On this beautiful, sunny, Spring, Saturday morning (3/18), HAOC held a Lenten retreat for our Pre- through Middle School children. Guided by the theme, "Through the Cross, Joy has come into all the World," Father Timothy opened with a prayer and explained the significance of the Cross in our lives as Orthodox Christians. Then the children, along with their Church School teachers and teen helpers, separated into stations in which they created brightly colored tissue paper Crosses; assembled Resurrection Gardens with tombs, stones, and grass seeds; and made "Lenten Learning Bags" with symbols of the Lenten season on which to reflect. They also had lessons in which they discussed Great Lent, the Cross, and other important aspects of Orthodox Pascha. They donated items to be assembled into IOCC Hygiene Kits for our Lenten Charity Project. It was a morning filled with fun, learning, fellowship, and prayers! Many thanks to all the teen and adult helpers who facilitated the activities, and to everyone who participated, contributed, and attended! Glory be to God!