“LIFT OFF! Soaring to New Heights with God,? was the title of last week’s Vacation Bible School (VBS) at Clarkston United Methodist Church.
The week began on Sunday, June 17, with a special free hot air balloon demonstration by pilot Dan Gauthier of American Speedy Printing. They were not able to launch the balloon, due to wind conditions. About 150 kids ranging from 4 years old to fifth grade attended.
‘It’s wonderful, about half our kids don’t attend church here and they have a wonderful time,? said Director of Children’s Ministry Jennifer Frederick. ‘They are here for 15 hours during the week and get to hear great messages about God and make new friends.?
Frederick had over 80 volunteers help out, including youth, adults, parents and church members.
‘We couldn’t do it without the volunteers,? said Frederick. ‘It wouldn’t be as smooth and successful.?
Each day had a new theme known as a flight plan. The themes included ‘I will follow,? ‘trust,? ‘listen,? ‘repent,? and ‘serve.? Everyday the kids were given little balloons to attach to their lanyard. On each balloon was printed a Psalm bible verse, these verses went along with the ‘power prayer? that kids learned that day.
‘These prayers can be prayed at anytime,? said Frederick.
Activities included Bible story skits, in which the kids got to dress up and participate as different characters, games that dealt with team work and focused on faith building, crafts and science activities, as well as learning songs with hand motions that dealt with that day’s theme.
‘It’s a blast,? said song leader Tessa Huttenlocher, 15. ‘It’s just a lot of fun to have the kids get into the music.?
Other song leaders included Huttenlocher’s younger sister Claire, 13, and Elizabeth Thornton, 15.
As part of the VBS program, the kids learned about missions and brought in gifts and money to support two mission trips of the church. Gift items included: paint brushes, carpenter pencils, plastic drop cloths, and screwdrivers for the Righteous Mission youth group; who will be traveling to Knoxville Tenn. to do house repairs for people who don’t have the income to do so.
On Friday, the kids brought in ball point pens and colored pencils to support the other mission trip to Malawi Africa. Church member Anita Demster will take the pens and pencils for school children in Malawi on July 1st.
On Tuesday, Anita showed the kids a slide show teaching them Malawi culture, including the proper way boys and girls address one another, different roles girls and boys play in African culture, and different toys kids play with.
‘We just want them to know something about the people we are sending them (the pens and pencils) too,? said Demster.
Anita’s daughter Debra is in medical research and works with malaria and Aids in Malawi.
What was the best part about VBS?
‘I like arts and crafts, and music,? responded 7-year-old Kelsey Phillips.
‘I like it all,? noted 7- year-old Laura Land.
The week concluded with a VBS celebration in the sanctuary Friday night, in which the kids performed all the songs they had learned over the past week.
‘It’s truly been a magnificent week, our children have learned a lot about God and made a real connection,? said Annette Siminski, VBS teacher for 4-year-olds. ‘They have had a ton of fun too, and I think they have made a lot of friends here.?