Orthodox Church in America - The Hub for Youth and Young Adult Ministries

Let Your Light So Shine
Introduction

This retreat is designed for youth (12-20 years old) and explores the theology of Christ the Light-giver in the Orthodox Christian Tradition. This retreat has been designed to be as flexible as possible for the needs and abilities for the local parish and deanery. Sessions contain different options based upon the group’s age, experience, etc. The retreat leader should read through and decide how much of the retreat will be used and what options to select. It is unlikely that everything suggested here could be done in a single retreat, or even a one-week camp or vacation bible school setting. Feel free to export unused activities for other youth events!

For a printer-friendly (.pdf) participant retreat journal that includes all handouts and discussion questions go to http://yya.oca.org/OCAY.

Goals:

To provide an engaging and productive environment for the youth of each deanery to grow together in Christ.
To help participants connect with the light of Christ that shines within them by virtue of their baptism and chrismation.
To instill within participants the desire to want to help others in concrete ways.
To instill within participants the idea that it is only with Christ that they can have a positive impact on the world an help others
To engage participants in service.
To make participants aware of the many positive things that shine within them (connecting abilities, attitudes, with light)
To make participants aware of the darkness that can cover up Christ’s light shining within them and to offer concrete ways to dispel that darkness.

Objectives:

To compare and contrast the Christian and secular understandings of service.
To define Orthodox evangelism as spreading the good news of Christ’s victory over death and sin through example and education.
To reflect on the connection between evangelism and service and daily prayer.
To commit to and plan a service project for the youth of the deanery within the next 2 months.
To promote awareness of the OCAY with their peers and members of their parish.

Sessions:

Opening Sequence and Expectations Talk
- Part 1: Prayer, Breaking the Ice, Rules, Establishing Groups

Part 2: Expectations

Session I: You Are the Light of the World (Introduction/Foundation to the Theme)
Session II: Behold the Bridegroom Comes at Midnight: Expecting the Call from God
Session III: Light in Action: Orthodox Christian Evangelism
Session IV: That They May See Your Good Works and Glorify Your Father in Heaven (Christian Service)
Session V: Walk While You Have the Light: Preparing for an Illumined Life (Prayer Life)
Session VI: Closing Session
- Sharing the Light: Scripture Affirmation
- Come Receive the Light

Suggested Schedule:

The suggested schedule includes two overnights since this allows participants with enough time to get to know each other. This fellowship time is crucial for developing the support network that will help participants during times of doubt and crisis. If two nights are not possible, we strongly recommend that the schedule include one overnight.

Friday
8:00 - 9:00 PM Registration
9:00 - 11:00 PM Opening Sequence and Expectations Talk

Saturday
8:00 – 8:30 AM Morning Prayer
8:30 - 9:00 AM Breakfast
9:00 -10:45 PM Sessions 1 and 2
10:45 – 11:00 AM Break
11:00 – 1:00 PM Session 3 and 4 (Leave for offsite service project with bag lunch)
1:00 - 2:00 PM Lunch
2:00 - 4:00 PM If not offsite on a service project, finish planning session and activities
If returning from an offsite service project, debrief and finish session 4.
4:00 – 5:00 PM Session 5
5:00 - 5:45 PM Great Vespers/ Confessions
6:00 - 7:00 PM Supper
7:00 – 10:00 PM Evening games and discussion
10:00 - 11:00 PM Closing Session

Sunday
10:00 - 12:00 PM Divine Liturgy
12:00 - 1:00 PM Lunch and Departure

Other Scheduling Options
Suggested Schedule for Weekly/Monthly Youth Meetings:
Week 1: Introduction, Session 1
Week 2: Session 2
Week 3: Session 3
Week 4: Session 4
Week 5: Session 5
Week 6: Closing Session

Suggested Schedule for Vacation Bible School or 1-week summer event:
Day 1: Intro, Session 1
Day 2: Session 2
Day 3: Session 3
Day 4: Session 4
Day 5: Session 5
Day 6: Closing Session

About Location

While many retreats are successfully held in Church basements or fellowship halls, we recommend that planners investigate holding the retreat at some type of retreat center. In addition to having necessary facilities such as showers, etc., using a neutral location that is unique to the gathering creates a sense of anticipation and bonding among participants.

What You Will Need to Run this Retreat:

Crew

1 Retreat Session Leader
2 Chaperones (1 male, 1 female)
2 Cooks
1 Floater/Helper (Recommended)
Priest

Materials

Study Bibles, such as the Orthodox Study Bible available from OCPC, for each participant
Copies of worksheets (see each session).
Notebooks/journals and pens for each participant. Downloadable printer-friendly retreat journals can be found on the Department of Youth, Young Adult, and Campus Ministry’s web site at http://yya.oca.org/ocay.
Copies of the Guidelines for Service Projects Handout.

Advance Preparation

Find out about service projects in your local community
Look for student leaders to lead small group talks. Prepare them ahead of time by reviewing the talk outline with them.
Set up space for small group talks. Ideally each small group will have its own room/space separate from the rest.

Background Information on the Theme for the Retreat Leader:
Useful Texts:

Scriptural Texts

Philippians 2:12-16 “For it is God who works in you…you shine as lights in the world.”
1 Cor. 15:10 “For it is not I, but the Grace of God which is with me….”
Ephesians 5:8-14 “Walk in light… so you can say arise….” (Evangelism)
Isaiah 26:19 “Awake you …” (Same as Ephesians 5)
1 Thessalonians “Witness….” (Case study of community that shined)
1 Thessalonians 2:8 “I loved you so much that I did not just share the Gospel of God with you….”
Matthew 5 (The Beatitudes)
1 Cor. 12 (Gifts of the Spirit)
Hebrews 2 “What is man, that Thou art mindful of him?”
Matthew 18:20 “Where 2 or 3 are gathered….”
Matthew 25: 31-46 (Parable of the Last Judgment)

Liturgical Texts

“The light of Christ illumines all” –Liturgy of the Pre-sanctified Gifts

Lives of Saints

The following saints were chosen as a basis to help the retreat planner. He/she may wish to use other saints to whom he/she has devotion or, depending on time and resources, he/she may encourage participants to investigate the lives of saints themselves, or share the life of a saint or saints to whom they have a special devotion.

Texts about St Seraphim of Sarov:
“St Seraphim the monk considered prayer to be the prime exploit and means for the acquisition of the Holy Spirit. "Every good deed, done on account of Christ, bestows the grace of the Holy Spirit, but... prayer most of all beareth the Holy Spirit, and it is most convenient of all for each to improve."
“The Monk Seraphim advised during the time of Divine-services to stand in the temple now with eyes closed, and then to turn one's gaze upon an image or burning candle and ponder this thought -- that it would suggest the fine comparison of human life with a waxen candle.”
"Acquire peace, and around thee a thousand wilt be saved."

For a thorough abbreviated version of the life of St. Seraphim go to:
http://www.oca.org/pages/orth_chri/Feasts-and-Saints/July/Jul-19.html#seraphim and
http://www.oca.org/pages/orth_chri/Feasts-and-Saints/January/Jan-02.html#2

Links to Selected Lives of Saints
Righteous Philaret the Merciful
http://www.oca.org/pages/orth_chri/Feasts-and-Saints/December/Dec-01.html
St Anthony the Great
http://www.oca.org/pages/orth_chri/Feasts-and-Saints/January/Jan-17.html
St Martin the Merciful
http://www.oca.org/pages/orth_chri/Feasts-and-Saints/february/feb-13.html#martin
St John the Merciful, Patriarch of Alexandria
http://www.oca.org/pages/orth_chri/Feasts-and-Saints/November/Nov-12.html
Holy Righteous Child Artemii of Verkol'sk
http://www.oca.org/pages/orth_chri/Feasts-and-Saints/June/Jun-23.html#5

Links to Lives of North American Saints
St Herman of Alaska
http://oca.org/pages/orth_chri/Feasts-and-Saints/OCA/St-Herman-Alaska/HermanBio.htm
St Jacob
http://www.oca.org/pages/orth_chri/Feasts-and-Saints/OCA/St-Jacob/Life-of-St-Jacob-Alaska.htm
St Alexander Hotovitsky, the New Martyr
http://www.oca.org/pages/orth_chri/Feasts-and-Saints/OCA/st-alexander-hotovitzky/life-of-st-alexander.html
St Alexis of Wilkes-Barre
http://www.oca.org/pages/orth_chri/Feasts-and-Saints/OCA/St-Alexis-Toth/index.htm
St Raphael, Bishop of Brooklyn
http://www.oca.org/pages/orth_chri/Feasts-and-Saints/OCA/St-Raphael-Hawaweeny/Life-and-Conduct.html
St Innocent, Apostle to America
http://www.oca.org/pages/orth_chri/Feasts-and-Saints/OCA/St-Innocent/Life-of-St-Innocent-MP.html
St Tikhon, Enlightener of North America
http://www.oca.org/pages/orth_chri/Feasts-and-Saints/OCA/Life-of-St-Tikhon.html

Department of Youth, Young Adult, and Campus Ministry
Orthodox Church in America
PO Box 675 Syosset, NY 11791
http://yya.oca.org
yyacm@oca.org

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