Upcycle CD Pascha Candle Holders

30 bead, multi-colored prayer rope

Our church just held its first annual arts and crafts fair.  The girls and I made all sorts of crafts for it: paper collage art, photographs, clay coil pots, prayer beads, and our favorite, upcycled cd Pascha candle holders (or multi-purpose trays other times of the year).  The sale went pretty well, but many people suggested I should open an etsy shop, so I'm working on creating an online shop.

Until I get it up and running, I wanted to post a few pictures. We're selling the prayer beads and candle holders for $5 each, and we take custom orders if you have color preferences.  If you'd like something before the shop is set up, just email me!

With flat bottom

Without flat bottom

Pascha Silhouettes

Christ is Risen!

This is turning out to be the best Pascha since 2004.  We had a small, but large miracle on Great and Holy Friday, which led to the most joyous Pascha we've had in years.  Plus, the liturgy last night proceeded nearly flawlessly, unlike last year's which was a tragedy of errors and storms.  Joy is in the air!  Christ has, indeed, risen victoriously!

Yesterday afternoon and today the girls and I worked on some Pascha silhouettes.  These were quite simple and fun to do.  You can find a template for the silhouette shapes here.  Just cut out and lightly glue the templates to your paper, color around them with your preferred media, and then remove them.

Bumble Bee's rainbow watercolor

My monochrome watercolor

Hummingbird's Oil Pastel

Paschal Sermon of Bishop Matthias of the Diocese of the Midwest

Christ is Risen!

By way of explaining his opening remarks, we had a severe thunderstorm roll in just in time for the procession, which, of course, had to be modified.

Palm Sunday to Pascha Magnets

During Holy Week there is an abundance of opportunities for adults to pray and participate in the procession of days leading to Pascha.  Children are often dragged along through the litany of services as well, but for them the significance of each day can easily be lost as their attention spans grow shorter through the week.  With that in mind, I've put together some crafts that can be done throughout the week.  Many of the crafts below can be adjusted to use whatever craft supplies you have on hand, and you can even repurpose old magnets for these projects.  So if you are missing some supplies, don't be afraid to improvise.  You can do the crafts before a given service to prepare your child for what's to come or as a review afterward.  Read on to make your own collection of Holy Week Magnets.

Palm Sunday Frame Magnet

Supplies:

Craft Foam (green and choice of other colors)

Precut Foam Frames (optional)

Entry into Jerusalem Icon (or photograph from Palm Sunday liturgy)

Scissors

Glue Stick or Glue

Leaf and Heart Templates

Glitter or Glitter Glue, Mosaic Tiles, or Other Embellishments

Magnet (strip)

Directions:

1. Prepare the foam by cutting out leaves and hearts.  If you are not using a precut frame, cut 2 pieces of foam 4.25 x 5.5 inches, and cut a rectangle (2.5 x 3.5 inches, or sized to your icon/picture) from the center of one piece.

2. Glue leaves and hearts around the edge of the frame.

3. Insert the icon or picture in frame.  If you made your own frame, center your picture on the solid foam and glue.  Then, glue the front to the back of the frame.

4. Secure a magnet to the back of the frame.

5. Read the story of Jesus's entrance into Jerusalem.  Talk about what's happening in the icon or at the service. 

Holy Monday Multi-colored Coat Magnet

Supplies:
Coat Template

White Lunch Bag or Coffee Filter (brown will work if you don't have white)

Thin Cardboard or Cardstock Paper

Pencil

Markers

Spray Bottle with Water

Scissors

Magnet (strip)

Directions:

1. Color the bag with markers, and spray lightly with water.  Let any excess water drip off.

2. After it has dried, cut a coat shape out of the cardboard and bag.

3. Glue the coats together, and glue to the magnet.

4. Read the story of Joseph, the son of Jacob, in Genesis.  Discuss how Joseph is a model of Jesus.

Alternate ideas for decorating the coat. 

1. Simply color the coat without running the colors together. 

2. Glue small pieces of colored tissue paper to the coat.

3. Glue strips of ribbon or felt to the coat.

Holy Tuesday Oil Lamp Magnet

Supplies:

Gold or White Cardstock Paper

Oil Lamp Template

Black Marker

Scissors

Glue

Glitter, Mosaic Tiles, Embellishments

Magnet (small strip)

Directions:

1. Trace and cut out the oil lamp, and draw the center opening (see template).

2. Decorate.

3. When dry, glue magnet to the back.

4. Read the Parable of the Ten Virgins, and discuss how we must always be prepared to receive the Lord when He comes again by trying to be good and repenting when we fail.

Holy Wednesday Silver Coin Magnet

Supplies:

1 or 3 Silver coins (foreign coins that you couldn't exchange would be great)

Glue

Magnet (round)

Directions:

1. Glue the first coin to the center of the magnet, and glue the next two to the edges of the first.

2. Read the story of Judas's betrayal.  Explain that the coin(s) represent the money given to Judas to betray Jesus.  Discuss how we betray Jesus when we sin, but because we ask for forgiveness, we are forgiven.  Judas did not seek forgiveness. 

Great and Holy Thursday Prosfora Magnet

Supplies:

Template of a Prosfora Seal

Craft foam (neutral color)

Scissors, Xacto Knife, and/or scrapbook circle cutting tools

Glue

Crayons

Fine Tip Marker

Magnet

Directions:

1. Print and color the prosfora template.  Cut out the center lamb with Xacto knife.

2. Cut two foam circles – one 5 inches in diameter, the other sized to the template. 

3. Glue the template onto the second circle, and cut the square out of the center.  Glue the lamb to the square.

4. Glue the two circles together.  Write "Take. Eat." in the square on the larger circle.

5. Insert the lamb but do NOT glue.

6. Secure a magnet to the back.

7. Read the story of the Last Supper.  Discuss how we participate in the Last Supper through the consecration and receiving communion.  If you have the supplies to do so, let your child bake prosfora with you to bring to church for liturgy.

Great and Holy Friday Cross Magnet

Supplies:

2 Craft Sticks (colored or plain)

Paint/Markers (optional)

Gemstones, Sequins, etc.

Glue

Magnet (2-4 thin strips, or single round)

Directions:

1. Cut one stick into two smaller pieces (one a little larger than the other), and cut off the rounded edges.

2. Color the craft sticks if they are plain.  We chose pre-colored purple ones (how liturgically appropriate!), and colored the cut edges purple to match.

3. Glue the sticks together with the larger crossbar at the top, and the smaller at the bottom.

4. Decorate as desired. 

5. Glue the magnet(s) to the back.

6. Read the Passion story.  Explain that Jesus died on the cross to save us from our sins.

Great and Holy Saturday Linen Cloth Magnet

Supplies:

Scraps of white cloth cut into strips approximately ¼ inch wide and 3 inches long (no need to be exact).

Glue

Magnet (2x3 inch, or similar size)

Directions:

1. Glue the scraps of cloth together on the magnet strip.

2. Read the story of Jesus's burial.  Explain that after His death, Jesus's body was wrapped in linen and placed in the tomb, where His body would rest for three days.  If your child is older, you might also discuss how He went down to Hades to set free the souls of the righteous dead.

Pascha Icon Magnet

Supplies:

Bottle Cap, or 2 Silver/Gold Mini-muffin Cups

White or Gold Paint

Print of the Resurrection Icon (included in template)*

Colorless Packing Tape

Scissors or Scrapbook Tools for cutting a circle

Glue

Glitter or Glitter Glue

Magnet (round)

Directions:

1. Wash and paint the bottle cap.  Or flatten the muffin cups and glue the insides together.

2. Discuss all the figures in the icon.  Then, cover the icon, front & back, with a small strip of packing tape to prevent the ink from running.  Cut out the circle with Jesus, Adam, and Eve.

3. Glue the icon inside the bottle cap or to the center of the muffin cup, painting a layer of glitter glue over the icon.

4. Secure magnet to the back.

5. Read the story of the Resurrection.  Discuss how Jesus rose from the dead conquering death and giving us all a path to salvation.

*I chose this Ethiopian Resurrection icon by iconographer Christopher Gosey because it lends itself beautifully to the style of this magnet, even more so than Byzantine icons of the Resurrection.

Christ is Risen!

All things are possible for our Lord has conquered death and sin.  Today indeed feels like a victory.  We enjoyed an exhausting, but rewarding Holy Week.  The girls were much better behaved than I expected all week.  We attended every evening service and all of them from Friday morning on.

The Paschal Liturgy last night was exciting and joyous.  The weather was pleasant after a week of cold and rain -- great for the procession.  During the week, we practiced answering the Paschal greeting in several languages, and Yaya was eager to shout the Arabic reply.  We even caught a smile from Daddy in the midst of his work as the two of us alone shouted the reply from the church balcony.  We were able to celebrate with our soon-to-be bishop and had a church full of guests.

And no one told me I shouldn't be at church with my "cranky" kids.  In fact, there were more children present than usual, and they were all quite well behaved.  Here are a few of them.

 The basket blessing and Agape meal after the liturgy wasn't too shabby either.  More of "our" people (ie. regular church attendees) seemed to stay than usual.  And although I was in charge and managed to burn the ham, people unexpectedly brought extra food and no one complained about the "Louisiana blackened ham."

 

Yaya keeps telling me this is the best Easter ever.  I think our first Pascha in Chicago remains my favorite.  The joy was palpable, and the excitement was elevated by Archbishop Job's instructions to an altar server regarding the incense to "fire it up!"  That year I was pregnant and nauseated, but my illness abated for the day, and I was even able to enjoy an Easter brunch at the Hancock building.  It will be hard to top, but this year does rank among the best.  And while it was hard to crawl out of bed an hour ago with the girls, I am looking forward to the rest of day.  Vespers at one o'clock will be followed by an egg hunt (the first time we're doing it on Pascha Sunday; it's usually in the next two weeks).  Then, we'll come home to rest before heading to dinner at Athena Greek Restaurant.

 Finally, the girls are super excited that they both won a coloring contest at one of the local grocery stores.