May is upon us, and with it comes the celebration of youth in our Parish. It’s an exciting time; we celebrate the talents and spirituality of the young people of St. Paul’s. Not only do they represent the future of our church, they show us the vibrant spirit that is alive here at St. Paul’s. Come worship with the children and teens on Youth Sunday, May 23 at the 9:30 service. During these times when one worries about the future here in R.I., this service shows that the future is bright here in North Kingstown. We’ll celebrate, not only the various musical talents of our young members, but also the teen missioners, the confirmation class, and the fifth grade Emmaus class. So come join us for this moving spiritual celebration; it is sure to lift your spirits.
As the year draws to a close, I would again like to thank all the teachers who made it a very successful year. We had 140 students enrolled in classes this year. Wonderfully, these students came week after week and really seemed to enjoy their classes. I’ve heard many stories from parents who heard “church songs” being sung on playgrounds, chairlifts, and at the beach. What a great way to share God’s message through the beautiful voices of the youth. Of course, a huge thank-you is given to Kevin O’Connor for sharing his musical talents with us on Sunday mornings. I can’t thank the teachers enough for sharing their time and talents with these great children- Rini George-Kutty, Linda Kesner, Bonnie Smith, Kathy Bellows, Sindy Hempstead, Alice Szrom, Kelli Gillis, Connie Calabrese, Kevin O’Connor, Kathy Kuiper, Sarah LeBlanc, Sandra Tierney, Laura Martorelli, Susie Leahy, Sheryl MacDougall-Fusco, Jane Winter, Beth and Pete Bergwall, Jayne McBride, Laurie DeRuosi, and Jean Whatmough. You guys are awesome.
If anyone is interested in teaching next year, please let me know. No experience is necessary, just a love of children and the desire to teach them about God. We provide curriculum and pair new teachers with more experienced ones. We like to have three teachers per grade; this allows for more flexible scheduling for the teachers to attend services. If you would like to help out, please feel free to contact me at home. It’s a wonderful experience. I’ve done it for 13 years and recommend it highly. It is a great way to grow spiritually, without even knowing it, because you are having so much fun.