Sunday School at St. John Church

St. John Church promotes the education of our children so that they may appreciate and live their Armenian Christian heritage.

Why Sunday School Is Important for Our Children

Promoting Armenian Christianity in the lives of our children is important. Attending Church and Sunday School directly enforces their faith formation learning process along with the values you encourage them to live by daily in your home.

At Sunday School, children can explore the bonds between history, religion and art... and have fun, too!

Our Goals and Objectives

The purpose of the St. John Sunday School program is to facilitate an opportunity for children to learn the fundamentals of Orthodox Christianity as taught by the Fathers of the Orthodox Church. Additionally, St. John Sunday School provides an opportunity for children to learn their Armenian Culture through song, art and creative projects.

Our goal at Sunday School is to deliver these religious, cultural and educational opportunities in a positive and nuturing environment, and to encourage children to discover friendship and faith formation together

Sunday School at St. John Church

Each Sunday from September until June, we offer children of all ages a firm foundation in Christianity, including the Bible and our Holy Traditions. That foundation was built lovingly by Jesus Christ, the Apostles and our Church fathers. We add to that foundation Armenian culture, history, and our own love and warmth.

Sunday School classes are held every Sunday from 10:30 a.m. until 12 noon.

Our curriculum is professionally prepared, and lesson plans are provided by the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church, Christian Education Council. Our classes are lively, engaging, and vary according to the age of the children in attendance.

Weekly lessons are provided to our teachers on a monthly basis, using The Bible, the Church Liturgy Book, textbooks, "We Believe" (Armenian Church-specific lessons), Living the Good News (Christian-education based lessons that focus on rich and surprising experiences of each week's scriptures), and other material selected at the choice of the teacher. Weekly lesson plans include ideas for interactive play, written and craft ideas to bring each lesson to life.

Attendance and Registration

Children of all ages are welcome to join our classes.

Drop-in attendance is welcome, but we are confident you'll find our program worthy of regular attendance and participation. Either way, there is no cost to attend St. John Sunday School.

When Sunday School classes are not in session, children can still earn credit for attending Church with their family by completing this form.

For further information, please contact Paula Boghossian, our Sunday School Superintendent.
 

Sunday School News & Events

December 2011
End-of-Year Sunday School Schedule and Events

Once again the children's presence in Church is uplifting and inspiring to all. Thank you, parents, for bringing your children to Church. Like Father Avedis said on Sunday, the walls of the Church are the people.

Sunday, December 4, 2011:  Music and Special classroom event

In addition to our regular music class, all students are invited to participate in our "Classroom Talent Show." If you play an instrument, sing or recite, please consider performing for your friends on this day. Parents are welcome to participate in duets with our child or be part of the audience. Please contact Paula Boghossian, our Sunday School Superintendent, if you will be participating.

Sunday, December 11, 2011:  Family Day in Church

Sunday, December 18, 2011:  Class by Grades/ACYO Cookout

All students in Grade 6 and above are welcome to participate. The youth will be preparing food in our church kitchen and delivering meals to our Parish homebound. Will need parents to help supervise and deliver food. More information to come!

Saturday, December 24, 2011:  Christmas Eve Candlelight Service and Nativity Pageant

Students can begin signing up to participate in this year's Christmas Eve Nativity Pageant. Please see the sign-up list in the Sunday School classroom.

Sunday, December 25, 2011:  No classes... Merry Christmas!
 

Recent Photos from Our Sunday School

Sunday School Superintendent, Mrs. Paula Boghossian, with her students. Another successful year!

Mrs. Paula awarding Alex Kouyoumdjian and Matthew Kesecker for attending Sunday School regularly for the past eight years

Websites for further browsing:

• Living the Good News
  This is a link to one of the curriculum books we use. This is a nice way to review in advance our lessons and/or share a bible lesson with your child if you are unable to make it to class. You can review the suggested lesson for the day. Click on the season, then click on Revised Common Lectionary (RCL). On the top bar click on Weekly Resources. Then chose the day you would like to review. Choose your grade level.
  
  Note: We do not use these lessons every week since we also use other material that focuses on the Armenian Church specific lessons or have other activities planned
   
• Armenian Church Summer Camp
  The Diocese Summer Camp program has been created to nurture the bodies, minds, and spirits of Armenian youth in a natural setting, providing a stimulating environment of community which inspires individual growth and the values of Christian Fellowship
   
• Armenian Church Youth Organization (Western Diocese)
  This is the place to learn about how our youth unite throughout the Western Diocese
   
• Christian Youth Mission to Armenia
  The Christian Youth Mission to Armenia (CYMA) is a mission of the Armenian Church Youth Organization of the Western Diocese. It should be the goal for all Armenian youth to experience their spiritual and cultural identity and this program is designed to accomplish this goal. It gives Armenian youth the opportunity to truly experience their Motherland, contemporary Armenian life and their Spiritual Roots
   
• St. Nersess Armenian Seminary
  St. Nersess offers summer programs for teenagers and young adults to enhance their education in their roles as Christians in the Armenian Church
   
• Western Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church
  This is the website for our Western Diocese headquarters in Los Angeles, California. Sign up for the Diocese newsletter, or explore the rich collection of Diocese news, events, photos, readings, history and more