This Sunday, December 8, 2019, Second Sunday of Advent, Sunday School will begin with Sunday Breakfast Club in the Library of the Undercroft  at 9:30 a.m. Thank you to the Quinones family for hosting this week. Don’t forget to sign up for your turn by using this link:   https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0C4CAAA62CAB9-sunday
The education and worship part of our children’s program will begin at 9:45 a.m. in the Undercroft. If you can, please join us and/or have your children join us as we begin the journey leading us to mystery of Christmas in the PreK-K classroom and as we explore the message of preparation in the season of Advent and the preaching of John the Baptist in grades 1-6.  

A few additional bits of news:

• This week, we will be assigning planning parts and service roles for the Annual Children’s Pageant which will be part pageant/part prayer service as typically happens. Please try to have your children in attendance as much as possible during the month of December as this makes it easier for the grown-ups and the children. We will practice during Sunday school each week and will have extra practices on the morning of Dec. 14, the afternoon of Dec. 15 as well as the evening of Dec. 20. The pageant will be on Sunday, Dec. 22, 2019 at 5:30 p.m. with practice at 3:30 p.m.

• On Saturday, December 7, 2019 as part of the St. Thomas’s Annual Bazaar, I will be hosting a fundraiser Pancake Breakfast Buffet. The buffet will include pancake bar, sausage, eggs, fruit, and drinks. Ticket prices at the door will be $5 per adult/older child and $3 per child under 10, 2 years and younger free.  Please come to enjoy good food and fellowship with family and friends. Then, stay to do some shopping at the Bazaar!

• All of St Thomas’s has  been invited to attend Faith and Family Day at the UD Basketball game on January 12, 2019. CREW, our youth group, will be attending as our meeting that day. Please let me know as soon as you can via email or the sign up sheet on the Great Hall door if you plan to attend as well. Advance ticket prices will be depend on the size of our group.

I look forward to seeing you all soon!
Blessings,Belinda Young-Payne, Director of Children’s Ministries

On Sunday, December 1 2019, the First Sunday of Advent, Sunday School will begin with Sunday Breakfast Club in the Great Hall classroom at 9:30 a.m. Thank you to the Houghtons for hosting this week. Don’t forget to sign up for your turn by using this link:   https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0C4CAAA62CAB9-sunday
The education and worship part of our children’s program will begin at 9:45 a.m. in the Undercroft. If you can, please join us and/or have your children join us as we begin the journey leading us to mystery of Christmas in the PreK-K classroom as we begin our celebration of Advent by exploring the theme of waiting in grades 1-6. 

A few additional bits of news:

• This week, we will begin planning parts and service roles for the annual Children’s Pageant which will be part pageant/part prayer service as typically happens. Please try to have your children in attendance as much as possible during the month of December as this makes it easier for the grown-ups and the children.
• On Saturday, December 7, 2019, as part of the St. Thomas’s Annual Bazaar, I will be hosting a fundraiser Pancake Breakfast Buffet. The buffet will include pancake bar, sausage, eggs, fruit, and drinks. Ticket prices at the door will be $5 per adult/older child and $3 per child under 10, 2 years and younger are free.  Please come if you can to enjoy good food and fellowship with family and friends and then stay to do some shopping at the bazaar!
• All of St Thomas’s has  been invited to attend Faith and Family Day at the UD Basketball game on January 12, 2020. CREW, our youth group, will be attending as our meeting that day. Please let me know as soon as you can if you plan to attend as well. Advance ticket prices will be depend on the size of our group.

I look forward to seeing you all soon!
Blessings,Belinda Young-Payne, Director of Children’s Ministries

Hi Everyone, 
Sunday School will begin with Sunday Breakfast Club tomorrow this morning at 9:30 a.m., hosted by the Sausvilles! (Thank you!) The education and worship part of our children’s program will begin at 9:45 a.m. in the Undercroft. If you can, please join us and/or have your children join us as we enter into the story of Moses and the Burning Bush in the PreK-K classroom and as we enter into one of Jesus’ parables by focusing on the difference between “money” treasures and “life treasures”, such as friends and family in grades 1-6.  
Later in the day, I’ll be at Coffee Hour adult ed event on Quaker Spirituality. I encourage you to attend if you are able.
And don’t forget…the Back to School Pizza Party for all children, tweens, teens and their families will happen at noon on Sept. 29! Let me know ahead if you know you’re coming…but come anyway even if you don”t.
Looking forward to seeing you soon!
Blessings,Belinda

Please find all the latest news from St. Thomas’s Children’s Ministries – see our September 2019 newsletter and information on our September Pizza Party. We are looking forward to great year with lots of fun, fellowship, and exploration with friends, old and new!   

See you soon!

Blessings,Belinda Young-Payne
Director of Children’s Ministries
St. Thomas’s Episcopal Church

As part of our activities in God’s Big Backyard this summer, the children are making ToGo bags which will be donated to Newark Empowerment Center. We hope that our church community will join us in serving our larger community by helping us gather supplies. If you are able to contribute our project, please use the link below to let us know.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0C4CAAA62CAB9-stthomas1

Thank you so much for your support!

Blessings,Belinda

Our fun summer times are almost at an end and the time for fall preparation has come. I’m excited!

Regular Children’s Worship will begin again on September 10 for children 3 years (potty trained) to 6th grade. Sunday School normally runs from 9:30 to 11:10 a.m. Registration for Sunday School will begin at 9:15 a.m. in the Great Hall on September 10, 2018.

Our goal is to have three Sunday School classrooms this year. In order to do this in the best way that we can, we need at least two more teachers. I am praying we can find some new faces to join our children’s ministry team. Teaching involves an average commitment of two Sundays a month and an hour or two of preparation the week you are the lead teacher. We teach in teams of two so you would be lead teacher an average of once a month. If you are more comfortable being the helper teacher each time, that is fine too. This ministry is an act of both giving and receiving. The children teach and inspire us as much as we do them. And the team members are a tremendous support and inspiration to each other. Training for Godly Play and training for Living the Good News for anyone who needs it will be held in late August/early September and as needed. If you feel called to be a part of children’s ministry in any way, please contact me at belmar43@aol.com.

Thank you for all the support that you, as a congregation, provide to our children and their families.

Blessings,

Belinda

Sunday School resumes on September 9, 2018.

From May 27 to September 2, St Thomas’s nursery for children aged birth to 3 years will be open from 10:15 to the end of the 10:30 a.m. service.

Summer Children’s Worship for children 3 years and older runs through August 19. Our summer theme this year is The Fruit of the Spirit, based on Galatians 5:22-23 (But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control). Each week, we will learn about a different spiritual gift through scripture lessons, stories, hands-on play/art activities, service projects, and/or take-home assignments to promote real-life applications of the fruit of the Spirit. On most Sundays this summer (when children’s worship leader is available), children are invited to the Undercroft from 10:30-11:10 a.m. The children will rejoin their families at the Peace. On some Sundays (when a children’s worship leader is not available), children will remain with their families and are invited to complete the activity in the Fruit of the Spirit bags found in the basket by the sanctuary door.

If you have questions, need more information, or would like to volunteer to help this summer, please contact Belinda Young-Payne at 302-388-4017.

Here is an update on St. Thomas’s Children’s Ministries.

May 20 was the last day of regular Sunday School until September.

From May 27 to September 2, the St. Thomas’s nursery for children aged birth to 3 years will be open from 10:15 to the end of the 10:30 a.m. service.

Summer Children’s Worship for children 3 years and older will begin on June 10 and run through August 19. Our summer theme this year is “The Fruit of the Spirit,” based on Galatians 5:22-23 (But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control). Each week, we will learn about a different spiritual gift through scripture lessons, stories, hands-on play/art activities, service projects, and/or take home assignments to promote real life applications of the fruit of the Spirit. On most Sundays this summer (when children’s worship leader is available), children are invited to the Undercroft from 10:30-11:10 a.m. The children will rejoin their families at the Peace. On some Sundays (when a children’s worship leader is not available), children will remain with their families and are invited to complete the activity in the Fruit of the Spirit bags found in the basket by the sanctuary door.

St. Thomas’s is not planning to host Vacation Bible School (VBS) this summer. But stay tuned to your email for information about VBS in other area churches.

Regular Sunday School will resume on September 9, 2018. If you have questions, need more information, or would like to volunteer to help this summer, please contact Belinda Young-Payne at 302-388-4017 or belmar43@aol.com.