Christian Outreach), All About Me (Identity), and What Do I Believe? (Doctrine)

Comprehensive Course on Scripture for Young Adults

The 16-session course (designed for teens and but also suitable for adults) on the Bible, Breathed By God, was readied for release.  In a “Dummies Guide” format of sidebars, vocabulary, and points of distinctly Armenian interest, the text is a long-awaited in-depth survey of Scripture from the viewpoint of the Armenian Church.

DRE Bulletin/The Church Educator/The Armenian Church Educator

After a budget-induced spring hiatus, bi-monthly issues of this newsletter of lesson ideas and seasonal and Armenian Church resources continued to be sent out to teachers and clergy.  Although an ongoing feature of the Department, the newsletter is a true accomplishment in its practical, ready-to-apply usefulness. Starting in the Fall of 2004, the material formerly offered in print format will be available in an expanded on-line edition called “The Armenian Church Educator.” To avail yourself of this material, go to the Diocesan website, www.armenianchurch.net.

Parish Outreach

Sunday Schools: Four parish workshops and two regional workshops focused on “teaching for success” techniques applicable for all grade levels such as paired conversations, asking productive questions, prayer starters, faith development theory and application, creative review as well as curriculum basics. 30% of our Sunday Schools were reached in these 6 sessions.

Parish-wide programs:  Five programs - a women’s retreat, a parish retreat, a parish council leadership workshop, a lecture on discipleship, and an interactive talk on parish living as a calling – were gratifying examples of education as a parish-Diocese partnership.

Two Significant Works-in-Progress

New Teacher Intro Kit: Finally, something for the novice teacher - an orientation kit that explores the Sunday School classroom, curriculum, and basic principles of faith development and Christian education. The kit will include specially prepared print materials as well as helpful books and other resources.

A pocket prayer book for young adults, Here I Am, Lord consists of prayers drawn from Scripture and the Armenian fathers and original prayers for contemporary circumstances. An introductory chapter on prayer and scripture verses for life’s different moments are added features.

Satisfying Stewardship Projects

The 2004 Drive benefited five FAR-sponsored soup kitchens in and around Yerevan; these centers serve more than 1,000 senior citizens, children, and homeless daily. The Drive netted a gratifying 14,000.  Thank you, Sunday School students and staff!

Sending out Apostles

In 2004, 97 graduates from 14 schools received a Sunday School diploma, the exciting culmination of – for the most part – 13 years of attendance (Pre-K-11). Many of them will continue to participate in service programs through the Sunday School.