VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL 2025
For VBS June 23-27 we are collaborating with Good Samaritan United Methodist Church. How did this opportunity come about?
Aym is working on combining what's been done in the past with beginning to experiment with the 2024 Calvary-SOTH Proposed Initiatives which are:
Technology improvements in the sanctuary to support worship and CYF activities like VBS like one large screen in the sanctuary with a projector.
Collaborative youth ministry pooling resources and staff with churches which are full communion partners with the ELCA to create dynamic youth ministries for the young people of their region.
Messy Church embraces five essential building blocks which makes them: Christ-centered, intergenerational, celebratory, creative and hospitable. Stations may include music, dance, art, outside play, Bible stories, science, food, fames and so much more! It is like a combination of Dinner Church and VBS.
Aym considered options they've done before like an intergenerational VBS of an evening, and looked at what other churches in the community are doing for VBS. As the LEARN Team talked about VBS, they looked at the past few years' numbers -- cost, volunteers needed, staffing hours, etc. -- and asked about the possibility of collaborating to be able offer more of a critical mass for group size giving more friend options, decreasing staffing hours through shared responsibilities, and having a greater diversity of adult leaders and their skill sets.
Aym got excited to find Good Samaritan United Methodist Church (just 2.5 miles away and a full communion partner with us) also does the same Cokesbury curriculum and 9a-12p morning schedule we've done for a couple years. Their Children, Family and Youth Director, Jan, is passionate about and loves VBS. Pastor Yolanda and I met with Good Samaritan's Pastor Max and Jan a couple weeks ago to discuss values and goals, navigate teaching theology differences, and consider what partnering together for this summer's VBS could look like. Our welcoming and inclusive values and goals match, their needs for volunteers' skills sets are opposite of ours, and Jan and I's strengths and interests compliment each other. This is shaping up to be a great match for a first attempt towards collaborative ministry!
This collaboration is an experiment where we'll learn and adjust as we go, so Aym welcomes your feedback throughout the process. We'll evaluate after, and if collaborative VBS works well, then which church hosts VBS will alternate each year. Because the location was already announced to Good Samaritan families, Aym's limited staffing hours, and to give more time for technology improvements in the sanctuary, this year Good Samaritan will host.
We look forward to kids (age 4 through 4th grade) having a few more friends to get to know, play and learn with. The “Road Trip" theme will take us on a fun-filled adventure to exciting destinations. Led by the Navigator and an adventurous pup Scout, kids will learn that God is always with them. Travelers (kids) will delve into timeless tales of faith from the Old and New Testaments. Cost for VBS is $25 for one child and $50 for a family. If you need financial assistance, please let Aym know. We never want money to be a reason a child doesn't participate.