Youth Education

The St. Elmo's Group

The St. Thomas's Youth Group, which has adopted St. Elmo as its patron saint, meets every Sunday in its room above the parish hall. The group is small but enthusiastic; its seven current members range in age from 11 to 16. 

The group meets during the 11:00 Solemn Eucharist. During the gathering period from 10:30 to 11:00 a.m., we begin with a fun activity: usually a craft, game, or drama. At 11:00 we spend some time in devotions from the Communion service and intercessions, before moving on to the lesson for the day.  Lesson topics vary by year, and have included studying the life of Christ in St. Matthew's Gospel, exploring the themes of praise, penitence and complaint in the Psalms, and examining key Old Testament and New Testament personalities. During the sermon, the group moves into the parish hall to join with the church school for hymn singing, taught by a member of the choir. We process into the church at the Offertory hymn, and remain for the rest of the service. 

The youth group contributes in a number of ways to the life of the parish. Members enjoy helping to serve at coffee hours, and sometimes participate in church as sidespeople or with leading the intercessions. Occasionally they take on the teaching of one of the church school lessons. They have assisted with parish social activities, and have helped with fundraising efforts for worthy causes, notably World Vision, and Temba House in South Africa.

Every year in early summer, the group enjoys a day-long excursion to Canada's Wonderland. Plans for other fun activities outside of Sundays are actively being discussed.

For further information, contact one of the group leaders - Anna Irish or Diana Verseghy - through the parish office.

Summer 2010 | St. Elmo's Youth Group Annual Trip to Canada's Wonderland