From our Archdiocese:
“The purpose of Orthodox Christian Education (catechesis) is to help build up the Church, the Body of Christ, by nurturing every person in the life of personal communion with the Holy Trinity (theosis), and thus, through this ministry, to bear joyful witness to God’s loving and redeeming work in the world.”
It our hope that every student who comes to us for instruction should gain the profound understanding that Orthodoxy is not a mere list of sacraments or a system of rules, but is in fact a way of life, and that the meaning and purpose of our days is to live in personal communion with the Holy Trinity. We are equipping our students to live the Way, by offering instruction that will nourish and sustain, whether the student is a young child just beginning to learn the basics of the faith, a catechist seeking to understand the richness of Orthodoxy, or a learned parishoner seeking spiritual sustenance for the journey.
Sunday School
Register your kids online for the 2011 Fall semester of TGOC Sunday School! Click here to register.
Throughout the traditional school year, students from preschool through 12th grade are invited to join our Sunday School classes, offered after Holy Communion in Mt. Tabor Hall. We use the Archdiocese’s excellent curriculum, which covers topics such as the Sacraments, the Nicene Creed, the Scriptures, Icons and Prayer, Theosis, and The Path of Orthodoxy. The Sunday School also sponsors charitable projects, such as the IOCC Sunday & OCMC Lenten fundraising drives as well as a February food drive.
St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival
As part of our Sunday School program, our parish participates in the St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival. Students in the Junior (7th – 9th grades) and Senior (10th – 12th grades) Divisions are given the opportunity to select and research one of several topics designated annually by the Archdiocese Department of Religious Education, and to compete in our Parish Oratorical Festival. The winners have the opportunity to proceed to the regional, Metropolitan and Archdiocesan festivals. For more detailed information, please visit our Oratorical site.
Agape Choir
Mrs. Lainie Horwedel directs our Youth Choir, known as the Agape Choir. In addition to the annual Nativity Pageant which they present every December for the parish community, the Agape Choir sings the Liturgical hymns at certain, special Divine Liturgies throughout the year.
The Agape Choir chants on the Saturday of Lazarus, 2011
Vacation Church Camp
Every summer, our parish offers one week of Vacation Church Camp. All children from preschool through 5th grade are invited to join us for a week of fun, fellowship and learning. Children learn important religious lessons, create fun arts and crafts projects, learn to sing beautiful hymns and enjoy wacky outdoor games. Camp usually concludes with a field trip to nearby Holy Archangels Monastery.
Vacation Church Camp visits Holy Archangels Monastery.
Greek Orthodox Ladies’ Fellowship (G.O.L.F.)
Father Vasileios leads our women’s fellowship and book study throughout the traditional school year. The group meets on Thursday mornings at 9:30. Everyone is welcome to attend. (This doubles as a fun playgroup for the children who tag along!)