At Trinity, we have four core children’s events that occur throughout the liturgical year. During the green growing season of Ordinary Time, the school year starts. We mark this new beginning and the sacredness of the everyday with the Blessing of the Backpacks. During Advent, we prepare and present our Christmas Pageant as we wait for Christmas and Nativity of Jesus to arrive. After the solemn preparation of Lent, we look for signs of resurrection (and candy) at the Easter Egg Hunt. Vacation Bible School moves out into the world with the gospel in the early summer — we practice our calling as the spirit-filled church of Pentecost while offering compassion to our neighbors.

September 17, 2023 at 10:30am

Every September, Trinity holds a Blessing of the Backpacks on our Fall Kickoff Sunday. This year, our Backpack Blessing will be on September 17. We invite all preschoolers through high schoolers, teachers, college students, grad students, & professors to bring backpacks and schoolbags to Trinity at the 10:30am service. Bring them empty or full. Invite a friend! Adults, even if you’re done with school, you are welcome to receive a blessing for your work. The clergy will bless the bags during the service, to honor all the hopes, dreams, and fears that accompany the new school year, and to ask for God to strengthen, sustain, and encourage all our children as they learn and grow.

The folks at Illustrated Ministries have designed this year’s tag (pictured below) to give us an extra boost of encouragement after a few years of upheaval. Attach the tag to your bag for a daily reminder that God’s got your back, so “You Got This!” Knowing this, you can pass this extra boost on to your neighbors. God’s God Us & We’ve Got This!

If you missed the blessing of the backpacks, you can pick up a tag at the family ministry’s table in the office entrance.

Third Sunday in Advent, December 17, 2023 at 10:30am service

This year on the Third Sunday in Advent, Trinity’s young parishioners put on the annual Christmas Pageant during the 10:30am service. We retell the story of our Lord’s birth through drama, interspersed with treasured carols that the entire congregation joins in singing. Rehearsals for the Pageant start in November and run through Advent.

Holy Saturday, March 30, 2024 at 11am

Trinity’s Easter Egg Hunt takes place on Holy Saturday at 11am on Stockton Lawn is covered with colorful, candy and treat-filled eggs. Beforehand, we gather at the church entrance for a blessing. Bring your baskets and get ready to hunt for eggs. During the hunt, keep an eye peeled for the Easter Bunny, who loves to pose for photos. Come back for the Easter Vigil at 7pm or on Easter Morning to celebrate our Risen Lord!

June 24-27, 2024, each day from 5:30–8pm

Each summer, Trinity partners with our neighboring congregations at Mt. Pisgah AME Church, Princeton United Methodist Church, Witherspoon St. Presbyterian Church, & Kingston United Methodist Church to offer Compassion Camp, an ecumenical Vacation Bible School for all ages. Through story, crafts, song, games, and movement we create space to cultivate the practice of compassion together using curriculum materials created by Illustrated Ministries. Children divide into small groups by age to move through a series of activities guided by adult shepherds. Compassion Camp provides a great opportunity for teens from all our churches’ Youth Groups to take on leadership roles or to participate in an interdenominational Youth Group. Adults have a dedicated space to gather for Bible study and prayer each night, a rich spiritual experience. Looking ahead to next summer, we are excited to continue our partnerships with other neighborhood churches, and we look forward to growing in our faith together.

Illustrated Ministry provides accessible faith-based resources for the church and home. Thoughtful and easy-to-use materials are designed to foster authentic faith engagement with refreshing designs, creative activities, and an intergenerational focus. Illustrated Ministry’s curricula and materials celebrate the expansive image of God in everyone, through open and inclusive language, diverse imagery, and progressive theology.

Remember, if your children are feeling sick or running a fever, please stay home! We’ll be glad to see you when you recover! 

• Each classroom has hand sanitizer dispensers, sinks for handwashing, and windows which can open if necessary to provide extra ventilation.

• We continue to provide individually wrapped snacks and drinks in order to minimize risk of illness. There are sinks in each classroom, and we will have everyone wash hands before snack-time.

• According to current New Jersey Guidelines, masks are optional.

• According to CDC Guidelines, vaccines are strongly recommended. We will not keep a record of vaccinations; however, we do recommend that you ensure you and your children are up to date on your vaccines and boosters.

• If someone tests positive for covid after being in Church School, please notify Emily, and we will send an anonymized email to notify other families of possible exposure.