St. Michael Orthodox Church of Dothan Sunday School Communicator

09/12/2025

As we prepare to celebrate the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross this Sunday, September 14th, I wanted to share some fun resources that can be used in our "little churches" at home.

St. Helen and the Cross by Ancient Faith Kids
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juL-rwAGYTQ&ab_channel=AncientFaithKids

Saints Constantine and Helen by Ancient Faith Kids
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtJVWRQKqCE&ab_channel=AncientFaithKids

Festal Basil Recipe from The Ascetic Life of Motherhood (on PNP Kids)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLyS0ty1cHs&list=PL4usMIMGwWl-5XmVqjPyLjsgluIbyyCwy&index=8&ab_channel=PatristicNectarKids

Exalting the Holy Cross Homily from Patristic Nectar Kids
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PH--saSKOJE&list=PL4usMIMGwWl_JWWWSY1RLnLCCmuYxukEe&index=36&ab_channel=PatristicNectarKids

Don't forget to break out your books and read about this beautiful feast day!

Father Joseph Thornburg Welcome to our special YouTube Kids edition of Father Jason's Sunday Gospel Homily! In this video, Father Jason will take your little...

04/11/2025

Sharing some resources for our families to use in preparation for Pascha, which is quickly approaching. There are plenty of wonderful things to do at home to prepare our hearts for this greatest of celebrations!

Practice the triumphant paschal hymn "Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tombs, bestowing life."

Check out the many articles at The Ascetic Life of Motherhood addressing ALL of the Pascha traditions.

HOLY WEEK & PASCHA RESOURCES
https://www.asceticlifeofmotherhood.com/holyweekpascha

NATURALLY DYING RED EGGS
https://www.asceticlifeofmotherhood.com/blog/dyingredeggsnaturally

TRADITIONAL PASCHA BASKET INSPIRATION
https://www.asceticlifeofmotherhood.com/blog/traditionalpaschabasket

CHILDREN'S BOOKS FOR PASCHA
https://www.asceticlifeofmotherhood.com/blog/favoritepaschabooks

HELPFUL PRINTABLES
https://www.asceticlifeofmotherhood.com/blog/paschaprepprint-promo

There are a plethora of wonderful books on the market today for children to better understand our Orthodox Faith. Every year at Pascha, we gift our children a new book to add to our collection - usually surrounding the theme of the season. So for example, at Pascha, they get a Paschal themed book. I

03/20/2025

These quick art lessons are really fun! Our kids love to watch them and give it a try. 🎨🖌️

Join us at our Artist's Corner for guided art projects with stories of great saints!

03/03/2025

https://youtu.be/Pf9n6QUeaV8?si=sy4l-TB00N--Ug6Z

Have you ever wanted to learn more about Lent and the different ways you can cultivate your own Lenten journey with your own family? Great Lent is a special ...

11/03/2024

For it is written, “‘He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you." Luke 4:10

This Friday, November 8th, we will remember the archangels and their important role in God's plan for humanity. During Sunday school, we talked about the creation of and tasks given to angels. We found them in MANY icons displayed at Church, and talked about this beautiful reminder that angels are always among us.

At home, try listening to or reading aloud the Synaxis of the Archangels (available multiple places online). Find a few stories in Holy Scripture that highlight the important role archangels have played (e.g. revealing the news that the Theotokos would carry our Lord Jesus Christ in her womb!).

Here is a short lesson outline that would be easy to do at home: https://orthodoxsundayschool.org/epistles-feasts-and-sacraments/3-5-years-old/hebrews-angels

09/17/2024

Good morning, everyone!

To follow up on the recent feast day, the Elevation of the Cross, that we celebrated this past weekend, I wanted to share some extra resources that we don't have the time to cover (yet!) in Sunday School. We did get to discuss the beautiful story of this amazing feast day, where St. Helen (Constantine's beloved mother) found the relics of the Holy Cross. Basil is included in the festal display to remember the fields of basil where St. Helen searched for the cross.

Ideas for incorporating this feast day at home:

https://www.asceticlifeofmotherhood.com/blog/septemberguide (see the section for September 14th)

https://orthodoxpebbles.com/exaltation-of-holy-cross/ (an easy activity and lesson designed for this feast day)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PH--saSKOJE&ab_channel=PatristicNectarKids (a short homily for kids from Patristic Nectar Kids on the Holy Cross)

09/09/2024

During Sunday School, we celebrated the Nativity of the Theotokos (our first feast of the liturgical year!). Since we are not quite set up to watch videos together, I wanted to share this to go with our lesson. It reiterates the purpose of this wonderful feast and explains the festal icon (which we identified in Church - it's the first one on the left above the altar). There is even a fun song to remember all four feasts celebrating the Theotokos.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nx50Kg3tCM4

Also, a huge THANK YOU to the men of the church who helped expand the Sunday School/nursery space!

We're so excited to have you join us! Each week, the wonderful Presbytera Catherine is here to share heartwarming stories that will fill your days with joy a...

08/19/2024

This will be our tentative Sunday school schedule for the fall semester! 🍂🍁🌻

08/18/2024

Ancient Faith Kids is a great YouTube channel for littles. It has content on a growing number of Orthodox topics, including sacred music (new!), stories of the saints, book readings, art lessons that go with stories of the saints, fun songs on Orthodox topics, and even an Orthodox Pebbles series. Check it out!

Welcome to Ancient Faith Kids! This is a space for kids to be inspired on their journey to fully knowing Jesus Christ. Join this community of Orthodox Christian storytellers as they share their good gifts with you. Learn to draw furry friends of saints. Sing with puppets who teach about the fruits o...

08/18/2024

Hi all! This page will be for sharing Sunday school updates for our mission, including important dates, topics we will be covering, resources to help parents immerse their children with Orthodoxy at home, and more. Our goal is to make this a collaborative effort that keeps everyone involved and encouraged! - Audrey