NATIVITY OF THE THEOTOKOS

 

Here we begin the Church School year, just before the first feast of the new year.

Home Activities:

• Make your Feast Wheel and hang it in a prominent place to refer to through the year. Color the icon of this feast and place it in your icon corner.
• Reread the stories of Joachim and Anna. 
• Decorate the house with blue, the color of the Theotokos.
• There are lots of nurses in the icon; visit a hospital and view the nurses. Maybe you can even get a tour.
• Play nurse: you can lie in bed like Anna and your child can wait on you. 

Prayer: Lord, bless all babies, born and unborn, as you blessed Joachim and Anna with the baby Mary.

 

 

Nativity of the Theotokos Cryptogram

Decode the message below to learn an important fact about this feast!

 

Movable Feasts

 

Glue to a piece of poster board and cut out. Attach to center of feast wheel with a brad. Then color and add the feasts on the next page. You could do this all at once, or ceremonially when we study that feast as the year progresses.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PICTURES FOR FEAST WHEEL

 

ELEVATION OF THE CROSS

 

Home Activities:

• Color the icon And place it in your icon corner.
• Practice crossing yourself with your child and sing each day “Before Thy Cross”.
• Begin to grow some basil for the next celebration.
• Review the story of the finding of the Holy Cross and review the story of the crucifixion.
• Wear your cross each day!

Prayer: Before thy cross…

 

 

 

EPISTLES: ROMANS

We’re now beginning the epistles.

Home Activities:

• Do the word puzzle to familiarize yourself with their names.
• Our focus with the younger classes for this week will be on being members of Christ’s body.  Color and label the parts of the body.
• Can your child memorize at least part of the verse: “we are one body in Christ”.?
• Memory verses: ages 3-7 12:4-5, ages 8-10 7:19, middle school 2:6. The Fallen Phrases puzzle should help the middle group with their memory verse.
• As your child bathes and dresses, review the parts of his body and their functions.
• Sing “Father Abraham”.
• Talk with your child about his own “ministry” in the Lord; is there something even a child can do for Jesus? Can he visit the sick, make food for the homeless, write a get-well card, etc.
•  Every Bible storybook has numerous tales to tell about the life of Paul, from his conversion to his missionary journeys. Work your way through the life of this wonderful saint over the next few weeks.  
• Follow his journeys on the maps.
• Color the pictures of his life.

Prayer: Lord, make me a useful member of your body.

 

 

What does it say?

 

 

 

Romans 7:19

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                Books of the New Testament

 

Do you know them all for our memory work?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PAUL WRITING A LETTER

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NAME THE PARTS OF THE BODY   

ROMANS

Our theme here is obeying the civil authorities.

Home Activities:

• Try to memorize the verse: 13:1 for ages 3-7  11:17-18 ages 8-10,  14:12 middle school. Remember that the word puzzle is for the 8-10 memory work.
• Visit Ft. McHenry or the US Capitol.
• Talk about our civil government.
• Have a 4^th of July party.  Color the pictures of our country’s symbols.
• Visit a police station; how do the police help us?
• Review the 10 Commandments; how many can you recite? Read the story of Moses in the Bible or storybook.
• Keep going on the life of Paul. Color the picture of Rome.

Prayer: Lord, we pray for all civil authorities and government officials, that they may rule our country wisely and in thy ways.

 

 

 

Romans 11:17
Unscramble the tiles to reveal a message from St. Paul

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE GREAT CITY OF ROME, CAPITAL OF THE EMPIRE

 

 

 

                                                                                                                                                          

 

I CORINTHIANS

Now we focus on running the race of life.

Home Activities:

• Again, try to memorize the verse: 9:24 ages 3-7, 2:2 ages 8-10, 5:12 middle school. Remember that the word puzzle is for the 8-10 memory work.
• Have the neighbors over for relay races or an Olympics. Give crowns as prizes. Or make Olympic style medals from paper plates or old CDs with ribbons.
• Each day review the life of another great saint of the Church; what was his or her heavenly prize?
• Color the picture of Paul in Corinth. Can you find Corinth on the map?

Prayer: Lord, give me strength and health to run the race of life as did thy saints.

 

 

 

 

 

MEMORY VERSE FOR FIRST CORINTHIANS

 

 

 

 

 

 

PAUL WITH AQUILA AND PRISCILLA IN CORINTH
OLYMPIC MEDALIST

I CORINTHIANS

 

This week we work on caring and sharing.

Home Activities:

• Memorize the verse: 13:13 ages 3-7, 12:14  ages 8-10, 10:13 middle school. Remember that the word puzzle is for the 8-10 memory work.
• Read the whole chapter aloud each day.
• Review the story of stone soup; can you make some with your child?
• Color the picture of the pot; cut out pictures of vegetables from magazines and glue below.
• Your child should have decided on some action to take this week (Hint: it’s on the mobile!); work with him to ensure its completion.
• Sing “A New Commandment.”

Prayer: Lord, let me love my neighbor today, as You love me.

 

First Corinthians 12:14

 

Paul wrote in Greek to the Greek-speaking city of Corinth. Solve this cryptogram with Greek letters to find your memory verse:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stone Soup: A Lesson in Sharing

 

Many years ago three hungry soldiers were returning home from the wars. One day, as they came out of the forest, they saw a small village. Along the village lane they saw three shops: there was a bakery, a carpenter's shop and a tailor's shop.

The eldest of the three soldiers, the sergeant, told the soldiers to be cheerful. He was sure the kind people of the village would share their dinner with them. The soldiers knew their sergeant was a wise man. They were not worried. They knew he was right and they would soon have something to eat.

     The sergeant knocked on the first door. It was the tailor's shop. The door was opened and a woman stood before them. "Can I help you?" she asked.

     The soldiers replied, "Can you spare us some food? We have not eaten for some time and we are still far from home."

     The woman told them that the harvest had been bad and that she had no food to spare.

The soldiers turned to the next door. They hoped that they would have better luck there. But instead, the baker's wife told them she was sorry to see them hungry but that everyone had to look out for himself in days like these.

     Even in the third shop, they were turned away by the carpenter. And he told them that he did not believe in sharing.

     "What selfish people these are!" said the sergeant. "They do not know how to share. We must teach these people a lesson."

     "Shall we steal from them?" asked the soldiers.

     "No, no. We shall only teach these people how to make "stone soup."

     Soon they built a fire in the middle of the lane. They hung their kettle over the fire and filled it with water. They gathered some stones, washed them and put them in the water. Then the sergeant stirred the water, so that the stones rattled in the pot. He took a taste of the new soup and said, "This is good but some potatoes would surely bring out the flavor of the stones."

     Just then the baker said that there were a few potatoes in his shop. He would run and get them.

     "Oh, thank you. And bring a bowl so that you may join in our dinner," called the sergeant.

     Once the potatoes had been added to the soup, the soup was tasted again. This time one of the soldiers thought a carrot and some onions might make the soup more colorful. The tailor ran at once to get them and when he returned he had even found some salt to add to the pot. He was delighted as he added his offerings to the soup. He too was asked to join them for dinner.

     "Now," said the soldiers, "we shall have the final taste. Mmm-it is good, but perhaps a piece of meat would make it extra good."

     The carpenter scratched his beard and thought. Then he remembered a piece of meat he had been saving for a special dinner. He went back to his shop and returned with the meat.

     When the "stone soup" was ready, it was so good, that the carpenter asked for the recipe.

     The sergeant answered by saying, "You have fine stones to cook with in this village. But the real secret of good stone soup is the sharing that everyone does to make it good."

As they sat together and enjoyed their meal they knew that the soldiers and their wise sergeant had taught them a lesson about sharing. It was a lesson they would never forget.

 

Have you made any stone soup lately?

 

I CORINTHIANS

(Optional lesson – if you need it to fill in the year)

 

This week we focus on Christ crucified.

 

Home Activities:

• Memory work for the all classes is I Corinthians 2:2: “For I am determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified."
• Review in your Bible storybooks or Bibles the events of Holy Week and the Crucifixion.
• Place the icon of the crucifixion in your icon corner; who are the people and why are they there?
• Buy or make a new cross this week and wear it every day.

 

Prayer: “Before Thy Cross…”

 

 

 

Use this puzzle to work on the memory verse with older children:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

II CORINTHIANS

Home Activities:

•  Students should know that Jesus is the light of the world.
• Learn the memory verses:  4:6 ages 3-7,  9:7 ages 8-10, 1:5 for middle school. Remember that the word puzzle is for the 8-10 memory work.
• Use the child’s candle made in class, or another candle, every evening at your prayers.
• Remind them that Jesus is the light of the world.
• Color the icon and put it in your icon corner. 
• Look at physical sources of light: the sun, moon, stars, lamps, candles, etc.
• Sing “This Little Light of Mine”. 

Prayer: Let my light shine in the world with your holy light.

 

 

 

2 CORINTHIANS 9:7

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

JESUS, THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD


 

GALATIANS

 

We focus today on the fruit of the spirit.

Home Activities:

• Try to memorize the verse; knowing the fruit of the Spirit will be important for years: 5:22-23a  for ages 3-7, 6:7 ages 8-10, 2:16a for middle school. Remember that the word puzzle is for the 8-10 memory work.
• Look at natural fruit – at the supermarket, etc.
• Make a fruit basket for a shut-in.
• Make a fruit collage from magazine pictures. Color the fruit picture.
• Take the time to make paper mache fruit; your child will cherish it for years.  Cut newspaper into ½ inch wide strips about 6 inches long. Rub pieces of fruit with petroleum jelly, then cover with a Kleenex. Make a wallpaper paste of white flour and water mixed till mushy. Dip paper strips in paste and apply one layer to each piece of fruit vertically, then a layer horizontally, alternating for six layers total. Set fruit aside to dry. When dry, cut carefully all the way around with a knife from top to bottom and remove the fruit. Match the halves back together and apply one more layer of paper mache across the joints. Allow to dry. Give one coat of white paint, then paint with the desired colors.

 

 

 

 

Prayer: Lord, give me the fruit of your Spirit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GALATIANS 6:7

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EPHESIANS

 

Here we focus on the armor of God.

Home Activities:

• Are you still working on the life of Paul each day? Color the picture of Paul in Ephesus.
• Can you find Ephesus on the map?
• Still memorizing the verse?  6:11 for ages 3-7, 3:18-19 ages 8-10,  5:3 for middle school. Remember that the word puzzle is for the 8-10 memory work.
• This would be a great time to put on armor and swords; look at the life of St. George and color his icon for your icon corner.
• Visit the Walter’s and see the knights in armor; name the pieces.

Prayer: Lord, help me to put on your armor and to stand strong in your strength.

 

 

EPHESIANS 3:19

 

Unscramble the tiles to reveal a message from St. Paul:

 

PAUL IN EPHESUS

PHILIPPIANS

 Our Philippians lesson focuses on prayer.

Home activities:

• Work on your memory verses: 4:6 for ages 3-7, 2:3 ages 8-10, 4:6-7 for middle school. Remember that the word puzzle is for the 8-10 memory work.
• Color the picture of Paul and Silas in Philippi. What happened there?
• Each child will make a prayer banner in class; help them to pray for the needs written on the intercessor cards and add those of your own family.
• Make up a family litany; pray each night with the children answering “Lord, have mercy” and “Grant It, O Lord”.
• Review and memorize the Lord’s Prayer. Pray it each day.

 

     We also begin Advent shortly. Of course, this is a fast period. But, there are so many fun Advent activities to prepare for Nativity that we almost forget we are fasting! Make a Jesse tree with ornaments representing the Old Testament saints who went before our Lord; of course, review a story each night as you add your ornament. Make an Advent Calendar: color the icon of the Nativity, glue it on heavy paper, cut out windows, glue a piece of paper behind it and add a sticker for each window. And, an Advent wreath always adds some depth; light a candle each Saturday night during your prayers of preparation for Liturgy.

 

 

 

PHILIPPIANS 2:3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PAUL AND SILAS IN PHILIPPI

 

COLOSSIANS

 

 Our theme this week is forgiveness.

Home Activities:

• Again, memorize the verse: 3:13 for ages 3-7, 3:23 ages 8-10, 3:20 for middle school. Remember that the word puzzle is for the 8-10 memory work.   
• Also work again on the Lord’s Prayer; what does it say about forgiveness?
• Each day, be sure your child has forgiven anyone he has been hurt by and is forgiven by anyone he has hurt; this is a week for a tender conscience.
• We made forgiveness bouquets in Church School; the child should give a flower anytime he needs forgiveness this week.
• Look at other Bible stories of forgiveness; what about Joseph and his brothers?
• Color the icon of the publican and Pharisee. What did Jesus teach us with this parable?

Pray the Lord’s Prayer each day.

 

 

COLOSSIANS 3:23
 

Unscramble each of the clue words.
Take the letters that appear inboxes and unscramble them for the final message from the next verse.

 

PRESENTATION OF THE VIRGIN

Home Activities:

• The Entrance of the Theotokos or Presentation of the Virgin celebrates Mary’s entrance into the temple. Is it on your feast wheel?
• Color the icon and place it in your icon corner.
• Review other Bible stories of Mary, the Theotokos.
• Sing the Megalynarion from the Liturgy each day.

Prayer: Pray for us, Mary, to your son Jesus.

 

I AND II THESSALONIANS

Our lesson this week will focus on giving thanks to God.

Home Activities:

• Memorize “in everything give thanks” and practice thanksgiving all week.  This should also fall right around the US holiday of Thanksgiving!
• Memory verses: I 5:18 for ages 3-7,  I 3:9 ages 8-10,  I 5:2 for middle school. Remember that the word puzzle is for the 8-10 memory work.
• Write thank-you notes to relatives and friends. 
• Review the story of the healing of the lepers; how many thanked the Lord? Color his icon.
• Continue your Advent preparations as well – your wreath, Jesse tree, and Advent Calendar. You'll find here a printable Advent Calendar to begin 40 days before Nativity. Just color the animals and icon, and then color one star each day during Advent. 

Prayer: Lord, help us to remember to thank you every day of our lives.

 

Word Puzzle: Unscramble each word to make our memory verse for this week.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IN EVERYTHING GIVE THANKS!

I AND II TIMOTHY

 

We are concentrating this week on Jesus as a shepherd.

Home Activities:

• Visit the sheep at a farm or the zoo. Study their characteristics; how are we like sheep?
• Reread the story of David the shepherd-boy and of the shepherds at the Nativity.
• Remind the children that our priest is our earthly shepherd; make Father a thank-you card decorated with a sheep.
• Do the sheep crafts and word puzzle.
• Memory verses: II 2:10 for ages 3-7, II 2:5 for ages 8-10, II 1:2 for middle school. Remember that the word puzzle is for the 8-10 memory work.
• Who was Timothy? Color the picture of Timothy with his mother and grandmother.

 

This is also St.Nicholas week.

• This is a great time to put out a shoe on the evening of December 5; what excitement when it is filled with gold coins and goodies in the morning.
• Review the story of St. Nicholas. 

Prayer: Lord, bless him who blesses us.

 

 

II TIMOTHY 2:5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TIMOTHY WITH HIS MOTHER AND GRANDMOTHER

 

 

TITUS AND PHILEMON

 

This week we will be slaves.

Home Activities:

• Reread the stories of Joseph with Potiphar, the Hebrew people in the days of Moses, the slaves in early American history.
• Retell the story of Onesimus, the runaway slave who went back to ask forgiveness of his master Philemon.  Color their picture.
• Memory verses: Ph 16  for ages 3-7, T 2:15 ages 8-10,  T 3:3,5 for middle school. Remember that the word puzzle is for the 8-10 memory work.
• Make lots of paper chains for your tree as you talk about slavery.

Prayer: Lord, bless with freedom all those held in slavery around the world.

 

 

TITUS 2:15

 

Unscramble the letters in the circle boxes to find the second half of the verse:

 

 

THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD

 

Finally, the Nativity of Christ! There is so much to do!

Home Activities:

• Be sure to decorate the icon of the feast for your icon corner.
• There are also puzzles and a diorama to color and cut out.
• Decorate the tree with ornaments and paper chains.
• Hang your stained glass icon in the window.
• Have a birthday cake for Jesus.
• Review the Christmas greeting, “Christ is born!” and the response, “Glorify Him!”
• Sing the Troparion: “Thy Nativity”. 
• You can make crèche scenes out of the strangest things at home – pine cone people, toilet paper tube people, spoon people, etc. Be sure to have a crèche at home to review the story; before Christmas, Mary and Joseph can slowly move around the room toward the stable.

Prayer: Lord, may you come in our hearts as you came on earth as a little child.

 

 

 

The concept of 12 days of Christmas dates back to approximately 350 A.D. when December 25^th was proclaimed the date to celebrate Jesus’ birth.  The first recorded reference to the twelve days of Christmas was noted in the year 567 A.D. when the Council of Tours declared that the 12 days between Christmas and Theophany were to be a festive period.   

The song “The 12 Days of Christmas” has its origin in the 16^th century and was written in England as a creative means to teach children about their faith during a time when expressing beliefs outside the Church of England was forbidden.  The generous benefactor referred to in the song is God, our Heavenly Father.  Each of his gifts has religious significance.

 

THEOPHANY

Home Activities:

• Color the icon of the feast and put it in your icon corner.
• If your child did not decorate a jar for holy water in Church School this week, do one at home.
• Review the story of the birth of John the Baptist and of the baptism of Jesus.
• Visit the doves at a pet shop.
• Practice the Troparion, “When Thou, O Lord, wast baptized in the Jordan…”
• Let your child help prepare for the house blessing with the holy water you receive at church; let him keep his own small bottle of holy water in his own icon corner to partake a small amount when ill or in need of spiritual comfort.

Prayer: May the Lord who rose from the waters of baptism bless us all with His Holy Spirit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TROPARION FOR THEOPHANY
 

HEBREWS

Our theme this week is angels.

Home Activities:

• Memorize the verses 1:4  for ages 3-7, 4:12 for ages 8-10, 2:3 for middle school. Remember that the word puzzle is for the 8-10 memory work.
• Tell the stories of angels in the Bible – of Gabriel and Zachariah and Gabriel with Mary.
• What about Daniel and the lion’s den?
• Have your child look for pictures of angels all through the week; you’ll find them at the grocery story, in paintings, in card shops, etc.
• Make angels at home from paper plates, from toilet paper tubes, from styrofoam cones, etc. Can you make an angel mobile?
• Color the icon of the angel and place it in your icon corner.

Prayer: Lord, send my guardian angel to watch over me each day.

 

HEBREWS 4:12

What does God have to say about His word?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DANIEL IN THE LION’S DEN
 

 

 

 

 

THE ARCHANGEL MICHAEL

 

HEBREWS

This week we concentrate on faith and hope.

Home Activities:

• This chapter of Hebrews is full of Old Testament stories. Read one each night – Abel, Noah, Abraham and Sarah, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, Samson, David.
• Memorize the verses: 11:1 for ages 3-7, 7:17 for ages 8-10, 11:1 for middle school. Remember that the word puzzle is for the 8-10 memory work.
• Discuss how each of these saints showed their faith in their deeds. Color their pictures for a wall mural or Bible storybook. Can your older child write the stories down while the younger one colors the illustrations?

Prayer: Lord, may we today have the great faith of your servants in the past.

 

 

 

HEBREWS 7:17

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NOAH

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ABRAHAM

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

JOSEPH WELCOMES HIS BROTHERS

 

 

 

 

 

 

MOSES AT THE RED SEA

 

 

 

 

 

 

JOSHUA AT JERICHO

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SAMSON DESTROYS THE TEMPLE OF THE FALSE GODS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DAVID AND GOLIATH

JAMES

With James we concentrate on the tongue.

Home Activities:

• Memorize the verse:   3:5 for ages 3-7, 4:1 ages 8-10, and 1:22 for middle school.  Remember that the word puzzle is for the 8-10 memory work.
• Explore your own tongues; try tasting sweet, sour, salty, and bitter things with a blindfold on.
• Tell the story of Pinocchio; what happened to him because of his tongue?
• Watch your tongue all week; have a large “tongue jar” all decorated up and put a penny in each time a family member says something that hurts someone else.

Prayer: Forgive me for the acts of my mighty tongue and help me to control it better tomorrow.

JAMES 4:1

 

Unscramble the words of the verse to find God’s answer in James 4:8.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PINOCCHIO IS SAVED

 

THE MEETING OF THE LORD

Home Activities:

• The Meeting of the Lord (also known as The Presentation of Jesus): Is it on your feast wheel?
• Color the icon and review the story and the names of the participants. Place the icon in your icon corner.
• Sing the prayer of St. Simeon each evening at the end of your family prayers. This is sung each evening at vespers. Can you incorporate it into your family worship for a week?
• Show pictures of your child’s churching if you have any.

Prayer: Lord, bless each child brought to you as Simeon and Anna were blessed by you as a child.

 

 

 

I PETER

Home Activities

• Review the life of Peter in your bedtime stories – fisherman, denial, Pentecost, with Cornelius, etc. Which icons is he in?
• This week we are architects. Learn the verse, “the stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.”
• Memory verses: 2:7a  for ages 3-7, 1:25 for ages 8-10, 3:15 for middle school. Remember that the word puzzle is for the 8-10 memory work.
• Study rocks – what are their similarities and differences.
• Review the parable of the man who built his house on the rock; color the picture for your refrigerator. Try building yourself a castle of blocks on a shifting mattress and on the solid floor.
• Take a set of blocks; can you build a stable tower without one of the bottom corners?
• Put your child’s pet rock (made in class) in the icon corner along with the icon of Sts. Peter and Paul to color.

Prayer: Lord, help me to build my life on You as my rock.

 

 

I PETER 1:25

 

Put the tiles in order to read your verse:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PETER WAS A FISHERMAN

 

 

 

 

II PETER AND JUDE

 

We focus today on the Second Coming.

Home Activities:

• Memorize  verses from II Peter: 3:10 for ages 3-7, 1:5-7 for 8-10, 2:1 for middle school. Remember that the word puzzle is for the 8-10 memory work.
• In storytime review the stories mentioned by St. Peter – Sodom and Gomorrah (and Lot’s wife), Noah, Balaam and the donkey, Moses and the golden calf, Cain and Abel.
• Read together the parable of the Last Judgment (Color the icon.) and decide on a specific course of action this week to help the hungry or the sick or those in prison, etc.; carry it out as a family.
• We will make food bags for the homeless in Church School; keep these in your car and keep a lookout for those street beggars saying they’re hungry.

Prayer: Lord, help me to serve you by serving others.

 

 

 

I,II, III JOHN

I John is called the love book for good reason.

Home Activities:

• Memorize the verse from I John: 4:16 for ages 3-7, 1:1 for 8-10, 2:15-17 for middle School. Remember that the word puzzle is for the 8-10 memory work.
• Color the picture and make a wreath for your child's door or for your refrigerator.
• Make Valentines (I know it’s just a little late) for shut-ins or friends with a tiny icon or Scripture verse inside.
• Sing “A New Commandment” as you drive along or take a bath.
• Play with the puzzle you made in Church School.
• Each child was asked to show special love for someone specific this week; help your child with this project. A card for Grandma? A visit to the nursing home? A chore done at home?

Prayer: Lord, help me to show God’s love to others this week and every week.

 

 

I JOHN 1:1

 

 

THE REVELATION

The Revelation is a difficult book.

Home activities:

• Do your last memory verses: 3:20 for ages 3-7, 4:8 for 8-10, 1:8 for middle school. Remember that the word puzzle is for the 8-10 memory work.  
• Use the word puzzle to find its major messages. But, it’s full of great imagery.
• Put on the last parts of Handel’s Messiah this week; play it at full volume.
• Practice knocking at doors and opening them, especially when getting ready to pray or go to church.
• Listen at Liturgy for the Trisagion and Cherubic Hymns and look at the icons for the Pantokrator and alphas and omegas.
• Pull out the encyclopedia with the Greek alphabet; where are alpha and omega?

Prayer: Lord, help me to listen when you knock.

 

 

THE REVELATION 4:8

 

Unscramble each of the words of the first half of the verse. Transfer the letters to the same numbered box below to find out what they said!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

JESUS KNOCKING AT THE DOOR

BAPTISM

We now enter the lessons on the sacraments, beginning with baptism.

Home Activities:

• Show your child pictures of his baptism, his cross, his candle, his garments if you have them.
• Visit your godparents to reminisce; send a thank-you card for their love and care.
• Color the picture. Post on your refrigerator.
• Review the baptism of Jesus; put the icon of Theophany back in the icon corner. Use the icon to review the characters and their roles in the baptism of Jesus.
• Role-play a baptism at home,with your child wearing the baptismal robe made in Church School.
• Visit the new baby of a parishioner (with permission, of course).

Prayer: Lord, make my life new each day with the ongoing miracle of baptism with You.

 

     We are also entering Lent. Review fasting with your children; some may be too young to fast fully but still can understand the concept. Come to as many Lenten services as you can.

     Make an egg tree: blow out eggs for several weeks before Lent and let them drain and dry. Then decorate them as prayer requests – as members of your family, friends, travelers by land, sea, and air, your government, etc. – one for each day of Lent. As you add the egg to the tree, pray for the person or intention; your intercessory prayers will lengthen as the 40 days continue.

 

 

CHRISMATION

Home activities:

• Show your child pictures of his chrismation.
• Place the icon of Pentecost back in the icon corner and review the story of Pentecost. Look at fire this week – what is it like? Visit the fire station. Make a fire in the fireplace for a family evening.
• What does “Seal!” mean? Get some sealing wax and make a seal with air-drying clay – maybe with a dove or a flame on it. Seal your letters (even the bills) with your “Holy Spirit Seal”.
• Fill in your “Chrismation Certificate” complete with picture for the refrigerator.

Prayer: Lord, fill me with the fire of your Holy Spirit, given to me at my chrismation.

CHRISMATION CROSSWORD

Across

2. The word spoken during anointing

3. The holy oil

5. Old Testament people filled with the Holy Spirit

6. Cutting of the hair

7. The Comforter, the Spirit of Truth

Down

1. Ceremonial walk around the altar

2. Old Testament hero whose strength was in his hair

4. Anointing with oil

5. Feast celebrating the descent of the Holy Spirit

 

ANNUNCIATION

We now arrive at the feast of the Annunciation.

Home Activities:

• Is it on your feast wheel?
• Color the icon and place it in your icon corner.
• Review the story of the Annunciation; use the icon or the puppets made in class to tell the story.
• Practice the difficult word, “annunciation”, and be sure that they know that it means “announcement”.
• Sing the Megalynarion at your family prayer time: “More honorable than the cherubim…”
• Review the Lord’s Prayer; how did Mary respond to “Thy will be done”?

Prayer: Lord, help me to do thy will as did Mary, your mother.

 

Annunciation Double Puzzle

 

First unscramble the words of the Magnificat, the prayer of Mary:

 

Unscramble each of the clue words.
Take the letters that appear in circled boxes and unscramble them for the final message, the words spoken by Mary to Gabriel after the Annunciation.

 

 

CONFESSION

Confession is not terribly fun, but very important.

Home activities:

• Review the story of the Prodigal Son; color his icon and place it in your icon corner. Sing his song.
• Have you memorized the Lord’s Prayer yet? Work on it.
• Put the icon of Jesus that your child cleaned in class in the icon corner.
• On Saturday night especially, prepare for Liturgy by confessing (privately or within the family); go to Confession with your child if he is old enough (It’s Lent, right?)

Prayer: Pray the Lord’s prayer, with special emphasis on “Forgive us our sins…”

 

 

 

 

 

The Prodigal's Prayer of Repentance

 

 

What did the Prodigal Son finally decide?

PALM SUNDAY

We study the feast of Palm Sunday the week before so we can prepare to celebrate it.

Home activities:

• Tell the story of Lazarus Saturday and Palm Sunday; color the icon and place it in your icon corner.
• Decorate your icon corner with the palm branches made by your children in class.
• Put on a play if you have several children. March around the house waving your palm branches and shouting “Hosanna in the Highest!”
• Visit the donkeys at a zoo or at Clark Elioak Farms; look at pictures of palm trees in the library or National Geographic.

Prayer: Lord, make us as bold as the children on Palm Sunday to shout your praises.

 

 

PASCHA

This week we prepare for Pascha.

Home activities:

• Of course, there will be plenty of Church services to attend. Research the dates and times and names of services and fill them in your hand-out.
• Try to go to Holy Unction on Wednesday; this will be a big help when we study unction shortly.
• Each night at storytime, review what Jesus was doing that very day.
• Put the icon of Pascha in your icon corner.
• Practice the Paschal greeting in as many languages as you can muster so your child will be an active participant in the service.
• Sing together the hymn, “Christ is risen from the dead…” -- learn lots of different versions!
• And don’t forget the wonderful traditions: dye eggs (use crayons to make Pysanky), prepare your Pascha basket and cover, bake Easter bread, make Pascha cheese. You’ll be busy this week!

Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, who died for my sins and rose from the dead, have mercy on me.

 

Pascha Crossword

Across

2. Gave Jesus his own new tomb

6. Disciple who denied Jesus three times

8. Ancestor of Jesus who danced before the ark

11. City where Jesus was arrested

12. Jewish Feast Jesus was celebrating

14. Hill where Jesus was Crucified

16. Inspired prophet named in Canon

Down

1. He carried Jesus's cross

3. Roman governor who condemned Jesus

4. Garden where Jesus prayed

5. High priest who condemned Jesus

7. Criminal chosen by the crowd

9. Jewish King of Galilee

10. Only Disciple at the cross

11. His sermon is read on Pascha

13. Prophet who spent three days in a fish

15. Disciple who betrayed Jesus

 

DIVINE LITURGY AND EUCHARIST

 Divine Liturgy and the Eucharist –what a full lesson this week!

Home Activities:

• Make liturgy cards with the parts of the liturgy; can your child put them in order? (with small children use pictures like the ones in the parents’ guide)
• Hang your child’s censer in your icon corner and light it with a candle or incense each evening with your family devotions.
• Make Prosphora this week; you can freeze it and bring it another week since we can’t all bring it the same week.
• Make a list of the names of family members, living and deceased, for Father to pray for during the Proskomedia.
• Read the story of the Last Supper and place its icon in your icon corner.
• There are many pages of coloring and games in your parents’ guide to help with this important week. Can you color them and then make a booklet in order to bring to church?

Prayer: Lord, bless us with the miracle of your body and blood, this week and every week.

 

DIVINE LITURGY MATCHING GAME (These are in order, if you want to do flash cards)

Proskomedia                            We receive the body and blood of Jesus

 

Blessed is the Kingdom           Procession with the Gospel book to the altar

 

Litany                                      Readings from the letters of Paul, Peter, John, James, or Jude

 

Troparia and Kontakia             The Three Holies remind us of the Trinity

 

Emperor’s Song                      Priest offers the bread and wine to God with thanksgiving

 

Little Entrance                         We pray the prayer taught to us by Jesus

 

Trisagion                                  We pray for all the world’s needs.

 

Prokimenon                             We sing a song to Mary, the Theotokos

 

Epistle                                      The entire Church gathered on a plate and prayed for

 

Gospel                                     We affirm our faith

 

Great Entrance                         Theme songs of the day, sung in one of eight tones

 

Creed                                       Old Testament Verses

 

Anaphora                                 The priest thanks God and blesses us with the cross

 

Megalynarion                           Song written by Justinian summarizing the Bible’s teaching about Jesus

 

Lord’s Prayer                           Readings from the works of Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John

 

Eucharist                                  We’re invited to a journey into God’s kingdom

 

Benediction                             Procession with the bread and wine while singing Cherubic Hymn

 

 

 

 

MARRIAGE

 

We now study the sacrament of marriage.

Home Activities:

• Show your child pictures of your wedding, that of your parents, etc. They’ll want to know all the details. 
• Have an anniversary celebration.
• Review the stories of famous Bible marriages – Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebecca, Jacob and Rachel, Ruth and Boaz, Zachariah and Elizabeth. Color their pictures for a special book.
• Reread the story of the wedding at Cana, read at each Orthodox wedding.
• Review the names of the 2 parts of the wedding ceremony – betrothal and crowning – and what happens at each. Sing the wedding processional.

Prayer: Lord, bless all married couples and their families.

 

 

The Wedding Prokimenon

Unscramble the tiles to reveal the wedding Prokimenon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ABRAHAM AND SARAH

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

REBECCA TRAVELS TO ISAAC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RACHEL, JACOB’S BELOVED

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RUTH AND BOAZ

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ZACHARIAS AND ELIZABETH

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE WEDDING AT CANA

ORDERS

Home Activities:

• Work with your child on the words “ordain” and “ordination”.
• Send a special Thank you note to Father, to the bishop?
• Do the paper doll to remember the vestments.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the ministers you have given to help me.

 

Matching Game

Match the role, clothing, or ceremony with the appropriate “order”; there is often more than one match for each:

 

                                                Governing diocese

                                               

Deacon                                    Chasuble

 

                                                Dalmatic

 

                                                Pastoral staff

 

                                                Priest’s helper during services

 

                                                Mantle

 

Priest                                       Administers the sacrament of ordination

 

                                                Mitre

 

                                                Songs of marriage service are sung during ordination

 

                                                Orarion

 

                                                Stole

 

Bishop                                     Father of a local church

 

                                                Prayer at ordination remembers St. Stephen

 

Administers all sacraments except ordination

 

Biretta

 

Sticharion

 

 

ASCENSION

Home Activities:

• The feast of the Ascension: the end of Pascha. Be sure your child can say “Ascension”.
• Reread the story of the feast.
• Color the icon for your icon corner.
• Look at the life of a butterfly in a book (Visit the library?) Put your child’s stained glass butterfly in the window.
• Look at the clouds also; picture Jesus leaving in a cloud and coming back in one. What types of clouds are there? Which will He choose?

Prayer: Lord, may I remember always that You are with me always.

 

What did Jesus say at the Ascension?

Unscramble the command of Jesus. Use the numbered letters to discover His promise.

PENTECOST

Home Activities:

• Color the icon and place it in your icon corner. What color frame does it get?
• Do the puzzle.
• Reread the story of Pentecost.
• Blow bubbles together. Blow a fan. How is the Holy Spirit like the wind and the air? (He fills things and is strong, but cannot be seen)
• Get some books about tornadoes or hurricanes at the library; is the wind strong and powerful?
• Have a birthday cake for the Church. Wear the flame headdresses you made in class.

Prayer: “O Heavenly King…”

 

What prayer do we pray daily to the Holy Spirit? Decode the puzzle to find out:

 

HOLY UNCTION

Home Activities:

• Did you attend the unction service on Holy Wednesday? Review it today.
• Talk about times when your child has been sick. What can he do?
• Each day at storytime tell the story of another healing miracle of Jesus. Color the icon.
• Reread the story of the Good Samaritan also; this is read during the Holy Unction service.
• Why? Color the icon of the Good Samaritan and put it in your icon corner.

Prayer: Lord, bless all those who are sick and heal them, especially (is there anyone you know who is sick?).

 

 

JAMES 5:14,15

 

What does the Lord command us to do in the Epistle of James?

 

 

REQUIEM

Requiem is a hard topic for young children.

Home Activities:

• Reread the story of Lazarus, of Jairus’s daughter, of the resurrection of Jesus.  Color the icon of Lazarus.
• Visit a cemetery and make grave rubbings; these will decorate your home as a memory of the deceased. 
• Make your own koliva (recipe in the recipe book) and your own list of people in your family who have passed away to pray for; can you show your child pictures of his great-grandparents, etc.
• Visit a National Cemetery on Memorial Day and lay red, white, and blue flowers or flags on the graves of servicemen.

Prayer: Lord, bless the souls of those who have gone to be with you in heaven and may their memory be eternal. Finish by singing “Memory Eternal”.

 

 

 

Requiem Double Puzzle

What is the service called?

What is it called in Slavonic?

What do we hold?

What food do we make?

Who did Jesus raise from the dead?

What’s the shortest verse in the Bible?

The “falling asleep” of Mary is called what?

How do we know there is life after death?

 

What do we sing?

 

                                                                                               

Unscramble each of the clue words.
Take the letters that appear in circle boxes and unscramble them for the final message.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Write here the names of people who have died that you wish to remember in your prayers.

 

TRANSFIGURATION

We do this lesson a week before the feast itself in August, so use these activities to prepare for the feast.

Home Activities:

• Color the icon and place it in your icon corner.
• Find the feast on your Feast Wheel. It's a fixed feast, and in August.
• Come to the liturgy; let your child help you prepare your fruit basket to bring to Church. Can you dry or can fruit together?
• Read the story of Transfiguration in your story time.
• Review fasting with your child; we’re in the Dormition fast the beginning of August.

Prayer: Lord, give me the strength to see lots of your light.

 

 

 

DORMITION

 

Dormition falls in mid-August. Again, we study this feast the week before the feast to prepare for the celebration.

• Color the icon and place it in your icon corner.
• Decorate all over the house, especially in front of icons of Mary, with flowers, fresh or silk or tissue paper. Make lots of tissue paper flowers.
• Let your child help you in making a bouquet to take to church for Liturgy and put it in front of the icon of the Theotokos.
• In your story time reread stories of Mary, her Annunciation, the Nativity of Christ, the trip to the temple when Jesus was 12, the Crucifixion, the Resurrection, Ascension, and Pentecost. Look for Mary in each of these stories.

Prayer: Lord, fill me with the fragrant love of your mother, Mary.