YOUTH ACTIVITY

JOY youth met Friday, November 7 for Movie Night. They enjoyed pizza and snacks while watching the movie “Madagascar.”  Everyone had a wonderful time. 

A winter activity to be announced soon.   

The Junior Orthodox Youth, or JOY, is the ministry to 2nd through 5th grade children of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. Since JOY is a ministry, the orientation and implementation of the program should reflect the Orthodox Christian Faith, Tradition and Life.

The mission and goal of the JOY ministry is to lead our young people into experiencing the Holy Orthodox Faith. By developing a personal relationship with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ and becoming active sacramental members of the living church, our young people will be equipped with tools necessary to assist them in their journey toward salvation. By laying a foundation of faith at this age, the young people will have something that will guide and strengthen them as they progress into junior high and high school.

FOR PARENTS

The following is from the book Making God Real in the Orthodox Christian Home by Fr. Anthony Coniaris.  Parents may find this useful help in guiding their children to think about their faith in a more mature manner, making their own commitment to live an Orthodox Christian life, dedicated to Christ.

The Feast of the Presentation: Time for Commitment

            Every year the Orthodox Church celebrates the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple on February 2^nd.  The Scriptural account of this event is found in Luke 2:22-40.  We suggest this be read to the children by the parents.

            The day on which Jesus was brought to the Temple and presented to God (dedicated), 40 days after His birth, is time for us to be reminded that our parents did the same with us 40 days after our birth.  They brought us to Church and presented us to the Lord.  The priest took us into his arms and brought us to the altar offering prayers on our behalf. 

            When we were baptized, we were again presented to the Lord for cleansing and adoption.  At both times it was others who brought us to Christ because of our infancy.  Others confessed the Nicene Creed for us.  Others made the profession of faith for us.

            Since we cannot enter heaven on another’s faith, it is time fo make our own commitment to Christ.  What better time for this than on the anniversary of Christ’s dedication to God: the feast of the Presentation?

Life is a Commitment

            Sooner or later every person must give himself to something bigger than himself.  We will submit to some master in life whether that master be work, having a good time, making a lot of money, etc.  Our greatest problem is to choose a master we will serve.  The only true Master Who is worth serving is the Lord Jesus Christ.  He alone is God.  He alone can help us find happiness and purpose in life.

            Often when people are asked why they are members of the Orthodox Church, they say, “I guess I was born into it.  I guess it just runs in the family.”

            At this point, ask the children:  Have you ever thought about why you are an Orthodox Christian?  Are you one just because you were born into it?  Encourage them to share their views.

            The real reason why anyone is a true Orthodox Christian is that one has committed or given one’s life completely to Jesus Christ as Lord and Master, as Son of the Living God.  This happens within the Orthodox Church, which is the body through which Christ continues to be present in the world today.

            If you have never given your life to Jesus as Lord, then nothing in the world can make you an Orthodox Christian.  If Orthodox Christianity is anything, it is commitment to Jesus as Lord.  “Jesus is Lord,” was one of the first creeds of the early Christians.

            When we were baptized, Jesus said to each one of us, “Yes, I accept you as My son or daughter.  I will stand by you.  I will never leave you.  I will come to live within you.  One day I will lead you into heaven.”  There must come a time in our lives when we must say to Jesus, “Yes, Jesus, I thank You for what You did for me in baptism.  I accept You as my God, my Lord, My King, and I give my life to You completely.”

            Committing one’s life to anything less than Christ is like wanting to cross the Atlantic Ocean in a carton box instead of an ocean liner or a jet plane.  Committing one’s life to Christ is like giving yourself to the strongest Person in the universe.

            At this point try the following experiment:  Have a child (or a parent) button a coat or jacket placing the second button in the first hole.  Then do it the right way: first button in the first hole.

            When we place things first in life everything else falls into its proper place (first button in first hole).  When we place the second or third things in first place, nothing comes out right.  Placing first things first is to place Christ first in our lives as Lord.  When we do this, He will help us with all the other decisions we have to make in life, i.e., choosing the right partner in marriage, our goals, our life’s work, etc.

            If we do not give our life to Christ, then we will fall for anything that comes along.  We will become slaves to alcohol or money or drugs, etc.  These are false masters who will make us slaves. 

            One true Christian said once, “I could not drift along as I had been doing, going to Church because I had always gone.  Either Christ was God and Savior, and Lord, or He wasn’t.  If He was, then He had to have all my time, all my devotion, all my life.”