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AntiochianOrthodoxArchdioceseDepartmentofChristianEducation

2020CreativeFestivalsLessonPlan:Grade1-3

Theme:“ForGoddidnotsendHisSonintotheworldtocondemntheworld,butthattheworldthroughHimmightbesaved.”(John3:17)Goal:Tohelpthestudentsunderstandthethemewellenoughtoexpressitinart,photography,poetry,andcreativewriting.LessonObjectives:Thestudentswillbeableto:

• Stateintheirownwordswhatitmeanstocondemn.• Describewhatsalvationmeans.• ReciteTheCreedwiththeteacher.•StatethatGodistheCreatorofallthingsvisibleandinvisible.•RecallafewlinesfromTheCreedthatdescribewhoJesusChristis.(Suchas,“Whoforusmenandoursalvationcamedownfromheaven,andwasincarnateoftheHolySpiritandtheVirginMary,andwasmademan;andwascrucifiedalsoforusunderPontiusPilate,suffered,wasburied,andthethirddayHeroseagain…)• NamethingstheycandotohelpunitethemselvestoChrist.

Time:40minutesMaterials:

•Bible•IconofCreation(Attached.)•CopyoftheNiceneCreed(Attached.Printoneforeachstudent.)•LineDrawnIcons(Attached.Printonesetforeachstudentandcutthemapart.Thesewillbeusedtocreateabookletattheendofthelesson.Keeptheblankhalfsheetofpaperonthelastpage.Folditinhalf.Thiswillbeusedtocreateacoverforthebooklet.Theteachershouldalsohaveonesetoficonsthatisintacttousewhenteachingthelesson.)•IconofChristwalkingonWaterandsavingPeter(Matthew14:22-33)•Scissors;Stapler;ColoredPencils

OpeningPrayer:“Thankyou,Father,forsendingYourSonJesusnottojudgeandcondemnusbuttosaveusandmakeusYourchildren,partakersofYourverynature.Amen.”Introduction:ReadJohn3:17tothechildren.Explainthatthisisthe2020CreativeFestivaltheme.AskthechildrenwhoGodis.(Creatorofallthingsvisibleandinvisible).ShowtheCreationicontothechildren.Askthechildrenwhothefiguresareandwhatishappening.Discusswho

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God’sSonis(BegottenoftheFatherbeforeallworlds...Whoforoursalvationbecamemanandwascrucifiedforus,suffered,wasburiedandroseagain).GiveeachchildacopyofTheCreed.Reciteittogetherwiththechildren.UsetheiconsoftheAnnunciation,Nativity,Crucifixion,Resurrection,AscensiontoillustrateWhoJesusChristis.

Discussion:Talkaboutwhatitmeanstocondemn.(TobeseparatedfromGodforever.)DefinewhatGod’sjudgmentmeans.(JudgmentisGod’sdecisionontheworthinessofonetoenterheavenorbecondemnedtohell.Christwillreturnagaintoconfirmthatjudgment.)ThroughChrist,sinisforgivenandovercome,andthosewhohavefollowedHimaregrantedaplaceinheaven.Discussthatitisnotuptoustojudgeothers,decidingiftheyaregoodorbad,buttotakecareofourselvestobeclosertoChrist.Wecandothisthroughourprayers,attendingservices,theHolyMysteries,helpingotherswhoarehungry,needclothing,shelter,andcomfort.(ReadaloudMatthew25:31-46)Definesalvation.(Salvationisthedeliveranceofhumanity[mankind/allpeople]fromsinanddeathbyChrist,andunionwithGodthroughChristtheSavior.)Talkaboutwhatitmeanstosavesomething.Wesavethingsthatareprecioustous,justasweareprecioustoGod,whowantsustoreturntohimandbeonewithhim.Havethechildrennamethingsthatareimportanttothem.Whatwouldtheywouldliketosaveandhaveforever?ThendiscusshowChristsavedus,justasHesavedSt.PeterwhenChristwalkedonthewater.(ShowthechildrentheiconofChristpullingSt.PeteroutofthewaterandreadaloudMatthew14:22-33)ThenreadthethemeverseagainanddiscusswaysthechildrencanunitethemselvestoChrist.(Throughprayer,worship,goingtoConfession,receivingHolyCommunion;beingkindtooneanother,notjudgingothers,etc.)RemindthechildrenweareonewithChristthroughtheHolyMysteries,orSacraments,especiallythroughHolyCommunion.Activity:Giveeachchildasetofthelinedrawniconsthathavebeencutapartonthedottedlineandverticallyontheplussign.(Mixuptheircorrectorder.)AstheteacherslowlyreadsTheCreedaloud,thechildren,followingalongwiththeirowncopiesofTheCreed,willtrytoputtheiconsintherightorder.Whenthey’vefinished,theteacherorahelperwillcheckeachchild’sworktoinsuretheyareinthecorrectorder.Theiconswillbeplacedoneontopoftheothertomakeabooklet.Lineuptheiconsonthelefthandsideandtop.UsingthefirsticonpageofCreationasaguide,trimthepagesasneededontherighthandsideandbottom.Usingtheblankhalfsheetofpaperthatwasleftover,foldthepaperinhalfcreateacoverforthefrontandbackofthebooklet,thenstaplethepagesandcovertogetheronthelefthandside.Thechildrencanwrite“TheCreed”onthecoveranddecorateitiftheywish.Theymayalsocolortheiconswithcoloredpencilsiftimepermits.

ClosingPrayer:“ThankyouLord,forsendingyourSontous,thatthroughHim,wemightbesaved.Youareourprotectorandourlifepreserver.Helpustoreachouttoyouintimesofjoyandtimesofstruggle.Helpustorememberthatyouareourlightandoursalvation.”

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THECREED

IbelieveinoneGod,theFatherAlmighty,Makerofheavenandearth,andofallthingsvisibleandinvisible;AndinoneLordJesusChrist,theSonofGod,theOnly-begotten,BegottenoftheFatherbeforeallworlds,LightofLight,VeryGodofVeryGod,Begotten,notmade;ofoneessencewiththeFather,bywhomallthingsweremade;Whoforusmenandforoursalvationcamedownfromheaven,andwasincarnateoftheHolySpiritandtheVirginMary,andwasmademan;AndwascrucifiedalsoforusunderPontiusPilate,andsufferedandwasburied;AndthethirddayHeroseagain,accordingtotheScriptures;Andascendedintoheaven,andsittethattherighthandoftheFather;AndHeshallcomeagainwithglorytojudgethelivingandthedead,Whosekingdomshallhavenoend.AndIbelieveintheHolySpirit,theLord,andGiverofLife,WhoproceedethfromtheFather,WhowiththeFatherandtheSontogetherisworshippedandglorified,WhospakebytheProphets;AndIbelieveinOneHolyCatholicandApostolicChurch.IacknowledgeoneBaptismfortheremissionofsins.IlookfortheResurrectionofthedead.Andthelifeoftheworldtocome.Amen.

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+ Makerofheavenandearth, OneLord,JesusChrist,theSonofGod...andofallthingsvisibleandinvisible; Whoforusmenandoursalvation-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

+ camedownfromheaven,andwasincarnateof andwasmademan;theHolySpiritandtheVirginMary,

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AndwascrucifiedforusunderPontiusPilate, + andsufferedandwasburied;------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

AndthethirddayHeroseagain, + Andascendedintoheaven,accordingtotheScriptures;

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andsittethattherighthandoftheFather;+AndHeshallcomeagainwithglory

tojudgethelivingandthedead.

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