For children – Page 3 – Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahdo Church Sunday School Department

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).

Mystery of Holy Trinity

Dear Children of God, how are you? How have you been in this season of fasting of “The Great Lent.” We have now reached on the seventh week and yet, two weeks ahead of us. We hope you are holding strong through it and fasting according the liturgy.

Children, in keeping the Church Liturgy, it is important to learn all the significant education that our Holy Orthodox Incarnation (Tewahedo) Church teaches us beginning our childhood. Therefore, it is necessary to attend the Church specially at the Sabbath. Ok? Good!

Now let us pass on to today’s lesson which is about the “Mystery of Holy Trinity.” You remember our last section about the Doctrine of Creation right? Good! Ok! so let us first see what the words Mystery and Trinity means separately.

Doctrine of Creation

Dear Children of God, how are you? How are you doing on this season of fasting of “The Great Lent”? We hope you are holding strong through it and fasting in accord to your ability, whilst being good children of God and to your parents!

Children, we assume you remember our last lesson on “The Attributes of God,” and today, we will see His creations within the six days and rested on the seventh day which is Sabbath. God has created 22 creatures and we will see them each.

The Attributes of God

Dear Children of God! how are you? How have you been during this season of fasting? We hope you are holding strong and well, diligently fasting throughout this Great Fast also known as “The Great Lent” that our Lord and Savor Jesus Christ fasted for forty days. Children, you shall know as well, all above the age of seven must fast the seven chronological fasts which we have thought you previously.

Children! it is also necessary to go to Church and attend the Divine Liturgy with your parents on Sabbath (the last two days of the week which are locally known as “Kedamea and Ehud”) and take part of The Eucharist/Holy Communion/ (eat the Holy Flesh and Holy Blood of the Holy Son: Lord and Savior Jesus Christ). Good!

Dear Children of God! you remember our last lesson on “The Existence of God” right? Good! Now, we will see its consequent (following) lesson about “The Attributes/Characters/of God, so be with us!

The Existence of God

Dear Children of God, how are you? How is life at home and your education at school? Are you doing well in your education and helping your parents by obeying and faithfully living by the Law of God? Good! Hope you have become good and obedient.

Children, the main reason we teach you about religion and the commandments of God, is for you to live through the rule and spiritual life to inherit God’s Kingdom. For this reason, we advise you to learn in church and also our lessons to know the word of God which are guide to our spiritual life. If you remember, we have presented it to you about our Holy Orthodox Incantation (Tewahedo) Religion consequently for the last two weeks. Our current lesson is also about the part of religion, which is “The Existence of God.”