Every year during the second week of July, this church comes alive. That’s not to say that we are in hibernation the rest of the year, but if you have ever had the full, four day experience of working with a tribe of children during Vacation Bible School then you know what I’m talking about. There’s nothing quite like the sights and sounds of a large group of children, youth, and adults praising God with abandon. It is a special time for the young ones, who typically know they are to try to treat the Sanctuary as a holy, reverent place. But Vacation Bible School is one of those times that I think about what Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them.” And that’s just what the children do: they come and they do not feel hindered. By the final evening, everyone is so full on what God has been up to the first few days that you can feel the Spirit hovering in the Sanctuary. What joy it must bring the Lord to see the children kneeling for him, shouting for him, and dancing for him. It is amazing.
This year’s VBS theme is Made to Praise. The children will learn about praising God with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength. But it’s not enough to know. The week will be full of opportunities to praise and to do it in technicolor.
Here are some ways you might be able to praise the Lord for VBS this year:
Ø Invite someone who may not have a church home.
Ø Pray. By prayer and petition, we request of the Lord that someone will accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
Ø Help set up tribe locations with canopies and fabric on Sunday, July 9th, immediately following the 11:00 worship.
Ø Be a tribe leader or assistant tribe leader. (This is the most edifying thing, in my opinion!) Be the light of Christ for children in need of a foundation. If you are concerned because you haven’t helped before, there’s a training time Sunday, July 9th, at 6pm to help acquaint you with all things VBS.
Ø Join a friend or make a new one at a booth in the marketplace. The marketplace is all about the agape kind of love. This is an opportunity to shower the children with kindness, skills, and goodies by helping the create something, make a snack, play a game, or learn a trade.
Ø Be unseen but heartfelt by bringing in a meal for the volunteers’ dinner, helping during the tear down of the marketplace Thursday night, or bringing in any of the donations required (items noted on a donation board in Roe Foyer).
Ø Help with logistics: greeting, ushering, registration, market set-up, or attendance clerk.
Opportunities for praise abound. It is my sincere hope you will find a way to join us in praising God during this year’s Vacation Bible School. It is a gift we love to receive.
With praise, Bethany