JOY
The Junior Orthodox Youth, or JOY, is our youth ministry for the elementary school children (grades K–5) of Saint Athanasios Church. The mission of JOY is to strengthen the relationship of young Orthodox Christians with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
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Through age-appropriate fellowship, worship, service, and education, JOY seeks to nurture a love for Christ and His Church in the hearts of our children. The program works to educate and edify young members of the Church, encouraging them to become active, sacramental participants in the life of the Body of Christ, and to lay the foundations of faith that will support a lifelong journey toward salvation.
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JOY gatherings often include Scripture-based lessons, engaging activities, hands-on service projects, and opportunities to participate in the liturgical life of the Church. We aim to help children build lasting friendships within the parish, learn the beauty of our Orthodox traditions, and understand that they are valued members of the Church family today—not just the Church of the future.
KEY COMPONENTS
CURRICULUM AND COMMUNITY
Engaging lessons rooted in Scripture and Orthodox doctrine
Age-appropriate content for children in kindergarten through 5th grade
Emphasis on understanding, application, and relevance to daily life
RESOURCES
Access to age-appropriate resources including Orthodox Christian literature
Library of multimedia materials, videos, and educational tools for supplemental learning via Orthodoxpebbles.com
TEACHING
Experienced and dedicated leaders passionate about Orthodox Christian education and fellowship.
Smaller groups to facilitate personalized attention and interaction​​​​
ASSESSMENT AND FEEDBACK
Open communication with parents to address questions, concerns, and feedback
ACTIVITIES
Interactive learning experiences including ice breakers, lessons with clergy , crafts, and games
Participation in prayer and service projects
Opportunities for creative expression through art and movement
JOY CALENDAR
MEET THE JOY LEADERS
Hi, my name is Amanda McKinney, and I have been a parishioner at St. Athanasios since I was six years old. I am excited to lead our JOY group with my co-leader, Leah Fanning. I work as a speech-language pathologist in the Oswego School District, and I live in Yorkville with my husband, PJ, and our three daughters—Scarlett, Sienna, and Sloane. I love using fellowship to develop and strengthen faith-based relationships within our youth in the church, ages kindergarten through 5th grade.
Hello, my name is Leah Fanning, and I’ve been a parishioner of Saint Athanasios since I was five years old. I am excited to lead our JOY group with my co-leader, Amanda McKinney. My husband, Scott, and I live in Naperville with our three children—Elena, Audrey, and Clayton. During the day, I am a nursery educator at a hospital in Chicago. I love to connect with our parish children, kindergarten through 5th grade, and see our religion through their eyes.
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