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
Session
7
My
Church and My Life - The Lifeboat
Useful Texts
Introduction
Say, “We’ve talked about our relationships with God, ourselves, our
families, our friends, our neighbor, and our ‘love.’ We have one more relationship
to talk about: our relationship with the Church.” Write the words “The Church”
on a very large surface. Have a number of markers available. Tell participants
to come up and write down words and phrases that relate to their relationship
with the Church. They can write down more than one phrase. When everyone is
done, have participants explain their comments, allowing for questions from
others. Be prepared for negative comments based upon their feelings.
Split
participiants into groups of 2 or 3. Write the “Useful Texts” above on poster
boards so that everyone can see them. Based upon their comments and the “Useful
Texts” have each group write two or three sentences that explain why God established
the Church. Come back and share
results.
Say, “The Church gives us the support and guidance we need to grow closer to Christ and each other; to be the person God created us to be and live a life were people see God working in us.”
Ask and discuss the following questions:
Journal
Reflection
Based upon everything we discussed, make a list of pros and cons for being
in the Church. Write a poem, paragraph, essay, song, etc. entitled “Me, My Life,
and My Church.”
Note
to Leader: The Orthodox Church newspaper has a column titled “Young Voices.”Ask
if anyone would be willing to have their journal entry published in The Orthodox
Church newspaper. Include their picture with their entry and send to The Orthodox
Church, 7900 West 120th St., Palos Park, IL 60464.
Session
Conclusion
As Orthodox Christians living in today’s world, we face many choices
about how we are going to live our lives and care for our relationships. It
is often very difficult and sometimes we don’t know where to turn for help and
support.
As
Orthodox, we believe that we have the complete picture about God and that everything
we need to know Him is provided by the Church and her Saints, Scriptures, Worship,
and Sacraments. Sometimes we loose sight of why we believe all of these things.
Remember, all of this is given to us, as St. Paul says, “in order that you may
live a life worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way; bearing fruit
in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with
all power according to His glorious might so that you may have great endurance
and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you
to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.” Colossians
1:10-12.
Unit
Conclusion
Ask your parish priest if you can end the unit with a short molieban
service asking for the strength and wisdom to learn and grow toward Christ and
His Kingdom.
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Department
of Youth, Young Adult, and Campus Ministry |
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