SPARKS
For Orthodox toddlers
Written and Illustrated by
Casey Newman
Welcome to SPARKS
a monthly resource for Orthodox families
looking to ignite Orthodoxia in their young children.
I have designed this with pre-readers in mind
but please enjoy whatever is applicable for your family.
My goal is to share simple activities, stories and crafts in a way that incorporates Orthodox culture into everyday life.
These are activities from my home and I hope you enjoy them too!
Meet Zach and Lizzy…
Zach and Lizzy like to go to church. Every time they go they learn something new. It is always so exciting, but sometimes they forget their special church manners.
When we pray we make our cross, in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Touch your forehead, tummy, shoulders, and tummy to practice making your cross
F is for fasting,
that means that we do not eat certain foods. We do this during the forty days of LENT while we prepare for Pascha.
How many Fs can you find above? _____
Practice writing F
F F F F F F F
____________________________________________________________________
Silly sentence:
Fervent fasting feeds Frank’s faith
Valentine's Day
This is a special day to show our family and friends that we love them. Saint Valentine lived a long time ago. He told the Roman people that he loved Jesus and that our Lord Jesus loves everyone. Tell everyone you love them today!
The Presentation of Christ in the Temple
Hymn
By Your birth oh Christ ,You did sanctify the Virgin’s womb,
And did bless Simeon’s hands, O Christ God.
Now You have come and saved us through love.
Grant peace to all Orthodox Christians, O only Lover of man!
Help Saint Simeon,
find his way into the Temple
Story Today-
Mary and Joseph brought baby Jesus to the Holy Temple when he was forty days old for a blessing.
They met an old man there. God had told this man, named Simeon, that he would meet His Son.
Simeon had been waiting many years to meet the Savior, Jesus Christ. After waiting for years and years,
he was so happy to meet the baby Jesus.
Can you spot…
Christ- the baby Jesus
Simeon- the old man
Mary, the Holy Mother of our Lord
Enjoy coloring your very own icon!
Start a Lenten countdown!
print out a chart and decorate a cross.
Cut a slit in each box to keep track of the days, each day move your cross to the next box.
Make your cross pretty and colorful!
Add your own family activities to the boxes and see all you do to prepare for Pascha!
Lenten Countdown
1
Clean Monday
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2
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3
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4
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5
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6
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7
Sun of Orthodoxy
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8
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9
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10
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11
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12
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13
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14
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15
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16
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17
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18
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19
St Patrick
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20
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21
Holy Cross
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22
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23
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24
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25
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26
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27
Annunciation
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28
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29
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30
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31
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32
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33
Akathist Hymn
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34
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35
St. Mary of Egypt
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36
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37
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38
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39
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40
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