Vacation Bible School

For one week during the summer (Sunday through Thursday 6:30-8:00 PM) ages 3 years through 6th grade gather together to hear stories from the Bible, create works of art, play games, eat a snack together and work on projects that benefit others.

In 2008, we used the curriculum "Under Construction" produced by Habitat for Humanity. Our themes were: share, care, learn, worship and celebrate. During the week the children brought things they owned that were special and precious to them (a shell from a nine year old's vacation to Nova Scotia, a teething ring once precious to one of our three year olds, a favorite superman toy from a kindergartner, a beautiful rock from one of our 5th graders rock collection, a simulated pearl necklace long loved by one of our third graders) to share with a family which our congregation will work with in Pittsburgh, PA doing home repair. The preschoolers made composite drawings to be given to each of the members of Salem church who are homebound. After walking to the mailbox so the drawings could be sent, we prayed for each person by name as we dropped their letters into the box. We planted seeds in pots and broke out into spontaneous prayer asking God to help our seeds grow. We made handprint quilts which we sent as a gift to the family we helped on our Pittsburgh mission trip. We also had quiet moments of listening to stories about God and talking with each other about what Jesus did and what he is asking us to do as his followers. We broke out in unbridled laughter as we played games on the front lawn of our church. We listened to what each other did earlier in day as we shared snack together. In all we did during that week we sought to love and be loving.

As the week came to a close we realized it had been a week of sharing what we have, caring about others who need love, encouragement and support, learning how much God loves us and all people, spending time worshipping God (praising, thanking and praying) and celebrating our life together and our life in God. Our week ended with the children hosting a cookie and cake social for their families and the entire congregation where they shared what they had been learning and doing during the week.

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