Vespers

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this lesson is for the kindergartners to understand the purpose and content of Vesper prayers. This lesson focuses on the priest's movements around the church during and after the Verse of Cymbals.

INTRODUCTION & HOOK- 10 Minutes

Sing "Night of the Last Supper" with the kindergarteners and talk about how our Lord often prayed in the evening with His disciples. Have the kindergartners make connections between evening prayers like our Lord's Passover meal with His disciples to Vesper Prayers in the evenings at Church. Use an abbreviated version of the song, keeping in mind the kindergarteners short attention spans and the long tune of this song.

For this lesson, it is crucial to have a visualization of the front of the church in order to help the kindergarteners understand the priest's movements during Vespers. If there is a white board in your room, draw a sketch of the altar with the icons. If a screen is available, whether it's projected or even on a tablet to be shown around, that would also be a great way to illustrate to the kindergarteners. See attached activity for images

If it is possible to bring a censer to show to the kindergarteners, it would be a great opportunity for them to see it up close and give them a closer perspective of Vespers.

HOLY SCRIPTURE - 5 Minutes

Memory Verse
"I was glad when they said to me, 'Let us go into the house of the Lord." Psalm 121:1

ABOUT VESPERS - 10 Minutes

The Vesper Prayers are prayed in the evening before the Divine Liturgy. It is mainly four parts:

Hymns
Thanksgiving prayer
Litanies
Gospel reading

This structure is repeated during the Matin Prayers the following morning before the Divine Liturgy.

During the Vespers, we thank the Lord for the day. We also pray for blessings for the following day, in which we eagerly look forward to praying the Divine Liturgy.

The priest raises incense with the censer, we see his movements through the church and the movement of the smoke from the incense as it rises up to Heaven, just like our prayers.

Incense Circuit

While the deacons lead the people through the Verses of Cymbals, we can watch as the priest and deacon go around the altar three times with the censer. The priest is silently praying the Three Litanies (prayers):

Peace
Leadership of the church
For the people.

Facing him on the opposite side of the altar is the deacon who holds the cross. This is known as the Incense Circuit. (It would be great if you had the kindergarteners imitate the Incense Circuit, to have a better understanding and familiarity of the movements.)

Next the priest kisses the altar and steps out while still facing the altar. The priest raises incense before the altar three times; each time saying a verse.

"We worship You O Christ our God with Your gracious Father, and the Holy Spirit for You have come and saved us."

"But as for me, I will come into Your house in the multitude of Your mercy, in fear of You I will worship toward Your holy temple." Psalm 5:7

"I will praise You with my whole heart. Before the angels I will sing praises to You." Psalm 137:1-2

Then the priest raises incense to the icon of St. Mary and says, "We hail you with Archangel Gabriel. Hail to you, highly favored one, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women" (Luke 1:28).

Then he turns and raises incense towards the people, saying, "Hail to the hosts of angels, hail to my fathers the apostles, the martyrs and all the saints." The priest is facing the congregation because we are one Church with the Heavenly Jerusalem where the angels and saints dwell.

Next, the priest raises incense to the icon of John the Baptist and says, "Hail to John, son of Zacharias, hail to the priest the son of the High Priest."

The priest then raises incense once more towards the altar, saying, "Let us worship our Savior, the beloved of mankind, because He had mercy on us and saved us."

(During each movement, point to your sketch on the board or the screen, to show the kids where the priest is moving while he says each of these prayers.)

Once the Verses of the Cymbals are finished the priest, standing at the door of the altar, raises incense in all four directions, signifying that God is everywhere and can hear our prayers and this is called "a cross of incense." After the priest finishes praying the litanies at the door of the altar, he enters the altar to put more incense in the censer and a complete circle around it.

Vespers is a good prayer we can participate in as it has many hymns we can sing the hymns together, which makes us feel we are in heaven praising God with the angels.

APPLICATION -5 minutes

Encourage the kindergarteners and their parents to attend Vespers as a family. Watch as Abouna fills the censer with incense and visualize your prayers with the smoke that reaches up to Heaven. Watch as Abouna circuits around the church and visualize the Word of God traveling to the ends of the Earth. Work hard to keep your attention on the hymns and prayers. Remind them if they get distracted, that it's ok, just re-focus and try again.

ACTIVITY - 10 Minutes

Option One

Create your own censer

Directions: Using styrofoam cups and pipe cleaners, have the kindergarteners create their own censers.

Each kindergartener will need two cups, three pipe cleaners, and string.

Have the kindergartners poke three holes into the tops of both cups with the pipe cleaner, evenly spaced so the cups match each other.
Turn one cup over on top of the other, so the holes are facing each other and connect the holes together using the pipe cleaner.
Lastly, add a loop of yarn to the top of your censer as a handle.

Option Two

Coloring page of a censer, with the memory verse at the bottom.

CHALLENGE -5 Minutes

Attend the Vespers prayers as a class. Afterwards, ask the kindergarteners what they noticed through their different senses. What did they hear? Smell? See? Touch?

RESOURCES

LITURGY, AGPEYA AND PRAISES

COPTUNES+ VIDEO

PARENTS CORNER/HOMEWORK

Try to come to Church for Vespers with your kindergarteners. Reinforce what they learned in Sunday School, the importance of attending church regularly and participating in prayers as a family. Model best behavior in church and insist that they stand and sing as much as possible, considering their age and ability.

Ask your child to recite the memory verse

"I was glad when they said to me, 'Let us go into the house of the Lord." Psalm 121:1