LessonsLesson 3

Feast of the Cross · Week 3

Our Maronite Church

كنيستنا المارونية

church_building

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

Let's explore our Maronite church! Every Maronite church has special parts. Let's walk through them together. The main area where the priest stands is called the "haykal" (altar area). The tabernacle (bayt al-qurbaan) holds the Blessed Sacrament — the Body of Christ. Look at the icons and the beautiful cedar cross — the cedar tree is a symbol of Lebanon and our Maronite heritage. When we walk into the church, we dip our fingers in holy water, make the sign of the cross, and light a candle (sham'a). These are ways we show our love and respect for God. Our church is like a home for our community. The priest (kaahin) leads our prayers and teaches us about God's love. Can you point to the haykal?

Key Phrases

هيكل

haykal

Altar

كاهن

kaahin

Priest

شمعة

sham'a

Candle

📝 Vocabulary

هيكل

haykal

Altar

The haykal is at the front of the church.

شمعة

sham'a

Candle

We light a sham'a when we enter.

كاهن

kaahin

Priest

The kaahin leads our prayers.

أيقونة

ayqoona

Icon

We see beautiful ayqoonaat on the walls.

🎮 Activity

game

Church Scavenger Hunt! Give each child a simple checklist: find the altar (haykal), find a candle (sham'a), find an icon (ayqoona), find the cross (saleeb). Walk through the church together and check off each item.

  1. 1What is the most special part of our church?
  2. 2What do we do when we first walk into church?

🙏 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.

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