St Thomas

Youth

Joint EYC: St. Thomas is part of an EYC (Episcopal Youth Community) group that also includes Christ Episcopal in Bay St. Louis MS, St. Peter's-by-the-Sea in Gulfport MS, and St. Patrick's in Long Beach, MS. The combined group consists of 25-35 young people and uses St. Thomas as a center for its weekly Sunday activities.

Overall youth group leadership is provided by Andrew McLarty, also on staff of Coast Episcopal School, and Erin Dyson, also on the staff of Mission on the Bay. Both have worked in youth ministry for many years. St. Thomas youth are coordinated in this activity by our Youth Minister, Penny Edwards.

The group is divided into Senior High and Junior High age groups. For typical Sundays they meet together at 5:00 pm for dinner, and then go to their separate programs at 5:45 pm. These programs include games, interactive instruction on the Bible, liturgy and spiritual studies, and special presentations by invited guests.

Apart from Sunday activities, the group has enjoyed field trips, mission trips, overnight lock-ins, canoe trips, concerts, beach parties, going to camp at the diocesan facility (Camp Bratton Green), and special projects to advance the national Episcopal Church’s Millennium Development Goals for people in poorer countries.

St. Thomas Kids: In addition to the joint EYC program, St. Thomas Kids have their own regular activities. These include a Youth Bell Choir, parties for special days, such Christmas, Valentine’s Day, and fourth of July. The youth also build the bonfire for Easter Vigil, which is used for hot dogs and s’mores before the service. This is followed by an Easter egg hunt the next day. We also organize events such as bowling night, hockey night, baseball excursions, and pizza night.

Twice each year there is “Youth Sunday” where the young people celebrate most of the service, including the readings, the sermon, many of the prayers, and some of the music. Also twice each year the youth cook and serve pancakes for everyone at 9:00 am between the two regularly scheduled services. Donations are accepted, and this helps defray the costs of some of the activities such as our Laser Tag Outing and the outdoor Winter Fest.

Our annual Vacation Bible School and our monthly Popcorn Theology Night are described below. The church also has an active drama group, the Amazing Praisers, that performs dramatic plays with Christian themes. These plays often have roles for young people.

Click here for Sunday School information. Click here for acolyte information. Click here for information about confirmation classes.

Popcorn Theology

Every second Friday of the month at 6:00 pm, a movie night is held at the church for kids ages five through twelve. These full length movies lend themselves to discussions of some aspect of faith, or ethical, or moral, or Christian issues. Father Bill and parents facilitate the discussions after the movies. The evening is enhanced by our industrial strength popcorn machine, as well as additional goodies such as hot dogs and ice cream sometimes brought by parents. St. Thomas kids are urged to invite their friends.

Parents' Meeting with kids

Vacation Bible School 2007

Winter Fest 2008

Seahawks Hockey Game

Zephyrs Game