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AntiochianOrthodoxArchdioceseDepartmentofChristianEducation

2019CreativeFestivalsLessonPlan:Grades1-3

Theme:AntiochianVillage:Past,Present,andFuture“IcandoallthingsthroughChristwhostrengthensme.”(Philippians4:13)Goal:Tohelpthestudentsunderstandthethemewellenoughtoexpressitinart,photography,poetry,andcreativewriting.LessonObjectives:Thestudentswillbeableto:

• Explainthatanepistleisaletterandthewayinwhichthefirstapostlestaughtandkeptintouchwiththenewlyformedchurches.

• StatethatSt.PaulwaswritingthisepistleasencouragementtothechurchinPhilippiandtoreassurethemofChrist’sloveandcareforallofus.

• IdentifytimestheyneedGod’shelp.• Identifywhat‘things’Christstrengthensustodo.• Namesomeactivitiesthattakeplaceatcampandhowtheirbodies,minds,or

soulscouldbestrengthenedthroughtheseactivities.Time:40MinutesMaterials:

• CopyofAPrayerBeforeCommencingAnyTask(Attached.Printenoughsoeachchildhasonecopyoftheprayertotakehome.)

•MapofPaul’sjourneys(Attached.)

• IconofSaintPaul[FromSt.JohnChrysostomOrthodoxChurch,York,PA](Attached.)

• Bibles• PaperandPencils;Crayons,and/orMarkers•PhotooftheArchattheAntiochianVillageCampEntrance(Attached.)•ColoringPage(Attached.Printoneforeachchild.)

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OpeningPrayer:Handoutcopiesofthefollowingprayer.(Seepage4.)APRAYERBEFORECOMMENCINGANYTASKAlmightyGod,ourHelpandRefuge,FountainofwisdomandTowerofstrength,whoknowestthatIcandonothingwithoutthyguidanceandhelp;assistme,Ipraythee,anddirectmetodivinewisdomandpower,thatImayaccomplishthistask,andwhateverImayundertaketodo,faithfullyanddiligently,accordingtothywill,sothatitmaybeprofitabletomyselfandothers,andtothegloryofthyHolyName.Forthineisthekingdom,andthepower,andtheglory,oftheFather,andoftheSon,andoftheHolySpirit:nowandever,anduntoagesofages.Amen.Introduction:AfterPentecost,thenewlyilluminedapostleswentoutintotheworldtopreachtheGospelofChristrisenfromthedead.Theyestablishedmanychurchesacrosstheknownlandofthattime.(Showmaps.)Astheywentfromonecitytoanotherestablishingchurches,theykeptincontactwithchurchesalreadysetupbywritingletters,i.e.epistles.TheseletterswereusedtoteachaboutChrist;tocorrectthechurchesthatweremakingmistakes;andtoencouragethenewlyilluminedinthefaith.St.PaulwrotethisepistletothePhilippianswhilehewasunderhousearrestinRome.(ShowiconofSt.Paul.)Hehassuffered,buthassurvivedbecausehetrustsChristtogivehimthepatience,wisdom,andthestrengthheneedstoovercomethesedifficulttimes.Inthisepistle,St.PaulencouragesthePhilippianstobeconstantintheirfaithinGod;praiseGodatalltimes;nottoworryaboutanythingthatmighttroublethem;toputtheirtrustinJesusChristtogivethemthestrengthandcouragetheyneedtoovercomethedifficulttimesoftheirlives.St.Paul’ssituationistheperfectexampleoflivingaChrist-centeredlife.ReadPhilippians4:1,4,6-7,11-13.Discussion:

1. Havethechildrenwritedownthetimeswhentheywereafraid,i.e.startingschoolinanewclassroom;meetingnewpeople;speakinginfrontofothers;etc.TalkabouthowtheymightovercomethosefearswithChrist’shelp.

2. Atthispointthechildrencoulddoaroleplayinggameofconfrontingafearandhow,withChrist’shelp,theycanovercomethosefears.

3.HavethechildrenwritedownthosethingstheyfeelChristmighthelpthemwith.DiscussthedifferencebetweenwantingthingslikeicecreameverydayoranewvideogameandthethingsthatwillstrengthentheminChrist,i.e.prayingregularly,fastingwhenrequired,readingScripture,helpingourfamilyandfriends,

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puttingothers’needsbeforeourown;andlovingoneanother.RemindthechildrenthatourgoalasChristiansistobesaints;livingChrist-centeredlives;andtobecomeonewithChrist.WithHishelp,wecanachievethatgoal.TalkaboutthelivesofthesaintsandhowChristhasworkedinthem-St.Raphael;Theotokos;St.MaryofEgypt,forexample.

4. Discusswiththechildrenhowandwhentheymightrecitethe“PrayerBefore

CommencingAnyTask”andlookatotherprayerstheymightsayduringtheirdaywhenneeded.http://www.orthodoxnet.com/worship/occasionalprayers.html

5. ExplainthatthisyearwehaveanotherparttoourCreativeFestivaltheme,“AntiochianVillage:Past,Present,andFuture.”Showthechildrenthepictureofthearchtothecampthatcontainsthetheme.Discusshowthearchisthefirstthingpeopleseewhentheyenterthecamp.Pointoutthatit’sthesamethemethatyou’vebeentalkingabout,exceptthatitusesthewords“we”and“us”insteadof“I”and“me.”AskthechildreniftheyhaveeverbeentoAntiochianVillageCamporoneofourothercamps.(Evenifthey’vebeentooyoungtoattend,theymayhavebeentheretodropoffanolderbrotherorsister.)Askthemwhattheythinkboysandgirlsdowhenthey’reatcamp.(Answersmightincludestayingovernightinacabin,learningmoreaboutChrist,attendingchurchservices,meetingkidsfromotherplaces,doingfunactivities,playingsportsandgames,sharingmealstogether,doingartsandcrafts,etc.)Askthemhowtheythinktheirbodies,minds,orsoulsmightbestrengthenedbygoingtocamp.EmphasizethatthemostimportantpartofcampisthatboysandgirlslearnmoreaboutourOrthodoxChristianfaithandlearnhowtoliveourfaith.Tellthemthatwe’reveryblessedtohaveabeautifulplacelikeAntiochianVillage.Ifthey’retooyoungtogotocampnow,tellthemthathopefully,whenthey’reolder,they’llbeabletogotocamp,too.[Ifyouliveinanotherpartofthecountry,talkaboutthecampthat’sclosesttoyou.]ColoringPage:Giveeachchildacoloringpageandhavethemcoloritiniftimepermits.EncouragethemtomemorizetheBibleverse.Ifthere’snotenoughtime,allowthemtotakeithome.ClosingPrayer:Grantuntome,myLord,thatwithpeaceinmindImayfaceallthatthisnewdayistobring.GrantuntomegracetosurrendermyselfcompletelytoThyholywill.Instructandpreparemeinallthingsforeveryhourofthisday.WhatsoevertidingsImayreceiveduringtheday,doThouteachmetoacceptthemcalmly,inthefirmconvictionthatalleventualitiesfulfillThyholywill.GovernThoumythoughtsandfeelingsinallIdoandsay.Whenthingsunforeseenoccur,letmenotforgetthatallcomethdownfromThee.Teachmetobehavesincerelyandreasonablytowardeverymemberofmyfamilyandallotherhumanbeings,thatImaynotcauseconfusionandsorrowtoanyone.Bestowuponme,myLord,strengthtoendurethefatigueofthedayandtobearmyshareinallitspassingevents.GuideThoumywillandteachmetopray,tobelieve,tohope,tosuffer,toforgive,andtolove.Amen.

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APRAYERBEFORECOMMENCINGANYTASKAlmightyGod,ourHelpandRefuge,FountainofwisdomandTowerofstrength,whoknowestthatIcandonothingwithoutthyguidanceandhelp;assistme,Ipraythee,anddirectmetodivinewisdomandpower,thatImayaccomplishthistask,andwhateverImayundertaketodo,faithfullyanddiligently,accordingtothywill,sothatitmaybeprofitabletomyselfandothers,andtothegloryofthyHolyName.Forthineisthekingdom,andthepower,andtheglory,oftheFather,andoftheSon,andoftheHolySpirit:nowandever,anduntoagesofages.Amen.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------APRAYERBEFORECOMMENCINGANYTASKAlmightyGod,ourHelpandRefuge,FountainofwisdomandTowerofstrength,whoknowestthatIcandonothingwithoutthyguidanceandhelp;assistme,Ipraythee,anddirectmetodivinewisdomandpower,thatImayaccomplishthistask,andwhateverImayundertaketodo,faithfullyanddiligently,accordingtothywill,sothatitmaybeprofitabletomyselfandothers,andtothegloryofthyHolyName.Forthineisthekingdom,andthepower,andtheglory,oftheFather,andoftheSon,andoftheHolySpirit:nowandever,anduntoagesofages.Amen.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------APRAYERBEFORECOMMENCINGANYTASKAlmightyGod,ourHelpandRefuge,FountainofwisdomandTowerofstrength,whoknowestthatIcandonothingwithoutthyguidanceandhelp;assistme,Ipraythee,anddirectmetodivinewisdomandpower,thatImayaccomplishthistask,andwhateverImayundertaketodo,faithfullyanddiligently,accordingtothywill,sothatitmaybeprofitabletomyselfandothers,andtothegloryofthyHolyName.Forthineisthekingdom,andthepower,andtheglory,oftheFather,andoftheSon,andoftheHolySpirit:nowandever,anduntoagesofages.Amen.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------APRAYERBEFORECOMMENCINGANYTASKAlmightyGod,ourHelpandRefuge,FountainofwisdomandTowerofstrength,whoknowestthatIcandonothingwithoutthyguidanceandhelp;assistme,Ipraythee,anddirectmetodivinewisdomandpower,thatImayaccomplishthistask,andwhateverImayundertaketodo,faithfullyanddiligently,accordingtothywill,sothatitmaybeprofitabletomyselfandothers,andtothegloryofthyHolyName.Forthineisthekingdom,andthepower,andtheglory,oftheFather,andoftheSon,andoftheHolySpirit:nowandever,anduntoagesofages.Amen.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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