September 2018

A special addition for the Baptism of my little girl!

Baptism by Sparks for Orthodox Kids

Saint Kassiani or Kassia

Saint Kassiani by Sparks for Orthodox Kids

September 7th

Kassiani, as we hear so much, was a pretty girl from a wealthy family. She was even chosen for the "beauty pageant" of young girls for the Emperor to choose a wife from! He saw Kassiani was very pretty and wanted to see if she was smart so he said, "From woman sin came into the world." She replied, "and from woman came salvation" (How did Christ come into the world to save us?). She was clever! Well, he didn't like that so picked someone else to marry and she eventually became Abbess at a monastery!

While she lived in the monastery, she had lots of time to write poems and hymns to God! Every year before Pascha, we sing a hymn written by her on Holy Wednesday. She is the earliest known woman composer with hymns still used! 

September 2017

SPARKS

FOR ORTHODOX TODDLERS

Written and Illustrated by

Casey Newman

Moses the Godseer and Prophet

Sparks for Orthodox Toddlers

September 4th

Moses was adopted by Pharaoh's royal family as a baby. But when we got older he ran away and lived as a shepherd. He was an old man when God chose him to save the Jewish people from slavery in Egypt. Moses loved his family and didn't want to leave to do God's special job.

God knew that Moses was the right man for this job. To convince Moses, God talked to Moses in a big voice.

It took a long time for Moses to get the Jews out of slavery in Egypt. They started a long adventure in the desert, going to land God gave them.

On their long walk through the desert, God gave Moses laws. We call these The Ten Commandments.

https://kathyhutto.wordpress.com/2012/01/21/ten-commandments-poster/

Moses was a very important man. He brought God's news to the people. He saved the Jews from slavery. He saw God and heard His voice. He gave us God's Law. He lived a very long time doing God's special work.

Zacharias the Prophet

Sparks for Orthodox Toddlers

September 5th

We talk about John the Baptist a lot. What do you know about him?

Zacharias was a priest of God in the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. When he was an old man with no children, an angel appeared and told Zacharias that God loved him and hears his prayers. God decided to give them a baby boy.

Zacharias is the father of John the Baptist.

But Zacharias was so surprised and didn't believe the angel. Because Zacharias didn't believe the angel he could not talk until the baby was born. Imagine that, a priest who could not talk until next summer!

When the baby was born everyone wanted to know what to call him. Zacharias was filled with joy and the Holy Spirit, then he could talk again.

When the evil King Herod sent his soldiers to look for baby Jesus; Zacharias protected his baby from the soldiers; the soldiers killed him. He loved his special boy so much!

Nativity of the Theotokos

Sparks for Orthodox Toddlers

September 8th

We are celebrating the birthday of the Mother of Our Lord Jesus Christ. We know His grandparents were named Anna and Joachim. They were old and had been praying to God for a long time to give them a baby.

Can you think of anyone else who prayed to God a long time for a baby?