St. Thaddeus EYC

E.Y.C. stands for Episcopal Youth Community. The EYC is a gathering of youth, not only within an Episcopal Church, but also within a community. It is a group that helps affect change in the community and the world by helping others, while also enjoying fun and fellowship with others. We meet each Sunday evening at 6:15 in the large parlor of the Stevenson-McClelland building.

Who can join?

While most EYC groups are limited to high schoolers, here at St. Thaddeus we open our EYC to kids as young as the 7th grade. If you are young and want to help affect some change and have fun, we are not going to turn you away.

In 2008 we held our first meeting for the Jr. EYC, which consists of kids in grades 4th-6th. Like the regular EYC, you do not have to be an Episcopalian, or go to St. Thaddeus to join.

What activities will we do?

When the EYC meets each week, we open with a prayer and an icebreaker game before we take part in our activities for the week. Some of our activities include:

  • Religion and Film—a look at how religion is manifested in the movies of our times
  • Scavenger Hunts—a fun time to drive around Aiken and take some wacky pictures
  • Community Outreach—a chance to take part in helping others in and around the Aiken community, including building porches and decks, as well as picking up trash on the highways
  • Lock-Ins—a time to spend the night in the Mead Hall gym, enjoying Compline, movies, games, and Morning Prayer, among other things
  • Movie/Game Night—a chance to relax and enjoy some time with each other while enjoying our favorite movies and video games
  • Church Outreach—a chance for us to help those in the St. Thaddeus community, taking part in soup kitchen work, making bookmarks for Prayer Books, and other activities
  • Religions of the World—including visits to temples and synagogues and chances for us to see just how connected all our religions really are
  • AND SO MUCH MORE!
  • See our Facebook page to see what we are doing now.

Will we go on mission trips?

Yes. Past mission trips have included: Grace House on the Mountain in St. Paul, VA, as well as Mission on the Bay in Bay St. Louis, MS. Mission trips generally occur during spring or summer breaks while kids are away from school.

What can grown-ups do?

Adults are more than welcome to join us as chaperones and drivers for trips, as well as helping us plan nightly dinners. If any grown-ups would like to be a part of the EYC’s Adult Advisory Committee, please contact Katie Hargis.