May 2018

Athanasius the Great - May 2nd

Saint Athanasius the Great by Sparks for Orthodox kids

Color St Athanasius like a bishop. 

Leave his belt white, it represents holiness and Truth.

Have you ever pretended to Baptie someone or maybe a toy?

As a boy young Athanasius played "Baptism" at the river with some other boys. The Patriarch Alexander saw the kids doing such a good job that he called the boys and their parents to his house to explain that the baptism was done so well that he sealed the baptized boys with holy oil to complete the Baptism with a Chrismation. The Patriarch kept an eye on young Athanasius and ordained him into the clergy. Eventually Athanasius took over as Patriarch too.

Irene of Thessalonica - May 5th 

Greatmartyr Irene of Thessalonica by Sparks for Orthodox Kids

Color her dress in purple and blue

Who else wears these colors?

Irene's father was a pagan and kept Irene inside so that she would not hear about Jesus. Her teacher was a Christian who taught her about God and Jesus. As a teenager she had a dream that her teacher explained. A dove landed on her, representing her education. It had an olive branch for God's grace, flowers showed her future success. Then came a raven and snake showing hard times in her future.

For the rest of her life she was bullied by many people. She refused to get married, instead she worked to teach people about the Good News of Jesus Christ. She taught thousands of people join our Church family.

Saint Brendan the Navigator - May 16th 

Saint Brendan the Navigator by Sparks for Orthodox Kids

Color the monks in dark robes.

What color does Jesus wear?

Brendan lived in Ireland but sailed all over spreading the Word of God. He may have even sailed to America before Columbus. Old maps show an island called "St Brendan's" but we don't know what island that is. Brendan sailed by the Holy Spirit, they had no plan. They lived their life on the sea and shared the Word of God with people they met.

Ascension - 40 days after Pascha

Ascension by Sparks for Orthodox Kids

Jesus wears white and yellow (yellow)

What color is the circle He sits in?

Ascend means raise up. This is the day we remember Christ going up to Heaven to live with God the Father.

November 2017

SPARKS

FOR ORTHODOX TODDLERS

Written and Illustrated by

Casey Newman

Synaxis of the Archangels

Sparks- Archangels

November 8th

Apostle Philip

Sparks- Apostle Philip

November 14th

Saint Gregory Palamas

Sparks- St. Gregory Palamas

November 15th

October Craft

Night Light

I was inspired by a Halloween craft, but decided it was cuter as a night light for angels to watch over my little Spark in his new big boy bed!

You will need:

• 16 popsicle sticks
• hot glue
• parchment paper- trace 4 images
• paint
• battery operated votive candle

Step 1- Glue the popsicle sticks into 4 squares

Step 2- Trace images onto parchment paper

Step 3- Let your little Sparks paint each picture

Step 4- Glue the 4 squares into a box and the papers onto each side

Step 5- Light the votive and enjoy!

October 2017

Lets start with Halloween!

As a convert I am still searching to balance my Orthodox Christianity with "normal" American culture.  

Here are a few articles by priests on the question of whether or not we should participate, I hope you find them useful. 

• Here is advise from the Antiochian Archdiocese, written by Father George Morelli

Smart Parenting XIX- Halloween

He gives a thorough overview and history of Halloween followed with suggestions.

• Here is an article or reflection on Halloween by Father Mark Sietsema at the Mystagogy Resource Center but I found it on Saint Mary's Orthodox Church in Cambridge MA

Who's Afraid of Halloween?

He gives a more personal reflection on Halloween.

Saint Thomas the Apostle

Sparks for Orthodox Toddlers

October 6th

Saint Thomas was a young fisherman from the same area as Jesus, they are both from Galilee. He left his job fishing to become a student of Jesus. After Jesus was arrested and crucified he appeared to his disciples but Thomas wasn't there. In the Gospel on Pascha we read that Thomas wouldn't believe until he got to see Jesus for himself.


Enjoy coloring your icon:
This icon shows Saint Thomas touching Jesus' wound. Both he and Jesus wear red and blue.

Forefather Abraham

Sparks for Orthodox Toddlers

October 9

The Righteous Forefather Abraham lived a long long time ago. He was a good man and did what God wanted him to do. God told him that he would be the Father of all God's people. They were the first ancestors of Jesus.

Enjoy coloring your icon:

This icon is called "The Hospitality of Abraham" it shows Abraham and his wife Sara serving three angels. The three angels represent God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

 

Saint Luke the Evangelist and Apostle

Sparks for Orthodox Toddlers

October 18th

Saint Luke was a doctor from Syria. He heard of Jesus and went to Israel to learn. After becoming a follower of Jesus he traveled around to teach others. He ended up in Egypt telling people about Jesus. 

Saint Luke is important because he wrote the book of Acts in the Bible and he was also the first person to paint an icon of Mary, Jesus' Mother, who we also call the Theotokos.


Enjoy coloring your icon:
This icon shows Saint Luke with his icon of the Theotokos, above him is a bull with a Gospel book. The bull represents Luke, each of the four writers of the Gospel have a special animal. Saint Luke wears green and red.

Sparks for Orthodox Toddlers

Prophet Hosea 

October 17

Prophet Joel

October 19

Do you remember who the prophets were, what was their special job for God?

The Prophet Hosea lived long before Jesus, but the Holy Spirit told him about Jesus Christ. He told people that Jesus would be born and our relationship with God will change!


The Prophet Joel also lived long before Jesus, and the Holy Spirit told him that Jerusalem was going to be destroyed.


Enjoy coloring your icon:
Hosea wears red and blue and Joel wears green and orange

Apostle James, The Brother of the Lord

Sparks for Orthodox Toddlers

October 23

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?

September Craft

September's Craft

We decided to make crosses for Exaltation.

You will need:

• craft glue
• craft sticks (we save popcicle sticks)
• paint
• good scissors
• paper plates (optional)

Glue sticks into a cross allow time for it to dry. I added layers for strength. My older Spark glued his own, but the younger one did not, so you decide how much to prepare for your little ones. Then let them have at it to decorate! I also glued crosses onto paper plates as an alternative for my little one, it worked well since he doesn't really understand "decorating" yet!

August Craft

As a follow up to the collage "I am part of God's Creation" make an "I spy" tube! We used paper towel tubes that they decorated with crayons, markers and stickers. During nap-time I coated them with Modge-Podge glue to add some durability and waterproofing! They have lasted over a week, although one disappeared.

We also made John the Baptist head spin-

It may be easier to use the "printer friendly section to print John's icon

You will need:

• John the Baptist printout and head
• sharp knife
• paint/crayons/markers 
• small paper plate or paper circle
• pin fastener for center pivot

1)

2) Cut out both places for his head

3) Secure his head to plate (before it wanders off!)

3) Let your Spark enjoy!

4) Pin the plate so the head can spin from one spot to the other

5) Enjoy!