The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

For some of us VBS is more fun the Christmas (and cheaper too!) Our teen leader loves VBS and changed the words around to give us a Summer VBS version of "the Most Wonderful Time of the Year." So hum a few bars as your reading along with these new verses:

It's the most wonderful time of the year
It's the most wonderful time of the year With the kids running a-muck and everyone telling you "Be of good cheer" It's the most wonderful time of the year

It's the hap-happiest season of all With those mo-squitos biting and chaos igniting When kids come to call It's the hap- happiest season of all

We’ll wish we were coasting But feel like we’re roasting Singing out in the grove There'll be Biblical stories Great tales of His glories of His wonders long, long ago

It's the most wonderful time of the year There'll be much game playing & water guns spraying When love ones are near It's the most wonderful time of the year

There'll be crafting for kiddies & drinks without liddies & singing out in the grove There'll be Biblical stories Great tales of His glories of His wonders long, long ago

It's the most wonderful time of the year Jesus will hear our praising Our hearts will be raising When love ones are near It's the most wonderful time It's the most wonderful time It's the most wonderful time It's the most wonderful time of the year

Game Plan!

Hello folks!
VBS 2007 is closing in fast and it is time to go over our game plan!
"Take the Plunge" is the theme of our VBS that has a water park theme. Jesus used water to teach some powerful lessons and that is what the kids will experience each night:

• Monday is the Miraculous Catch of Fish


• Tuesday is Jesus and the Woman at the Well


• Wednesday Jesus calms the Storm


• Thursday Jesus Walks on Water


• Friday Jesus washes the Disciples Feet

The kids will use the water theme to learn who Jesus is, what He did and what He asks His followers to do. Our key verse is Jesus' words in John 4:14, 'The water that I give shall spring up to everlasting life."

Group Leaders Info

Adult group leaders will guide a group of kids each night are called "Life Guards." this year kids will be grouped by the school grade they will be entering in the fall. To find their group check out the July blog (located in the blog archive next to this post), find their church and there you will find their assigned grade level. You will be given a red VBS t-shirt to be worn to help you stand out in the crowd. You will be given those t-shirts and a bag to hold the kids name tags and "stuff" on Monday night, hang on to these because you will need them each night. Please try to arrive by 6pm each night to pick up stuff and move to the main stage area that we are calling "Lifespring Lagon." The kids for each group will be directed to that area from the registration area. Inside each groups bag you will find a rotation schedule for crafts at "Craft-Away Cove," games at "Oceans of Motion" and food at the "Snack Shack."The pre-school kids will be joining us for the opening and closing sessions but enjoying their activities at their own private pool party located by the ballpark playground. Lifeguards have rules around the pool and so do we at VBS. 1. Listen when a teacher is talking or another child is speaking. 2. keep your hands and body-parts to your self. 3. Have fun! Our behaviour policy is a "three strikes yer out." Lifeguards will warn a child of unacceptable behavior 2 times and the 3rd time they will be escorted out by a helper and the child will have to set out with an designated adult until the next event and then return to their group.

Lifeguards Mission

The Lifeguard job is to oversee the kids as they experience the good news of Jesus during VBS week. We want the kids to dive into the Spirit and get soaked in Jesus while enjoying the love and safety of the wonderful volunteer leaders from the community churches. The Lifeguards help nurture the life of the Spirit in these kids souls. For more on how important the group leaders are read the April blog in the archive entitled "Who is the Greatest?" Thanks to all that are volunteering to be a Lifeguard. Pray for the kids in the group, invite un-churched kids to visit the lifeguards church or visit one of their friends who are regular attenders. Encourage church kids to make new friends and invite kids to join them at their house of worship. The mission of Community VBS is to share the good news of Jesus through an unified body to the kids in the community, the Lifeguards are the humble servants that make help make this happen! So lets Pray, Play and Display the joy of Jesus! If you have any questions, concerns, complaints, ideas or testimonies please write them in the "comment" area at the bottom of this post and future ones. Oh yeah, I forgot...prepare to get wet! Bring a towel each night because we are going to plunge into Jesus in a very real way!

Get Ready...

Hi Folks

We are almost ready to start VBS 2007 in just a couple weeks! I ask that you would pray for God's Spirit to pour out on the kids and that many kids will ask Jesus to be the Lord of their lives. Please pray for our station leaders and our Bible teacher to be empowered by the Holy Spirit. Speaking of Bible teacher, Debbie Smith has graciously agreed to be our Bible teacher for this years VBS. Kathy Flatt (our Bible teacher last year) has allot on her plate this summer so please keep her and her daughter, who is recovering from back surgery, in your prayers.

Listed below are the age groups and snack needs as they were divided among the churches involved. Also included are the names of this years life guards who will shepherd the children each night. Please pray that these group leaders will invite children and their families to visit the local churches after VBS.

River of Life

Arlene Nichols

Lisa

Brad Nichols

Monica Schlicter
Faye

Trinity

Cindy Neal

Rev. Neal
Bob Beckett

Presbyterian

Doris Lewis

Michelle Wehner

DJ & Meriah Price

Susan Bantz

Randy Porter (?)

Gary Minges (?)

Methodist

Shirley Hellem

Danielle Long

Missy Gesell

Sarai Chaney

Charlene Bake (?)

Brad Abbott (?)

Gary Moore from the Nazarene and Light House Church of God couldn’t make the meeting, so please get volunteer names to Dave.

Please have phone numbers for all your volunteers by the next meeting.

It was decided that the age groups would be assigned to a specific church. If there were more kids than lifeguards for a particular age some of the larger churches will help out where needed. The assignments are as follows:

K and under River of Life (along w/ Cindy from Trinity) - Water Wings
1st Grade Trinity - Pool Noodles
2nd Grade Nazarene - Goggles
3rd Grade Presbyterian - Squirt Guns
4th Grade Methodist - Beach Balls
5th Grade Church of God - Snorkels

Dave Hampton reported that all workers will sign the “Commitment Sheet” and training is still being worked out. Doing something through the VBS Blog is being considered as well as visits to churches before the event.

Julie Abbott assigned snack days to each of the churches. She asked that all snacks be delivered to The Grove prior to the evening they are needed. They can be dropped off the evening before during VBS or the night of, between 6:00-6:30 PM.
They assignments are as follows:

Day 1 Methodist Day
Day 2 Nazarene
Day 3 Presbyterian

Day 4 River of Life

Day 5 Trinity

Laura Lacy reported that no supplies will need to be donated from the churches for crafts. The budget will cover all crafting expenses.

Belinda Cross explained the Youth Helper program. Any teens who would like to help should contact Belinda Cross. She will lead them in devotions before VBS every night and will assign them their tasks for the evening. They also will be signing a “Pledge” before they may participate. Each evening there will be nominations for “Outstanding Youth Helper.” They will be entered into a nightly drawing and the winner will receive a Cold Stone Creamery gift certificate.

Stacey Minges suggested there be a decorating committee for VBS. This would be for folks who can’t stand the heat, but would like to help out before the event. All churches were asked if they would think about folks they would like to ask for this project. Belinda Cross said her teen group could be responsible for the set-up and tear-down each evening of the decorations and tents.

Dave Hampton will be in charge of the opening and closing ceremonies. He will have at least four “motion leaders” help him teach the songs. If anyone knows of some outgoing young men or boys who would like to participate in this part of the program, please see Dave. Dave is working out the details of the water offering and the competition between the boys and girls. They will get wet!

It was suggested that the churches tell their own kids who will be attending to make sure they pre-register (Stacey Minges will get the forms to the churches) and also to suggest they wear their bathing suits under their clothes.

Mick Miller of the Methodist Church will be coordinating with all the pastors of the participating churches for the Unity Service. Because of the conflict with Church Softball Games it was decided that the Unity Service will be from 11:00-12:00 PM and there will be no cook out this year. It will be announced during our service everyone is welcome to come back at 1:30 for the Softball Pitch-in, Christian Music and Softball Games later that day.

The next meeting will be at the Trinity Church behind Union School. It will be at 10:00am on July 21st.

VBS Water Project

Hello folks, it won’t be long until we are at the Grove with lots of kids having a blast at VBS. Some of the things that make the outdoor VBS work so well is the spraying that keeps the mosquitoes away and the always necessary restrooms! Speaking of restrooms, did you realize that when you flush a toilet just once at the Grove you have used more water than rural African families use for one day of washing, cleaning, cooking and drinking. Here are some more sad facts about the lack of clean drinking water in Africa:

· Every fifteen seconds someone dies of a waterborne illness that is 5,760 people a day, or over 2 million people a year. Most of these are children.

· Each year, water-related diseases kill more people than AIDS and cancer combined.

· Integral to this horrible cycle, sickness and disease resulting from the consumption of contaminated drinking water destroy the strength and development of African families and communities. This leads to extreme poverty, lack of education, tremendous inequities, and greater illnesses, creating conditions ripe for the continued spread of HIV/AIDS. Caught in this downward spiral, it becomes difficult, and most cases impossible, for individuals to progress out of their terrible plight.

· Although circumstances vary, water wells can be dug for as little as $2000. On average, as little as $10 can provide one person with clean water for an entire lifetime.


Our VBS this year is “Take the Plunge! Make a Splash with Jesus,” we are going to have a blast with this water park theme so why not take this opportunity to bless kids in need of water? We have decided at our last meeting to have the boys and girls compete each night to see who can raise the most money to donate to the water and sanitation ministry of World Vision in Africa. Through their offerings they can give life giving water as they learn about the Jesus and have a blast getting wet at VBS. The money is used by World Vision to dig wells, manage sanitation and irrigate crops. Please check out the websites in the "Cool Links" section of this blog to see what a blessing and opportunity there is for the kids to make a huge splash for Jesus in the lives of needy children! Encourage your kids to visit the “Water Matters” link so they can meet some kids they are going to bless!

VBS Update!

Breaking News!


This is a VBS schedule update! I apologize, in my oversight I had not contacted the Grove earlier in February and the Grove is booked for Sunday July 29th. Our new schedule is for Monday July 30 through Friday August 3rd.

The Unity Service will be on Sunday August 5th but changes in the times will be announced at a later date.

Again I apologize for this error and I promise we will be scheduled for the first week of August well in advance for next year.

Please continue to pray for many kids to follow Christ, that God would bring volunteers with love and patience and great weather.

Any questions? Please don't hesitate to contact me.

God bless
Dave

Who is the Greatest?

I want to take a moment to ponder this question, who is most important in VBS? Here are some possibilities:
1. The leaders who meet and plan everything. 2. The leaders of the pre-school,crafts, games, snacks, bible lesson and music. 3. The people who purchase all the stuff for the snacks. 4. The folks that help mow and spray the Grove. 5. The pastors who share during unity service. All these are super important and I thank God for each and everyone, because without them VBS would be a mess.

Now the kids we are ministering to are what it is all about, they are the future of the body of Christ. They are our example of what we are to be like to be partakers of the kingdom of God-

(Jesus) said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:3

Since the kids are the focus it makes sense to me that the most important are the group leaders who are with the kids for the whole week. They are there one-on-one being Jesus in the skin to these little ones. They have the privilege of being with these kids when they hear the gospel for the first time! They get to see the awe and wonder in the face as they get to hear stories of Jesus walking on the water, healing the sick, raising the dead, for the first time in their life! They have the privilege of praying with these little guys as they walk with them into the throne room of God. They sweat with them, play with them and eat with them. They are Christ to them. We all are Christ to them. Let us pray that God will continue to bless us with great volunteers and great group leaders this summer!

Zero Tolerance

Hello VBS folks,

I recently heard some statistics that I wanted to pass on to everyone. 1 out of 3 girls in America are sexually abused. 1 out of 5 boys are sexually abused. 10% to 15% of kids in the church are victims of incest. 98% of sexual abuse that happens to children is perpetrated by someone they know.

This is some very sad information that surely breaks the heart of God. So the reason I bring this up is so that we are aware of problem and sin around us. Community VBS should be a safe place for kids to come and hear the gospel and so far we have had no abuse incidents being reported. I thank God for everyone who loves God, loves kids and gives up valuable time to serve in VBS each summer. But to take a stand against child sex abuse, I am planning to ask the VBS committee to require all adult helpers (myself included) to sign a pledge to protect VBS kids and bring them no harm . I would love to be able to afford police background checks on all adult helpers to insure the kids safety, but it is unfortunately too expensive. This pledge would simply be the voice of Community VBS making a stand that we will not tolerate abuse, be it sexual or physical.

We continue to have leaders keeping an eye out for adult strangers hanging around the Grove during VBS and we ask them to move on for the kids protection. Now we want to make a simple statement with everyone involved that we will love and respect the children that God brings to VBS. A pledge of zero tolerance of child abuse.

I look forward to our meeting this Saturday morning (April 7th at 10AM at the Methodist church), I will answer any questions in relation to the pledge. We will also pray about leaders and helpers and overview this summers VBS. See you then!