Easter/Pascha
Information
Easter/Pascha
Information
Information about Lenten events are contained on these webpages. There is information about each week in Lent for students. There is also information about what Great Lent means, what each day during Holy Week represents as well as Lenten readings for students who are participating in services.
Please find a copy of the letter sent home to families for the Lenten season.
March 1, 2004
Dear Parents:
We pray that this letter finds you and your families in good health and joy. The Lenten season began Monday, February 23, 2003. Hopefully you received your family’s copy of our Lenten workbook and you and your children are using it as we journey through this Lenten season.
This letter is meant to provide you with information about upcoming events, including the tradition of the Myrrh Bearers that our young women take part in every year, and a new event the Sunday School is introducing called Holy Friday Helpers. There are two R.S.V.P. forms attached with letter. The first is a form for our young ladies who intend to be myrrh bearers. There is also a form attached for the Holy Friday Helpers program to help us plan better for the day’s events.
First let us provide a schedule of upcoming events.
February 23: CLEAN MONDAY, LENT BEGINS.
February 27: 1st Salutations: Flowers presented by 7th, 8th, 9th, and Discussion Class.
February 29: Sunday of Orthodoxy.
March 5: 2nd Salutations: Flowers presented by 4th, 5th, and 6th grades.
March 12: 3rd Salutations: Flowers presented by 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grades.
March 19: 4th Salutations: Flowers presented 2 & 3 year-olds, Pre-K, & K.
March 26: Akathist Hymn. Flowers presented by all Sunday School students.
April 3: Saturday of Lazarus. Palm folding for all Sunday School students in Educational Center. Myrrhbearer practice for Holy Friday services 11 AM.
April 4: PALM SUNDAY, Family Worship Sunday.
*Mission Boxes Collected will be collected on this Sunday. Please drop ALL boxes off at the Sunday School office before going into Church.
April 9: GOOD FRIDAY. Holy Friday Helpers, 11 AM. Apokathelosis Service, 3 PM (Myrrh Bearers report at 2:30 PM).
April 11: EASTER SUNDAY: No Sunday School. AGAPE SERVICE 10 AM. Easter Egg Hunt immediately following service.
Please allow us to take a moment and give you some information about the holy Myrrh Bearers. Your daughter is invited to participate in one of the most beautiful traditions of our Church. The Myrrh Bearers represent all that is good and holy in our Christian faith. They were there, “early in the morning”, to find the empty tomb and to receive the word from the Angel that He is Risen and to announce that message. They faithfully ministered to Him and followed Him throughout His ministry on earth.
This year we have decided to include as many young women, in grades 3 through 6, that would like to participate. There are two separate services that the girls may take part in, or if they choose, they may take part in both. We would like to have as many girls involved as possible and will not limit the amount that can participate.
There will be two scheduled practices this year which students must attend. The first practice is scheduled for the Saturday of Lazarus, April 3, 2004 immediately following the morning Divine Liturgy. After practice is over, the girls are invited to go into the Educational Center and take part in the palm-making session for Palm Sunday. The second practice will take place following the afternoon service (which is the first service they are invited to participate in) on Good Friday, April 9, 2004. The evening service is the most important and the one Fr. Christ would like all the young ladies to participate in. It requires the girls to stand around the Epitaphion and to participate in the procession of the Epitaphion as it is carried outside the Church.
If your daughter is taking part in the Friday afternoon service, she will need to arrive at Church no later than 2:30 PM to prepare for the Vespers of the Apokathelosis. I understand that because it is a school day that this can cause a problem. Father in the past has written notes addressed to principals asking that students be excused early from school so that they may take part our Holy Week services. Father is more than willing to do this again this year and in fact encourages you to do so. If your daughter is going to take part in the evening service, she will need to arrive at Church no later than 6:30 PM on Friday evening. All girls are asked to wear light clothes, preferably something white, so that their clothing will not stand out underneath their white robes.
Finally, let us give you some general information about the “Holy Friday Helpers” program. In an effort to better understand our Lenten journey, we are devoting the day to learning what we should do during the Lenten season. The program on Good Friday will begin at 11 AM immediately following the morning service. First, students will stay in Church to help decorate the Epitaphion. After they are finished, students will have a short discussion with Father Christ about the different aspects of Lent, how to approach it each year and the opportunities that it presents to us as Orthodox Christians. There will be an opportunity for students to receive the sacrament of Holy Confession as well. Next, students will go downstairs for some crafts and activities. The day will finish up with a Lenten luncheon. Students will finish the day at approximately 1:30 PM. Young ladies signed up to be Myrrh Bearers are welcome to stay straight through until 2:30 PM.
We look forward to seeing all of your throughout the Lenten season as we anxiously anticipate the Resurrection of our Lord. We pray that you and your families have a blessed Lenten season and we wish you a Kali Anastasi! If you have any questions, please feel free to e-mail us at SSLukes@aol.com.
Respectfully yours,
Panayota M. Kevgas
Sunday School Director.
Child’s Name: ___________________________________________
Parent’s Names: __________________________________________
Home Phone #: ___________________________________________
Grade in Sunday School: _____________________________________
YES! r We would like our daughter to be a myrrh bearer for the Friday afternoon service.
YES! r We would like our daughter to be a myrrh bearer for the Friday evening service.
YES! r We would like our daughter to be a myrrh bearer for the Friday afternoon and Friday evening service.
Child’s Name: ___________________________________________
Parent’s Names: __________________________________________
Home Phone #: ___________________________________________
Grade in Sunday School: _____________________________________
YES! r We would like our child to take part in the “Holy Friday Helper” program.
YES! r I would like to volunteer help with the “Holy Friday Helper” program.
Name of volunteer: ___________________________
*****ALL FORMS MUST BE RETURNED BY FRIDAY March 26th, 2004*****
Forms may be returned by mail, to the attention of Saint Luke’s Sunday School. There will also be an envelope to drop off forms outside the Church office. You may also hand in forms directly to either Kiki Costalas or Panayota Kevgas.