Sunday School News - December 2025/January 2026
- Dr. Jane Brasko Kelly
- Dec 1, 2025
- 5 min read
Dear Sunday School Families,
Here is the Sunday School schedule for December 2025 and January 2026:
DECEMBER
December 7 Worship and Classes- Spark Sunday; Christmas Pageant Practice
December 14 Worship and Classes- Christmas Pageant Practice
December 21 No Classes, Christmas Pageant immediately following Divine Liturgy
MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR!
JANUARY
January 4 Worship and Classes
January 11 Worship and Classes- Spark Sunday
January 18 Worship and Classes
January 25 Worship and Classes
January to March- Parish St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival
🌟 Important Dates Ahead
February 1st Sunday School readers for Commemoration of the Three Hierarchs
February 23rd: Clean Monday, the first day of Great Lent
February 27th: First Salutations, Flowers presented by Sunday School students
March 1st: Sunday of Orthodoxy & Picture Day
March 7th: Trip to see Kardiotissa Weeping Icon and visit to Holy Protection Monastery
Annual Christmas Pageant
Elsewhere in this Epistle, you will find a letter from our Christmas Pageant Director, Faithe Kalisperis. The letter contains important information about registering your child for the pageant, rehearsals, and other pertinent information. This year, there are two mandatory practices: 12/7 and 12/14. The first rehearsal will take place on Sunday, December 7th after Sunday School and will last approximately an hour. Students will be fitted for their costumes at the first rehearsal.
Participation in the pageant is a true highlight of the year for our students and their families. We look forward to having as many students as possible join this wonderful St. Luke tradition on December 21st following the Divine Liturgy.
You can register for the Christmas Pageant by clicking on this LINK, or by copying
here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd3QkCAHQP87lm4pb4mENDLXx0veYSoJ0z1eDm9BIIfoymNnQ/viewform
GOYA Retreat: LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR
On behalf of the Sunday School, we thank Danny Milinkovic, Sophia Milinkovic, and Evan Palmieri for planning an incredible retreat again this year for our GOYAN’s. The retreat took place at Camp Innabah in Spring City from November 14th to November 16th, with over 80 campers attending. Additionally, we thank all of our former Sunday School students, and current Sunday School staff, who served as counselors at the retreat, including Evi Karros, Markos Karros, Savvina Karros, Marianna Kevgas, Evan Palmieri, Nicolette Papadopoulos, Johnny Papadopoulos, Evie Touring, Arianna Berryman, Chris Palmieri, Elene Mironidis, Evanthia Greco, Chris Tsetsekos, Gia Kardon, Theodora Greco, and Tony Mironidis. Our campers found comfort in knowing so many of the retreat’s counselors. More importantly, our GOYAN’s witnessed the faith of their counselors and watched these young adults serve their Church, helping others find strength in their own faith. Nothing is more beautiful than seeing former students return and do good work for our Lord. We love you all, and thank you for your tireless work at the retreat and for being such wonderful role models for our youth.
Readers for Commemoration of the Three Hierarchs
We are looking for 2-3 Sunday School students to read short biographies of the Three Holy Hierarchs, St. Basil the Great, St. Gregory the Theologian, and St. John Chrysostom, on Sunday, February 1, 2025 at the end of the Divine Liturgy. We will commemorate these giants of Orthodox Theology on the Sunday following their Feast Day. To volunteer your child, please contact our Directors at: stlukesundayschool@gmail.com. We will send the readings ahead of time so that the children may familiarize themselves with the material.
2026 St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival
The 2026 St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival manual of Topics, Tips, and Resources has been released. We have already given these materials to the teachers and to the families of 7th -9th graders (Junior Division), and 10th-12th graders (Senior Division). You may access this official Oratorical packet of information here:
Parents, please discuss this opportunity to delve deeper into our faith with your children by asking them to review the topics and by encouraging them to participate in the first step of the Oratorical Festival ladder, the St. Luke Parish Oratorical Festival. Further details will be forthcoming, but the parish festival is projected to take place in either February or March 2026. For questions about the Parish Oratorical Festival, please contact Art Karros, akarros@gmail.com.
Senior Division Topics (10th -12th Grade)
TOPIC 1- Pick a common icon type that is found in Orthodox churches (for example Christ Pantocrator, Virgin Hodegetria, the Resurrection icon) and explain its meaning and theological significance.
TOPIC 2- Why is the feast of Pentecost important and what does the story of Pentecost teach us about the Holy Spirit?
TOPIC 3- Saint John frequently contrasts light and darkness in his Gospel and letters. Choose one of his teachings about light (such as “God is light” or Christ as “the light of the world”) and discuss how this imagery helps us understand our Christian calling and witness.
TOPIC 4- Throughout history, Orthodox Christians have faced persecution for their faith, from ancient martyrs to modern confessors. How does the witness of martyrs, both ancient and contemporary, strengthen and guide the Church today?
TOPIC 5- Orthodox funeral services speak of death as “falling asleep” and emphasize the hope of resurrection. How does Orthodox teaching about death and eternal life influence how we live and how we care for the dying and grieving?
Junior Division Topics (7th-9th Grade)
TOPIC 1- Select a hymn that is chanted in the Divine Liturgy and explain its meaning and theological significance.
TOPIC 2- Choose a Saint who was a child or young person. How did their faith influence their life, and what can we learn from them?
TOPIC 3- Who is the Ecumenical Patriarch, and why is he significant in the Orthodox Church today?
TOPIC 4-Choose an Old Testament story (such as David and Goliath, Daniel in the lion’s den, or Joseph and his brothers) and explain how it teaches us important lessons that apply to young people today.
TOPIC 5- Select a major Orthodox feast day and explain why we celebrate it and how participating in this celebration deepens our understanding of Christ and our faith.
Elementary Division Topics
1. Tell us about your favorite story from the Bible. What happens in the story and
why do you like it? What does it teach us about God or how we should live?
2. Describe something you love about your Orthodox church. It could be an icon,
a special service, the way it looks, or how it makes you feel. Why is this special to
you?
3. Choose a saint you’ve learned about and tell us why you think they were special.
What did they do that showed their love for God? How can we be like them?
4. Share an Orthodox tradition that your family celebrates, such as a special holiday,
blessing, or custom. How does your family celebrate it and why is it important to
you?
5. Choose an icon from your church and describe what you see in it. Who is shown
in the icon and what story does it tell? What do you learn from looking at this icon?
The entire packet of Oratorical Topics, Tips, and Resources may be found here:
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. To volunteer your child, please contact our Directors at stlukesundayschool@gmail.com.
*For more news, visit the Sunday School website, https://www.ss.st-luke.org; stop by the Sunday School office; or contact us at stlukesundayschool@gmail.com (Jane Kelly, Panayota Kevgas, Sophia Milinkovic).
Christ is Born! Glorify Him!
Christ is Baptized! In the River Jordan!
We wish all our families a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year!
In Christ’s Love,
The Saint Luke Sunday School Team
