New and Upcoming in Christian Education from the Diocese

In September 2003, the Diocesan program departments (including the Department of Religious Education) were reorganized into the one Department of Youth and Education. I know many of you still use the decades-old title “DRE” (it is faster and easier) when calling or corresponding with our division, but be aware of the new terminology. At that time also, Christian Education personnel were reduced for budgetary reasons. We appreciate your patience and understanding throughout and look forward to working with you, hopefully making it easier for you to do the vital work you do in parish Christian education.

We thank you every day in our prayers for your enormous contribution to that task.

New Publications

Breathed By God: the Bible and You

A 16-session high school curriculum on the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, including its particular history and interpretation in the Armenian Church. Complete with vocabulary, fascinating sidebars, and built-in review quizzes, this is an important textbook to use when designing your upper grade curriculum. Right now, we’re leaving it up to you to teach it where you think best (recommended are 10^th and 11^th grades) but in the spring we’ll be releasing a structured curriculum guideline for 9^th through 12^th grades for both large and small schools. This should prove helpful to those who want a sample grid for their senior high division.

Teaching Faith/Modeling Christ

Subtitled “The ABC’s of Armenian Christian Education” this Sunday School teachers’ introduction to the philosophy, purpose, and available resources for Christian education was sent out to superintendents and pastors over the summer and is available free of charge for all our teachers. If you haven’t received your copy yet, speak with your superintendent.

And around the corner…

Here I Am, Lord

A collection of prayers and meditations for young adults drawn from Scripture, Armenian tradition and original compositions, this pocket size prayer book will be perfect for college students, as a high school/Sunday School graduation gift, and, frankly, despite its title, a beautiful prayer resource for people of all ages. Check with your superintendent at the end of October for more details.

Not far behind…

• A brand new revised We Believe Kindergarten with its accompanying storybook.
• A 16-session teen level curriculum on the Divine Liturgy. 

Both are scheduled for a spring 2006 release.

Newsbyte: Lenten Drive 2005

Thanks to the enthusiasm and creativity of our Sunday School students and staffs, our Sunday Schools raised over $11,000 for this year’s Lenten Drive to benefit the Armenians of the Javakh region of the Republic of Georgia. Details will follow in the January/February Church Educator.