Longtime Sunday School teacher Sharon Sampson begins the August 5, 2012, Pre-Kindergarten class by forming the lesson theme out of Play-Doh.
In the Lutheran Church faithful to Scripture and her Confessions, children are not the future of the church but are the church already by virtue of their baptisms. Thus, Pilgrim welcomes and expects even the youngest children to be in the Divine Service, but the congregation also offers special opportunities for God the Holy Spirit to grow children in their faith and welcomes and expects children of all ages to participate in these, as well. These opportunities are age-appropriate Sunday School classes each Sunday and Vacation Bible School (VBS), usually once during the year (both begin with 3-year-olds).
After having an opportunity for refreshments from 9:15-9:30 a.m., Sunday School teachers and students meet together from 9:30-10:30 a.m., while the adults gather for Adult Bible Class with our pastor. A brief Sunday School Opening is held together before teachers and students break out according to age levels. Following a curriculum from Concordia Publishing House, each lesson ultimately centers on Jesus Christ and what He has done for the children in dying on the cross and rising from the grave to save them from their sins. Lesson-related classroom activities may include games, songs, or crafts. Our congregation’s small size means each and every child receives a good portion of his or her experienced teacher’s attention.
2012 VBS Storyteller Barbara Wuthrich (far right) poses with her students wearing their desert headgear.
Pilgrim usually offers Vacation Bible School (VBS) during one week in the summer from 6:00-8:00 p.m. The whole VBS program centers around a different Christ-centered theme each year and features special openings, songs, snacks, lessons, crafts, games, and closings. At Pilgrim, VBS usually is a family affair, as a light dinner is served for all participants, and our pastor teaches a class for the adults on the same Bible accounts as the children, which means the discussion can continue at home. (Follow the links for more-specific information about our 2013 VBS, 2014 VBS, 2017 VBS, and 2018 VBS. Note that, due to remodeling work at Pilgrim, in 2015 a joint VBS was offered in one extended day at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Longview, in 2016 Pilgrim offered one evening of VBS at the Kilgore pool, in 2017 Pilgrim offered one day of VBS, and in 2020 the coronavirus pandemic prohibited the traditional VBS.)
Everyone is welcome in Pilgrim’s Sunday School and Vacation Bible School! For more information, use the contact information at right.
