Cec Workshop

On Saturday, August 13, Sunday school superintendents, teachers, clergy, parents, parish council members, and others interested in supporting our Sunday school programs from all over the diocese gathered together at St. Leon Armenian Cathedral for an interactive workshop provided by the Christian Education Council (CEC). The morning began with an explanation of this school year’s theme: “CLIMB EVERY MOUNTAIN – SOARING TO NEW ‘HYE’GHTS!”

As Christians, each and every day we are faced with mountains to climb. Our children, specifically, are faced with “mountains” like drugs and alcohol, bullying, and hatred. It is how we overcome these obstacles that make us the Christians we are. At church, our children are taught to turn to God in times of crisis and to consider what Jesus teaches them to do in moments of difficulty. Each time we turn to God we are climbing a little higher up the mountain to become closer to Him. God puts mountains before us for a reason, but He also provides us with the tools and equipment we will need to be successful in our climb. These tools come in the form of the Bible, faith, and Sunday school! The goal of our church school is to give the students a foundation of Christian morals and values that they will carry with them up these mountains throughout their lives.

In addition to climbing mountains, our children this year will be “soaring to new ‘hye’ghts!” An important component to any Armenian Sunday school is to have a strong understanding of what is means to be “hye,” (Armenian). We will discover exciting ways to celebrate this special culture so that future generations will carry on its unique customs and traditions.

The workshop discussions included the school curriculum, distribution of this year’s school calendar for parents, and a structured, week-by-week calendar for teachers to use each Sunday. In addition, weekly E-Blasts will be sent which include supplemental classroom lessons in areas of religion, culture, music, and the Badarak. We all can’t wait to get started and welcome back our children to Sunday school on September 11. It will be a year of school unity and collaboration across the diocese and we are all excited to take on this challenging adventure together.

In his remarks, the Diocesan Primate Archbishop Hovnan Derderian said "The mission of the Sunday School in the life of our church is vital, for it aims to instill Christian education in the hearts of the children. Sunday School cultivates the love of God and paves the way for the children to become loyal followers of Christ and thus exemplary Christians.

The ultimate purpose of this seminar is to invite you all to be engaged in the life of our Church and the mission of Christian education with a renewed commitment. Certainly we all know that to be a teacher of the Christian Faith is a calling entrusted to us by the Almighty God, to which we respond with love, wisdom and a compassionate heart. As teachers of the Christian Faith, we are responsible for the Christian upbringing of our children. To achieve this sacred mission we need to live the Christian Faith and above all inspire our children with the same passion we cherish in our lives.

The seminar is the milieu for spiritual renewal and enhancement of new methods to reach out to our children, to bring them closer to God and guide them to fulfill the messages of Christ, our Lord, in their God-given lives. 

Therefore, let prayer lead us all to make our lives the tools of the divine enlightenment for our children." 

Words of gratitude were delived by the CEC Chairlady Gail Chelebian to the outstanding 2016-17 CEC Board for their teamwork and the Ladies Society Central Council for providing a delicious lunch for all participants.