Sunday School

Program Mission

St. Nectarios Sunday School aims to be a fun and spiritually fulfilling experience for students of all ages. Classes are offered from Pre-K through 12th grade. Each class is tailored to teach students about the Greek Orthodox faith as is appropriate for their age. Still, from a young age, our teachers emphasize the importance of Greek Orthodox traditions and the applicability of our church teachings to students’ everyday lives. Lessons focus on the Gospel Readings, Parables, feast days, Saints’ lives, and more.

St. Nectarios Sunday School is blessed with 23 volunteer teachers who have over 200 years of combined experience in bringing the word of God to our youth. Parents are the first teachers of the Faith as living examples of planting the seeds of God’s word, and our teachers expand the experience.

In addition to classroom enrichment, the Sunday School puts forth a variety of programs to further develop students’ Orthodox Christian education:

• 5th-12th grade students participate in the St. John Chrysostom Oratorical and Fine Arts Festival and submit speeches, essays, poetry, icons, or vocal/chanting performances. They also have the opportunity to win scholarships from the Metropolis and Archdiocese.
• Sunday School hosts a Saturday of Lazarus or Holy Friday Retreat every year to dive deep into the meaning behind certain details in Holy Week, the church services, Christ’s passion, and Pascha.
• Hymnology Classes are offered to supplement Sunday School lessons and to give students an introduction to church hymns and chanting. As part of this program, students are also invited to sing with the choir on the first Sunday of the month.
• Throughout the year, Sunday School organizes donation drives and service projects.
• High school students participate in Service Sundays, where they serve in important roles that help the church function on a given Sunday.
• 3rd grade students are taught the meaning behind the Nicene Creed and memorize the prayer by the school year’s end.
• Sunday School puts on the annual Christmas Pageant to involve students in the telling of the Nativity Story to the congregation. During rehearsals, the students also attend Sunday School’s Christmas Retreat.
• In the summer, Sunday School presents the ever-popular Vacation Church School program (VCS). This one-week, half-day camp centers around a religious theme but also provides enjoyable activities and bonding with other Orthodox students.

If you have any questions about Sunday School, please contact Constance Palas (constance.s.palas@gmail.com) or Peter Vichos (petervichos@gmail.com).