Sermon – Page 5 – Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahdo Church Sunday School Department

Ri’se Awde Amet

Happy Ethiopian New Year!

The Geeze word “awed” as defined by Aleka Kidane Welde Kiflae in his dictionary is “around, circle, from year to year.” The compound words “awde amet” then is termed as 365 days. (Aleka Kiadae Welde Kiflae Dictionary page 685)

Ethiopian Liturgical year has 13 months, 365 days and 366 days once a four year. After this is done and another years comes, the first day is known to be “Ri’se Awde Amet.” It is the first day onwards the fulfillment of a full year and replacement of another new year. The four evangelist Matthew, Mark, Luke and John owns years in turns.

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 Month of Pagumen

The world countries have a number of twelve months in a year, grouped into the four seasons of spring, summer, autumn and winter. These occasions have their own limited features embracing climatic natural as warmth, coldness and rain for the growth of seed and fruit. Most are known to have a cold weather almost for the entire twelve month of the year. Unique to her nature though, our country Ethiopia is bestowed a calm, warm and sunny season of thirteen month of sunshine.

In different to the last month Pagumen, Holy Church commemorates it for various reasons. The word Pagumen means “additional, extra.” It is contains five days except in the ending of the year of Luke and the beginning of year John, which is six days accord the calendar of the church

The Twelfth Month

Our country Ethiopia is embraced with sundry graces. Her beautiful infrastructure, natural resources and the Thirteen Months of Sunshine are few to be mentioned. As she is the only one who has thirteen months from any other country of the world, it makes her unique.

The twelfth month “Nehassie” in particular has its own consecrations. This season of winter is which we are endowed rain, plants, vegetables, flowers, grass and as such. We are graced with the fullness of oceans, seas, lakes, river and the wind blow. Desolated hills are rewarded; headwaters are strengthened.

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 Immense Wealth

The inimitable is its nature, having neither white nor black, or grey but different color. Many are inept to express about it thus remain silent. Those marveled by its beauty are astonished. But could not describe 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.”

Our Sense Organs in Christianity

Humans express feelings through the sense organs when in various situations. Happiness, anger, fear, pain, love and alike are our feelings. We express these feelings by the eyes, hands, legs, mouth, face and physical emotion.

The Life of the Apostles Saint Peter and Saint Paul

The marvelous witness, miraculous work and deed, is the signification of the disciples afore they departure later an astonishing fight and struggle for the Love of the Lord. The apostles were the closest one to talk, walk, share food and whose feet are even washed by His Holy Hands.

We celebrate the feast of our fathers the pure Apostles on the day of the commemoration of the Martyrdom of Saint Peter and Saint Paul which is 5th day of the Hamele, Ethiopian calendar. Then, it is so vital to commemorate their hagiography.

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.”