Hello Sunday School Students and Families,
Below is the Sunday School class schedule for February 2025:
February 2 Worship and Classes, Spark Sunday; Sunday School readers for Commemoration of the Three Hierarchs
February 9 Worship and Classes
February 16 No Classes, Presidents Day Weekend
February 23 Worship and Classes, Godparents Sunday
Readers for Commemoration of the Three Hierarchs
On Sunday, February 2, 2025, at the end of Liturgy, our Sunday School students Lilyana and Demetrius Georgiou will represent the Sunday School by reading short biographies of the Three Hierarchs being remembered on this day: St. Basil the Great, St. Gregory the Theologian, and St. John Chrysostom. We are very proud of Lilyana and Demetrius for volunteering to share the life stories of these 3 holy men, who are so important to the theology and practice of our Orthodox faith. Thank you, Lilyana and Demetrius!
Godparents Sunday
On Sunday, February 23, 2025, we will honor the godparents of our St. Luke community with special prayers and blessings during the Divine Liturgy. There will be Sunday School classes held that day, and we invite the godparents to join their godchildren in their Sunday School classes on that day to witness the religious education of their godchildren. The Sunday School will welcome you with open arms!
Monastery Trip
The St. Luke Sunday School is in the process of planning a trip for students and their families to Holy Protection Monastery in White Haven, PA at the beginning of March, 2025. Stay tuned for more details!
Psalm Readers for Salutation Services
We are very happy to offer the opportunity to read Psalms 50, 69, and 142 at the very beginning of each of the 5 weekly Lenten Salutation Services to the Panagia to our Sunday School students. The dates are Friday, March 7, 14, 21, 28, and April 4, 2025. We will send you the readings in advance so that your child can prepare to read aloud in church on their chosen Friday. 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.
St. John Chrysostom Parish Oratorical Festival
On Sunday, March 2, 2025, our Junior and Senior Division speakers will compete in the St. Luke Parish Oratorical Festival immediately following the Divine Liturgy. The topics for each division may be found below. To our fellow adult parishioners: Which topic is most interesting to you? Which topic could motivate you to write a speech and present it to other parishioners? The young people who choose to participate in this valuable program of the Archdiocese’s Department of Religious Education are brave, wise beyond their years, and spiritual models for us all. Join us on March 2nd to enjoy the fruit of their labors. For further information about the Parish Festival, please contact Parish Chairperson Art Karros at akarros@gmail.com.
ST. JOHN CHRYSOSTOM ORATORICAL FESTIVAL 2025 TOPICS
JUNIOR DIVISION
(GRADES 7-9)
1. Philanthropy is an important part of the Church’s mission. It involves more than giving money. Why is it important to support people in different ways besides just donating? In
what ways can we offer support, and how can these other forms of help make a difference
in the lives of individuals and the community?
2. In Psalm 4, we are told to "be angry, but sin not." Why would we be encouraged to beangry? How does anger fit into the life of an Orthodox Christian?
3. The Orthodox Church is filled with repetition: we sing “Lord, have mercy” dozens of times every service, we sing the Paschal Troparion all throughout Pascha, and we repeat the
same Divine Liturgy every single time. What is the importance of repetition in the
Orthodox Church?
4. The Russian Orthodox novelist, Fyodor Dostoevsky, once said that “Beauty will save the world." What is the role of beauty in the Church and in the world at large?
5. What is the symbolism of the liturgical vestments worn by a deacon, priest,
and bishop, and how do these vestments reflect and correlate to their specific roles
and responsibilities within the Divine Liturgy?
SENIOR DIVISION
(GRADES 10-12)
1. His All-Holiness, the Ecumenical Patriarch, is recognized as the highest Primate in the
Church. This title signifies a unique leadership role within the Orthodox Church, where
authority and primacy are balanced with equality among Patriarchs. Discuss the practical
implications versus the theoretical aspects of His All-Holiness' role in the Orthodox Church.
What does it mean for him to be both "first among equals" and "first without equals”?
2. The Seven Ecumenical Councils are regarded as seven of the most important parts of
Church History, which came after the completion of the Bible. Pick one of the Council’s and
explain why it is important.
3. The Bible is full of figures, both good and bad, who, while not talked about frequently, can
be hugely helpful in understanding both salvation history and our place in it. Pick a lesser-
known figure from the Bible, explain who they are, how they fit into the Biblical narrative,
and what we can learn from them.
4. While every church building is different, there are specific guidelines and practices that
describe how and why they are built the way they are. Research them, and then explain
their theological significance.
5. As the world grows increasingly tumultuous and fearful, today’s youth appear to be more
anxious about the future. Discuss Christ's role as the bringer of hope and how that fits into
modern life.
ST. 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.