2005: Resource and Program Highlights
Diocesan Christian Education
January’s the best time to look back and evaluate the past year.
We have a lot of progress to report; of course, much remains to be done.
With God’s help (and yours!) 2006 will be an even better year.
Curriculum revision project
The brand-new Kindergarten textbook and its accompanying illustrated
storybook on Jesus were completed and production begun. We are very excited
about their scheduled release in spring 2006. Meanwhile, the 16-session
high school text on the Divine Liturgy, In Remembrance of Me, is also
being readied for release in 2006. The preparation of grades 1, 5, 7,
and 8 are in progress. We realize that scheduled release dates have been
postponed in the past due to human and/or financial resource limitations,
but we are confident of the release schedule noted above and will keep
you updated accordingly.
New Lenten Family Calendar
2005 Family Lenten Calendars featuring activities, Scripture reflections
and questions for the 40 days of Lent and Holy Week as well as information
about Lent were distributed free of charge to Sunday School students
and staff as this year’s Lenten family resource. How was the use
of these calendars encouraged and monitored? Contact us with your comments;
your feedback may help us assess whether these seasonal resources are
effective or not.
The Armenian Church Educator
Bi-monthly issues of this newsletter of lesson ideas and seasonal and
Armenian Church resources are now sent out electronically to superintendents,
teachers and clergy. A long-time feature of the Department of Religious
Education (now the Christian education division of the Department of
Youth and Education), the DRE Bulletin was always appreciated for its
practical, ready-to-apply usefulness. To avail yourself of the new on-line
expanded version for Sunday and Armenian School teachers as well as youth
workers, go directly to The Armenian Church Educator on the Diocesan
website, www.armenianchurch.net/educator.
New Releases
Making its debut in December, 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.
The 16-session course (designed for teens and but also suitable for adults)
on the Bible, Breathed By God, was issued to accolades. 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. Some of our pastors are adapting
it for adult education as well.
Lenten Stewardship
Thirty Sunday Schools participated in the 2005 Lenten Drive that raised
more than $11,000 and benefited Armenians in the Diocese of Javakh, Republic
of Georgia, where the Armenian Church has been the only source of advocacy
and social service for the troubled region. Father Papken Salibyan of
Javakh recently visited our Diocese and expressed his heartfelt thanks
for the miracles our gift will provide. Thank you, Sunday School students
and staff!
Sending out Apostles
In 2005, 77 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.