Epiphany

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this module is to introduce the New Testament. In kindergarten, you will go over the Annunciation, the Nativity, the entrance to the Temple, and the Theophany. The students will also learn differences between the Old and New Testaments. In this lesson, the students will learn the story of when our Lord Jesus Christ was baptized and about Saint John the Baptist.

INTRODUCTION & HOOK - 10 Minutes

Guide the children in singing "God is Dwelling in My Heart". Ask the children if they've seen their baptism pictures? Why was it important that their parents baptized them as soon as they could? Baptism is so important that our Lord Jesus Christ Himself was baptized

God is Dwelling in My Heart

God is dwelling in my heart (2x)

He and I are one (2x)

All this joy He gives to me (2x)

Through Christ His Son

And with Jesus in my heart (2x)

What have I fear (2x)

For He is the Son of God (2x)

In my heart He is near

Christians who are baptized,

Have you ever realized?

The great mystery,

God dwells in you and me.

This joy God gave to you,

Share it and with others too,

Show them that God is Love,

Lift their hearts above.

HOLY SCRIPTURE - 10 Minutes

Read the story of when our Lord Jesus Christ went to the Temple in Mark 1:4-11 to the kindergarteners. Be sure to read with emphasis and inflection in your voice. It is important to make the reading come alive to keep them engaged with the story.

Memory Verse
"Then a voice came from Heaven, 'You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.'" (Mark 1:11)

CONTENT (KEY POINTS) - 5 Minutes

St. John the Baptist

Saint John the Baptist kneeled to the Lord Christ while he was still in his mother's womb and was worthy to lay his hand upon the head of the Son of God during Baptism. When he was two years old, Zechariah took the child and brought him to the sanctuary, laying him on the altar. The angel of the Lord caught up the child and brought him to the desert of Ziphana, so Herod's soldiers couldn't hurt him. So the child John grew and became strong in spirit. He was in the desert for more than twenty years, living an angelic life.

Saint John was clothed in camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. He lived in the wilderness persevering in prayers and asceticism, until the Lord ordered him, to fulfill the prophecies, to preach to the people about the coming of the Savior of the World. For he was sent from God, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. (John 1:6-8) In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matthew 3:1-2)

Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins (Matthew 3:5-6). Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. And John tried to prevent Him, saying, "I have need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?" But Jesus answered and said to him, "Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he allowed Him. Then Jesus, when He had been baptized, came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." (Matthew 3:13-17) (Luke 3:20-22)

May his prayers be with us and Glory be to God forever. Amen.

The Importance of Baptism

Baptism is one of the seven holy mysteries of the church. Usually, on the same day as your baptism, you will also receive two other holy mysteries, the Holy Myroun or Chrismation and the Holy Communion. Our Lord Jesus Christ showed us the importance of baptism, by being baptized Himself. He gave us the perfect example and through it we see all Three Persons of the Holy Trinity. We see God the Father in the voice that came from Heaven. We see God the Son in our Lord Jesus Christ in the Jordan River. And we see God the Holy Spirit as the dove that descended on our Lord. In our church, we call the baptism of our Lord the Theophany, because we see all Three Persons of the Holy Trinity.

LIFE APPLICATION - 5 Minutes

Our Lord Jesus Christ shows us the importance of baptism, by being baptized Himself. We are so blessed that each of us has been baptized in the Coptic Orthodox Church. In many ways our baptism day is more important than our birthday Encourage the children to go home and ask their parents when they were baptized and try to celebrate that day every year.

DISCUSSION (Challenge) - 5 Minutes

Share the icon with the kindergartners and ask them what they see. Encourage them to take a close look and share their observations. Some things to make sure are covered...

Saint John the Baptist is wearing camel's hair clothes
Our Lord Jesus Christ is in the Jordan River being baptized
The angels are ministering to Him
The Holy Spirit is descending on Him as a dove
The blue light is a portrayal of the voice coming from Heaven
The Coptic word on the upper right corner says "Theophania" or Theophany

ACTIVITY - 10 Minutes

Download and distribute the coloring page. Have the students color the picture.
Cut only on the three dark lines on the right of Saint John the Baptist.
Cut out the rectangle with our Lord Jesus Christ and the dove.
Insert the rectangle with our Lord and the dove into the three slits with Saint John the Baptist.
Push it up and down to mimic the movement of our Lord in the Jordan River.

SERVANT RESOURCES

Saint John the Baptist, copticchurch.net

Sermon by His Holiness Pope Shenouda, Arabic with English subtitles

Epiphany, lacopts.org

Epiphany cartoon, 3 min

PARENTS CORNER/HOMEWORK

Review the story of when our Lord Jesus Christ was baptized. Review the term Theophany, for our Lord's baptism. Encourage your children to pray through the intercessions of Saint John the Baptist during your prayer routines at home. Be sure to read the Bible with your child every day. During the week, you can share your child's baptism pictures with them and share your favorite memories of the day with them.