Raising Children in Faith

8/10/2019 Raising Children in Faith

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Raising children in faith


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When parents at the time of Christ brought their children to Him for a

blessing, the disciples rebuked them. However, our Lord commandedthem, Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; forof such is the kingdom of heaven. And He laid His hands on them(Matthew 19:13 15). Christ did not dismiss the children because oftheir youth and inexperience; instead, He brought them close and

gave them His blessing.Children are the greatest blessing in life and indeed are a gift fromGod. Everything about a little child speaks of his innocence and trust.Their innocent spirit inspires us as parents to live a life that honourstheir trust. Children love with their whole heart, a love that inspires us

to see God s unconditional love. And little children believe completelyin their parents ability to protect them, which inspires us to live a lifethat provides the direction and security required for their healthygrowth and maturity.


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A child s very nature provides a context in which parents are inspiredto provide the best possible life experiences for them. A naturalsynergy develops in the parent-child relationship. As the parent loves

and provides for the child, the child returns that love and motivatesparents to do their best in representing God s love in the context of thisintimate human experience. *


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Living a life n Christ in the family

Parents are for the child the first door to the Kingdom of God. Byliving a life that is pleased to God they provide the first example ofGod s love and care. Setting a right foundation, then, is the firstpriority of the parent for the child. When an infant has such a

beginning in life, there is little that can change his belief later as hegrows up to become an adult himself.

Parents have a aim to provide an atmosphere of grace in the home tosurround the child that is born into the family. The family is the soil

into which the soul of the child is planted and out of which the child scharacter develops. Therefore, it is critical that the home environmentreflect the sanctity of life that God has placed within its walls. Thefamily should strive to be that image of godliness that will preserve theholiness that is intended to be its identity.


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Surrounding the child with the Holy Sacraments and sacred images, a regularlife in the Church, and strengthening the good in the child are what instill this lifeof grace. A life style or ethos in this type of atmosphere imparts its grace to allwho witness it. A child has the advantage of becoming a true witness to the loveand holiness of God. *


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There is a mysterious way that children have communion with Christand learn from Him. Their capacity for spirituality is grounded in thisvery communion that they have with Christ the Lord and they are moresensitive to the Holy Spirit than most adults, the purity and innocence oftheir hearts makes them receptive to the Grace of God.


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Educating our children means that we must be educated in the Faith ourselves. We should immerse ourselves in the life of the Church, worship and pray in asmany of the Divine Services as possible, attend adult education classes, readthe Holy Scripture, and consult the commentaries and sermons on the Scriptureby the Holy Fathers.


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A child is baptized into life in Christ. The child becomes a child of God, a memberof the Body of Christ, and an heir of eternal life Or do you not know that as manyof us as were baptized into Christ Jesus, says St. Paul, we also should walk innewness of life. (Romans 6:3 4)

This newness of life is what we all participate in through baptism. Childrenparticipate differently than adults, but no less authentically. Learning to pray, toread the Bible, to understand their inheritance, to walk in the way of the Lord,eating and drinking of the Eucharist, being trained in righteousness - this iswalking in newness of life and they also receive the benefits of that life - theGrace, the forgiveness, the Fatherhood of God, the nourishment of the Body andBlood of Christ, and the presence of the Holy Spirit.


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Celebrating the name day of the children with a celebration that will make themfeel special and will honour their patron saint. This will help connect the childwith his own baptism and the continuing life and intercession of the heavenlypatron. On this day children could attend the divine service at Church and join inthe veneration of his patron saint. At the family icon corner we could have anicon of the child s patron Saint alongside the icons of the parents patron Saints.


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The guardian angel is a heavenly companion to our child, they are are alwayssurrounding him and even if they are not seen they are present. Every childhas a guardian angel entrusted by the Lord from baptism to watch over him/her, offer protection and guide our child to Christ.


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We can read to our children the bible stories and a good story to start with is thebirth of the baby Jesus, the Nativity story. The Feast of the Nativity of Jesus is oneof the most joyful days of the Orthodox Church. And so from the very beginning,our child will understand the true meaning of Christmas and that is not just about

receiving presents. On Christmas Day the service commemorates the birth ofChrist in Bethlehem, the adoration of the Shepherds, and the arrival of the WiseMen with their gifts.

Children love the stories of some of the heroes, such as Samuel, David andGoliath. These make great bedtime stories and by reading to the children, they not

only learn about Holy Scriptures, but they also learn to love books and reading.


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The Church of Christ

The aim of education in the Orthodox Church is to nurture, instruct, and direct

the children in christian living, so that they may grow in the grace andknowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18) and become apartaker of the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4).

Christian education it is not so much acquisition of information but also livingaccording to the precepts of that information. The knowledge of faith alsoinvolves being able to appreciate its content, to consider how it influences ourlife, to participate in it, and to respond to its call of commitment to faith inJesus Christ and His Church.

The purpose of our Sunday School is to teach our children how to live theirOrthodox faith. By teaching them about the life of Christ we give them thefoundation to live christian lives, to go into the world and do good works. Asteachers and educators we should recognise the image of God n each childand discover and honour their personalities to help each child to recognise hisrole as a member of the Church.


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How children learn?

Playing allows children to find out about things, try out and practise ideas andskills, explore their feelings, think imaginatively. Playing is an important centre

of learning for young children. At the rear of church there is an extensivechildren and parents area. Here the children can find toys, games, a range ofbooks, and lots of paper, colouring things and other great activities. The area isthere for children and parents to use during the services.


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Being with other people - As well as developing

emotional security andsocial skills, being withother people - otherchildren and adults -stimulates ideas andinvolvement that movelearning forward.Participation to DivineLiturgy, reciting the Creedand Lord's prayer andalso receiving the Holy

Communion are excellentways of being togetherwith Jesus and thecommunion of His Saints.


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Being active - Young children need tomove, and learn and remember things

by taking experiences in through thesenses as they move.

Children are encouraged to actively beinvolved in the service by holding thecandles during the reading from the HolyGospel, participate in the processionwith the altar servers, the boys canbecome an altar boy assisting the priestduring services (they might carry thecross, candles in processions andentrances, maintain the censer, ensuringit has enough live charcoal, loading itwith incense and handing it to the priestor deacon when required), the girls can

join in singing with the choir.


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Exploring new things andexperiences - Children's deepcuriosity leads them to use all theirsenses to explore and then put theinformation together in their ownminds to form ideas and makesense of the world. The service ofthe Divine Liturgy can be elaborate,solemn, and lengthy, it is theexpression of a deep sense of joy.In order to enhance this feeling andto encourage full participation, theservice of Liturgy is always sung orchanted and children are invited to

join in. Worship is not simplyexpressed in words. In addition toprayers, hymns, and scripturereadings, there are a number ofceremonies, gestures, andprocessions. Worship involvechidren's intellect, feelings, and

senses.


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Representing ideas and experiences - Children deepen theirunderstanding as they recreate experiences or communicate their

thinking in many different ways - in role-play or small world play, pictures,movements, models, and talk. Participation to the Divine Liturgy and tothe church life offers our children the occasion to acquire the livingexperience of God s kingdom through communion with Jesus Christ Whois present in his people by the Holy Spirit.

They become more and more able to represent things or events(worship, prayer and partaking of the Holy Communion) they haveexperienced in a symbolyc manner. This can be in the form ofrepresentational thought, images and ideas that are internal or external inthe form of drawing, models, speech or symbolic play. Children

simbolically draw on and represent or re-present (which means to presentagain) objects or events they have experienced. Representingexperiences and ideas is an essential way in which children can exploreideas and feelings, thoughts and emotions.


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Communicating about what they are doing with someone who respondsto their ideas - Even before they can talk in words, children are keen to sharetheir ideas through sounds, gesture and body language. Talk helps children to

understand what they experience. It is important that they have a chance toexpress their own ideas, as well as have conversations to hear other people'sideas, extend their thinking, and use language about learning.

Children can participate in worship through entering into it responsively. Thelanguage of the Liturgy contains a number of dialogues in various parts of the

service that include "litanties" as for an example "Let us pray unto the Lord", inwhich the priest names a petition, and the choir responses - either "Lord, havemercy" or "Grant this, O Lord." The words of the Liturgy in these dialoguesinvite us to involvement and participation and children can make this prayertheir own prayer.

There are two places in the holy Divine Liturgy where we generall say thewords, instead of singing or chanting them - the Creed and the Lord's Prayer.The people say the Creed and the Lord's Prayer together. The challenge forchildren is to make the prayer their own, so that it truly expresses their thoughtsand feelings.


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Whenever we say to

each other, Christ is inour midst! we need toremember that littlechildren are that imageof Christ in our midst.They are the kingdomof heaven humbly setbefore us as a witnessto Christ s unconditionallove, and theirpresence provides usthe inspiration to loveGod as freely andnaturally as they do.


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And at that time thedisciples came to Jesus,saying, Who then is greatestin the kingdom of heaven?Then Jesus called a littlechild to Him, set him in themidst of them, and said,Assuredly, I say to you,unless you are convertedand become as little children,you will by no means enterthe kingdom of heaven.Therefore whoever humbleshimself as this little child isthe greatest in the kingdomof heaven. Whoever receivesone little child like this in Myname receives Me.(Matthew 18:1 5)


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We should ask our

Gracious Lord God towatch over our belovedchildren, as well as weturn to the Mother of Godthe Most Holy Theotokosto as well pray for ourchildren. The Mother ofGod hears our prayersand shall indeed take ourprayers to the Throne ofOur Lord God on ourhumble behalf.


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(Akathist to the Mother of God,Nurturer of Children Compiled By Archimandrite NektariosSerfes)

Ikos 6

With rays of grace teach my children sothat enlightened by Thee on high theymay see they path leading to life eternaland follow on it, nourished beneathThine all-powerful protection in theChurch of Thy Son where there isunending light. For the sake of this, hearme who dost cry to Thee thus:

Raise my children to be the light of the

world, that their light may shine beforemen, and that seeing their good deeds,men will glorify their Father in Heaven.

Raise my children to be enlightened byThy Son, that in His light they may seelight and direct their steps towards Him.


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Raise my children always to turnthe eyes of their heart to theRedeemer of all.

Raise my children to be guided tothe habitation of the Righteous bythe Morning Star which is Thy Son.

Raise my children to be meek andsilent and to tremble before theword of God.

Raise my to love Thee and ThySon not only with their minds butalso with their Hearts.

Raise my children (names), OLady, to be made worthy of theKingdom of Heaven and makethem heirs of eternal blessings.


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Children love the iconsof the Holy Theotokos,the tender, loving expressions of theMother and Child. TheIcon of the Mother ofGod on the front wallbehind the holy tablehas an importantmessage to children. Ittells them that theirpurpose in life aschristians is to haveChrist come and live in

them as he came to live n His Mother.


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Orthodox Mother's Prayer for Her Children

Holy Father, Immortal, from whom all goodness and gentleness comes, penitently I prayThee for the children whom Thou hast given me to bear. Keep them in Thy grace and

holiness, that Thy name may be glorified in them. Direct me by Thy grace to raise themtoward the glory of Thy holy name and the benefit of other people. Grant me the gift of thepatience necessary to do so. O Lord, enlighten the mind of my children with Thy Wisdom

to learn to love Thee in their souls and thoughts. Instill in their hearts the fear andabhorrence of every vice, that they may be able to go the right way without sin. Adorntheir souls with purity, goodness, humility, diligence, patience, and every virtue. Guard

their lips from all slander and lies. Bless my children, that they may progress in virtue andholiness, and grow under Thy care into honest people. May their guardian angels be withthem and protect them in their youth from misleading thoughts, from the evil and sinful

temptations of this world, and from the traps of all unclean spirits. And when my childrensin before Thee, do not turn away Thy face from them, but according to Thy great mercy

be merciful unto them, for Thou alone art the one who cleansesth people from all sin.Reward my children with worldly good things and everything they need for salvation. Keep

them from wrath, anger, misfortune, evil, and suffering all the days of their lives. O goodLord, I pray Thee, grant me joy and happiness from my children. Keep me in

righteousness and justice, that with Thy children I may stand before Thee in the day ofThy dreaded judgment, and that without fear I may say: Here I am, Lord, with the childrenwhom Thou hast given me, that together with them I may praise Thy most holy name of

the Father and Son and Holy Spirit, unto ages of ages. Amen.


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* Blessed Are the Pure in Heart, For They Shall See Godby Kh. Maggie Hock, Originally published in The Handmaiden, Vol. 11, No. 4

http://www.antiochian.org/node/18483

Raising Children in Faith

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