Children’s Education

Orthodoxy is a lived faith and children are included in services from the time they are born. They have roles to play in many parts of the services, can take in as much of the service as is age appropriate, and they can play quietly with their friends or read during the service.

After Holy Communion, during Sunday Liturgy, our Children’s Team volunteers do age-appropriate activities with the children. We currently have two groups – Children and Youth. The children are currently working their way through the ‘Story of Hope’ (lessons from the Old and New Testament). We have around 10 elementary-aged children and 3-4 upcoming toddlers and preschoolers attending regularly. We have about 8 youth, teens and pre-teens, who will be beginning ‘Called to Serve’ by Fr. John Peck this Spring.

Our Youth Club meets the first Wednesday of every month for fellowship activities from 5:30pm – 7:30pm.

After lunch, while parents enjoy talking and fellowship, children can run around in the outdoor playground (supervised by the parents of the children using the playground) or play quietly in an indoor area with coloring and books.

Because Orthodoxy is a lived faith, home life is full of teaching moments. Coming to weekly services, prayers before meals, icon corners with your child’s patron saint, and celebrating Feast Days all surround your child with Orthodox traditions. Our Children’s Team and the child’s parents work together to make daily life a blessing.

Adult Education

Christianity 101: An Orthodox Perspective

We will be holding a series of 6 public talks and Q and A sessions at the church every Wednesday evening with the general topic of ‘What is the Orthodox Church – Christianity 101: An Orthodox Perspective’.

Wednesdays, Jan. 31 – March 6, 2024 at St. Aidan Orthodox Church.

6:30pm Akathist, 7:00pm Short Information Session, then a Q and A.

These sessions are a follow-up to the 6 columns that appeared in the Townsman in December 2023 and which are also posted on our website under Father’s Desk.

Wed., Feb. 21 Topic : Post- Protestant Reformation and next Wed., Feb. 28 Topic: Today’s Christian Landscape

Book Study

Wednesdays at 6:30pm, starting March 6th, 2024. A mix of in-person and Zoom participants at the church.

We will be discussing the book Fr. Armatas’s Book “ A Practical Guide to Prayer, Fasting, and Almsgiving”. A very relevant topic as we enter Great Lent.

Contact Father Andrew for more information at 1-250-420-1582 or frandrewapplegate@gmail.com

Orthodoxy 101

Thursday afternoons at 1:30pm, other times can be arranged with Fr. Andrew.

The 8-week Orthodoxy 101 education class, held in-person or on ZOOM, is a basic overview of who we are, explaining some basic similarities and differences between the Eastern Orthodox understanding of Christianity, the Western Roman Catholic and many-faceted Protestant understanding of Christianity and the Church;  our history, what we are “saved” into, why we worship as we do, the Orthodox understanding of God, the Bible and tradition, etc.

The format is to watch two 20-minute video’s from Fr. Barnabas Powell each session, and have a 20-minute discussion and Q and A period after each video. It takes about an hour and a half for each session.

Journey to Fullness (Fr. Barnabas Powell) 16 lesson Outline (20 min. each)

 1st week:  Lesson 1: Is this trip really Necessary?  Lesson 2: What is the Orthodox Church?

2nd week: Lesson 3: When did Orthodoxy Begin? Lesson 4: Characteristics of Orthodox Christianity.

3rd week: Lesson 5: Mindset Matters, Lesson 6: A Healing Purpose.

4th week: Lesson 7: Truth and Tradition, Lesson 8: How do I understand the Bible?

5th week: Lesson 9: When we say God Part 1; Lesson 10: When we say God Part 2

6th week: Lesson 11: God with us, Lesson 12: Our Ultimate Purpose

7th week: Lesson 13: Salvation as Participation, Lesson 14: Orthodox Worship

8th week: Lesson 15: A Beautiful Rhythm, Lesson 16: The Journey Continues