Total Parish Religious Education
Sunday School
The primary goal of our Sunday School program is to inspire our young people to love our Lord Jesus Christ and the holy Orthodox Faith. The program goes from Pre-School to Seniors in High School, and introduces the children to Scripture, Icons, Hymns, Liturgy and many other expressions of our faith. Under the leadership of Jill Argyrople the Sunday School does not only deal with the theoretical; the children are also expected to take part in practical projects, such as preparing meals for St. Basil's Kitchen, and collecting food and clothing for the poor. One of the highlights of the year is the annual Christmas Pageant on the Sunday before Christmas.
For a great Children's Bible Resource click here.
Director:
Jill Argyrople
Teachers:
Pre-School and Kindergarten: Maria Connor
1st and 2nd Grade: Joanna Connor and Melinda Patrick
3rd and 4th Grade: Presbytera Anna and Alexander Newman
5th and 6th Grade: Andrea Jones and Diane Hansen
7th and 8th Grade: Arthur Housianitis
High School: Jill Argyrople and John Patriakeas
Adult Education
Book and Discussion Club
When you come to the Book Club on the third Tuesday of the month, you will find yourself reading and discussing fundamental topics of Orthodoxy. Under the leadership of Julie Ray, the Book Club has been looking at the lives of contemporary Orthodox Saints and holy men and women, such as St. Nektarios, St. John of San Francisco, Mother Gavrilia, and others. You do not need to have read the book to join in the discussion, since it always ranges far and wide over many topics which are only sparked by the reading.
Our meetings are on the third Tuesday of the month. Our next discussion is on Tuesday, February 21 at 7:00 pm. We are presently reading Wm. Paul Young's "The Shack". You can obtain a copy of the book at Amazon.com.
The Mysteries of the Jesus Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me.
This prayer has been fundamental for the spiritual life of the Orthodox faithful from the time of the Desert Fathers. It is a fulfillment of St. Paul's command to pray constantly. By practicing this prayer, the Orthodox Christian submerses him or herself into a journey toward union with God.
Our discussion of the Jesus Prayer centers around a recent documentary called the Mysteries of the Jesus Prayer in which various monastics from Egypt to Romania to the Ukraine speak about the importance of prayer and their use of the Jesus Prayer. We also look at the writings of the Fathers about prayer.
Our meetings are on the fourth Tuesday of the month. The next meeting is Tuesday, February 28 at 7:30 pm after the celebration of Great Compline.
Discover the Way
The Orthodox people tend to know very little about their faith. Discover the Way is designed to educate our people in the truths of the Faith. This second section of the class is concentrating on an in-depth study of the Divine Liturgy, the center of the life of every Orthodox Christian. Everyone is welcome to explore the Orthodox Faith, whether as a baptized Orthodox Christian or as an inquirer.
We meet every Wednesday at 7:00 pm.
Annual Lenten Retreat
The Adult Religious Education Committee sponsors a Lenten Retreat each year around the Feast of the Annunciation (March 25). The retreat features speakers on various topics.
Our 2012 Lenten Retreat will take place on Saturday, March 31. Our speaker is Theo Nikolakis, the head of the Internet Ministries of the Archdiocese.
Stump the Priest