Many of us probably remember the slogan for Nike, “Just Do It” which encouraged us to get active in sports. With the hopeful news about the pandemic, with vaccinations, with dropping numbers, it’s time once again to “Just Do It” with our ministries. Everyone, it seems, is eager to return to a sense of “normal” in parish life, knowing that “normal” has been changed!
Yes, there are still many guidelines and restrictions in place around the US, but with Great Lent about to begin, we have an opportunity to resume many programs, even if modified, and yes, in new ways that share our Faith and hand it forward to others. Also, parishes can begin to start planning for the summer and fall. Here in Massachusetts, just yesterday it was announced that day camps and overnight camps will be possible this summer. Here are some thoughts: Religious Education With nicer weather re-appearing in many places, outdoor Sunday school could return. Should the indoor gathering guidelines be changing, in-person-indoor classes might be possible. Even at this late point in the year, a Lenten religious education program if only for a few weeks could be possible. Resources can be found at https://www.orthodoxmarketplace.com/esss/default.aspx St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival In the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, this program for junior high school and senior high school students would traditionally be in full swing with parish Festivals, looking ahead to the District and Metropolis-level festivals. Each Metropolis is applying its local guidelines for possible in-person festivals (at the parish level mainly); District and Metropolis Festivals are going virtual in some cases. Check the website for your Metropolis: https://www.goarch.org/en/oratorical Adult Religious Education Over the life of the pandemic, we’ve seen an increase in on-line adult level programs, from speaker and lecture series to webinars. Most likely, this will be one of the lasting positive developments in church life from the pandemic. These kinds of programs have the potential to reach a larger audience than in-person events. To improve them, we need to develop ways to connect people to one another (to form community) and to remind them that these are not substitutes for being engaged with parish life (you cannot be a Christian alone!). Start Planning This is a good time to start planning for your summer and fall programs, reviewing what it might take to restart them, from preparing classrooms to ordering supplies. Since most programs have been on a hiatus for a year now, regrouping with teachers and volunteers is also necessary. On March 10 and 11, 2021 from 7 to 830pm EST Fr. Alex Goussetis, Director of the Archdiocese Center for Family Care, Steven Christoforou, Director of the Department of Youth and Young Adult Ministries, and I will be offering a webinar via zoom to further share these trends and ideas for personal and parish life. On March 10, the topic is “New Trends in Ministry: Lessons for Lent,” and on March 11 the topic is “A Practical Roadmap: Lessons for Lent.” To register for the event, please use this link: y2am.org/lentwebinars
