Faith-building Learning Activities To Do at Home
September 2024
Welcoming the New Ecclesiastical Year —Offered by Fr. Alex
Inspiration
Sep. 1 is the beginning of the new Church or ecclesiastical year. It is a time of thanksgiving for God’s many blessings and the exciting start of our yearly cycle of worship.
Objective
To help our children understand the difference between the calendar new year and the start of the Church year and to encourage them to welcome Christ into their hearts on Sep. 1.
Preparation
Gather cork board, poster board, markers, scissors and whatever else you need to create a colorful, joyful sign. Also, find an icon of Christ within your home or online that you can print.
Doing It
Create a “welcome” sign for the Lord in celebration of Sep. 1—and this can be done any time in September during this wonderful season of the new year. Different members of the family can feel free to add their own special welcome message, and the icon of Christ can be placed with the sign or secured to the sign if it’s a printout. Your display can be on a front or back porch near your door or wherever you like.
Send Fr. Alex a picture of your welcome sign. A blessed new year to our parish family!
Photo credit:
Orthodox Church New Year Traditions — Ascetic life of motherhood
December 2023
Handprint Christmas Wreath —Offered by Fr. Alex
Inspiration
The joy of the Nativity season and all the beautiful decorations we see this time of year.
Objective
To connect our children and loved ones to the joy and hope of Christ’s Nativity.
Preparation
Gather green and red construction paper, markers, scissors, glue and whatever else you want to add as decorations.
Doing It
Trace out your child’s—or children’s—hands and cut them out. You may need a dozen or more cut outs. Before you glue or tape them together in the shape of a wreath, help them write their names and those of your family, loved ones and even pets. Of course, don’t forget to write a special message for our Lord on there as well. Welcome Him into your home, into your heart.
Finally, make sure to hang it in a special, prominent place in your home. When your children walk by and see their names next to that of the Lord, they’ll see the connection: Christ is coming to make everything new, including our families.
Make sure to send Fr. Alex a picture of your wreath once you make it!
November 2022
A Prayer for Your Thanksgiving Table –Offered by Fr. Alex
Sometimes we feel the desire to pray with family and friends before eating, but we are unsure who should lead, how to proceed or what to say. Here is a simple prayer for you to try with your loved ones on Thanksgiving Day. Ask one of your children to lead, and then everyone can join in and say it together:
O Lord,
How full is this world of Your creativity.
How astounding is creation in all its variety.
How breathtaking is new life, growth and transformation.
How wonderful is Your provision for all of us, Your beloved children!
This day, we celebrate Your great goodness with truly thankful hearts and joyful lives.
Amen.
(from www.lords-prayer-words.com)
September 2022
Parents’ Prayer for the 1st Day of School —Offered by Fr. Alex
Inspiration
Our excitement, joy and, sometimes, concern over our younger children’s 1st day of school each fall.
Objective
To express our love for our children in connection to our relationship with God—and learn to lay things in His compassionate hands.
Preparation
Just access the prayer below, and then try and find a few peaceful moments to read it and take the words into your heart.
Doing It
Insert your child’s name into the prayer—and don’t be afraid to alter it to make it more on target for your child’s age-group.
The Prayer:
Dear God, here is (name), ready for her first day at school. She has been counting the days. She is so thrilled. Be with her today when she goes into unfamiliar rooms, when she sees new faces (make them kind faces!), when she stands in the lunch line and when she is on the
playground. Keep her close to You as she learns and grows and makes friends. Protect her from harm. Watch over her on the way to and from school. And as she becomes part of a larger world, help me to let her go forward, gaining the experience and insight she will need to grow in Your love and wisdom. Amen.
June 2022
The Parables of Christ: A Rainy Day Activity —Offered by Fr. Alex
Inspiration
The need for something engaging and fun to do during those occasional rainy summer days, interfering with our outdoor plans.
Objective
To help our children appreciate and engage the thought-provoking and powerful parables of The Bible by acting out a particular scriptural “scene.”
Preparation
Look up some of Christ’s parables (link below), and do some reading. This is not only important as we prepare to engage our children in this activity but also a wonderful opportunity for us parents to dive into scripture.
Doing It
After giving your children some examples of parables to choose from, settle on one. Then sit and read it together; as you are reading and then afterward, you can take the time to clarify aspects of the text, answer questions and generally discuss it. Take your time with this part, looking for signs of comprehension and then an understanding of meaning.
Next, have some fun hunting around the house for costumes and props that generally fit the scenario of the parables. For example, if your children will act out “The Prodigal Son,” you might find a few little pig or other farm-related stuffed animals to represent the Prodigal’s low point before coming home to the Father. Once you have gathered everything you need, your children can practice on their own. Give them freedom to focus on what they feel are the main ideas of the parable—they may surprise you with what they emphasize and how they approach things.
Finally, they can present their parable to the rest of the family. Consider allowing a brief question and answer session afterward, giving our children an opportunity to reflect on what they did and why.
Celebrate this big event with ice cream or another rainy day treat! And remember to look out for the parable you chose in our Sunday readings (link below). Then your children can hear the parable they acted out at our parish home.
Parable Lookup: Parables of Jesus - Wikipedia
Daily Gospel Readings: Online Chapel - Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America (goarch.org)
March 2022
Our Lenten Offering Container —Offered by Fr. Alex
Inspiration
The “pillars” of Orthodox spirituality: prayer, fasting and almsgiving, as part of our journey closer to Christ, and His people, during the Lenten season.
Objective
To offer a concrete way to connect all three pillars and make a spiritual and material difference in the lives of others.
Preparation
Speak with your children about the three pillars and how they are all an important part of Lent. Prayer: we pray to God more during this time of year; Fasting: we fast and abstain from certain foods to experience a level of sacrifice; and Almsgiving: we consider the needs of others and make offerings for the relief of hunger, pain and suffering in our world. Next, gather some supplies to create your container: an empty jar or can, along with stickers, colored paper (purple would be great to reflect the Lenten season), pictures of food or whatever else you’d like to use.
Doing It
Decorate your awesome container, and decide on a prominent spot for it—perhaps on the dining room table, a kitchen counter or anywhere else it will be seen easily and often. Next, everyone in the family can make a commitment to put funds in every week of Lent, ideally in place of something else they would usually buy. For example, if you usually get a restaurant sandwich at work several times a week, have a simple packed lunch, and put the funds you would have used for the restaurant in the container. Children can put in part of their allowance or money they might usually use for a treat after school. Let the savings from your abstaining and fasting be a resource for others. After everyone has discussed their commitments, also agree to pray, daily, for those who may face food insecurity and other hardships.
Carry through with your weekly commitments, and at the end of Great Lent, bless a helping organization or other worthy cause with the fruits of your prayerful efforts. This is almsgiving at its highest level: an action motivated by prayer, self-sacrifice and love of God and neighbor. While this activity certainly does not encompass the gravity and
A blessed Lenten journey to all—remember, we begin Great Lent on March 7 this year, so there’s no time like “now” to begin this meaningful project!
January 2022
Blessing Your Home —Offered by Fr. Alex
Inspiration
The glorious Feast of Epiphany, celebrated each year on Jan. 6. This feast not only commemorates the baptism of Christ in the Jordan River but also marks the revelation of the Holy Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Objective
To help us celebrate the feast and bless our homes with Holy Water, inviting Christ to dwell with us, especially if we aren’t able to have Fr. Alex over at this time.
Preparation
Pick up some Holy Water from Saint Gregory, and pour it into a large bowl. You can add more water if needed as well, as a drop of Holy Water “sanctifies an ocean” from the Orthodox Christian perspective. Also gather some evergreen or other branches from your yard to help spread the Holy Water throughout the house; you can also use basil or other greens from the market. Finally, make sure to gather your family around you for this special event.
Doing It
Place the Holy Water bowl and greens on a table and say the “Our Father” together. Then, a parent can use the greens to sprinkle Holy Water on the heads of every member of the family—and don’t forget your pets if you have one (or more!). Then as you move through the house, room to room, springling the Holy Water, read the hymn of Epiphany below. You can repeat it as many times as you need to until you’ve blessed each and every room.
After the you are done sprinkling, the family can say “Amen.” Finally, the leftover Holy Water can be poured into houseplants or somewhere special outside, such as into a garden area—just not down the drain or sewer. Sometimes, priests and families will use the leftover water to make the sign of the Cross on the front porch of the house.
Enjoy blessing your home. Also, keep in mind that Fr. Alex would be very happy to join you remotely for your blessing event. Just contact him to discuss the possibility.
A blessed Epiphany to all!
Apolytikion Hymn of Holy Epiphany
Lord, when You were baptized in the Jordan, the veneration of the Trinity was revealed. For the voice of the Father gave witness to You, calling You Beloved, and the Spirit, in the guise of a dove, confirmed the certainty of His words. Glory to You, Christ our God, who appeared and enlightened the world.
December 2021
A Different Kind of Gingerbread House —Offered by Fr. Alex
Inspiration
The joyful season of the Nativity and our children’s love of building gingerbread houses.
Objective
To put a different spin on making gingerbread houses—challenging our children to build a manger and thus creating a moment for us to reflect on the coming of the Lord.
Preparation
Pick up a gingerbread kit, and get your icing, candy and other sweets ready … maybe even a glue gun! Regarding the candy, try and get some animal-related treats: animal crackers, gummy bears, anything you can think of.
Doing It
Help your children build the gingerbread house structure in the usual way, but simply leave out the front side of the house. There’s your manger! You can populate the manger with animal-related treats and maybe even use some figures from a crèche for the Holy Family, shepherds, Magi, etc. Coconut dyed green could be your grass, and there’s really no end to the creative possibilities. When the work is all done, read aloud the birth narrative from Matthew or Luke—or both accounts—and hopefully inspire some discussion and reflection on that most beautiful of nights so long ago. Enjoy the activity; have a blessed Nativity!
September 2021
Seeing Fall Colors with New Eyes —Offered by Fr. Alex
Inspiration
Several years ago, my family lived close to an old cemetery in Wayland, MA. On fall days, it was a favorite habit of ours to take longs walks and enjoy long talks there. Also, within that place of rest, the fall colors provided much inspiration, including this simple activity, which can be as brief or long as you like.
Objective
Help our children learn about the liturgical colors of the Orthodox Church.
Preparation
Gather a piece of white/light construction paper, a marker and some glue. Do a quick read of this article about the liturgical colors of the Orthodox Church for guidance: http://www.antiochian.org/midwest/liturgical-colors
Doing It
This fall, take a walk with your children—and make it a leaf collecting expedition! As you enjoy and play along the way, collect as many colored leaves as you can, especially the following colors: green, gold, red, blue (I know this one will be a stretch!) and purple. When you get home, discuss with your children how the colors of the leaves, part of God’s beautiful Creation, are reflected in the way we celebrate different holy times at Church. The altar cloths and clergy vestments show this: Green, Pentecost; Gold, Easter & Feasts of the Lord; Red, Feasts of the Cross/Martyrs, etc. Glue the leaves to the construction paper and help your children label them as a fun reference piece to the entire Church year which, you can also tell them, actually begins on September 1—another neat connection to the fall season.
July 2021
Digging a Channel to God —Offered by Fr. Alex
Inspiration
The beauty of the beach during the summer and how it radiates the glory and love of our Lord.
Objective
To put a meaningful spin on our children’s love of playing in the sand and water, specifically their affinity for digging “channels” along the shoreline.
Preparation
In addition to the 1,000 other goodies we need to pack for the beach, make sure to have some sturdy digging tools. That’s it!
Doing It
Run down to the shoreline with your littles ones and suggest digging some awesome channels that run right down to the ocean. In your own creative way, mention that the vastness of the ocean reminds you of the greatness of God’s love for us all—and how the little channels you’re making are reflective of the way God is always “flowing” goodness into our lives: love, hope, forgiveness, etc. Likewise, if the water seems to be flowing downward toward the ocean rather than pushing upward (the shoreline is so much in flux), you could mention how our prayers, open hearts, good works, sacrifice for others and similar attitudes and actions lead us directly (and flow directly!) to the greatness of God’s love. They are our channels to a full relationship with our loving God. Send me a picture of your children working on their channels, and we’ll post them on our site and Face Book.
May 2021
A Prayer for Our Graduates —Offered by Fr. Alex
Inspiration
Our high school and college graduates, who have struggled with dignity, perseverance and great faith through challenging times.
Objective
To thank our Lord for them all, as well as to invoke HIs continued loving care upon them as they journey through the next phase of their lives. In addition, to encourage our graduates during these challenging times and remind them that they are worthy of our prayers.
Doing It
Within the context of a graduation party, personal family moment or even on your own, make the time for purposeful action in the form of prayer. With joy, love and an open heart, pray the following (personalizing it to your graduate):
Christ our God, we thank you for (name) who has graduated from high school (or college/graduate school). You have blessed him/her through years in school with learning, wisdom, friendship and newly developed skills. You have guided him/her through a challenging year, a year with some disappointments, deep concerns and spiritual struggles—through it all, You never left (name) alone.
Please be with (name) as he/she looks forward to the next steps of life: (starting college, beginning graduate school, interning, volunteering, seeking work or otherwise pursuing his/her vocation).
Give him/her faith and a sense of purpose in these next steps. Show (name) how to serve others in effective ways and share his/her talents and abilities with the world. Let Your compassion radiate through his/her strivings now and always.
May (name) seek the fulfillment of Your will in everything he/she does; may he/she walk with you all the days of his/her life, bearing spiritual fruit for the sake of Your life-saving Gospel.
Amen.
April 2021
Making "Lazarus Cookies" or "Lazarakia" —Offered by Fr. Alex
Inspiration
The many friends who have suggested this activity and a host of websites that offer recipes.
Objective
To offer a meaningful, hands-on activity to our families concerning the Saturday of Lazarus, pointing to the power of Holy Week and the Resurrection of our Lord.
Preparation
After Divine Liturgy and our other Church activities on the Saturday of Lazarus, or whenever you can make it all happen, go over the Gospel lesson with your children. It might be helpful to bring up the following: How Jesus had friends while He was here on earth and that Martha, Mary and Lazarus were among them—further, that Jesus loved them all deeply and was truly sad when Lazarus died. Because He loved Lazarus, Jesus came to him; because the people needed to be encouraged in their faith, Jesus called Lazarus forth from the tomb, prefiguring His own Resurrection.
Here's the Gospel for the Saturday of Lazarus:
Gospel Reading - Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America (goarch.org)
A terrific recipe for the cookies, with all the ingredients you'll need to prepare, may be found here:
Lazarakia Recipe – Adventures of an Orthodox Mom
Doing It
The idea is to make the cookies look like little men in burial shrouds. Keep in mind that they don't have to come out perfectly. As long as thoughtful, prayerful time is spent together as a family, bringing us all closer to the meaning of this holy day, what could be better?
Send me a picture of your cookies, and we'll post them on our website and social media channels. A blessed Holy Week to our parish family!
