2020 LENTEN WORKSHOP
We are so grateful to St. John Garabed Sunday school in San Diego for hosting this year’s 1st Lenten Workshop, which took place on March 1 at their “temporary” facility. CEC Director shared an interactive lesson and activity on this year’s theme, “REFLECTING ON CHRIST ~ Being the best reflection you can be!”
We look forward to celebrating the Lenten Season on March 15 with Sunday schools in and around southern California at St. Peter, Van Nuys. 2020 Lenten Workshop Flyer
2019 ADVENT WORKSHOP – Most participation to date!
We are so thankful to all of the Sunday schools who traveled near and far to participate in this year’s Advent Workshops, held at both the Ararat Home (LA) and Armenian Home (Fresno).
WDCEC Director Visits St. Apkar Sunday School in Scottsdale, ARIZONA 
On October 20, 2019, the Christian Education Council Director, Gail Chelebian, had the honor of visiting the St. Apkar parish in Scottsdale, Arizona. She prepared a Workshop for both the students as well as the teaching staff. It was a full day full of faith, culture, and fun.
Under the leadership of Mr. Andreh Janian and Mrs. Tammy Gabel, Sunday school co-superintendents, the St. Apkar Sunday school program is growing and flourishing. Gail spent the morning with their students, sharing both religious as well as cultural lessons and activities. Later, she provided a mini-workshop for the teaching staff on topics such as curriculum, parent involvement, and ways to help with attendance. It was a truly a productive visit and the warm welcome by the entire community was appreciated.
WDCEC Director Visits Newly Developed Sunday School at St. Kevork Armenian Church in Clackamas, Oregon
On October 13, 2019, the Christian Education Council Director, Gail Chelebian, had the honor of visiting the St. Kevork parish in Clackamas, Oregon and sharing the mission of the Western Diocese Sunday schools. Under the faithful direction of Father Mashdots Keshishian, we are pleased that the St. Kevork parish has begun a Sunday school program and will now offer faith-based instruction to their children. We are certain that this will be the beginning of a truly wonderful opportunity for this community.
Under the leadership of Fr. Mashdots and Mrs. Zella Cherchian-Gonzalvo, Religion Teacher, the Sunday school will compliment the Armenian Language program that is already in place. Gail was invited to make a presentation to the school board and parents where she had the opportunity to discuss the curriculum, resources, and services provided by the CEC. In addition, Gail thoroughly enjoyed working with the students by sharing a special lesson on the topic of Baptism and Chrismation. It was a truly enjoyable morning for all in attendance.
The newly established St. Kevork Sunday school will follow the curriculum as provided each week via E-Blast by the CEC. One of the commitments made by the Christian Education Council is to visit Sunday schools across the Western Diocese. We are grateful to have these opportunities to support the parish priests, superintendents, teachers, and many students who participate in Sunday school. The CEC looks forward to a fulfilling and successful school year with St. Kevork and all our Sundays Schools across the Western Diocese by continuing to bring a strong curriculum based on the Armenian faith and culture.
SUNDAY SCHOOL CULTURAL ACTIVITY: “‘Klay’ Khachkar'”
After learning the history and significance of the Khachkar, students at St. James Sunday school, Los Angeles, had the opportunity to design their own!
SUNDAY SCHOOL CULTURAL ACTIVITY: “Let’s Make Boreg!”
St. Vartan, Oakland – “Boreg-making” cultural activity with the Ladies’ Society (above)
St. James, Los Angeles – “Boreg-making” cultural activity, guided by Parish Council member (above)
2019 LENTEN CALENDARS NOW AVAILABLE AT SUNDAY SCHOOLS
2019 LENTEN WORKSHOPS will be held in 4 locations! See flyer link below for more information. Please join us at our upcoming 2019 Lenten Workshops being held in 4 locations.
AACCWD MUSIC CURRICULUM DEVELOPED FOR SUNDAY SCHOOL
Sunday schools across the Western Diocese launched the new Music Curriculum designed especially for our students by the AACCWD. The children will be mastering several “sharagans” while learning a brief history behind the Armenian church’s sacred music. We look forward to highlighting their angelic voices throughout the school year, beginning at our upcoming Advent Fair taking place at the Ararat Home on November 5. Many thanks to the Diocese and Parish organizations for their support of this exciting addition to our Sunday schools.
Gail Chelebian
CEC Chair
“I just wanted to thank you and your team as well as the Diocese and the CEC’s support of your music lesson video. It was great, informative, captivating for students, and just the right amount of time. There were some parents in the audience and they joined students in clapping at the end of the video. Looking forward for continuing the lessons/learning experience. Great job and I just wanted to say thanks/abreece from our St. Paul church in fresno. Thanks.”
Anton Kismetian
Superintendent/HS Teacher
“We’re off to a good start in Oakland and really liked the first music lesson.”
“Thank you!”
Nicole Vasgerdsian
Teacher/St. Vartan, Oakland
“The kids really enjoyed it! It’s just the right amount of time and the kids were really responsive to it!”
Karen Mener
Teacher, St. Vartan, Oakland & CEC Board Member
With the new Sunday school year fast approaching, the Christian Education Council, under the direction of His Eminence Ab. Hovnan Derderian, is once again offering their Back to Sunday School workshops during the month of August. All Sunday school superintendents, teachers, and church leaders have been invited to participate in this always-informative event designed to support and ready our school leaders for the new school year. The workshops are always centered on collaboration across our Western Diocese and consistency within our classrooms. The CEC makes it a priority to support every parish Sunday school so that lessons and programs are Christ-centered, rich in our Armenian culture, and aligned with the doctrines of the Armenian Church and the church’s Liturgical calendar.
This year’s Sunday school theme is:
It’s a Beautiful Day in our Neighborhood . . . Won’t you LOVE Thy Neighbor?
Our main topic of discussion at this year’s workshop is to help generate better parent involvement within our Sunday school programs. Learning to be a good neighbor begins in the home, and who better to teach and model this other than our Sunday school parents. The goal is to give parents the tools necessary to continue the good teachings being taught on Sundays into their homes so that, together with their children, they may put them to authentic, good use. If church and parents do their jobs well, it truly will be a beautiful day in our neighborhoods!
The workshops are being offered in 3 different locations to best serve our Sunday schools:
- Peter, Van Nuys– for Southern California parishes
- Paul, Fresno – for Central California parishes
- John, San Francisco – for Northern California parishes
The workshops are being led by CEC Board members Gail Chelebian (Chairlady), Fr. Krikor Zakaryan (Clergy Advisor), and Lynn Bedrosian (Teaching Advisor), along with Sevag Derderian. (AACCWD Chair).
We wish to thank all of the host parishes and participants for their love and support of our Sunday schools. We are greatly humbled by the sincere gratitude and hospitality shown at all workshop locations. We look forward to a wonderful Sunday school.
CEC ATTENDS VATCHE HOVSEPIAN SUMMER CAMP!
The CEC is pleased to have been invited to teach a morning class each week of Hye Camp to the campers on the importance of Sunday school and the Armenian Church in our lives. Our discussion, “Pop Faith: The Heart and Soul of the Tootsie Roll!”centers around outside influences and peer pressures in our children’s lives and how holding fast to our faith can help us overcome any obstacle. This is an excellent opportunity for the CEC to reach hundreds of children in a setting that is sure to bring us all closer to God.
A Note from the Parent of a Camper:
“My son remembered about the lollipop symbology! He said heart/soul inside, harden candy is hard stuff (issues/difficulties), and stick of God to hold on to. He had trouble with long division but I am happy he remembers the important messages. Great idea about the lollipop !
We are ready to bring you this year’s Lenten Workshop on Sunday, March 3, “Celebrate! The Gifts of the Holy Spirit!” Students will be thoroughly entertained while gaining a special insight into the significance of the Lenten season. RSVPs are necessary. Adults are welcome to stay for a 1-hour mini retreat, “Calling of a Sunday school Teacher.”
AACCWD CHAIRMAN VISITS SAINT GARABED IN SAN DIEGO!
Chairman Sevag Derderian visited Saint Garabed Armenian Apostolic Church (San Diego, CA) on January 14, 2018 to celebrate the Divine Liturgy with the Church Choir and pay a surprise visit to the Sunday School Students. During his visit, he met with Sunday School teachers and students and provided an in-person music lesson and commended their efforts in furthering their sacred music efforts. For months now, Sunday School students have been learning sacred music through the AACCWD Music Education Department. A partnership with the Christian Education Council, chaired by Ms. Gail Chelebian, has resulted in a fruitful and new relationship that helps further promote education across our Western Diocese.
 
Our first INTERN SUNDAY allowed our students to experience the different ways they may actively participate in their churches. Students selected from roles such as singing in the church choir, learning Parish Council duties such as collecting plate donations, serving on the altar, being an assistant Sunday school teacher, and more. Our goal is for each child to find a personal connection with church so that they will intimately become lifetime church goers.
Welcome Surpazan! It is always a special Sunday when our beloved Primate, Ab. Hovnan
Derderian, visits our parishes and addresses our Sunday School children.
(St. Garabed, San Diego)
(St. James, Los Angeles)
COMMUNION SUNDAY taught our children an introduction to our Divine
Liturgy. We learned the significance of wearing head coverings and had the opportunity to design our own, as pictured above. It was a blessed day spent in church experiencing and participating in the Holy Badarak.
2017 BACK TO SUNDAY SCHOOL WORKSHOP
Under the direction of the Diocesan Primate Abp. Hovnan Derderian, the Christian Education Council held its annual Back to Sunday School workshops this past August. All Sunday school superintendents, teachers, and church leaders were invited to participate in this always-informative event designed to introduce the curriculum and support programs for the new school year. The day centered on collaboration amongst our Sunday schools and consistency within all of our classrooms. In addition, we have joined efforts with the AACCWD, which has created a new choir curriculum designed especially for our Sunday schools. The CEC makes it a priority to support every parish Sunday school so that the best classroom lessons and programs are made available to our children.
This year’s theme is Soaring to New ‘HYE’ghts! We used a “kite” to illustrate our goal for the children: A kite is meant to soar high up in the sky; however, in order to do so the kite needs to be tethered to a string for support and guidance, and wind to provide its movement through the air. Like the kite, we want our children to soar as high as they can in life. We pray they find great love and success while always staying tethered to their faith and true to the lessons they are taught in Sunday school. It is the Holy Spirit, of course, that serves as the wind to carry our children through the highs and lows in life, but if they remain faithful, the Holy Spirit will never allow them to fall.For the first year, the CEC offered the workshop in 3 different locations to better serve Sunday schools.
In Los Angeles, the workshop was led by CEC members Fr. Krikor Zakaryan, Gail Chelebian, Lynn Bedrosian, Audrey Matoesian and AACCWD Chair Sevag Derderian. CEC Chair Gail Chelebian, Lynn Bedrosian, and Sevag Derderian then took the “show on the road” to Fowler and San Francisco where they conducted the workshop for parishes in these areas.
We wish to thank all of the host parishes and participants who participated. We were greatly humbled by the sincere gratitude and hospitality shown at all workshop locations. It is our hope to continue planning future workshops and events to better serve our Sunday schools so they continue to grow and flourish.
St. James, Los Angeles – for Southern California parishes
St. Gregory, Fowler – for Central California parishes
St. John, San Francisco – for Northern California parishes
Curriculum – It is imperative that Religion lessons follow the curriculum as directed by the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church provided by the CEC. Please do not use outside resources in your classrooms.
Bibles – The WDACNA endorses the following versions of the Bible:
King James
New King James
Revised Standard Version
Thank you for your kind cooperation.