Sunday School Kicks Off Year With Music in the Air

There is nothing in the world so much like prayer as music is.
~William P. Merrill

And nowhere do the two come together better than in church. The students of our Sunday School, under the master direction of Choir Director Voula Brown and the very capable and spirited teaching ability of Paula Tzoumbas, are learning to sing our church hymnology and are beginning to participate in the Divine Liturgy as a junior choir.

The teaching staff has incorporated weekly music into the curriculum so that the Sunday school children now have the opportunity to learn this sacred and unique aspect of our Orthodox faith. It has long been Voula's dream to create a junior choir, and with Paula at the helm, the students are enthusiastic and quickly learning, beginning with Agios O Theos.

As a bonus, Paula is also working with the students on music for a Christmas program. With angelic voices, the children are even beginning to harmonize as they prepare for what promises to be a heartwarming Christmas present to our parish.

During their class time, the students are most often participating in discussions and working on projects related to each Sunday's Gospel lessons. The teachers are also masterfully incorporating our beautiful traditions and sacraments into the class lessons. For example, during the Feast of the Holy Cross early in September, each class in grade appropriate discussions focused on what it means to deny oneself and take up his or her cross and follow our Lord. Our youngest children drew from their experiences about attending church with their families and saying their prayers as ways to express their closeness to Jesus and God. Our older students also drew from their life experiences to answer the question of becoming closer to our Lord; talking about what it means to be a true friend or standing by a conviction in the face of peer pressure. Following their discussions, each class decorated crosses that took center stage during coffee hour. From the colorful crosses decorated by the youngest students to the more sophisticated patterns created by the older students, each cross gave meaning and significance to the Gospel lesson of the day, as well as our Orthodox tradition of celebrating the Holy Cross.

In mid-November, our students will participate in a harvest project. Together, they will create fruit baskets for the less fortunate. As stewards of their faith, the students will take from the Gospel lesson of Nov. 18, the Parable of the Rich Fool, and become true servants of God - unlike the Rich Fool who sees himself as the one being served.

Both our students and teachers are to be commended for working diligently on meaningful and powerful lessons.

Attendance during the first month of Sunday school, which began on Sept. 9, consisted of 42 registered students. The following students had perfect attendance during the month of September: Angelika Johnson, Kristos Johnson, Nektarios Kassidiaris, Niko Misthos, Lea Buonocore, Kanella Goumenidis, James Zongus, Dallas Fotinos, Sia Misthos, and Andreanna Tzortzis. Good job faithful young stewards!

Many other students had nearly perfect attendance for the month, missing only once. We encourage all families to make every effort to attend regularly. Our children have everything to gain from this meaningful experience. If you haven't registered your children, we encourage you to do so (registration forms are available in the Narthex every Sunday) and bring them to church beginning at 10 a.m. Students in grades pre-K through eighth grades attend church first and then dismiss to their classes immediately following Holy Communion. Our high school program begins at 10 a.m. at the Christopher Center and then proceeds to church just before Holy Communion, remaining in church until dismissal. The younger