by Anya, Fall ’23 Intern
Every student–whether public schooled, private schooled, or homeschooled–has routines, priorities, and expectations. Attending a public or private school requires schedules and routines to fit the mold of their calendar and requirements, while homeschooling allows the space and flexibility to focus priorities on God, His Church, and family, while still fulfilling state requirements for homeschooling. Being a homeschooler has allowed me to participate in and experience the life of the Church in ways I otherwise would not have been a part of.
As a young teen, I began assisting our church secretary and my father in support of one of our parish ministries. Due to my father’s work schedule, keeping up with the bookkeeping and deposits for our men's ministry weekly collection was becoming increasingly difficult. So I began going into the church office once a week to prepare the funds to be deposited and to keep a ledger for that account. Not only was I able to help my father, but I was able to learn valuable bookkeeping skills. This weekly task gradually turned into helping out with multiple church ministries and administrative tasks, such as making service books, setting up filing systems, keeping inventory, and working for our church gift shop. I gained so much knowledge about office work, organization, and, most importantly, God’s Church. Eventually, I designated one day a week to spend the day at church working on these projects. Homeschooling provided me, and several other kids in my parish, wonderful opportunities and flexibility to volunteer at the church every week.
Our annual International Food Festival is our parish’s biggest fundraiser. Nearly everyone in the parish volunteers to support this event. While all parishioners, including teens, were involved in planning, preparing for, and running the festival, my opportunities were broader because of my flexibility. I have been able to handmake ethnic costumes, learn about the various cultures in our parish, assist with marketing, set up our technology needs, and share information about our faith and Church with visitors.
People often associate church with Sunday mornings only. In addition to Sunday morning liturgies, throughout the year, we celebrate many feasts on weekdays and hold vespers the evening before, along with the weekly molebens and vespers. Being homeschooled, I am blessed to be able to attend all these services to worship and learn about Christ and the Church through them. For example, my family can adjust our routine to attend the Lenten services during Great Lent and Holy Week. We can suspend our typical classes during Holy Week and focus on learning from the scripture and wisdom shared during the many weekly services. Nothing is more important than participating in the life of the church and incorporating it into everyday life.
Another great opportunity homeschoolers have is the ability to include Orthodoxy in their everyday studies. We have chances to make connections to the Church in all subjects. This is far from possible in a public school setting with their fixed, secular curriculums. I am part of an Orthodox homeschool co-op where I have taken classes such as Iconography, Bible & Saints, Hymns & Chants, and The Divine Liturgy, in addition to standard courses that are taught from an Orthodox perspective. All these classes still help me meet the state requirements for homeschooling.
I am very grateful for all the opportunities I have as a homeschooler that I wouldn’t have otherwise if I were schooled elsewhere. Do you want to get involved in the church, but don’t know of any ministries you can help with? No matter your age, chances are there is some way you can support your church. If you don’t think there are any opportunities, start something! Consider asking your priest what your parish's needs are. For example, are there enough girls in your parish to start a “Handmaidens” or “Myrrh-bearers” ministry in which the girls learn how to take care of the candles and clean the icons? Or could you and other young people help prepare for different aspects of Holy Week, like decorating the tomb, filling baskets of flower petals, helping pass out blessed items, etc.? Such a ministry could also incorporate educational and social components. For example, in addition to the activities already suggested, girls can get together for social events and learn a skill from an older woman in the parish or discuss a topic with and get advice from them. In addition to serving in the altar, they can help out in landscaping/outdoor work, or organize outdoor trips with the dads.
I strongly encourage any homeschooler to regularly become a part of their church, as the most important way to dedicate your time and effort is to give it to God. It is unfortunate that those unfamiliar with homeschooling often say that homeschoolers lack opportunities to socialize and be involved in “activities.” I would say that the unique opportunities available to homeschoolers are diverse, social, and focused on that which is most important in our lives. These opportunities help homeschoolers grow as students, citizens, and members of their church community.