In the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, the One and Only God, Amen.

St. Mark Festival 2011:

general information, rules, topics and schedule

St. Mary Coptic Orthodox Church – Ottawa, Canada

3 July 2011

presentation outlinepresentation outline

• overall information, rules and contacts

• topics

• teams - summary

• schedule

• registration

• outstanding information

overall information, rules & contactsoverall information, rules & contacts• rules /guidelines in www.mahragan.ca to be followed as far as

practicable – rules in distributed document are supplementary

• regional competition « FINALS » - Montreal/Ottawa – in Ottawa – Sep 3 for Gr 4-6 and 7-11

• St. Mary and St. George will compete locally for SKG & Gr1-3

• age groups represented by grades must be strictly observed

• non-competitive event for Gr12 and up on July 9&10 and 16&17 – check http://fellowshiptournament.webs.com/index.htm

• zero tolerance for improper behaviour and/or language

overall information, rules....... overall information, rules....... ((contcont.).)

• all semi-final competitions to be held locally (in Ottawa and Montreal)

• professional refereeing for sports events

• players must wear their designated team uniforms - Montreal churches: red for St. Mark, blue for St. Mary and yellow for St. George - Ottawa uniform colours yet to be determined

• sports events: soccer, basketball and badminton for girls, plus soccer and basketball for boys

overall information, rules...... overall information, rules...... ((contcont.).)

• this is a church competition with spiritual overtones – spiritual content and overall behaviour should reflect this aspect - each sporting event will be preceded by a prayer

• “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” (Matt. 6:33)

• in addition to spiritual, Gr4-6 and 7-11 competitions will cover sports, Coptic language and hymns, in accordance with the Festival’s curriculum and the specific topics given below - no competitions in research, drama, mime, music, creative writing or multimedia technology

overall information, rules...... overall information, rules...... ((contcont.).)

• spiritual exam questions to be jointly set by one representative, yet to be nominated, from each of Ottawa and Montreal – questions will be clear - up to 7 members from each church will pass a power point exam before a group of judges consisting of a judge from each church - for Gr4-6, one team per church will compete - for Gr7-11, two teams per church will compete: 7-8 and 9-11

• a similar approach to be followed for SKG & Gr1-3 (setting clear exams, judging, teams)

overall information, rules...... overall information, rules...... ((cont.)cont.)

• spiritual, hymns and Coptic language competitions: a number of questions (most likely two) to be answered by each competing team (discussion among team members will be allowed) plus other questions to be addressed to team members individually (no discussion is allowed)

• Coptic language and hymns: one team from each church for Coptic and likewise for hymns - maximum of one participant may be on both teams – min 3 participants/team

• Sep3: activities to take place in parallel – detailed schedule to be published shortly – skits and songs in between (likely) – about 9 hours total

overall information, rules........ overall information, rules........ ((cont.)cont.)

• one prize per participant – plus one prize per winner – plus one trophy per winning team

• coordinators/contacts:– Father George for St. George– George Ishack for St. Mary– George Ishack for Ottawa– Hany Ghobrial for Montreal

topics – SKG & Gr1 - 3topics – SKG & Gr1 - 3

SKG•The spiritual topics and memorization are yet to be determined.•The hymns will be:

– Pi-ehmot Ghar  (the short one)– Ge-Peniot (Gospel's response for Saturdays, Sundays and the

concluding Friday of the Geat Lent (Fast tune)– Alleluia Fai Pe Pi Eho-ou

•- A video will be circulated for the Coptic language part.

topics – SKG & Gr1 – 3 topics – SKG & Gr1 – 3 ((cont.)cont.)

Gr1 – 2•Spiritual:

– Jesus teaches me to rejoice and be kind– Jesus teaches me to trust Him– Jesus teaches me to thank Him

•Memorization :– Psalms 8 & 121, “Prayer for the Unction of the Sick.”

•Hymns and Coptic language:– Similar to SKG.

topics – SKG & Gr1 – 3 topics – SKG & Gr1 – 3 ((cont.)cont.)

Gr3•Spiritual:

– All six topics given in the Festival’s curriculum

•Memorization :– John 1:1 - 17

•Hymns and Coptic language:– Similar to SKG.

topics topics –– grades 4-6 grades 4-6

• Spiritual:– The Lord Jesus Christ redeemed me.– My Lord Jesus is with me all the time.– My Lord Jesus taught me to have a well-rounded

personality.

• Memorization (Vespers – Canonical Hours):– Psalm 124 (125 in the canonical hours) “Those who trust in

the Lord are like Mount Zion.”– Gospel (Luke 4:38-41)

topics topics –– grades 4-6 grades 4-6 (cont.)(cont.)

• Coptic language:– The Coptic alphabet– Words from “Our Father”– Learning how to read “Our Father”

•  Hymns:– “Pi-Oik” first three verses– Doxology of the Heavenly Orders “Shashf en-arshy

angelos”

• NOTE: Grade 4 will study the Grade 5/6 topics

topics topics –– grades 7-11 grades 7-11

• Spiritual:– Christ is our life.– Know your Bible.– “An eye witness.....” till the end of the general questions.

• Memorization:– Third hour Gospel.– Psalm 22 (23) “The Lord is my Shepherd.”

topics topics –– grades 7-11 grades 7-11 (cont.)(cont.)

• Coptic language:– All the letters of the alphabet.– All the words associated with “Our Father.”– Other simple words with letters similar to the English

language.– Other simple words with letters dissimilar to the English

language.

topics topics –– grades 7-11 grades 7-11 (cont.)(cont.)

• Hymns:– “Alleluya” – the first three verses of the distribution for

Saturdays and Sundays of the Great Lent.– The first three verses of “Rejoice O Mary:” first and

third in Arabic and the second in Coptic.

teams - summaryteams - summary

• GrSKG, 1-2, 3:– 7 members (or less) for spiritual– 3 members (or more) for Coptic– 3 members (or more) for hymns – one common participant

is allowed between Coptic and hymns

teams – summary teams – summary (cont.)(cont.)

• Gr4 – 6:– 7 members (or less) for spiritual– 3 members (or more) for Coptic– 3 members (or more) for hymns – one common

participant is allowed between Coptic and hymns– basketball, soccer and badminton teams for girls– basketball and soccer teams for boys

teams – summary teams – summary (cont.)(cont.)

• Gr7 – 11:– 7 members (or less) for spiritual for Gr7-8– 7 members (or less) for spiritual for Gr9-11– 3 members (or more) for Coptic– 3 members (or more) for hymns – one common

participant is allowed between Coptic and hymns– basketball, soccer and badminton teams for girls– basketball and soccer teams for boys

grades 12 and up (tentative)grades 12 and up (tentative)

• non-competitive activities

• 2 weekends in July (9&10 and 16&17)

• July 16 in Ottawa

• spiritual prerequisite

• mixed teams for sports

scheduleschedule

• Summer camp:– Grades SKG-6: Tuesdays 7-9 pm & Saturdays 5-7

pm.– Grades 7-11: Wednesdays and Thursdays 7-9 pm.

• Finals:– Sep 3 in Ottawa

• Semi-finals:– Aug 20 in Ottawa

• Grades SKG, 1-2, 3 (local)– TBD

registrationregistration

• registration forms are on the Festival’s website:

www.mahragan.ca

outstanding informationoutstanding information

a- Exact schedule of Saturday September 3rd

b- A decision on whether the July activity for Grades 12 and up will take place

c- Schedule for the Grade 4-6 and 7-11 semi-finals in Ottawa

d- Topics for GrSKG

e- Date for the St. Mary/St. George, Ottawa, GrSKG, 1-2, 3 competition (tentatively set for Aug 13)

f- Names of examiners, judges and referees.

GOD

BLESS