Pilgrim Church offers a variety of Christian Education opportunities for all ages. Children from pre-school through eighth grade spend part of the 10:00 AM service in the sanctuary and are dismissed to Sunday School following the children’s sermon.
Babies and Toddlers
Parents of babies can listen to the worship from the nursery or leave their babies with supervised adult care for a needed spiritual respite in the sanctuary. For the curious and mobile toddler, we have a playroom with shelves of blocks, plastic animals, a play kitchen set and more.
Click here to see a video and photos of the beautiful Noah’s Ark Mural in the Toddler Room.
Preschool
Our preschoolers learn to recite the Lord’s Prayer in a circle and listen to classic Bible stories, followed by an age-appropriate activity to nurture their understanding of the scripture and their budding faith. Our preschoolers role play, create fine artwork, wear costumes, and even “practice” baptisms as a way of learning.
Kindergarten through Fifth Grade
We have mixed-age classes that rotate through activities to fully learn a Bible story. Some of the stories discussed include the Prodigal Son, Jesus Healing the Paralytic, Mary, Parable of the Lost Sheep, Parables of Love, Books of the Bible, The Wise King, and Tower of Babel. We have lesson plans to teach these timeless tales through crafts, drama, storytelling, movies, games and service.
Junior High Youth Group
In the 6th, 7th, and 8th grade youth group, leaders promoted discussion about current issues that tweens face, as well as reflection of values, scripture, and service. Our Junior High group delves into the challenging content of our times as they cultivate an interior self and moral compass. We use a team of teachers from Pilgrim and the wider community, plus service field trips, such as the annual visit to Worcester Fellowship to serve lunches, provide socks, and participate in a worship on Worcester Common.
Senior High Youth Group
Pilgrim Church’s senior high youth group (PCYG) meets on Sunday in the Parlor downstairs at 10:00 am during service. We discuss faith and topics of relevance and interest to teens. Team building and leadership development activities include planning fundraisers for our annual mission trip. Most importantly we learn more about being kind, compassionate members of the world, all the while enjoying each other and having fun!
Senior High is a great time for teens to become more independent and discover what they are passionate about. Some teens attend PCYG meeting every week and some may choose different experiences throughout the church. They are welcome to go to church service at any time or attend the 8:45am spiritual discussion for a deeper look at the week’s scripture and how it applies to our lives today. Also, they can help out with the service upstairs (reading, greeting, ushering, singing, etc.) or with the Sunday school classes downstairs.
There are two highlights to our youth group ministry. First, in 9th grade, students take confirmation classes which focus on their personal development of faith. On confirmation Sunday, the students present their varying faith statements to the congregation from the pulpit.
Second, PCYG participates in an annual mission trip. A large group of students and adult chaperones leave for New York City or Washington, DC in July for a week of service at churches or organizations that need help. PCYG will paint walls, build stairways, retile floors, or whatever it takes to improve the life of the organization. Every evening includes a spiritual conversation and reflection on the day. Youth members appreciate the opportunity to serve and return every year gratefully.