flynn7

Our Sunday lessons have sure been full of surprises this Lenten season! After Pascha, I sure hope to post all the creative ideas and lessons tips that blossomed according to each theme. Sorry that it's after the fact, but at least it'll be on the web for future years :(   Here's one idea that we'll be using tomorrow based on the Gospel reading from Mark 9:17-31. We'll be making bracelets from the powerful verse "All things are possible when you believe in God."  Printed on glossy photo paper, I cut these into strips and will use a white label to close them around the wrists of the children. You could use stickers or tape. I'll use this as the closing activity, after they have heard the re-telling of the Gospel, and have unscrambled the words of the memory sentences (see the Great Lent Lesson Chart). A special bonus is that these memory bracelets help to reinforce the message with their parents when they return home. You could adapt this for other speci...

Good news! There are more Orthodox icon coloring pages and activities available for free at the website http://katixitis-zografies.blogspot.com/ .  If you click around you will also find Old Testament iconography coloring pages, as well as the Nicene Creed broken down into icons to color. Although the headings are often labeled in Greek, that is easily changed for children who speak English.

Here's a very nice resource to add to your weekly preparation for the Divine Liturgy. At this link , you will find illustrated handouts for each Sunday's Gospel offered at five levels with discussion questions. The schedule is according to the Antiochian Orthodox so confirm it with your jurisdiction. For the icon coloring pages alone, it's beneficial! Just be sure to treat these as holy images, and never throw icons away in the garbage!

I usually avoid sharing anything personal on this blog - but this post might just relate to other Orthodox parents out there, so here goes. As a mother of three small children, the day passes fast. With diapers and meals, I just about manage to say their prayers with them, in front of their iconostasis'. Each room it seems has its' share of breathtaking and inspiring icons, but something was missing I felt. Or was I simply making excuses for skipping out on my prayers? To be honest, a space just for me was the perfect solution. So here it is. Our glorious utility closet. That's right...and it's perfect. The kids don't even know it exists! Sure, you might say I'm surrounded by buckets and tennis rackets, ironing boards and boxes, but these are the items of our daily life. There is nothing 'unholy' there, and I sort of feel the presence of God and His Saints sanctifying even this space! It has reminded me that despite singing spiritual songs with our child...

"The spirits of evil interfere with children's minds ... and try to disturb them. A child should be taught obedience, especially before the 5th year; because that is the period in which the child's character develops. In this manner, learned character traits remain for the rest of the child's life. Parents should teach their children absolute obedience during that period. When a parent says something, the answer should be, 'Amen.' But today, unfortunately, parents do not know this, and teach their children quite the opposite. And so they grow up ..."

Click here to view this photo book larger

Click here to view this photo book larger