Ever since I started attending All Pilgrims in 2006, we’ve had a heart for children. In congregational discernment meetings people said “We want our halls to ring with the sound of children’s laughter.” In our recent congregational survey, members of All Pilgrims said that outreach to families with children is one of our top priorities. And in a recent worship service, Pastor Greg asked people to write their desire to contribute or serve on a piece of paper and bring it forward as an offering. One of the most frequent hopes expressed on those slips of paper was to serve children, including homeless children.
This fall, we will begin to stretch and open ourselves to welcome more children into our congregational life in a variety of ways. Our Worship and Wonder program, which serves kids ages 4 to 10 will now share its space with Seasons of the Spirit, our program for kids between 10 and 12. Volunteers are also preparing to create “busy bags” – drawing materials, puzzles and other quiet entertainments — for children to use in the sanctuary. The bags are for children of parents – including visitors – who prefer to keep children with them in the worship service.
These programs, along with our nursery, professionally staffed by Simone Downing, are all expressions of our desire to serve children and their families.
— Kathleen Hosfeld, Chair, Spiritual Formation Committee —
All Pilgrims Safe Child Policies: All of those who work in our nursery and children’s’ programs – paid employees and volunteers — receive abuse prevention training and a background check. Nursery attendants are also required to have current Red Cross certification.