LessonsLesson 1

Feast of the Cross · Week 1

Welcome to Sunday School

أهلاً بكم في مدرسة الأحد

church_buildingprayer

For younger children (5-6), focus on the vocabulary cards and coloring. For older children (8-10), engage with the discussion questions.

🙏 Opening Prayer

Read the prayer aloud slowly. Have the children repeat each line after you. Make the sign of the cross together.

بِاسْمِ الآبِ وَالابْنِ وَالرُّوحِ القُدُس، إلهٌ واحِد، آمين.

Bismil-Aab wal-Ibn war-Ruuh al-Qudus, Ilaahun waahid, aameen.

In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, one God, Amen.

📖 This Week's Story

Welcome to Sunday School in the Maronite tradition! This is a special place where we come together every Sunday to learn about God, our faith, and our beautiful heritage. In Arabic, we call the church "kaneesa" (كنيسة). The Maronite church is named after St. Maroun, a holy monk who lived in the mountains of Lebanon. Just like your parents and grandparents did when they were your age, you will learn beautiful Arabic words, hear amazing stories from the Bible, and make wonderful friends. Look around you — this is your kaneesa. It's a place where our community comes together to pray, celebrate, and take care of each other. Every Sunday, we'll start with a prayer (salaat), learn something new, and have fun together. Who can tell me something they love about coming to church?

Key Phrases

كنيسة

kaneesa

Church

صلاة

salaat

Prayer

أهلاً

ahlan

Welcome

📝 Vocabulary

كنيسة

kaneesa

Church

We go to the kaneesa on Sunday.

الله

Allah

God

We pray to Allah every day.

محبة

mahabba

Love

God's mahabba is everywhere.

🎮 Activity

discussion

Sit in a circle. Ask each child to introduce themselves and share one thing they want to learn this year in Sunday School.

  1. 1What is your name?
  2. 2What is your favorite thing about church?
  3. 3What do you want to learn in Sunday School?

🙏 Closing Prayer

المَجدُ للآبِ وَالابنِ وَالرُّوحِ القُدُس، مِنَ الآنَ وَإلى الأبَد، آمين.

Al-majdu lil-Aab wal-Ibn war-Ruuh al-Qudus, minal-aana wa ila al-abad, aameen.

Glory to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and forever, Amen.

Want your child to learn Armenian at home?

Try our K-5 curriculum — interactive lessons from alphabet to reading.

Get Started →