Now you are the body of Christ,
and each one of you is a part of it.
Students in grades 6 through 12 are invited to join an all-inclusive community that honors the unique gifts each person brings. Together students and invested adult leaders pray, serve, and have fun! There are weekly fellowship opportunities to help grow relationships with one another and God. Regular service opportunities and annual mission trips cultivate servant-leadership in Christ. St. Peter’s Youth Ministry is building the body of Christ, one relationship at a time.
About Zack Rugenstone, the Youth Minister:
Hi, I’m Zack. I grew up in northern Virginia with my parents and younger sister. Throughout middle and high school I was an active member in an Episcopal church that had an emphasis on service to the local community and abroad. After graduating high school I went on to get a degree in Criminology with minors in Psychology and Sociology from Longwood University. After graduation I went on to Chapel Hill, NC where I worked with the Episcopal Service Corps in a church, a correctional facility, and with an afterschool program for youth. From there I went on to Duke Divinity school where I met my now wife Sarah. Sarah and I graduated and moved to St. Louis together, along with our dog Gus and cat George. Upon our arrival to St. Louis, Sarah began working as a pastor at a local Methodist church and I joined the staff of St. Peters. Outside of St. Peters, I am also teaching a New Testament class at a local university and I am looking forward to exploring all the golf courses, bookstores and coffee shops in the area.
My beliefs:
I affirm the traditional beliefs of the Episcopal Church and the creeds that have been passed down through the generations.
I believe that social barriers are man made and harmful to the Kingdom of God. I believe that there is nothing that can separate you from the Love of God, that God wants a rich relationship with you, and that the relationship you have with God ought to produce an understanding of gratitude, generosity, and grace for our neighbors that is lived out daily.
I believe that one of the best ways we can do this is by service in our church, schools, and communities near and far. Through humble service to others we are preaching the gospel with our bodies, walking side by side with Jesus, and strengthening relationships with those around us.
Youth Calendar
| Week | Events of the Week | Sunday Morning 9:15am-10:15am | Sunday Evening 5:00pm-6:00pm |
| 05/07 | Zack out of town (05/04 - 08) | Hanging out and playing games | Art and Scripture |
| 05/14 | Mothers Day (05/14) | Hanging out and playing games | |
| 5/21 | Youth Sunday (5/21) | Hanging out and playing games | Youth Hang Out |
Summer Youth Events
Our youth group here at St. Peters is going to partner with the youth group at the church of St. Michael St. George to put on some incredible summer events. Youth are going to serve locally and abroad to learn more about themselves, God, and their neighbors.
Middle School Mission Week: June 5th - 9th
The Middle School Mission Week is an opportunity for rising 6th graders to serve a number of incredible organizations in the area. The day will begin at 8:30am and end at 1pm each day. Cost for the week is $80. You can sign up for the Middle School Mission Week here!!
High School Mission Trip: July 22nd - July 29th
Who: Rising 9th graders through graduating 12th graders
Where: Niagara Falls, NY
When: Saturday, July 22--Saturday, July 29
Cost: $700 (which covers lodging, most meals, evening activities, transportation costs, a ticket to The Wilds safari in Cumberland, OH)
REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED
In Niagara Falls, NY, our group will come alongside existing organizations to meet ongoing needs through food and clothing distribution, home repair projects, community beautification projects, and youth programming at a local community center. After the service day, we’ll learn more about the community by participating in Evening Activities where we’ll experience some of the hardships of those living in poverty, visit the beauty of the Falls, and share a time of fellowship with partners and community members. We will be doing our trip through YouthWorks, who have been serving in Niagara Falls since 2003.
Confirmation
In the sacrament of Confirmation, participates affirm a mature commitment is made to follow Jesus Christ. The Bishop lays his hands upon the Confirmand and prays:
“Strengthen, O Lord, your servant Name with your Holy Spirit; empower him/her for your service; and sustain him/her all the days of him/her life.” 1979 Book of Common Prayer, page 309.
To prepare for this big event, the students engage in a multi-week course of study, reflection, and worship as part of the community of St. Peter’s Church that is rooted in the tradition of the Episcopal church. The youth are also encouraged to participate in the youth community at St. Peter’s as a continuation of the confirmation curriculum. The Confirmation curriculum and youth group events are designed to engage teens in the questions and concerns of faith within the context of Episcopal teaching and tradition, emboldening them to develop their own answers.
Confirmation Class begins in early September and February. The class meets every other Sunday at 9:15 a.m. to prepare for Confirmation during the Bishop’s visitation in the Spring.
Confirmation instruction for adults is also available!
If you have questions about the dates of classes, how to sign up, or need any more information on Confirmation, email Zack at