I am so excited for this summer our church is doing our very first vaction bible school. My daughter our christian education superintendant has come up with a great idea. We are having it at a nursing home. The home has a huge yard and several of the residence will actually teach, in addition we will use their activity director to do crafts. I am thrilled that this will be multi-generational. There are so many kids who do not live near grandparents and the residences are excited. We are hoping this will be a tradition. Is anyone else doing vacation bible school?

-- Anonymous, May 14, 2003

Answers

Reverend Rogers,

My church does Vacation Bible School each year. Because we are an urban church, in recent years we have discovered that the best time to do this was from 6:00 to 9:30 p. m.

The course of study is usually selected from Urban Ministries which our Sunday School Union provides. We also get students from the community outside the church as well as members who belong. We cut across all age groups and provide transportation assistance for those who need it.

Each Session is opened with a general assembly for devotion and prayer and it is ended with prayer and a meal for the members who attend. Each night the meals are provided by a family or auxiliary of the church.

This is finally followed by a Sunday Morning Worship in which all are encouraged to participate in the order of worship. Each student participates in some capacity such as the readings, the choir or ushering. Certificates are awarded and classes are allowed to share and present what they have learned. Their artwork and exhibits are displayed in the lower level of the church

-- Anonymous, May 14, 2003

Bethel - Champaign (Illinois) will be have a week long VBS from 6-8 PM nightly. In an effort to also provide teaching and ministry to adults who might feel VBS is only for youth, we will be offering at the same time an SAT Institute. This SAT Institute will be New Member and Membership Refresher Training. Some areas that will be covered are: Salvation and Christianity, What We Believe and Why, The Organization of the Church, The Why of What We Do, and Christian Stewardship as a Lifestyle.

-- Anonymous, May 14, 2003

I am so excited that you are excited about your very first annual Vacation Bible School this summer! It will be a very enriching experience for all involved and I think that it is wonderful that you all are hosting this event at a nursing home. Our Vacation Bible School is an extension of our Sunday School and there is a place for everyone. There is a shared theme for all age groups, however, each group has materials that are relevant to their specific needs and concerns. There are always activities for the group and we always open and close with devotion. We also feed the physical body before we begin to feed the spiritual body so that attention on the participant's part is not lacking. If you have any specific questions, please feel free to contact me via e-mail or you can reach me at the church office at 404.299.3388. I would love to offer all of the assistance and support that I can. (Also, where is your church located?)

-- Anonymous, May 15, 2003

Sis. Franklin, thanks for your support and encouragement! We are located in the fifth district in Bozeman, Montana. My church is St. Paul Community A.M.E. Church please see our church website. www.forministry.com/59715spcac

We will begin with children ages 6 to 12 for this first year. This is the brain child of my daughter licentiate Danielle Rogers. We are hoping this program can be replicated in other churches. We just heard from our Presiding Elder who is thrilled about this innovative vaction bible school. I am just happy to be in a denomination where we have the freedom to do creative things for the lord.

-- Anonymous, May 15, 2003

Pastor Denise, we do a 5-day, actually a 5-evening VBS for ages Nursery through Adult and it is a wonderful experience each year. We typically schedule our Church School Picnic (which is really more of a "church" picnic, but the Church School does the planning and the paying) for the Saturday following VBS.

This year we are using Cokesbury's series for the first time. Their theme is "Lighthouse Kids" and focuses on how we can let God/Jesus's light shine. For the adults, we'll have the same lesson basis, but I'm not too sure we'll call ourselves "Lighthouse Kids".

We do have many participate who are not members our congregation.

-- Anonymous, June 02, 2003