Post date: Feb 21, 2015 6:05:42 PM

Great Lent is a busy period for our Church School students.

Here is list of important events coming up!

(These events are also posted on the Church School calendar:

http://churchschool.stnickaa.org/calendar)

February 22- April 19, 2015 OCMC Presentation (6th-12th Grades) & Coin Box Collection

During Lent, all Church School students use special coin boxes to collect money for the Orthodox Christian Mission Center (OCMC), the missionary arm of our Archdiocese. OCMC missions bring the message of Christ to people all over the world, construct churches and schools, provide outreach to orphans and the poor, and help with health care. Please encourage our students to support this important philanthropic work.

Also, on February 22, Mr. Chris Patselas, a long-time Church School teacher and member of an OCMC mission that went to Kenya, will give a special presentation in the conference room with slides and a video about the work of the OCMC for our Church School students in 6th-12th Grades. Thank you Chris!

February 23, 2015, Clean Monday (Καθαρή Δευτέρα),

6:30 Great Compline, 7:30 Strict Fast Supper

March 1, 2015, Sunday of Orthodoxy

Church School students participate in the procession that brings icons back into the church at the end of the Divine Liturgy. Please remind our Church School students to bring an icon from home to carry in the procession.

March 1, 2015, Essays Due - St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival

As Fr. Nick announced earlier, students in 6th-12th Grades need to submit their essays for the St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival by March 1 so that Fr. Nick has time to provide feedback and help students with their speeches.

March 8, 2015 Second OCMC Presentation (2nd-5th Grades)

Mr. Chris Patselas, a long-time Church School teacher and member of an OCMC mission that went to Kenya, will give a second special presentation in the conference room with slides and a video about the work of the OCMC for our Church School students in 2nd-5th Grades. Thank you Chris!

March 15, 2015, Speeches - Parish-level Oratorical Festival

Students in 6th-12th Grades need to be at church by 9:00 AM and be ready to deliver their speeches for the parish-level Oratorical Festival.

April 4, 2015, Saturday of Lazaros - Godparents Day - Communion

As Fr. Nick announced earlier, the Saturday of Lazaros, April 4th, will be our GodparentSaturday. It will be a blessing if the godparents of our children are invited to the Divine Liturgy that day (Orthros at 9am and Divine Liturgy at 10am) so they may worship with our children and take them forward to receive Holy Communion. As usual, we will have the Saturday of Lazaros brunch following the Divine Liturgy and all are invited. As well, we will be making the palm crosses for the next day, Palm Sunday, during and after the brunch.

April 8, 2015 Holy Unction Service for Church School students at 4:00PM followed by Holy Week Retreat (5:45-6:30).

As is our tradition every Holy Wednesday, Church School students will participate in an earlier Unction Service at 4:00 PM and will have a retreat immediately afterwards.

Mr. Tony Mihalopoulos is organizing the retreat. Teachers interested in assisting can contact Tony at antonios356@gmail.com

For instruction, the students will assemble according to youth group (Hope, Joy and Goya). Snacks will be provided to the students before the start of the retreat.

Please make a note of these events and encourage all Church School students and their families to participate.