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 who 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. Play jumbled Chrismation: First unjumble these parts of the service, then place them in order. See which student can do it first.

Ggnopsin ffo   Ales     Tinnigona        Serposnico       Erotnus

 

  1. Play a Chrismation Relay Race: Have the students divide into 2 teams. Place 2 chairs at the opposite end of the room, each containing a tiny dish of olive oil, a damp sponge, and a ball of yarn and scissors. First student must run to the chair, dip his finger in the olive oil and grab the sponge, run back to the next contestant, make the sign of the cross on his teammate’s forehead while yelling “Seal!”, wipe it off with the sponge, run back to the chair and cut a piece of yarn off, and run around the chair 3 times singing “As many as have been baptized”. He then returns and tags the next student… Of course, if they fail to do everything in order, they start over. Now… how easy is it for Father to get all the services right?

 

8.   Close with prayer.

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