Home / Work of the Church / The Hub / Study Guides / Catechetical Themes / The Whole Story /

The Whole Story: A Look at the Stories That Make Us Who We Are

By Dn. Michael Anderson, Beverly Cingolani, Roberta Daskivich, Alexandra Safchuk, Valerie Zahirsky

What's Inside:

Pre-Unit handouts:


This unit is intended to accomplish the following:

  • To provide participants with a chance to reflect about and study the stories that shape their sense of self as a participant in salvation history.
  • To foster within participants a sense that salvation history is their history.
  • To deepen participants’ understanding of their Orthodox Christian identity.

Age and grade level

Understanding that vacation church schools, camps, and many small church schools have participants ranging in age from early elementary to high school, each session contains several options from which the teacher can choose to best reach the participants. These options include objectives as well as ideas for discussion, reflection, and activities. In general, ideas are organized in the following sections: “A” is for younger participants approximately 7-0, “B” is for ages 10-12(1 3) and for teenagers.

Occasionally, any given section may refer you back to another section. In such cases the ideas listed in that section can be used for both age groups.

Reproducing this unit: All educational units designed by the Unit on Education and Community Life Ministries are designed to be reproduced locally. Every teacher and staff member should have his or her own copy.

Small Group Work

Many of the sessions include small group work, which are usually determined by age, for larger groups. For these small groups choose group names and make laminated signs for each so they can quickly and easily gather in a part of your meeting space. Name might include: St. Herman’s Heroes; St Luke’s Leaders; St. Nina’s Knights; St. Juliana’s Champions; the Awesome Apostles; the Angels; etc..

Getting the Materials You Need

The list provided here is to give you a basic idea of the types of things you will need. Be sure to check the materials listed for each session ahead of time to see if you need anything else.

Since Bibles will be needed for most of the sessions, you should have them on hand at all times. For younger participants you may want to use a children’s bible (not a picture bible). You may also use some of the Arch Books found at many Christian book stores.

Basic Materials (these supplies will be used throughout the unit):

  • An Icon for the room,
  • 12 x 17 Assorted Colored Construction Paper (2 pkgs.),
  • 12’x17” White Construction Paper (2 pkgs),
  • one package of Binder Paper,
  • Crayons, Markers, Colored Pencils-assorted colors,
  • Assorted colored Tempera Paints,
  • Elmers glue, Glue sticks,
  • Pencils,
  • 1 roll of white butcher paper,
  • Dictionaries (one or two),
  • Tea Bags,
  • Large Paint Brushes,
  • Scissors (at least one pair per two students),
  • Roll of masking tape,
  • Glitter, colored glue sticks, etc.,
  • Staples/stapler,
  • Paper clips,
  • Post-it notes,
  • Plastic containers for paint,
  • Paper towels,

If possible:

  • Overhead Projector, Book binding machine, Small Paper Cutter
  • Other materials that you will need for this unit include:
  • Our Place in God’s Plan: A Video Presentation on Vocations: The video was sent free of charge to all OCA parishes. Check your parish library. It is also available for purchase from the Orthodox Christian Publication Center (OCPC) 973/694-5782.

Timing

Each session contains more activities than can usually be accomplished within a one hour time frame. Be sure to review the session well ahead of time and choose the ones that you feel are most appropriate for the participants.

Important

Remember that your preparedness and interest in the subject and in the participants are invaluable. When you think that what you are doing together is important, the participants also will. Please read, pray, and think about each session several days before the time you present it. Good ideas often come over time.

Keep in mind that the overall goal of this unit is to help students understand that their whole life is tied to God since they are part of the wonderful story of love and salvation which God has been sharing with His people since time began. This is an important message to get across to our young people who are trying to figure out their place in a society and times such as ours.

Let us hear from you!

Share your experience with the unit. How did it go? What did you change? What really seemed to reach the participants? Drop us a note with some photos so that we can include your program in The Orthodox Church newspaper. People throughout our Church want to see that things like this can and are being done. You can contact us at: OCA Education and Community Life Ministries, P0 Box 675, Syosset, NY 11791 or at youth@oca.org.

We hope this unit is helpful to your ongoing ministry.