Hello Sunday School Students and Families,
Below is the Sunday School class schedule for April 2025:
April 4 Fifth Salutations, Flowers presented by Sunday School students
April 6 Worship and Classes, Sunday of St Mary of Egypt - Spark Sunday
April 12 Saturday of Lazarus, Palm folding by all Sunday School students in Education Building
April 13 Worship and Classes, Palm Sunday
April 18 Holy Friday Retreat: Helpers 11 AM; Apokathelosis Service, 3 PM, Myrrh-bearers report at 2:30 PM
April 20 EASTER SUNDAY: FAMILY WORSHIP SUNDAY. AGAPE SERVICE11 AM. Easter Egg Hunt immediately following the service
April 27 Worship and Classes, St. Thomas Sunday
Monastery Trip
On Saturday, March 1st, a group of 40 Sunday School students, staff, and families enjoyed a truly miraculous experience: a trip to St. George Church in Taylor, Pennsylvania, to venerate the Kardiotissa weeping icon, followed by a visit to the peaceful Holy Protection Monastery in White Haven, Pennsylvania. The day was spiritually moving in a way that words cannot adequately convey, and prepared all attendees for the beginning of Great Lent on March 3, 2025. We hope to make this trip a yearly event, so please plan on joining us in 2026 for a life changing pilgrimage.
St John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival
We are very happy to announce that Stavros Kalisperis, Victoria Kaltsidis, John Kevgas, in the Junior Division, and Justin Moran, in the Senior Division, participated in our parish’s St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival on March 10, 2025. Each one of them shone with the bright light of Orthodoxy, and we couldn’t be more proud of their beautiful and profound words, as well as their commitment of time and talent to writing such thoughtful speeches. We thank them for being true role models for our entire community. We are also grateful to Art Karros, the Chair of the St. Luke Oratorical Festival, and to our esteemed judges for the festival: Alex Arcidiacono, Maria Armenti, and Nick Mallas, for their time and commitment to our young orators.
On Saturday, March 15, Stavros Kalisperis and Victoria Kaltsidis represented St. Luke at the District Oratorical Festival held at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Egg Harbor Township, NJ. For their wonderful efforts, Stavros was awarded Honorable Mention, and Victoria was named a finalist who will represent St. Luke at the Metropolis of NJ Oratorical Festival to be held at St. George Cathedral, Philadelphia, on Saturday, April 26, 2025. Congratulations and our best wishes to all!
Lenten/Holy Week Workbook and Letter
We are rapidly approaching the end of Great and Holy Lent for 2025, but it isn’t too late to take advantage of the following resources: 1) a Lenten Workbook, available online at https://www.ss.st-luke.org/lent; and, 2) elsewhere in this Epistle, a copy of the 2025 Lenten letter containing the schedule of Lenten services and 2 forms to be completed. The first form is for all young ladies, in grades 3 through 6, who would like to serve on Holy Friday as Myrrh-bearers, while the second form is for our annual Holy Friday Helpers Retreat that takes place each year on Holy Friday. The program on Holy Friday will begin at 11 a.m., or immediately following Royal Hours in the morning. Students will start the morning by helping to prepare different parts of the Epitaphion, followed by crafts, activities, and a Lenten lunch. While our little ones are having fun with their crafts and activities, our GOYA-aged students will help prepare the Anastasi candles in the Narthex. The retreat will close with students having a discussion with Father Christ. Students will end the day at approximately 2:00 p.m., and all are welcome, especially our young ladies who will serve as Myrrh-bearers at the 3 PM Holy Friday service, to remain at church after the retreat. Our Myrrh-bearers must be in church by 2:30 pm for practice. If you require further information about the Holy Friday retreat or serving as a Myrrh-bearer, please contact our Sunday School Directors at stlukesundayschool@gmail.com., or visit https://www.ss.st-luke.org/lent.
Psalm Readers for Salutation Services
We are in need of a Sunday School student or students to read Psalms 50, 69, and/or 142 at the very beginning of the last Lenten Salutation Service on Friday, April 4, 2025. We will send the readings to you in advance so that your child can prepare to read aloud in church. This is a meaningful Lenten offering to the Panagia and to our St. Luke community that will greatly enhance your child’s Lenten journey. To sign up your child, please go to: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C094BAEAA2CA7F8CE9-54359332-psalm. Thank you and your families for participating in this joyful Lenten tradition.
Parent Volunteers for Lazarus Saturday/Palm Folding and Holy Friday Retreat
We are looking for Sunday School family volunteers who can aid in the set up, clean up, and running of the activities on Lazarus Saturday (April 12) and the Holy Friday Retreat (April 18). No previous experience required, just a willingness to serve our St. Luke community at this very holy time of year! Sunday School will provide all of the materials and ideas, but we need day-of volunteers to help with the activities. More details to follow. Please contact our Directors at stlukesundayschool@gmail.com for more information or to volunteer!
Readers for Agape Service on Pascha
We are looking for volunteers to read the Gospel in different languages at 11 am on Easter morning during the Agape Vespers of Pascha. We have copies of the Gospel in the following languages: Greek, English, Spanish, Latin, French, Italian and Albanian. The reading in the appropriate language will be given to volunteers prior to the service. It’s a truly awesome opportunity to not only read the Gospel in front of the congregation, but to also echo what is being done in Orthodox churches around the world on Pascha, to announce the Good News of Christ’s Resurrection to all peoples! To volunteer to read the Agape Gospel in one of these languages, please contact our Sunday School Directors at stlukesundayschool@gmail.com. Easter Egg Hunt to follow the Agape Vespers!
T. JOHN CHRYSOTOM ORATORIC
Readers for Divine Liturgy
Please encourage your children to volunteer to read the Epistle or the Communion Prayer during Divine Liturgy. This is a great way for your child to become involved in the worship of our faith. We will send you the reading(s) ahead of time so that your child can practice and become comfortable with the texts beforehand. Please be sure that your child is dressed appropriately for church on the day when he or she is scheduled to read- modestly and respectfully, as is common for all weekly services, a special Feast Day, or when celebrating a Holy Sacrament of the church. For example, athletic or workout clothes would not be appropriate for a reader to wear while leading the congregation in prayer or a reading from the Holy Bible. To volunteer your child, or to ask a question, please contact our Sunday School Directors at stlukesundayschool@gmail.com.
Questions about Sunday School?
Please contact our Sunday School Directors at stlukesundayschool@gmail.com. Or, visit https://www.ss.st-luke.org, which will be updated throughout the year with additional information and resources for families.