St Anne's Third Saturday Education Handouts from All But the Most Recent Session

past third saturday handouts

St. Anne began a monthly education event in September, 2003, called "Third Saturday." It meets at the Church and offers education for all ages. The hallmark of this event is the equipping of members of the Church for the ongoing education of themselves and their families. At each session materials are distributed to the adult class, providing study guides for use by individuals, couples and families for Orthodox Christian education in the home. St. John Chrysostom taught that the home is a "little Church." It is certainly that, and, as such, one of the primary locations for the teaching of the faith. Each series in the Third Saturday event offers a look at Scripture, the teaching of the Fathers, and Orthodox Tradition and customs in the home and Church on a given topic or related subjects.

Articles from each session are published here as PDF files for downloading and use by others. If you do not yet have Adobe Acrobat Reader on your computer, click on the yellow button and follow the instructions to download and install it. Printer definition files [PDFs] will print out with exactly the same look and pagination as the original, paper forms.

February 11, 2006

Proskomedia: Our Churchly Offering. We did the Bread of Offering in May 2005 and October of 2003 already. But this third time was different even from the other two. And besides, how can you get too much of the Bread of Life? Here it is again as an MS Word file.

November 19, 2005

	Bishops of the Church and Apostolic Succession. Background for Archbishop's Dmitri's December 2005 visit to St Anne.
	Behind the Ritual. What's happening in a hierarchical service (when a bishop presides at Divine Liturgy). As a (larger) MS Word file.
	The Sacred Vestments and the Monastic Garments. Two pages of what each of a bishop's garments is called, from the Manual of the Orthodox Church's Divine Services.

October 15, 2005

	Moses: Who Stood in the Presence of God. Here's the same file as a Word document.
	Zachariah: Ministering at the Altar of Incense. Here's the same file as a Word document.
	Isaiah: Worshipping the Lord, High and Lifted Up. Here's the same file as a Word document.
	Elijah: Prophet Who Worshipped the True God. Here's the same file as a Word document.

September 17, 2005, "Worship"

	Worship in the Old Testament and in the New Testament. Here's the same file as a Word document.
	Worship in the Church. Worship as central at church. Here's the same file as a Word document.
	Worship in the Home. Icon corners, candles, oil, and water. Here's the same file as a Word document.
	Worship When I'm Alone. Developing a rule of prayer. Here's the same file as a Word document.

May 21, 2005, "The Bread of Offering"

	The Bread of Offering, revised version of the one Father did in October of 2003, on the Church tradition of preparing the bread to be offered.
	The Great Entrance. Going short and laying aside earthly cares. Here's the same file as a Word document.
	Prayers of the Proskomedie (Preparation Service), what's prayed as the bread is prepared.

April 16, 2005, "The Gospel in the World"

	The Word of God Made Manifest in the World, knowing God through the liturgical scripture. Here's the same file as a Word document.
	Going in and Out. What's all that movement at the altar? Here's the same file as a Word document.
	Processions, pilgrimages, and journeys. Here's the same file as a Word document.

March 19, 2005, "Giving Thanks to God"

	Giving Thanks to God, two psalms to know by heart. Here's the same file as a Word document.
	To Pray in Peace, the litanies. Here's the same file as a Word document.
	The Kingdom of God, liturgy, prayer, and the kingdom. This handout also includes an interview with a mother on what she's learned from her son's prayers. Here's the link to the interview used, and the link to the full interview as a PDF file. Here's the Kingdom of God file as a Word document.

February 26, 2005, "The Church as Assembly"

	What is the Church?, background on the scriptural definitions. Here's the same file as a Word document.
	Why the Orthodox Church?, what we mean by "Right Glory." Here's the same file as a Word document.
	The Church as a Holy Assembly, how the church is the people of God. This handout also includes how to prepare for going to church, starting at home. Here's the same file as a Word document.
	The Priest Prepares for Liturgy. Prayers during vesting. Here's the same file as a Word document.

November 20, 2004, "The Bible"

	Where Did the Bible Come From?, background on the books included and excluded. Here's the same file as a Word document.
	How to Read the Bible, background and advice from Bishop Kallistos Ware. Here's the same file as a Word document.
	Important Stories from the Bible, Fr. Stephen's short list of the ones to know. Here's the same file as a Word document.
	Other Holy Writings, more about books not included in the Bible. Here's the same file as a Word document.
	The Bible as a Biography of God in This World, scripture background from St. Justin Popovich (20th century Serbian saint). Here's the same file as a Word document.

September 18, 2004, "Measuring Time in the Church"

The Hours of the Day, the cycle of daily prayer, named hours, and questions for reflection. Here's the same file as a Word document.

The Weekly Cycle, background on the weekly prayer cycle and questions for family members. Here's the same file as a Word document.

	One version of this month's activity: How Demetrius' version turned out, intended for wall hanging. Many did the card as a table tent (and many looked better).
	Here's a chance to make your own: remember to print in landscape (11x8.5 inches) rather than portrait (8.5x11) mode

Seasons of the Year, from September to August, the Great Feasts and suggestions for observing them at home. Here's the same file as a Word document.

The In-Between Time, a reflection on making the best use of our time as we await the second coming. Here's the same file as a Word document.

May 15, 2004, "The Feasts of Summer"

	The Feasts of Summer, Old Testament background on Pentacost and a suggested family activity. Here's the same file as a Word document.
	The Summer Fasts, from Saints Peter and Paul to the Dormition of the Theotokos. Here's the same file as a Word document.
	A Feast with Bees!, about the Honey Savior, Apple Savior, and Savior icon not made by hands. Here's the same file as a Word document.
	New Years in September?, why the church year starts September 1. Here's the same file as a Word document.

February 21, 2004, "The Lenten Journey"

	A Forty Day Journey, Biblical references and a suggested family activity. Here's the same file as a Word document.
	The Journey of Lent, toward an understanding, with excerpts from Fr. Schemann's Great Lent. Here's the same file as a Word document.
	The Weeks of Great Lent, the designated Sundays of Lent explained. Here's the same file as a Word document.
	The Great Lenten Prayer of St. Ephraim, to print to cardstock and fold for easy reading (during not-so-easy prostrations). Here's the prayer formatted slightly differently as a Word document.
	40 Short Sayings from the Desert Fathers, a new thought to reflect on each day of lent. You can hole-punch a corner and put them all on a key ring (or just tie them with string).

January 17, 2004, "Holy Water"

	Noah and the Waters of Baptism, Biblical references and suggested family activities
	Jesus Walks on the Water, New Testament references with follow-up questions
	The Great Blessing of the Waters and the Waters of Jordan, Theopany, Genesis, and what they mean to us now
	Holy Water in the Home and House Blessings, how the Church uses holy water and how we should; the family alter
	Prayers During the Blessing of Homes, includes words and music to "When Thou, O Lord, Was Baptized in the Jordan"

November 15, 2003, "Nativity"

	The Nativity Fast, explanation and exercises
	The Ancestors of Christ, prayer and remembrance for Jesus' forefathers

October 18, 2003, "The True Bread"

	Eating the True Bread, Bread in the Old and New Testaments
	Jesus--the Bread of Life, Biblical and Liturgical references and prayers
	The Bread of Offering, the Church tradition of bread preparation and offering
	Feeding on Christ and Fasting, why we fast, why we don't live by bread alone
	Alms, Eating with Christ in the poor
	Mealtime Prayers: A table tent of prayers to say before and after meals

September 20, 2003, "The Light of God"

	God Creates Light, His First Act of Creation
	Candles and Lamps, The Use of Light in the Tradition of the Church
	The Story of the Burning Bush, God Reveals Himself to Moses
	The Light of God on Moses' Face, scriptural references
	The Light of God With the People of Israel
	On the Light of God: New Testament Scriptures to Memorize or Study

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