PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH AT WILTON PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Children and youth are the hope of our church and of our
world. WPC is committed to a ministry
that incorporates them fully into the life and work of this family of
faith. Our children’s and youth programs
meet kids where they are, honor their unique vision of the world, and celebrate
the contributions they have to make to our community of faith and to those in
need everywhere. Our programs also
challenge children and teens to grow and learn through service, study, prayer,
worship and fellowship.
The following programs are led by adult volunteers and by
our Youth & Children’s Activities Director, Jane Field. You can reach Jane by phone (762-5514, voice
mailbox #2) or by email: janefield@snet.net.
Programs For Children In Kindergarten
Through 5th Grade
In addition to our weekly Sunday School program
our children’s choirs,
WPC offers several special opportunities for elementary
school-aged children:
- SEEKERS BIBLE STUDY for 4th
graders meets before worship three Sundays each Fall. Students learn
about the history and literature of the Bible, and gain a deeper
understanding of how Scripture relates to their daily lives. Each participant receives a personalized
gift Bible from the congregation at worship on All Saints Sunday in
November.
- CHRISTMAS PAGEANT for children K-5
tells the story of the birth of Jesus.
During rehearsals in the month of December, children study the
scriptural stories of the nativity, pray together, and learn more about
the Presbyterian order of worship.
At the early Christmas Eve service, children tell the story through
drama, music and scripture reading in a traditional pageant.
- SACRAMENT EDUCATION for 2nd
graders occurs each Spring. Students gather before worship on three
Sunday mornings to learn more about the Lord’s Supper and Baptism. The program concludes with the 2nd
grade participants baking bread for a Sunday morning communion service,
and helping Elders to serve communion to the congregation.
8th Grade Confirmation Program
This year-long class (October through May) helps 8th
graders explore and claim their own personal faith and prepares them to make a
decision about confirming the promises that were made on their behalf at their
baptism (or to be baptized as a part of their profession of faith). Participants are required to attend Sunday
morning worship at WPC throughout the year, participate in 20 hours of classes,
complete a service/mission project of their own design, and visit other worship
services such as a Catholic mass, a Jewish Shabbat service, and a prayer
service at a mosque. Each student
chooses an adult mentor from the congregation, who helps them in the process of
discerning what they believe about God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, Scripture, the
Church, and the Presbyterian tradition. At
the conclusion of the program, each confirmand writes
a personal statement of faith to share with the Session and with the
congregation during worship on Confirmation Sunday.
MATE Mission Work Camp In Maine
For almost 25 years, WPC has sent a delegation of adults and
teens to rural Maine to help
rehabilitate the homes of the poor and disabled. Work crews build roofs, construct handicap
ramps, install new sills, and do a host of other construction projects in and
around Farmington in partnership
with the Mission At The Eastward (MATE). This is a wonderful opportunity for youth to
build strong relationships with others in their church family, and with those
whom we serve in Maine. Plus, it’s a whole lot of fun! (Please note: all senior high youth must be
accompanied by a parent or adult sponsor.)
For more information, click [here.]
Joint Youth Ministries to Middle and High School Students
More than a decade ago, as an act of faith and vision, the
congregations of Wilton Presbyterian Church and St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church
entered into a covenant to join their efforts in ministry to youth in middle
and high school. The mission of this
Joint Youth Ministries is to proclaim the Gospel in word and deed, to
communicate God’s love, to share in the journey of faith, to answer God’s call
to do justice, love kindness and walk with humility, and to affirm and welcome
all youth and their families as we give glory, honor and praise to our Creator,
Redeemer and Sustainer.
This mission is carried out through the seven youth programs
described below. Both churches provide
staff and volunteer leadership, and contribute equally to the operating budget
of these programs. The scope of this
combined youth ministry was expanded in 2004 to include the youth of Zion’s
Hill United
Methodist Church
in Wilton where WPC’s
Youth & Children’s Activities Director, Jane
Field, serves as Youth Minister. All of the programs listed are open to the
youth of St. Matthew’s, Wilton Presbyterian and Zion’s
Hill Churches
and their guests from the larger community.
- SIXERS is a
group for 6th graders that meets meets one Thursday evening a
month for fun, food and fellowship.
For a Calendar Flyer, click here.
- 7TH AND 8TH
GRADE YOUTH GROUP meets twice a month on Wednesday evenings to share
dinner, play games, join in lively discussions, and carry out mission and
service projects. Every other year,
this group also participates in a four-week “Sexuality Seminar” designed
to help adolescents consider their sexuality in light of their faith.
For a Calendar Flyer, click here.
- 9TH GRADE KOINONIA GROUP
meets twice a month on Sunday afternoons for discussion, sharing and
mutual support. Members commit to
regular attendance and confidentiality is strictly kept. (“Koinonia”
[coy-no-nee-ah] comes from the Greek word meaning “community” or “what is
held in common.”)
- 10TH-12TH GRADE KATALYSTA
GROUP meets twice a month on Sunday afternoons for discussion, sharing
and mutual support. Members commit
to regular attendance and confidentiality is strictly kept. (“Katalysta”
[cat-ah-lees-tah] comes from the Greek word
meaning “agent of change or transformation.”)
- HIGH SCHOOL FELLOWSHIP
opportunities are offered throughout the year, including the town-wide
“Rake & Roll” service project in November, the all-church Wilton
basketball tournament in the winter, and the Americares
and Relay for Life mission programs in the spring.
For a Calendar Flyer, click here.
- YOUTH SUNDAY is the annual worship
service in which the congregations of WPC and St Matthew’s come together
to be led by our middle and high school youth. Graduating seniors offer the sermons, a
youth choir provides music, and other teens provide leadership in prayer,
scripture reading, and hospitality.
- HIGH SCHOOL MISSION TRIP TO WASHINGTON
DC occurs each year over the President’s Day weekend in February. Students spend six days and five nights
working in homeless shelters, soup kitchens, and food banks in our
nation’s capitol. Free time is
spent sight-seeing at the area’s museums, parks and monuments. Participants are required to attend
mandatory orientation meetings in December, January and February prior to
the trip. Click here to download an application form