Parenting Toward the Kingdom
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Six-session study of
Dr Philip Mamalakis’
Parenting Toward the Kingdom
At The Good Shepherd Orthodox Church
Commencing Sunday 3rd February 2019 and concluding Sunday 14th April 2019
The discussion will be appropriate for parents, couples yet to have children, and everyone having involvement with children—teachers, social workers, people in contact with grandchildren, nephews and nieces.
Parenting is a great joy but can also be a great challenge
“The constant challenges and struggles of parenting are not only meaningful but are in fact the most meaningful moments in which to teach our children how to live and love in the world.”
— Dr Philip Mamalakis, Parenting Toward the Kingdom
Parents are typically not taught how to parent. We usually parent according to how we were parented… or in response to it. And when we do seek to learn new skills, we soon discover that there are diverse theories as to how to parent! Who to believe?
Fortunately, we have the wisdom of the Church, the Scriptures and the writings of the Saints to guide us. One such source is Parenting toward the Kingdom by Dr Philip Mamalakis.
Focus
- Keeping long-term goals in mind and not sacrificing them for what is convenient in the short-term
- Responding and not reacting to our children
- Understand Struggles in Terms of the Values and Virtues of the Kingdom of God
- Walking with our children in their struggles
- Keeping strong boundaries whilst at the same time remaining compassionate and connected with our children (most parenting advice ends up too lenient or too authoritarian)
Format
- 6 fortnightly sessions
- Starting in February 2019
- Best to pre-read the book before the course commences
Who is this for?
- All current parents no matter what age
- Couples who intend to be parents
- All people who have involvement with children—teachers, social workers, people in contact with grandchildren, nephews and nieces
Sign up now
- Register for the course.
- Purchase the book.
- Put the first date in your diary: Sunday 3rd February 2019, 12:30 pm.
About Dr Philip Mamalakis
Dr Philip Mamalakis, with his wife Georgia and seven children, lives in Boston, Massachusetts, where he is the Assistant Professor of Pastoral Care at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology. Dr Mamalakis has a Master in Divinity from Holy Cross and a Doctor of Philosophy from Purdue University in child development and family studies specializing in marriage and family therapy. He has been offering parenting courses and writing on parenting for 21 years.
Here are some quotes from the book.
“In the home, in the struggles, is where we are learning patience, kindness, gentleness, self-control, sharing, taking turns, helping others and, essentially, selfless love. It is in the home that we are working out our salvation, being perfected in Christ and being made holy.”
“Too often we believe that good parents, especially Christian parents, do not make mistakes. This is a denial of the very nature of the Christian life, spiritual growth and parenting…this book is not about how to be a perfect parent but how to be perfected in Christ as a parent.”
“The constant challenges and struggles of parenting are not only meaningful but are in fact the most meaningful moments in which to teach our children how to live and love in the world.”
About your course facilitator
Father of three beautiful children whom he homeschools, Sub-deacon Timothy is a committed father and a member of the clergy at The Good Shepherd.
Timothy says he found the book, “An absolute game-changer.” He’s excited to share how the wisdom in this book has transformed his parenting style—and to explore with you how it can transform yours.
Raised by Pentecostal missionary parents in South America, Sub-deacon Timothy had a desire to serve God from a young age. In his early twenties he was attracted to Orthodoxy by its beauty, its treasury of spiritual wisdom and the benefits he saw in the application of its ancient prayers and fasting practices.
He is a father to his three beautiful children Isaac, Symeon and Elizabeth, and is delighted to help you explore Parenting Toward the Kingdom.
To participate
- Register for the course.
- Purchase the book.
- Put the first date in your diary: Sunday 3rd February 2019, 12:30 pm.
Details
The Good Shepherd Orthodox Church, located in Clayton, Melbourne, is a living witness to the power of the Gospel and the fullness of the Christian Faith in modern, secular Australia.
We are a vibrant Australian Christian community under the direction of the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia, New Zealand & the Philippines, within the jurisdiction of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East.
The Church of Antioch is the continuation of the Christian community founded in Antioch by the Apostles Peter (who served as its first bishop) and Paul. The Patriarchate of Antioch is the oldest of the ancient Patriarchates constituting the one Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church of Jesus Christ.
All services are in the English language and are held in the Main Chapel of the Religious Centre at Monash University, Clayton Campus, conveniently located in the centre of Melbourne’s residential population.
Parking in the University car parks is free on Sundays, but please take note of all signs regarding Loading Zones, No Standing and Disabled Parking, these restrictions apply and are enforced.
For directions to the Religious Centre click here