Christian Education News

Diocesan Christian Education: A look back

As we start this new school year, it is important to look back on the successes of the past.  Below is just a quick note on some of the accomplishments and work the Diocese and you, our Sunday School volunteers, have made happen.

Curriculum revision project

Although temporarily put on hold, curriculum revision continued in the fall 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. As of summer 2004, the storybook and 75 percent of the teacher/student texts were completed.

New Resources

Reissuing a Classic

"The Sacraments: The Symbols of Our Faith", second edition, was released in December.  This edition is completely revised and re-designed, and remains an important resource for understanding the theology and ritual of the seven sacraments.  

http://www.stvartanbookstore.com/product.asp?0=206&1=220&3=756

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.

http://www.stvartanbookstore.com/product.asp?3=810

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 a 2004 Lenten family resource.   You can download and print your own bookmarks anytime.

http://www.armenianchurch.net/worship/lent/bookmarks.html

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.

Two Significant Works-in-Progress

The Diocese continued work on two new, exciting projects.

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.

Parish Successes

Parish Outreach

Sunday Schools: Two 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. These four sessions reached 25 percent of our Sunday Schools.

Parish-wide programs:  Three programs -- a women's retreat, a lecture on discipleship, and an interactive talk on parish living as a calling -- were gratifying examples of education as a parish-Diocese partnership.

Satisfying Stewardship Projects

The 2003 Diocesan-wide Sunday School Lenten Drive benefited the Armenian Tree Project, enabling 335 trees to be planted in and around Etchmiadzin in honor of the 1700th Anniversary of its founding. The drive netted $5000 from 23 parish schools. www.armeniatree.org

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 resulted in a donation of $12,800. www.farusa.org

Sending out Apostles

In 2003, 13 Sunday Schools graduated 75 students. In 2004, 14 schools produced 97 graduates.  Sunday School diplomas are the exciting culmination of usually 13 years of attendance, from Pre-K to 11th grade classes. Many of our graduates continue to participate in service programs through the Sunday School, by volunteering to teach or serve the parish in other ways.