Dr. Pat's Orthodox Super Sunday School Curriculum

Chrismation

CHRISMATION

 

Objectives:

  1. Students should understand the significance of Chrismation as the gift of the Holy Spirit.
  2. Students should know the general order of the service and its meaning.

 

Possible Lesson Plan:

  1. Open with prayer.

 

  1. Scriptural basis: Joel 2:28, Ezekiel 36:25-27, Jeremiah 31:31-34, John 7: 37-39, John 16: 13-14, Acts 1:4-5, Acts 2:1-16, 8:14-17, 19:1-7, Ephesians 1:13-14, II Cor. 6:19-20

 

  1. Order of the service:

                Action

                   Meaning

1. Anointing with holy chrism of the child’s forehead, eyes, nose, lips, ears, chest, hands, and feet

“The Seal of the Gift of the Holy Spirit” – our entire body becomes the temple of the Holy Spirit

2. Sponging off of the holy chrism.

God’s work is now invisible, in the way we think and live and act.

3. Tonsure – cutting a lock of hair in the shape of a cross

Dedication of our whole life to God forever.

4. Procession – around to baptismal font and then to the Eucharist

The door is now open to full and complete communion with God.

 

  1. Songs of the service: As Many as Have been Baptized… Sing it again 3 times as during the procession.

 

  1. Discussion questions:

Review where the symbolism of the oil came from (last lesson).  In the Old Testament, only the prophets were filled with the Spirit; how does this differ from the New Testament? How is this expressed by the prophets? The word “chrismation” comes from what? (Greek “chrisma” meaning anointing)

Who is the Holy Spirit? How is He described? What is His role? (Helper, Comforter, Spirit of Truth, guiding us into all truth) Which of the major feasts celebrates the coming of the Holy Spirit? (Pentecost)

        What is the meaning of the cutting of the hair? What does this have to do with Samson? (Hair means strength; the child gives    God all his strength)

Now that we are filled with the Holy Spirit, how should our lives be changed? What is the fruit of the Spirit? (Galatians) Do we exhibit the life of the Spirit in our everyday life?

 

  1. Do a Chrismation Relay Race: Divide the class into 2 teams. Place 2 chairs at the end of the room, each containing a tiny bowl of olive oil (NOT blessed oil), a damp sponge, a ball of yarn, and a scissors. First player runs to the chair, dips his finger in the oil and grabs the sponge, runs back and makes a cross on the forehead of the next player and wipes it off while yelling “Seal!”, runs back to the chair, snips a piece of yarn and races around the chair 3 times singing “As Many as Have Been Baptized”. He then runs back and tags the next player. Team finished first wins; perhaps a prize (cheap)?
  2. Make a Chrismation mobile, like your Baptism Mobile: To make the mobile, cut squares about 2-3 inches across from construction paper, 2 for each letter.. On one side of one set,, glue smaller white squares, each printed with one letter from the word, “BAPTISM”.  On the other set, glue smaller white squares, the top one titled “CHRISMATION” and each subsequent one with a symbol or article used in the Chrismation service. Some ideas would be a font, holy oil, cotton, sponge, icon of Pentecost, dove, flame, etc., depending on your own traditions. Let the students decide which symbols they think are most important to include. Use a ribbon glued between the papers with the letters and the symbols to connect them, leaving enough at the top to tie a loop to hang the mobile.

  1.  Close with prayer.



 

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