For children – Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahdo Church Sunday School Department

Which do you remember?

Dear Children of God! how are you? Glory to God for enriching us from the Year of John to the Year of Matthew! How have you welcomed this new year? We hope you have set good plans and wishes in your spiritual life and education futurity.

Children! it is so vital to understand the importance of church education as we have been notifying you so far. The value of it is not determined by just words but by the action throughout Christianity. Thus, you are to seek, ask and respond within the educational system before your teachers.

Little ones! we have brought you a new type of lesson to know how much you remember the lessons we have been presenting to you until present. It is entitled “Which do you remember?” And in accordance to the questions we have prepared below, you will send us your response on our website address “website.english@eotcmk.org” and “https://t.me/Hiwot122716”

The Seven Sacraments

Dear Children of God! how are you? How are you spending the season of summer and your break time? hope you are using it wisely and properly by learning spiritual courses and reading holy scriptures with your siblings at home as well as church. It is always important to remember to use your leisure (free) time correctly so that you could be fruitful for the coming year and near future.

Children, the lessons we present to you is correlated with the teachings of patristic (religious church) fathers at church. So, follow us attentively. If you remember last time we have seen about “The Sacrament of Penance and Unction of the Sick.” Now we will see about “The Sacraments of Ordination (Priesthood) and Matrimony.” So be with us!

The Seven Sacraments

Dear Children of God! how are you? How was the season of the “Fast of the Assumption of Mary?” The fast that children from elderly fast has ended and we believe you have been attending the Divine Liturgy in your local churches. Our Fathers Saint Apostle’s prayer was heard by Holy Mother Saint Mary for her intercession of Lord and Savior Jesus Christs and be blessed by her resurrection and ascension.

Children! We have consequently present you lessons on “The seven Sacraments” and if you remember, last time we have seen about “The Sacraments of Baptism, Myron and Holy Communion.” Now, we will see about “The Sacrament of Penance and Unction of the Sick.” Be with us!

The Seven Sacraments

Dear Children of God! how are you? How are you doing? How are you spending your break time in this winter season? We hope you are using it properly being obedient, good and smart children to your family and God, at home as well as in Church.

Children! It is very important to learn and know about the mysteries of our church that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ taught, because it is through them that we can have the right knowledge, live a true life and go to heaven/inherit God’s Kingdom/.

This was the main reason we have been teaching you about the sacraments of the Church consequently on our lessons. We hope you remember our last lessons on “The Mysterious of the Church,” and “The Seven Sacraments.” And today, we will see the second part of it.

The Seven Sacraments

Dear Children of God! how are you? How are you spending the winter season? As you know, this is the occasion that is cold, wet and snowy. Therefore, it is better to use your break time for reading of Holy Scriptures, studying your school lessons at home and local churches, whilst helping your family on house chorus. Ok? good!

Children, may we remind you that we have been learning about “The Mysteries of Church” for the last consecutives weeks. Hope you understood our lessons and put them into practice because in Christian life, the main purpose is the act of good deed by keeping the law of God and church’s order. Well! And now we will proceed to our lesson of “The Seven Sacraments.”

Mystery of The Resurrection of the Dead

Dear Children of God! How are you? How is this season of fasting of the apostles? Hope you have hold on strong through it, praying, fasting and obeying God’s command. This fast known as “The Fast of the Apostles” is amongst the seven chronical fast. After receiving the grace of the Holy Spirt, Saint Apostles began their service in prayer and fasting. Making their fast exemplary, after the “Feast of Pentecost”, we fast until Hamele four. Then the feasts fall on Hamele Five, which is also the Feasts of Saint Peter and Saint Paul’s departure day.

Good children! Do you remember our last lesson? We hope so! May we remind you it was about “Mystery of of Eucharist.” And for today, we will teach you about “Mystery of the Resurrection of the Dead.”

Mystery of Eucharist

Dear Children of God! How are you? How are you spending this season of Fifty Days of Feast? And How was the holiday of The Ascension of Lord and Savior Jesus Christ? Hope you have spent it with your family in accordance to the Church Liturgy.

Children! On the tenth day of our Lord’s ascension and the fifth day of His resurrection, the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles. Then, the apostles were sent out to preach the word of God (Gospel), baptize gentiles (unbelievers) and cast out demons from humans. Subsequent to their teaching and work of the Lord, we celebrate “The Ascension of the Lord on the fortieth day,” “Feast of Pentecost” on the fiftieth day and fast “The Apostles Fast” starting the following day of the feast on the “Month of Sene” until the Feast of Departure of the Two Pillars of Church, Apostles Saint Peter and Saint Paul on “Hamele 5.”

Dear Children of God! our Lord and Savior not only taught us about fasting and the Church Liturgy through the disciples, but also about the “Mystery of Eucharist.”

Mystery Baptism

Dear Children of God! how are you? How are you celebrating this season of feast of “Beale Hamesa?” We hope you have not become forgetful to keep the liturgy of praying and attending the Church, just because it is said that there is no fasting, prostration (bowing) and attending funeral (the burial ceremony of a dead person).

What about your school? How are you doing in your education? Are you studying well and passing your exams? You must also remember to focus on your spiritual life. Hope you have become brave students at school, and a good child for your parents and God!

Well! Let us proceed to our today’s lesson which is a continual of our last section about baptism. We have previously seen the definition of the word ‘baptism’, the liturgy of it and the reason for our baptism. And for today, we will see its second part that focuses on Children’s Baptism on their 40th and 80th days.

Mystery of Baptism

Dear Children of God! how are you? How was holiday of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ’s Resurrection? Hope you have celebrated it with joy, love and peace with your family, relatives, beloved ones, neighbors and friends also according to the liturgy attending Church.

We are now in the season of “Beale Hamesa” which is the time from Resurrection of Lord Jesus Christ up to the “Feast of Pentecost (The Descending of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles). Thus, we pray and attend churches on Sabbath but do not fast, prostrate (bow) or perform the liturgy of Penance (the process of cleansing from sin /bad doings/) We celebrate throughout the season with joy because it is the resemblance of heavenly and saintly life we are to be bestowed after our rising from the dead at judgment day.

Children, it is very important to have faith in our Lord and religion. Then, as we have stated in our topic, it is very important to be baptized. Lord Jesus have said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. (John 3:5)

Mystery of Incarnation

Dear Children of God! how are you? How was feast of Easter (resurrection)? We assume you had a joyful holiday! How is school and your life at home with your family? Hope you have become good children to your parents and brave students at school. It is always important to remember the value of having proper discipline and character so that we could be good children of God, to be given a life full of peace, love and happiness.

Children, the life that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ gave us is filled with true love, peace and joy. If we could be aware (know) and understand His way of salvation which is known as “Mystery of Incarnation,” we would be saved from all the problems and suffering that our enemy Satan brings upon us. Our Lord died for us because He loved us dearly (so much). He was crucified on the cross, on the sixth day known as “Arebe” locally, and buried. But then, He rise on the third day, the Sabbath (“Ehud” in Amharic) and declared resurrection of the dead (life after bodily death and life in heaven).