Grade 5 - Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States
Grade 5 - Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States
Grade 5 - Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States
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Sunday School Curriculum <strong>Grade</strong> 5<br />
Week 1- Celebrating Christmas Differently<br />
Objective:<br />
Understand <strong>the</strong> deep meaning <strong>of</strong> Christmas celebration<br />
Memory Verse:<br />
“My soul magnifies <strong>the</strong> Lord and My spirit rejoiced in God <strong>of</strong> my salvation” (Luke 1:46)<br />
References:<br />
From <strong>the</strong> Inspiration <strong>of</strong> Christmas by Pope Shenouda III<br />
Introduction:<br />
Review <strong>the</strong> previous lesson and verse<br />
Christmas has many spiritual meanings; one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> most important <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>m is <strong>the</strong> love <strong>of</strong> God<br />
towards man. God out <strong>of</strong> His great love toward man descended to mankind and dwelt among<br />
<strong>the</strong>m. He sent His only begotten son, incarnated and lived on earth among <strong>the</strong>m to save <strong>the</strong>m. He<br />
made Himself one with our nature. The birth <strong>of</strong> Christ was <strong>the</strong> beginning <strong>of</strong> a true practical love.<br />
Lesson Outlines:<br />
The birth <strong>of</strong> Christ is a source <strong>of</strong> joy in our life, when man failed to reconcile with God, He<br />
came Himself to us, God descended to man. And that is why this should be our belief and our<br />
way in celebrating Christmas. It is not all about exchanging gifts and be busy with <strong>the</strong>m. The<br />
most important thing is exchanging <strong>the</strong> gift <strong>of</strong> Love to those who really need it. Usually we <strong>of</strong>fer<br />
our best gift to our best friend, forgetting or neglecting that <strong>the</strong>re might be ano<strong>the</strong>r person in <strong>the</strong><br />
same group or class who is left behind without anyone <strong>of</strong> us paying attention to him/her and we<br />
don‘t share our love to <strong>the</strong>m. Love shouldn‘t be only <strong>of</strong>fered as a form <strong>of</strong> gifts, although <strong>the</strong><br />
Maggie <strong>of</strong>fered gifts to Christ when He was born but this is one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> aspects but <strong>the</strong> most<br />
important one is <strong>the</strong> gift that Christ <strong>of</strong>fered to us in His birth, which is HIMSELF.<br />
He left heaven in all its glory to come to us <strong>the</strong> poor on earth. He <strong>of</strong>fered love in <strong>the</strong> form <strong>of</strong><br />
healing <strong>the</strong> sick, comforting <strong>the</strong> troubles and heavy leaden, in <strong>of</strong>fering peace on earth with <strong>the</strong><br />
promise <strong>of</strong> inheriting eternal life with all its happiness to those who love God. He <strong>of</strong>fered <strong>the</strong><br />
most precious gift <strong>of</strong> giving Himself and His life for us on earth up till <strong>the</strong> death on <strong>the</strong> cross.<br />
It is not only <strong>of</strong>fering materialistic gifts, and to those who are only close to our hearts. Or<br />
don‘t let <strong>the</strong> world to deceive you by <strong>the</strong> bright way <strong>of</strong> celebration with a lot <strong>of</strong> lights or<br />
decorations everywhere, but ra<strong>the</strong>r go deeply inside <strong>the</strong> spirit <strong>of</strong> Christmas to understand what‘s<br />
behind it; what is <strong>the</strong> true meaning <strong>of</strong> exchanging gifts or filling <strong>the</strong> world with bright lights.<br />
There is a spiritual meaning that <strong>the</strong> world among <strong>the</strong> busy time concerning about <strong>the</strong> outside<br />
face <strong>of</strong> celebration forgot its true value.<br />
JANUARY 61