These days, “Sunday school” is a bit of a misnomer, since we are not actually having live classes on Sundays…yet. We do however continue to pursue youth religious education. In the spring, we tried offering Zoom Sunday school, but it turned out that the kids had more than enough Zoom with their secular activities. Zoom Sunday school was discontinued for lack of attendance.
Shortly thereafter, we tried a new approach. Our teachers began and have continued to contribute to a weekly “grab bag” of items for various ages (Kindergarten through the end of high school), which can be used by parents and students throughout the week. The grab bag includes links to youtube videos, craft projects, coloring pages, Gospel lessons and scriptural exercises, puzzles, a write up on the life of a saint or feast, explanations of Church holy days, and an exploration of basic Church practices. The intention is to continue the grab bag until we are able to resume in person education.
Beginning in October, we will also include short videos produced by our own parishioners. These may be a bit “homemade” in appearance, but these will allow our students to have at least a digital connection to adults in their own parish; people who are doing their best to follow the path of Orthodox Christianity, and who may potentially serve as local examples and mentors.
With regards to our Junior High School and High School Program, our youth would have been meeting for their youth religious education classes on Sundays and also for fellowship, food and activities as part of the youth groups. To best abide by both our Metropolis and regional guidelines with regards to social distancing requirements, we have reassessed our traditional practices. Rather than ask them to spend even more time on Zoom for youth group, we have come up with a two part solution:
We will be combining religious education with youth groups together, in order to minimize screen time.
Both groups will meet once a week, on Wednesday nights, beginning at 6:30pm, after Akathist and finishing up at 8pm. Initially, the groups will meet via Zoom, but our hope is that in time, by God's will, and with proper precautions and good social distancing procedures, our youth will be able to come to the parish to resume their study and fellowship.
The Junior High School and High School Program will begin on Wednesday, October 7th at 6:30 via Zoom invitation that will be sent out next week. If you have any questions about these groups, please contact Fr. Seraphim at the Church Office, 916-772-9372 or frseraphim@saintanna.org
Finally, we are in the process of updating our student rosters. If you are new to Saint Anna Parish, or if you have not been receiving any emails directly from my email address, and if you have children under 18, please send me an email, annatsu@mac.com so that I can add your family to our Youth Religious Education list. Include the names of the parents or guardians and their email addresses and phone numbers, the names of the students and their grade levels. If you are not sure whether or not you are on the list, go ahead and send me the email anyway.
We thank you for flexibility, your patience, your long-suffering and your heartfelt support for the religious education and the youth ministries that take place here at St. Anna. We continue to trust in the interesting opportunities that God has prepared for all of us in the year to come
In Christ,
Anna Tsu, Director of St. Anna Youth Religious Education