Vacation Bible School

Well I’m halfway through VBS prep week and I’m happy to report that my family is neither hungry nor naked, unlike some years past. I’ve even prepared dinner every night this week — okay, so one night was Papa Murphy’s pizza, but we ate dinner at the table so that counts. Right?

While most of my free time has been spent making jellyfish out of garbage bags, sign posts out of foam board and cutting lengths of barely visible fishing line, I have managed to squeeze in a bit of mommy-and-me time along the way; but only because I didn’t want a repeat of last year.

With all the cutting, building, designing and decorating I’ve been doing this week, I’ve decided to make a change to Webster’s dictionary. I believe “VBS” should have a special verb definition that goes a little something like this:

VBS (vā-kā′shən bī′bəl skool)
verb
1. To furnish, provide, or adorn an entire church building to an exceeding degree for a crew of crazed children who have been cooped up at home all summer

2. The futile act or process of perfecting a prescribed theme that will be extremely underappreciated by all other persons in the universe

3. The laborious pouring out of literal sweat, blood and tears to fulfill a personal vision that is characterized as extending far beyond the norm

Examples:
“So long honey, I’m off to VBS.”
“Go ahead and eat without me. I’ll be VBSing all night.”
“I can see by the glitter on your face, and clothes and toes, that you have VBSed.”
“Yes I’m wearing the same shirt as yesterday, and the day before, but I’ve been VBSing all week.”
“Don’t mind the bandages, my hot glue gun has seen lots of use while VBSing.”
“No, although you plan to VBS all week, you cannot bathe in the baptismal.”

Okay, so in the moment I always question and rethink my decision to be so heavily involved in Vacation Bible School, but I really do enjoy the week when all the kids arrive and we get to teach them about God’s Word and hopefully plant the seeds that help them grow in Christ. So here’s to all you VBS coordinators, planners, teachers, decorators and helpers in various roles — may you feel the peace of Christ and know the fruit of your labor (even if you don’t see it).

Happy VBSing!

Whew! Another wonderful VBS is in the books and I plan to put up my feet and bask in the calmness of life. . . as much as a busy four-year-old boy will allow. I donned a new hat for Vacation Bible School this year — that of coordinator for the whole event. I enjoyed it, but it certainly was a lot of work. Thankfully I had an awesome team and fabulous church support, so the week went off with very few hitches. . . unless you count the day I did the entire closing ceremony with my pants unzipped.

We used Lifeway’s Journey Off the Map theme this year and since there is a store about three miles from home, it was super easy to run in and out as needed. So here’s my shout out to the KC Skyview location, “Thanks for all the help.” If they didn’t have it, they found it. Plus, what we didn’t use, we can return. Awesome!

Our offering this year benefitted the Baptist Global Response organization and the children voted to buy chickens with their money. For $25, the organization will send 10 chickens to those in need and will educate recipients on the best way to raise and sustain a flock for years to come. With a friendly boys v. girls competition, the week’s offering totaled more than $311 as the girls edged out the boys on the very last day.

With 66 children registered, three professions of faith, and a whole lot of fun going on, I would say it was a pretty wonderful week at Park Hill Baptist Church. I (almost) can’t wait for next year!

Tag: Vacation Bible School

VBS Should Be a Verb

VBS Is In the Books