1. January 31 st, 2010 Getting Ready for the Great Lent IN A PRACTICAL WAY Saint Mary’s Coptic Orthodox Church of Ottawa Sunday School Grades 3 to 6

2. Get Ready for Lent

3. 1. PRAY Talk to God, Praise the Lord, being Thankful to God, asking for Forgiveness This Lent, in addition to our usual prayers, set aside 15 minutes at 7pm every night to pray (together in spirit, while in our own homes) The Lord’s Prayer The Jesus Prayer (My Lord Jesus Christ,...) The Agpeya & Psalms Your own Prayers Prayers at Church o come on time, pay attention, make an effort to understand Bible Readings

4. As you Pray Sign of the Cross Pray slowly Concentrate Pray respectfully Standing up Kneeling Metania (worship) NO distractions Quiet place Close your eyes

5. Daily 7pm Prayer

6. 2. FAST What is Fasting? Goes hand-in-hand with prayer Control your body, senses, desires Many benefits Self-control Humility Repentance Spiritual growth,... How do we start to Fast at this age? Seek guidance of your Spiritual Father: how to fast, which fasts,...

7. FAST of the EYES & EARS Control what comes IN your MIND AVOID inappropriate: Music TV Movies Internet REPLACE WITH Church Hymns Saint Movies Church Readings

8. FAST of the MOUTH Control what comes OUT of your MOUTH NO Rude words Mean words Rude jokes Lies Yelling REPLACE WITH Nice words Sing Hymn Reading Psalms Prayers

9. FAST of the TIME Control how you spend your TIME REDUCE Chat/Text Video Games TV, Movies, Internet “friends” that are bad influences MORE Holy Time Bible Church (Sunday, Vespers) Praying Saint Movies & Books Church Hymns Time with True Friends Christian Youth Channel (cycnow.com)

10. FAST of the FOOD Control WHAT you EAT WHEN you EAT HOW MUCH you EAT Ask your Parents & Spiritual Father how to start fasting which fasts,...

11. 3. METANIA (Worship) Why do we do Metanias? In Humility, worship and acknowledge Our Beloved Almighty God Be thankful for all His Goodness, His Blessings, His Grace, His Mercy How do we do Metanias? Make the Sign of the Cross Bow down to the ground Make a fist (bow down willingly) Thumbs pointed forward (unity with God) What should accompany each Metania? Kyrie Eleison (Lord Have Mercy), or other prayers Inner feeling of Repentance before the Lord Metanias as you enter the Church, bowing down before the altar and pray: “We worship you Our Lord Jesus Christ, with Your Good Father, and the Holy Spirit, for you have come and saved us.”

12. 4. CHARITY Start with one thing, and keep doing more... Laundry Taking out the garbage Dishwasher Cleaning the table Helping brother/sister with homework Tidy-up toys Shovel snow (in winter) Help with gardening (in summer) Collection at Church “It is more blessed to give than to receive” Acts 20:35

13. Help out around the Home

14. Spiritual Plan 1. PRAY Keep up normal prayers at Home and Church Add a 7pm prayer every night Focus during prayers: make effort to understand the meaning of what you are praying (can ask a grown-up to explain) 3. METANIAS & WORSHIP Practice Metanias during daily prayers at home (start with 3) Come to church on time! Come to church with a pure heart, and an inner smile 2. FAST Control all your senses & thoughts Remove “worldly” songs, shows, movies, internet surfing, etc. Replace with spiritual time (Bible, Hymns, Spiritual Songs,...) Fast during Lent (discuss with your parents and Spiritual Father) 4. CHARITY Charity starts at home (mom & dad) Help out at church Donations to help the needy Give of your time, to those in need This Goes Hand In Hand With REPENTANCE & CONFESSION

15. BACKUP (Handout) Each Sunday School Class can modify the next page to suit specifics of the class (if you want to add/modify anything) Discuss with your fellow servants Print out the next 2 pages, as a handout for all the children in your class

16. Spiritual Plan 1. PRAY Keep up normal prayers at Home and Church Add a 7pm prayer every night Focus during prayers: make effort to understand the meaning of what you are praying (can ask a grown-up to explain) 3. METANIAS & WORSHIP Practice Metanias during daily prayers at home (start with 3) Come to church on time! Come to church with a pure heart, and an inner smile 2. FAST Control all your senses & thoughts Remove “worldly” songs, shows, movies, internet surfing, etc. Replace with spiritual time (Bible, Hymns, Spiritual Songs,...) Fast during Lent (discuss with your parents and Spiritual Father) 4. CHARITY Charity starts at home (mom & dad) Help out at church Donations to help the needy Give of your time, to those in need This Goes Hand In Hand With REPENTANCE & CONFESSION

17. Fasting Schedule in our Coptic Church When do we Fast? Great Lent & Holy Week before Easter (55 days) Jonah’s Fast (2 weeks before the Great Lent, for 3 days) Apostles’ Fast (Monday following Pentecost until July 12) Saint Mary’s Fast (August 7-22) Advent Fast before Christmas (43 days) Paramoun (preparation for 2-3 days before Christmas & Epiphany) Wednesdays (remembering the betrayal of the Lord) Fridays (remembering Christ’s crucifixion for our sake) Before Communion (no food or drink for at least 9 hours)