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

On November 13, 2022, we will begin preparing for the annual Christmas pageant.  The first step will identifying who wants to be involved and in what way. We will need readers, actors, stagehands, prop and costume designers as well as snack helpers. Please let me know if you or your children are interested in participating.  Outside of Sunday mornings, the pageant rehearsal dates and times will be:

November 20, 2022 after 10:30 a.m. service
December 4 after 10:30 a.m. service
December 11, 2022 after 10:30 a.m. service
December 16, 2022 at 6:30 p.m.

St Thomas’s  Family Holiday Party and Cookie Exchange will be held on December 18, 2022.

Looking forward to seeing you all!

Sincerely,

Belinda Young-Payne

Hello Everyone! I hope everyone is enjoyed the lovely WARM Fall day. I know I did. Here is an update on Children’s Ministries for November 2022.

And, I am looking forward to teaching Sunday School class  tomorrow. Tomorrow, we’ll be learning about the life of David and how his life teaches us about repentance, devotion and trust in God. The November dates for Sunday School sessions are:  November 6, November 13, November 20, 2022.  November 27, 2022, will be Family Church Sunday and I am hoping that children, teens and their families will consider serving in some way on that day.

Two more important things you need to know about November and December, 2022:

• Our Trunk or Treat event last week was lots of fun. Thank you to everyone who attended or did anything to make it wonderful.  I will be tallying the donations for UNICEF tomorrow night and look forward to letting you know how much we raised to aid the health and well.

• We will begin preparing for the annual Christmas pageant on Nov. 13, 2022.  The first step will identifying who wants to be involved and in what way. We will need readers, actors, stagehands, prop and costume designers as well as snack helpers. Please let me know if you or your children are interested in participating.  Outside of Sunday mornings, the pageant rehearsal dates and times will be:

Nov. 20, 2022 after 10:30 a.m. worship service     
Dec. 4, 2022 after 10:30 a.m. worship service
Dec. 11, 2022 after 10:30 a.m. worship service
Dec. 16, 2022 6:30 p.m.

St. Thomas’s  Family Holiday Party and Cookie Exchange will be held on December 18, 2022.

Looking forward to seeing you all!

Sincerely,

Belinda Young-Payne

We have a day full of special activities coming up on Sunday, October 30, 2022.

BREAKFAST: Children’s Ministries will be hosting breakfast between the services. Children and/or their families are invited to donate food items and to help set up, serve, or clean up.

FAMILY CHURCH SUNDAY: Children and their families are invited to serve in the worship service on this day. Let me know what you may be interested in. The Carew family is already signed up to read all the readings in the 10:30 a.m. service!

TRUNK OR TREAT: Trunk or Treat will be happening after the 10:30 a.m. service. Anyone who wants is feeling creative is encouraged to create a fun themed car or table for the event. If you need ideas, there are lots of them on the Internet. The idea is to have fun while moving from “trunk” to “trunk” collecting candy or other treats. There will also be one or more crafts or games available.

UNICEF: The last Sunday of October is traditionally Children’s Ministries day to collect for Trick or Treat
for UNICEF so of course those little orange boxes will be around!

And one more thing…….Movie Night at St. Thomas’s is on Saturday, October 15, 2022. My favorite movie will be playing:
Wizard of OZ!

I hope to see many of you or the children in your families participating in all or some of these great activities. There will be a link to Sign Up Genius for the breakfast jobs/donations and to sign up for Trunk or Treat coming soon!

Ms. Belinda
belmar43@aol.com

Happy Saturday Everyone!

Even though it is a bit chilly out there, I hope everyone is enjoying the onset of fall. I know I am. 

And, I am looking forward to teaching our third Sunday School class of the program year. Tomorrow, Sunday, October 2, 2022, we will be learning about Jacob’s encounter with angels. And, we’ll be making a surprise that involves flour, sugar, and dairy products!! (Please let me know if you are bringing a child with allergies so I can modify the activity.) 

Here are the dates for Sunday School sessions this month:  October 2, October 9, October 16, and October 23, 2022.

We also have a day full of special activities coming up on October 30, 2022: 

• Children’s Ministry will be hosting breakfast between the services. Children and/or their families are invited to donate food items and to help set up, serve, or clean up.
• Children and their families are invited to serve in the worship service on this day. Let me know what you may be interested in.  The Carew family is already signed up to read all the readings in the 10:30 a.m. service!! 
• Trunk or Treat will be happening after the 10:30 a.m. service. Anyone who wants is feeling creative is encouraged to create a fun themed car or table for the event. If you need ideas, there are lots of them on the Internet. The idea is to have fun while moving from “trunk” to “trunk” collecting candy or other treats. There will also be one or more crafts or games available.
• The last Sunday of October — October 30, 3022 — is traditionally Children’s Ministries Sunday to collect for Trick or Treat for UNICEF so of course those little orange boxes will be around!

And one more thing…….Movie Night at St. Thomas’s is on October 15, 2022. My favorite movie will be playing:  Wizard of OZ!!!!

I hope to see many of you or the children in your families participating in all or some of these great activities. There will be a link to Sign Up Genius for the breakfast jobs/donations and to sign up for Trunk or Treat coming soon!

Blessings,

Belinda Young-Payne

Hello Everyone, 

It’s time to start preparing for our Trunk or Treat event on Sunday, October 30, 2022, which is intended to be both a fun activity and a service project for our parish and our community. Please consider how you would like to be involved-helping with the planning or advertising, decorating your vehicle, setting up or leading games and crafts, baking something yummy, donating money to the children’s chosen charity,  attending the event with a young person in your family or a friend or two or three, etc. After you are finished considering, PLEASE let me know what you are interested in. I will be sending out more information soon. 

Have a wonderful day!

Belinda Young-Payne

On the last Sunday of each month, children are encouraged to participate in the 10:30 a.m. worship service in a variety of ways: flower arranging, reading, ushering, coffee hour hosting, or however they wish to contribute. We can’t wait to see what the children offer this year!

See information about St. Thomas’s Children’s Ministries program and our calendar of activities.