The majestic stained glass window facing Warwick Avenue is not the only beauty at Pilgrim Lutheran Church; the people in the church community exude love, acceptance and a gentle spirituality.

“We know that we have been welcomed by God even though we are far from perfect. That one truth is what shapes much of our life together,” The Rev. Dennis Kohl, the pastor, said in a recent interview. Led by Pastor Kohl, members participate in every aspect of Sunday mass from greeting people at the door with a smile and a handshake, preparing the altar with fresh linens and flowers, ushering, carrying the Crucifix in the procession towards the altar, reading the lessons, singing in the amazingly inspiring choir, serving communion with a smile, and being an assistant minister, providing a service that is truly representative of the congregants.

In addition to Sunday services, (at 8:00 and 9:30), a full Sunday School curriculum is utilized for the children during the 9:30 service, where the children come up into the church to participate in communion by receiving a personal blessing or sharing in the sacrament.

Beyond the Sunday activities, church members meet for adult Bible lessons; provide Confirmation classes; knit blankets for the infirmed; provide food to people in the community; have a toiletry pantry and pastoral care for those who seek it.  There is a fall festival, a Christmas re-enactment and party for all, a summer strawberry festival and numerous potluck dinners.

The church also opens its doors to the community with a food and toiletry pantry, and meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous. In addition, the West Bay Community Jewish Center, led by Rabbi Richard Perlman, hold their High Holy Days services in the building. Pilgrim Church has joined with West Bay Community Jewish Center, St. Timothy’s Roman Catholic Church and St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in common study of the Scripture and praying for peace and justice in our community and around the world. These four faith communities also provide for a joint Thanksgiving Service for the neighborhood.

In addition, Pilgrim Church recently participated in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America’s Annual Celebration of “God’s Work, Our Hands,” demonstrating commitment to the concept that God depends on His people to make the world a better place.  Special activities included getting their hands dirty in cleaning up the Oakland Beach area, using their musical talents to uplift and inspire nursing home residents, a group of teens from the Confirmation class working to clean a cemetery as a sign of respect for the deceased, and a group of children and adults, hands clad in rubber gloves, forming an assembly line to make bag lunches for Crossroads Rhode Island.

The importance of these activities was not lost on the workers; a light, joyful atmosphere existed as all worked together for the common good, demonstrating that “giving” to the church does not necessarily equal a monetary amount.

Always a church to welcome new members without regard to background, nationality, sexual orientation or disability, Pilgrim Church is the recipient of a 2015 “Access for All Abilities” grant from the Sherlock Center at Rhode Island College. This grant will provide additional funding for full inclusion of individuals with disabilities.  Currently, Pilgrim provides a sign language interpreter for members who are deaf, an FM system for individuals with hearing impairment, large print programs for the visually impaired, and an elevator so all members can participate fully in activities and social events held on the lower level. In addition to a handicapped accessible rest room, there are pew cut-outs scattered among the church so that individuals who use wheelchairs are not relegated only to the back but can chose a variety of seating options.  Accommodations for individuals who are autistic, developmentally disabled, mentally ill or have attention deficit disorder have also quietly been provided.

“Hospitality is one mark of the church which is essential. People need to hear the good news of God’s grace through Jesus Christ. That grace, the unearned love for all, is central to our ministries and our lives,” Pastor Kohl said.