Sunday School News - February 2026

Hello Sunday School Students and Families,

As Great Lent rapidly approaches, for your convenience we are sharing the Sunday School class and worship schedule for both February and March 2026:

FEBRUARY

• February 1: Worship and Classes; Sunday School readers for Commemoration of the Three Hierarchs

• February 8: Worship and Classes- Spark Sunday: “Great Lent”

• February 15: No Classes, Presidents Day Weekend

• February 22: Worship and Classes- Forgiveness/ Cheesefare Sunday- Remind students to bring Icons for procession next week

• February 23: Clean Monday, the first day of Great Lent

• February 27: First Salutations, Flowers presented by Sunday School students

MARCH

• March 1: Worship and Classes; Sunday of Orthodoxy, procession with Icons; Sunday School Picture Day

• March 6: Second Salutations*

• March 7: Bible Bowl, Annunciation, Elkins Park, 10-2

• March 8: Worship and Classes, Sunday of St Gregory Palamas; Spark Sunday

• March 13: Third Salutations*

• March 14: Trip to Monastery (tentative)

• March 15: Worship and Classes, Sunday of the Holy Cross

• March 20: Fourth Salutations*

• March 21: Sights and Sounds, Holy Trinity, Wilmington

• March 22: Worship and Classes, Sunday of St John Climacus

• March 27: Fifth Salutations*

• March 29: Worship and Classes, Sunday of St Mary of Egypt

*Flowers presented by Sunday School students

Readers for Commemoration of the Three Hierarchs

On Sunday, February 1, 2026, at the end of Divine Liturgy, our Sunday School students will read short biographies of the Three Hierarchs being remembered at St. Luke on this day: St. Basil the Great, St. Gregory the Theologian, and St. John Chrysostom. We will send the readings to each volunteer ahead of time to allow each of them to become comfortable with the biographies. We have one (1) volunteer so far and are looking for two (2) more! Please contact our Sunday School Directors at stlukesundayschool@gmail.com as soon as possible.

Monastery Trip

We have an incredible opportunity to share with you that you won’t want to miss! We aim to go on Saturday, March 14th, we invite all of our Sunday School families to join us for 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. This icon of the Panagia has cured cancer, addiction, depression, illness, and anxiety and even converted people with her miracles. She has been streaming myrrh for over 10 years! This is more than just a trip; it’s a chance to witness the beauty of faith in action, to encounter a living miracle, and to create lasting memories with your loved ones. We would love for our Sunday School families to join us on this spiritual journey. It’s an amazing way to fully embrace the period of Fasting and Repentance that will have begun on. February 23, 2026. And there is no cost to you for this trip!

Please take a look at the itinerary below for a preview of this amazing day:

9:00 am: Depart Saint Luke for St. George, Taylor, PA

11:00 am: Arrive at St. George

11:30 pm until 1:00 pm: Venerate the Kardiotissa and spend time with Father Marc

1:45 pm: Arrive at Holy Protection Monastery

1:45 pm until 4:00 pm: Enjoy lunch with the Sisters, tour the property, and visit the bookshop

4:00 pm until 5:15 pm: Vespers at Holy Protection Monastery

5:00 pm: Depart for Saint Luke

7:00 pm: Return to Saint Luke

Deadline to register: Sunday, February 22, 2026

Register Here --> https://forms.office.com/r/ygevYgmryz 

Don’t miss out on this extraordinary experience! For more details, please see the flyer elsewhere in the Epistle, along with the registration form. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at stlukesundayschool@gmail.com.

St. John Chrysostom Parish Oratorical Festival

On a date in late February still to be determined, our Junior and Senior Division speakers will compete in the St. Luke Parish Oratorical Festival immediately following the Divine Liturgy. 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. For further information about the Parish Festival, please contact Parish Chairperson Art Karros at akarros@gmail.com.

Psalm Readers for Salutation Services

We would like to have 1 to 3 Sunday School children read Psalms 50, 69, and/or 142 at the very beginning of each of the Lenten Salutation services to the Panagia. The dates for these services are Friday, February 27; March 6, 13, 20 and 27 at 6 pm. To volunteer your child, please contact our Sunday School Directors at stlukesundayschool@gmail.com. Thank you and your families for participating in this joyful Lenten tradition.

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. It is also a wonderful opportunity for them to develop their public speaking skills which is so essential. 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.