OLD TESTAMENT
PARENTS’ GUIDE
MASTER SCHEDULE -- sample, fill in your own dates
Schedule of Classes:
Date |
Lesson/Activity |
Special Notes |
Opening Exercises |
September 13 20 27 |
Creation Adam & Eve/The Fall Noah |
|
Intro. to OT Lucifer Enoch |
October 3 4 11 17 18 25 |
Movie Night: Noah Tower of Babel Abraham Movie Night: Abraham Isaac Jacob |
Outdoors if possible
Social Hall after Vespers
|
Mesopotamia Ishmael
Lot Esau |
November 1 8 15 21 22 29 |
Joseph #1 Joseph #2 Moses #1 Movie Night: Moses Moses #2 Balaam |
All Saint’s Party
Social Hall after Vespers Memory: 10 Commandments |
12 Tribes Ancient Egypt Seder
10 Comm. Bronze serpent |
December 5 6 13 20 27 |
St. Nicholas Party Joshua Judges/Gideon Nativity Pageant Job |
Parish Wide
Social Hall and Nsg. Home
|
Rahab Deborah
Samson |
January 3 10 17 24 30 31 |
Ruth Samuel/Hannah Saul David/Goliath/Psalms Movie Night: David David |
3 Kings Party following
Memory work: Psalm 22 Social Hall after Vespers
|
Naomi Eli Jonathon Psalm 22
Psalm 150 |
February 7 14 21 27 28 |
Solomon Proverbs/Song of Songs Elijah Movie Night: Elijah Elisha |
Pack School Kits
Social Hall after Vespers |
Queen of Sheba Ecclesiastes Assyria
Jehoshaphat |
March 7 14 21 28 |
Jonah Isaiah Jeremiah Ezekiel |
|
Uzziah Hezekiah Judith Josiah |
April 4 5 11 18 25 |
PASCHA Bright Monday Egg Hunt 3 Young Men in Fire Tobit Daniel |
No Class After Liturgy
Pack Health Kits
|
Babylon Susannah Persia |
May 1 2 9 16 23 30 |
Movie Night: Esther Esther Minor Prophets No lesson: Camping Trip Minor Prophets Ezra/Nehemiah |
Social Hall after Vespers
Memory Work: Books of O.T.
Book Collection |
Xerxes Hosea
Habukkuk Memory Work |
June 6 12 13 |
Maccabees Dress Rehearsal Closing exercises/play |
Book Collection Social Hall after Vespers Social Hall and Nursing Home |
Hanukkah songs |
Each year we send home a parents’ guide to help you continue your children’s Christian education at home and to reinforce what is being taught in Church School. This gives each family with children some ideas for exciting activities for you and your children to enjoy together; it is not meant to be comprehensive or exclusive. Use your creativity! If you know the topic of the week, you can also think up some wonderful ways to “bring it home” from Church. This can start as simply as reviewing the lesson of the week (Can the children tell you the story?) in the car on the way home from Church and continue through the week in your daily devotions and prayers. This year we focus on the Old Testament and each child, from the smallest to the teens, will have a Bible storybook or Bible itself to read in Church School and at home. If you take it home, be sure to bring it every week!
It is very important even for the very young child to have daily prayers (Do you have a family icon corner? What about setting up one in his room?) and Bible (or Bible story) reading, maybe right after dinner or at bedtime. Your “home altar” could include icons (Jesus, Mary, family saints?), incense, candles, Bible, a jar of holy water, matches or lighter, prayer book. How about tablecloths or placemats or a piece of fabric or felt of the Liturgical colors to switch out seasonally. And, of course, include displays of specific artwork done by your child during the year for specific feasts and saints.
Do you say grace after each meal? Each day they can practice crossing themselves, lighting candles, burning incense, etc. And on Saturday night, in preparation for Liturgy the next day, what about a time of private confession to the Lord? You could even “pray the hours” on days when you are home: 7 AM (First Hour) thanking God for His light, 9 AM (3rd Hour) thanking Him for His Holy Spirit, 12 Noon (6th Hour) thanking Him for His crucifixion, and 3 PM (9th Hour) praying with the wise thief, “Remember me, O Lord, in thy Kingdom.” Very little time spent, but a habit begun. Don’t forget a Jesse Tree (the 10-12 class is making one this year) and Advent wreath to bring Nativity closer to home.
There will be some memory work for the year. While studying Moses, we will learn the Ten Commandments. While studying David, the 22nd Psalm. And, in the last few weeks of the year, the children in the 3-5 and 6-7 year old classes should learn the books of the Torah (the first 5 books) and the older students all the names of the books of the Old Testament. These will be recited when ready during opening exercises and prizes given. This would be great memory work to do in the car on the way to Liturgy! Here's a bookmark to print front and back with all the memory work on it for easy review:
Just because we don’t have classes on Nativity and Pascha does not mean you will not be busy! Put up your Jesse tree at the beginning of Advent and add one of the many ancestors of Jesus we’ve studied to it each day, reviewing the story as you do so. What’s a Jesse tree? See the next page for instructions. An Advent wreath with candles to light for each Sunday of Advent (How many are there in an Orthodox home?) will add a bit of beauty to your icon corner. Finally the big day arrives! The Nativity of Christ! There is so much to do! Decorate the tree with ornaments and paper chains. 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.
As we enter Lent, review fasting with your children; some may be too young to fast fully but still can understand the concept. Come to Presanctified Liturgies and 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.
And, finally Pascha! 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…” 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!
Now, on to suggestions for particular weeks. Note that in the back of the booklet are a coloring or activity page or 2 or 3 for almost every lesson. Crosswords and puzzles for older students are included with the materials, and, of course, the youngest students can color on anything in sight!
Don’t forget our parties and movie nights. These also form part of the learning experience. They are included in the calendar. Movie nights will begin right after vespers on Saturday with dinner for the whole family, followed by a short animated video for the smaller children. The feature film for the older children (You can decide how to define “older”, depending on maturity) with popcorn will include an overnight lock-in; bring sleeping bags. I will need at least one parent to spend the night with us. Details on the parties will be in the newsletter.
12 Tribes of Israel with their symbols for Concentration Game:
THE JESSE TREE
The idea for a Jesse tree comes from the Scripture referring to Jesus as being a tree from the root of Jesse. Jesse was the father of David, ancestor of Jesus both through Mary and through his adoptive father, Joseph. It was because of this ancestry that they were both traveling to Bethlehem for the census; Bethlehem was the city of David. Thus, the Jesse tree holds symbols of the ancestors, either physical or spiritual or both, of Jesus.
Traditionally, the Jesse tree is placed in the home at the beginning of Advent. For each day, the children add an “ornament” to the tree, one for each of 40 Old Testament saints and prophets. It is left up during the Christmas season as a reminder of the centuries God spent preparing a people for His coming.
How to make a Jesse tree? I’ve seen both 3-D and 2-D versions. With a 3-D version, you could take either a small purchased Christmas tree or a bare sapling or tree branch that looks like a tree, or make one with dowels like we are doing this year with the 10-12-year-old class is Church School. Then, for each character, you make a 3-D ornament that symbolizes the 40 characters you have chosen – e.g., an apple for Adam, a rainbow for Noah, a camel for Abraham, etc. These can be made a simply as taking a regular Christmas ball and gluing on a picture or a sticker, or with a multitude of craft styles and skill levels. They can all be in the same style or in a vast array of styles; if you leave them up to the creativity of the children, they’ll be in a vast array of styles, but interesting!
3-D version takes up too much space or too easy to knock over? Then make a felt banner with a large brown or black tree with lots of branches. Hang it on the wall and cut out felt shapes symbolizing the various characters and place them as if hanging from or sitting on the branches, one for each day. Using felt, you do not need Velcro unless the “ornaments” are particularly heavy. Some people get really fancy and needlepoint or embroider or stuff their ornaments; these will be heavy and need Velcro.
You don’t have children at home anymore? What more lovely gift to make for the grandchildren or godchildren than a Jesse tree complete with ornaments (or ornament kits) that they would enjoy year after year?
On the next page are selected readings for use as you place each ornament on the tree. The ornaments we made in Church School are in normal print. The other characters in bold are discussed in the opening exercises and ornament is suggested that can be made at home very, very simply to finish the 40 days.
JESSE TREE READING
Reading |
Subject |
Ornament |
Genesis 1 and 2 |
Creation |
Paper creation ball |
Genesis 3 |
Adam and Eve |
Bead apple |
Genesis 5:18-24 |
Enoch |
White Hair |
Genesis 6:9-8 |
Noah |
Rainbow of beads |
Genesis 11:1-8 |
Tower of Babel |
Tower of toothpicks |
Genesis 12:1-8, 17:1-8, 18:1-15 |
Abraham |
Egg-carton Camel |
Genesis 21:1-6, 22:1-18, 24:1-17 |
Isaac |
Lamb on Fire |
Genesis 25: 21-34, chapters 27-29, 31:1-7, chapter 33 |
Jacob |
Macaroni Angel |
Genesis 37, Genesis 39-45 |
Joseph |
Many-colored Coat |
Exodus 2:1-3:21, 5:1-15, 12:21-36, all of 14, 19 and 20 |
Moses |
Clay tablets |
Numbers 22-24 |
Balaam |
Spool Donkey |
Joshua 2 |
Rahab |
Small Basket on Rope |
Joshua 2, 4, 6, 24:15 |
Joshua |
Gold Trumpet |
Judges 4 |
Deborah |
Horse |
Judges 6-7 |
Gideon |
Clay pot with Candle |
Judges 13-16 |
Samson |
Scissors with Long Hair |
Job 1 and 42 |
Job |
Egg Face |
Ruth 1:3-8, 6-19, 2:1-12, 4:9-11 |
Ruth |
Sheaf of wheat |
I Samuel 1, 2:18-20, 3 (whole chapter) |
Samuel |
Tunic on Hanger |
I Samuel 9:15-10:8, 13:1-15, 15:10-28 |
Saul |
Paper crown with jewels |
I Samuel 16-17, I Samuel 19:1-10, 20:12-42, II Samuel 4:4, 9:1-7, 15:10-14, 18:5-14, 33 |
David |
Leather Slingshot |
I Kings 1:32-37, chapter 3 |
Solomon |
Clay Temple |
I Kings 17:1-18:2, 18:17-46, II Kings 2:1-13 |
Elijah |
Feather Raven |
I Kings 22:1-47, II Chronicles 19 |
Jehoshaphat |
Harp or Cymbals |
II Kings 4:1-36 and chapter 5 |
Elisha |
Clothespin Naaman |
Jonah 1-3 |
Jonah |
Yarn Whale with Jonah |
Judith 8-13 |
Judith |
Doll’s Head |
Isaiah 6, 37:33-38:8, 39 |
Isaiah |
Fiery Coal |
II Chronicles 29, 30, 32 + Isaiah 36-38 |
Hezekiah |
Sun |
II Chronicles 34 and 35 |
Josiah |
Small Bible |
Jeremiah 13:1-11 and chapter 28 |
Jeremiah |
Felt Belt |
Ezekiel 1:1-28, 3:1-9, 37:1-14 |
Ezekiel |
Skeleton |
Daniel 3 |
3 Young Men in Fire |
Pipecleaner Men |
Tobit 2, 5-12 (shorten as needed) |
Tobit |
Tobias’s Fishing Rod |
Daniel 5 & 6 |
Daniel |
Lion |
Esther 5:1-8 and chapter 7 |
Esther |
Beaded Crown |
Daniel 22:33, Habakkuk 3:17-19, 2:20 and 3:3 |
Habakkuk |
Pot of Stew |
Micah 1:1-12, Micah 6:8 and Micah 5:2-4 |
Micah |
Soldier |
Nehemiah 2:1-6, 4:6-23, 8:1-9 |
Ezra and Nehemiah |
Scroll |
II Maccabees 5:11-27, 8:1-10:9 |
Judah Maccabee |
Hanukkah Candles |
CREATION
All through the week point out the wonders of nature; on which day was each created? Look for small ways to care for God’s creation: Do you recycle? Pick up litter?
Puzzle and coloring sheet.
Read the story of Creation at bedtime; you can dwell on one day each night.
Try making at home a Creation Terrarium for all to enjoy for months to come.
Prayer: We thank You, Lord, for all You have created.
Match the day of creation with that which was created:
Day One Fish and birds
Day Two Light and darkness
Day Three Sun, moon, and stars
Day Four Land animals
Day Five God rested
Day Six Plants
Day Seven Land and Water
Water and heavens
Man
Coloring pages:
THE FALL
Visit the Reptile House at the Zoo. What are snakes like?
Identify trees – maple, oak, Tree of Life, Tree of Good and Evil. How are all trees alike?
How are these 2 different?
Puzzle and coloring sheet.
Put the icon of the Resurrection in your icon corner; where are Adam and Eve?
Read the story at bedtime each night.
Prayer: Help us, Lord, to obey You at all times.
Unscramble each of the clue words for the name of a tree.
Take the letters that appear in boxes and unscramble them for the most important tree.
Coloring pages:
NOAH
Prayer: Lord, give us the faith of Noah no matter how bad things look.
Coloring Pages:
Building the Ark
Noah welcomes the Animals
The Rainbow of God’s Promise
TOWER OF BABEL
Home activities:
Prayer: Lord, help us to understand each other by listening and learning
Across: 1. the people spoke one _______________. 5. _________were used to build the tower. 7. ______ was used as mortar for the bricks. 8. The people wanted the tower to reach up to the _________. |
|
Down: 2. the tower was called __________. 3. God wanted to ___________ the people all over the earth. 4. God confused their speech so they could not ______________ each other. 6. the tower was built on the plain of _________. |
Coloring page:
The Tower of Babel |
|
ABRAHAM
Home activities:
Prayer: Lord, give us the faith of Abraham to follow You.
Coloring pages:
Trace Abraham's journey on the map:
ABRAHAM AND SARAH SET OUT
The Hospitality of Abraham
ISAAC
Home activities:
Prayer: Lord, thank You that we are wonderfully made, even as the baby Isaac.
Coloring pages:
Rebecca at the Well
REBECCA COMES TO ISAAC
JACOB
Home Activities:
Prayer: Give us Your blessing, Lord, as Isaac did Jacob.
Coloring pages:
JOSEPH (the child)
Home Activities:
Prayer: Give us love for our brothers and sisters, O Lord.
Across Down
4. What Jacob gave Joseph 1. Joseph’s father
6. Ruler of Egypt 2. A hungry time, when
7. Joseph's oldest brother there is no food
8. Mother of the other 10 brothers 3. Sold as a slave to the
9. Number of Jacob's sons Egyptians
11. Nation named for Jacob 5. The youngest brother
6. Bought Joseph as slave
7. Mother of Joseph and
Benjamin
10.The land of pyramids
and the Nile River
Coloring Page:
Joseph and His New Coat
JOSEPH (in Egypt)
Home Activities:
Prayer: Lord, bring good out of sadness and You did for Joseph and his family.
Coloring pages:
Joseph is Sold as a Slave in Egypt
Joseph Becomes Pharaoh’s Minister
Joseph Reveals Himself to His Brothers
MOSES (early years)
Home Activities:
Prayer: Lord, speak to us as You did to Moses.
Unscramble each of the clue words for one of the plagues.
Take the letters that appear in boxes and unscramble them for the final message.
The Princess Found Baby Moses in the Nile
MOSES, the prophet
Home Activities:
Prayer: Lord, help us to obey You and not to be stubborn like Pharaoh.
The Ten Commandments
Unscramble the tiles; then place in the correct order!
Coloring Pages:
The Lord Spoke to Moses in the Burning Bush
The Red Sea Parts |
Moses Received the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai
The Ark of the Covenant
Draw the path of Moses's travels on the map:
BALAAM
Home Activities:
Prayer: Lord, stop us as You did Balaam if we go the wrong way.
Unscramble each of the clue words from the story of Balaam and the donkey.
Take the letters that appear in boxes and unscramble them to find out what the donkey had to say to Balaam.
Balaam, the donkey, and the angel
JOSHUA
Home Activities:
Prayer: As for me and my house, O Lord, we will serve the Lord.
Coloring Pages
The Walls of Jericho Came Tumbling Down
|
|
GIDEON and the JUDGES
Home Activities:
Prayer: Lord, lead us and teach us as You did Gideon.
Coloring Pages:
Samson Destroys the Temple of the False Gods
JOB
Home Activities
Prayer: Lord, help us to bring comfort to those who are suffering.
Help Job Find the Missing Animals:
Can you find them in the Book of Job?
RUTH
Home Activities:
Prayer: Lord, may we, like Ruth, serve You with joyful hearts at this joyful time.
Across
3. I am the land of Ruth.
8. I am the husband of Naomi.
9. I am Naomi's rich relative.
Down
1. I lost my husband and two sons.
2. I am the city where Boaz lived.
4. Ruth gathered me in the field.
5. I am a Moabite woman who married Boaz.
6. I am Ruth's first husband.
7. I am the son of Ruth and Boaz.
Coloring Pages:
RUTH MEETS BOAZ
SAMUEL
Home Activities:
Prayer: Lord, let us hear Your voice in the quiet times, as did Samuel.
The words below are from the story of the boy Samuel:
Unscramble each of the clue words.
Take the letters that appear in boxes and unscramble them to find Samuel’s answer to God.
Coloring Pages:
HANNAH, SAMUEL, AND ELI AT THE TEMPLE
Samuel anointing David .
SAUL
Home Activities:
Prayer: Lord, help us to rule over our lives in obedience to You, unlike Saul.
David plays his harp for Saul
DAVID AND GOLIATH
Home Activities:
Prayer: Lord, give us victory over giants, as You did David.
Across
3. David played me to sooth King Saul.
4. I was a giant.
5. I anointed David king.
7. I was the son of King Saul.
8. David was a ___________ boy.
9. I was God's chosen people.
Down
1. I am the first king of Israel.
2. I am the birthplace of David.
5. David used me to kill the giant.
6. I killed the giant Goliath.
7. I was David's father.
Coloring Pages:
David was a Shepherd Boy
David defeats Goliath with his Sling
DAVID AND JONATHON
Home Activities:
Prayer: Lord, help me to be a good friend as was Jonathon.
Coloring Pages:
David and Jonathon Grew Up to Be Friends
SOLOMON
Home Activities:
Prayer: Lord, give us the wisdom of Solomon.
Fill in the story of Solomon with the scrambled words below:
King _________ was getting old. He had been king of ________ for many, many years. He called his wife, ____________, and told her that __________, their son, should be crowned _________ in his place. So, they called for the priest __________ and the prophet __________ to anoint __________ king of __________. ___________ rode a __________ thru the streets of ___________. The people shouted, “Long live ____ _______!”
__________ learned much from his father, ________, but most of all, to love the Lord. He traveled to ________ to offer sacrifices to the Lord. There, ________ had a ______. God appeared to him in the ___________ and offered to grant him one wish. __________ asked for ________. God was so pleased by this request, that ___________ became the wisest man the earth had ever known.
Unscramble each of the clue words to read the story. Take the letters that appear in numbered boxes for the final message from God to Solomon thru his father, David.
Can you build a model of Solomon’s Temple using these drawings plus the Scriptures as your template?
Coloring Pages:
Solomon built the Temple in Jerusalem
The Queen of Sheba Visits King Solomon
B
BOOKS OF SOLOMON
Home Activities:
Prayer: Lord give us love for Your people as You loved us.
Now match the books with their description below:
Coloring Pages:
SONG OF SONGS: THE LOVE OF GOD
ECCLESIASTES
ELIJAH
Home Activities
Prayer: Lord, let us hear You in the quietness of our souls.
Elijah taken up to heaven in a fiery chariot.
Can you find the places mentioned in the story of Elijah on the map? Many of the names are NOT present; you'll have to research their location and write them in!
ELISHA
Home Activities:
Prayer: Lord, give us Your love for the sick as You did Elisha.
First: Unscramble the words below to identify these descriptions:
Unscramble each of the clue words.
Take the letters that appear in boxes and unscramble them to discover the miracle.
Coloring Pages:
ELIJAH SELECTS ELISHA
ELISHA RECEIVES THE MANTLE OF ELIJAH
|
|
Naaman is healed in the river Jordan
JONAH
Home Activities:
Prayer: Lord, help us to obey Your commandments.
Across
6. where the sailors threw Jonah
7. Jonah's response to God's first word
9. clothing of king of Ninevah after Jonah's warning
10. cast by sailors to discover the culprit
11. father of Jonah
Down
1. capital of Assyria
2. Jonah's response to God's second word
3. what God had on Ninevah
4. what swallowed Jonah
5. number of days God gave Ninevah to repent
8. disobedient prophet
9. cause of the ship's distress
12. destination of ship
Coloring Pages:
Jonah was swallowed by a great, big fish.
JONAH THANKS GOD
ISAIAH
Home Activities:
Prayer: Lord, give us the strength to mount up like eagles in Your service.
Isaiah was known for his prophecies of the Messiah:
Can you decipher these two?
Isaiah 7 Isaiah 53
King Hezekiah restores the worship of the Lord
KING HEZEKIAH IS ILL
JEREMIAH
Home Activities:
Prayer: Lord, keep us close to You in times of sadness.
Across
3. defeater of kingdom of Judah
5. a prophet in the last days of Judah
6. King of Judah in exile in Babylon
7. God's role to our clay
8. father of Jeremiah
11. defeater of kingdom of Israel
12. First king to whom Jeremiah prophesied
13. Second king Jeremiah prophesied to
14. King of Judah blinded by Babylonians
Down
1. king of Babylon
2. false prophet who opposed Jeremiah
4. Jeremiah's book of mourning
7. Priest who had Jeremiah beaten
9. Northern kingdom, already defeated
10. what Jeremiah buried in the river
13. capital of Judah, plundered by Babylon
Coloring Pages:
Jere
Jeremiah was thrown into a cistern, a well, as punishment from the rulers for telling the people the word of the Lord:
EZEKIEL
Home Activities:
Prayer: Lord, let us too see visions of Your great glory.
MATCHING
Can you match each of these prophets with their prophecy?
1. Moses “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall become
as white as snow; though they are red like crimson,
they shall be as wool.”
2. Samuel “I will put My law in their minds, and write it on
their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.”
3. Isaiah “I have surely seen the opporession of My people
who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because
of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows.”
4. Jeremiah “I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to
walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.”
5. Ezekiel “Behold I will do something in Israel at which both
ears of everyone who hears it will tingle.”
Hint: You can find these prophecies in the appropriate book at verses 3:11, 3:7, 1:18, 31:33, and 36:27.
Coloring Pages:
Ezekiel is called as a prophet
Ezekiel had a vision of the bones;
Do you know your bones? Learn them!
T
THE THREE YOUTHS IN THE FIRE
Home Activities:
Prayer: Lord, let us praise You as did the three Holy Youths.
Coloring Pages:
TOBIT
Home Activities:
Prayer: Lord, may our guardian angels watch over us as the angel watched over Tobit and Tobias.
Braille Puzzle:
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Coloring Page: | ||||||||||||||||||||
What did Tobias catch? |
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DANIEL
Home Activities:
Prayer: Lord, give us the courage of Daniel.
THE FEAST OF BELSHAZZAR
God saved Daniel from the Lions
ESTHER
Home Activities:
Prayer: Lord, save us as You did Esther and defeat our enemies as You did Haman.
Queen Esther Crossword:
ACROSS
4. Built by Haman to kill Mordecai
6. Dinner planned by Esther
8. Raised Esther
9. Jewish festival to celebrate Esther
10. King of Persia
11. Queen before Esther
12. Capital of Persia
13. Esther's people
Down
1. Esther's preparation for seeing the king
2. Home of king and queen
3. New queen of Persia
5. Greek name for King of Persia
6. Reason Esther was chosen queen
7. Plotted against the Hebrews
9. Land of Ahasuerus
12. King's staff touched by Esther
Coloring Pages:
AMOS
Home Activities:
Prayer: Lord, teach us to speak Your word, as did the prophet Amos.
Amos was a shepherd when God called him to prophesy.
MICAH AND HAGGAI
Home Activities:
Prayer: Lord, we pray for peace in the world and for all the armed forces and for all the churches in our neighborhood.
Micah and Haggai may be little-known, “minor”, prophets, but see if you can untangle these famous words:
Haggai Rebuilt the Temple in Jerusalem
EZRA AND NEHEMIAH
Home Activities:
Prayer: Lord, help us to build Your kingdom, as Nehemiah and Ezra rebuilt Jerusalem.
BOOKS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT
(to the tune of “Jesus Loves Me”)
VERSE 1
Ge-ne-sis Ex-o-dus, Le-vit-i-cus.
Numbers, Deu-ter-o-no-my
Josh-ua, Judg-es, Ruth God brings,
Two of Sam-uel, two of Kings,
VERSE 2
Two Chron-i-cles and Ezras two.
Ne-he-mi-ah, Tobit, Judith,
Est-her, Mac-ca-bees, all three,
Psalms, Job, Pro-verbs, Ec-cle-si-as-tes,
VERSE 3
Song of Songs and two Wis-doms,
Ho-se-a, Amos, Micah, Joel,
O-ba-diah and Jonah, not all!
Nahum, then comes Ha-ba-kkuk,
VERSE 4
Ze-phan-i-ah, Ha-gg-a-i,
Zech-a-riah Mal-a-chi,
I-sai-ah, Jer-e-mi-ah
Ba-ruch and Lamentations, too
VERSE 5
Jer-e-miah’s E-pis-tle then,
Ezekiel, Dan, and that's the end
all of these God's works for-told,
and his pro-mis-es of old.
Nehemiah Rebuilds the Walls
Ezra read the Word of God to His people
HANUKKAH
Home Activities:
Prayer: May the Light of the World bring light into our lives as He did at Hanukkah.
Across
5. leader of the Maccabees
6. number of days the oil burned
9. books of the Bible with Hanukkah story
10. lit on Hanukkah
Down
1. Macedonian king
2. large candlestand in the temple
3. Feast that celebrates the burning of the oil
4. top used to play Hanukkah game
5. location of the temple
7. ruined by the pagans
8. people of the Maccabees
Coloring Pages:
Can you identify these images of Hanukkah?