Throughout the year, children and families at St. Thomas find a variety of fun ways to connect with their faith and with one another!
“Rally Day” and End of Summer BASH!
Each year in Mid-August, we welcome back our families from their summer travels and offer our prayers and best wishes to all of our students and education professionals as they head back to school with a cookout/potluck, party and a Blessing of the Backpacks.
Fall Fun at the Annual All-Parish Hayride and BOO BASH!
Each October, members of St. Thomas young and old converge on Sharp’s Farm in Bucyrus for some good ol’ fashioned fun by the campfire roasting hot dogs and toasting marshmallows for s’mores before heading out on a country hayride at dusk. Then, on the Sunday before Halloween, our Youth Group takes over the church to put on their annual “Boo Bash” Halloween Party for the little ones, while grown-ups will enjoy the annual Chili Cook-Off. Proceeds raised from this event help send our youth to diocesan events, summer camps and their annual mission trip!
ADVENTure – Advent Wreath Making and Holiday Crafting
Join us during the Education Hour (9:45-10:45 AM) for a special event for the whole parish to ready your homes for the coming of the Christ Child! All families are invited to create an advent wreath ($7 for a reusable metal frame; $5 for a foam wreath) with greenery and candles provided, as well as a few other holiday crafts to bring the Advent season into your homes. A potluck continental breakfast is also served.
Christmas Pageant
Join us on Christmas Eve for our 4 PM Family Service and Annual Christmas Pageant where our children ages pre-school (3) through 5th Grade with help from our Youth Choir tell the blessed story of the birth of Jesus. While rehearsals are held leading up to our pageant for larger speaking roles, ALL children attending church on Christmas Eve are welcome to join us in the pageant as a sheep, stable animal or angel and will enjoy singing along to our classic Christmas hymns.
Winter Break Service Days
Do you find your 3rd-5th Grader needing some time out of the house by the 2nd week of their Winter Break from school? Put that time to good use by having them join us for our Winter Break Service Days! Typically held the over the Tuesday, Wednesday and/or Thursday between Christmas and New Years, we take our 3rd-5th, 6th-8th and High School students out for their own special day of community service at a facility in the KC Area for the morning, before stopping for a sack lunch and making our way to a local fun-spot for the afternoon. Students can expect to earn approximately 3 hours of community service on their service day. Organizations we have worked with in the past include Harvesters, Giving the Basics, Mission Hope Thrift, KC Community Kitchen (High School only due to age restrictions), and more! Be on the lookout for enrollment information in the mid-to-late fall as spaces are limited, or contact Barbara McCall at or Kelly Demo at for more information!
Shrove Tuesday Pancake Feed
Another fun evening put on by our Youth Group, come fill your bellies with creative and delicious pancake recipes cooked by our youth before beginning the season of Lent! In addition to pancakes galore, fun activities are offered for the kids including pancake races, pancake flipping contests, face painting and the Hiding of the Alleluias!
Ash Wednesday Family Service – 6 PM each Ash Wednesday
This special 30 minute service is geared toward our families with young children (through elementary school, though of course, all people are welcome!) with an easy-to-follow liturgy with simple language and songs to help our youngest members to understand the journey of preparation and penitence that we embark on for the season leading up to the Easter Feast.
LENT BEGINNINGS
All St. Thomas parishioners are invited to gather in the Parish Hall between our two Sunday Services on the First Sunday of Lent for experiential stations to assist each member or family to identify ways to make time for prayer and a spiritual discipline during this holy season. (This special activity takes the place of regular Christian Education classes for this day.)
