Title: Consecration Series 2: The Service of Consecration
Age: 4 - 10 years
Liturgical Time: Any
Subject: The Service of Consecration, and comparison to baptism and chrismation
Direct Aims: To describe and explain the mechanics and meaning of the Service of Consecration, drawing parallels to the service of Baptism and Chrismation. If possible, invite children to fill out a list of names for inclusion in the altar (we need first/baptismal and last name, and it is not necessary that the person be baptized Orthodox.). With younger groups, the emphasis should be on acting out the service, while for older students we should emphasize the meaning and symbolism of the service and its prayers.
Materials:
Service of the Consecration (text)
Form to submit names for the scroll (“Readings” handout); print one for each student
Small box to use as a reliquary
Table that can be oiled and washed with water
One or two white sheets
Lesson Plan:
When you were a baby, you were baptized and Chrismated. What did that look like? What did it mean?
When we build a church, it has to be baptized too! We call it ‘consecration’. Just as baptism means that a person is dedicated to God, the church will be dedicated to God at its consecration.
Quickly recap the Baptism and Chrismation services, remembering the beautiful candle we carry, and how Father blesses the water, how the baby goes into the water three times, how the baby is Chrismated with oil, how the baby is dressed all in white, and how we walk three times around the altar.
Demonstration
It’s time to declare the classroom a church, and decide where the altar is, and to declare one person to act as the Metropolitan. The teacher should provide some props: a little box that could pass for a reliquary, a table that can be oiled and then washed down with water, and one or two white sheets. One is to put over the Metropolitan at the appropriate moment, and the other is to become the baptismal garment that covers the altar. Note: If you plan this for a day when the weather is lovely, you could take this project outside; a picnic table can be the altar.
We’ll go through the steps of the consecration, and let the kids act them out while the teacher tells them the meaning behind each part.
The Night Before: The Vigil before the Consecration
The Day of the Consecration: The Service of the Consecration
Discussion
To finish up, you might recap the elements of Baptism and Chrismation that match up to elements of the Consecration:
Circle the table three times Circle the church three times
Holy Water Holy Water
Dipped three times Poured three times
Oil for Chrism Oil for Chrism
Painting crosses on all parts of body Painting crosses on all parts of church
Priest covered in white sheet Metropolitan covered in white sheet
Person wears white garment Altar wears white tablecloth
Carry the lit candle Bring out the lit vigil lamp;
Now you are set aside for God Now you are set aside for God
If time permits and if students have been able to follow along, allow them to write names on the form, and collect them for submission for the Scroll.
Prepared by Elissa Bjeletich 2016