Last week, St. John Armenian Church joyfully welcomed children for its first Bible Day Camp—a week filled with prayer, learning, service, Armenian culture, and friendship. Centered on the Holy Trinity and the Church, the camp invited children to discover that faith is not only something we learn about, but something we pray, sing, serve, and live together.
Each day began and ended in the church, where campers lit candles, joined in Morning and Evening Prayers, learned songs, heard lessons, and took part in Bible study. The children also presented the lives of St. Maneh, St. Gregory the Illuminator, St. Shushanik, St. John the Evangelist, and the Apostles Sts. Thaddeus and Bartholomew—helping bring the faith and history of the Church to life for one another.
Faith and fun went hand in hand. Campers enjoyed relay races, capture the flag, basketball, soccer, gardening, crafts, a scavenger hunt, and plenty of time to play together. They made cookies and cheese boreg, sharing the joy of preparing food as a community. One especially meaningful act of service came when the children delivered cookies to local firefighters.
The camp also offered a beautiful connection to Armenian heritage. The children learned the traditional Armenian dance Etchmiadzin, a dance whose movements symbolize the building of Holy Etchmiadzin Cathedral and the unity of our people in faith and love. Parents were invited to join the children in learning the dance, making it a memorable expression of family, faith, and culture.
On Friday, campers attended a special children’s Divine Liturgy and were invited to participate in the service in a variety of roles. The boys wore shabigs, while the girls wore veils they had made during camp. The children showed us how capable, attentive, and genuinely interested they are in the Divine Liturgy. We are so proud of the reverence and enthusiasm they brought to their time in church throughout the week.
The week concluded on Sunday, when the campers celebrated the Feast of the Transfiguration in the Divine Liturgy. Afterwards, they shared a presentation of song and dance, received certificates, and gathered with families and parishioners for a joyful potluck. Wearing their camp T-shirts, the children celebrated all they had experienced together.
The response from families was deeply encouraging. One camper summed up the week perfectly: “I wish camp was one hundred weeks long!”
St. John Bible Day Camp was made possible through the vision and dedication of the camp leadership, servants, ACYO volunteers, the Ladies Society, parents, and all who supported the children throughout the week. We thank everyone who helped create such a warm, faithful, and joyful experience for our parish youth.
We look forward to seeing our campers continue their journey of faith, friendship, and Armenian Christian learning through St. John Sunday School in the coming year.
May the seeds planted during this special week continue to grow in the hearts of our children and families throughout the year.
