Sundays School | STIOC25

Sunday School

Mathew Samuel currently serves as the Principal, and beginning with the 2024–25 academic year, Benny Baby has taken on the role of Vice Principal.

Our Sunday School comprises 31 students, from Pre-K through Grade 12, supported by a dedicated group of teachers assigned to each grade level.

Sunday School & Activities

Sunday School Classes - Classes take place every Sunday after Holy Qurbana.

General Sessions & Worship – Each Sunday School session begins with a general assembly, where children learn a song and a Bible verse before moving into their individual classes. On the first Sunday of the month, Achen leads an extended general session when Holy Qurbana is conducted in English.

New Academic Year Blessing – The 2024-25 academic year begins with a special prayer in church, marking a meaningful start for children returning to school.

Annual Sunday School Assembly – The event takes place at St. Gregorios Orthodox Church, Clifton, New Jersey, with delegates from multiple parishes attending. Our parish is represented by Mathew Samuel (Principal) and Sumam Samuel.

Through these initiatives, Sunday School nurtures faith, knowledge, and spiritual growth in our young members.

Our Activities

On March 16 Saturday, there was a Lenten workshop for children. Achen taught the

children the use of prayer rope and initiated them into the discipline of prayer using the

prayer rope. The children also got to make a personal prayer rope for themselves.

LENTEN WORKSHOP FOR CHILDREN

The children led the prayers and reading of the Psalms during the online prayer sessions

of Moonu Nombu. During the Wednesday evening prayers of Great Lent as well, the

children participated in leading prayers and Scripture readings. They also spoke about

the saints of the Church after the online prayers in a series called “Learn about a Saint.”

There was a food drive initiated by Sunday School during the Great Lent in an attempt to

fight against hunger. The food items collected was donated to Connecticut FoodShare.

LENTEN ACTIVITIES & CHARITY

We recorded the audio of 2 OVBS songs (written by Binu Chandy and music prepared by Mathew Chandy) sung by the senior kids (G5 and up) and submitted them to the Diocese. Video of the action songs were also recorded with all the available children and

submitted to the Diocese which were used across the Diocese during OVBS 2024.

Our OVBS 2024 was held on 15&16 June in our church. The theme for the OVBS was "Let us pray" (based on St. Luke 11:1). Rev. Deacon John Easo led the OVBS effort along with our achen. Around 30 children participated in the OVBS which included lessons, songs, games, quizzes and other fun activities. We had a full day on 15th June (Saturday) from 9:00 am till 4:30 pm and a presentation ceremony on 16th June (Sunday) after Holy Qurbana to conclude.

The OVBS also included a Scavenger Hunt for children where they were scored based on memory verses, icon identification and prayer recital. Prizes were given out for these on a subsequent Sunday after Holy Qurbana.

OVBS

This year also our children participated in the nationwide project “Operation Christmas

Child” in October-November in which children pack Christmas gifts in shoeboxes to be sent across to children in war torn and poor regions around the world with a message of the Gospel. Shoeboxes packed with gifts were collected and sent to the local collection center during the National Collection week of November 18. The effort was coordinated by Anil Koshy.

The planned Christmas program could not be held in 2024 due to bad weather and was

later held in 2025.

OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD