Greetings St.Thomas’s Community,

The first days of September 2023 mean “back to school” for many of us. At St. Thomas’s it means the start of the program year for Children’s Ministries. Our Sunday School team has planned a great year for our children and families, and I encourage everyone with children in grades kindergarten to 6th grade to register for this year’s program AND that you invite others to join us. (7th graders may join under special circumstances. Please contact Belinda.) 

Our Sunday School program kicks off on September 10, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. with registration, refreshments, and a parent meeting. Then Ms. Belinda will lead our first lesson at 10:30 a.m.  We also have some extra events planned throughout the year.  I have attached some information about our program and a calendar of already planned activities to this email. Paper copies of this information are also available at church or I can mail it to you.  Please let me know what if you have questions or need additional information.  I would love to share in this ministry with you. I can be reached at belmar43@aol.com.

In order to make it the best year ever, our ministry team needs more adults and post-confirmation teens to volunteer to help us. We have several roles to fill. You could volunteer to help on a regular basis, an occasional basis or just for an event. All are welcome.  Some of the roles include lead teacher, assistant teacher or classroom helper, event organizer, event helpers, family outing organizer, and Children’s Ministry Committee member.  Please let me know what interests you and what you are willing and able to do.  I would love to share in this ministry with you. I can be reached at belmar43@aol.com.

Please complete a registration form for your child who is in kindergarten to 6th grade for our Children’s Ministry program. This form will provide us with contact information and allow us to plan for the needs of your children.  Paper copies will be available on September 10 at church and in our classroom every week.

Please sign up to be a Leader or Assistant leader for Sunday School.

I look forward to seeing all of you soon! 

Blessings, Belinda Young-Payne

Hello Church Family! We are fast approaching the end of a great program year for Children’s Worship. I am so happy that it has gone so well…but sad to see it end…but looking forward to summer. Anyway, for anyone who needs it, here is the schedule of offerings for the rest of the regular program year and through the summer.

May 14, 2023 Sunday School as usual

May 21, 2023 Last Day of Sunday School/Family Open House Breakfast (in the Undercroft) at 9:45 a.m.

May 28, 2023 Family Church Sunday/Pentecost

Beginning on June 3 through September 3, 2023, lectionary-based or seasonal activity bags will be available in the church for families with children. More info to come regarding Nursery.

Please feel free to contact me with questions or suggestions, or to volunteer to lead or host an activity.

Blessings,
Belinda Young-Payne

ALL children and youth are welcome to join St. Thomas’s Easter Sunday 2023 scavenger hunt and egg scramble! Meet in the Great Hall after the 10:30 a.m. worship service on Easter Sunday, April 9, 2023.

Donations for a snack would be appreciated.

We had such a wonderful time last year. St. Thomas’s Children’s Ministries is once again offering a Holy Week inspired event for children ages 4-11 and their families on Good Friday.  See the flyer for the event. This Good Friday Gathering for Children and Families will be held from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and will include a snack.

I hope that many of our families with children will include this event in your Holy Week calendar. It will be a great way to allow your child to fellowship with friends and to experience Holy Week with developmentally appropriate activities. 

Please feel free to share this information with friends who do not attend St. Thomas’s and with other churches with whom you may be affiliated. We love visitors!!  Anyone can RSVP online, use contact information on the flyer, or contact me via email or phone. 

ALSO, If you are an adult who is willing to help with activities, that would be great. Please let me know that too. 

RSVP for Children’s Event:      https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0C4CAAA62CAB9-stthomas6
Share Good Friday Children’s flyer with friends!

Blessings, 

Belinda Young-Payne

We are collecting loose change! The kids will have cans to shake and make some NOISE!

This Sunday, and throughout Lent, the Sunday school children will have a noisy collection in all Sunday services. Members are encourage to find your spare change at home and bring it in. During the week, the change bucket will be available for rattling and donations in the lobby. The more “noise” the change makes the better! (They will even accept money that is not so noisy!)

The proceeds will go to a charity to be selected. Some of their ideas include:
• A local school’s donors’ choice
• School lunch debt
• Medical debt
• Micro-loans

You will be updated as this project progresses. Please let Fr. Howie know if any of these choices jump out to you, or if you have another suggestion to give the kids.

Greetings All, 

I am writing to issue a two-fold invitation to our parish family and our community.

Children’s Ministry will be having our Family Holiday 2022 party after the 10:30 a.m. worship service on December 18, 2022. Activities will include a Cookie Exchange, pizza lunch, music, games and crafts.

I would like to officially invite all families in our St. Thomas’s community with children up to 6th grade (including preschoolers) to all the festivities at St. Thomas’s on December 18, 2022, from 12:15 to 2:30 p.m. Please contact me with questions or suggestions. I would love to know about how many to expect so please RSVP using the Sign Up Genius, if possible. And, invite your friends!!!

In addition, ANYONE in who would like to participate in the cookie exchange is welcome to do so.  Use the SignUp Genius  to sign up for the Cookie Exchange and bring 2-3 dozen cookies (packaged in sets of 3) to share on Dec. 18, 2022. The cookie exchange will occur directly after the 10:30 service.

Blessings, 

Belinda Young-Payne

Hello Church Family,

We are looking forward to Sunday School tomorrow for children in grades K to 6th grade. (Nursery is available for younger children.) And….

We are excitedly preparing for the annual Christmas pageant, which will be presented during the 10:30 a.m. service on Sunday, December 18, 2022. Many of the children have already chosen their parts but we still have a few to be filled. We also need stagehands and prop designers. Please let me know if you or your children are interested in participating. 

Outside of Sunday mornings, the remaining pageant rehearsal dates and times will be:        

                                  Sunday, December 4, 2022 after the 10:30 a.m. service

                                  Sunday, December 11, 2022 after the 10:30 a.m. service

                                  Friday, December 16, 2022 at 6:30 p.m.

The pageant roles that are still open include:  Angels (speaking), Innkeeper (speaking), Shepherd (speaking), Mary (non-speaking). All the speaking roles do not require memorization if the child is a reader. (Lines will be on their props.)

Please let me know if you or your child or youth is interested in playing a part in this year’s telling of the Christmas story. I can be reached by email or phone. And…….

St. Thomas’s  Family Holiday Party and Cookie Exchange will be held on Sunday December 18, 2022 after the 10:30 a.m. worship service.

Looking forward to seeing you all!

Blessings,

Belinda Young-Payne