VBS

[Rev. Edward Engelbrecht]

We will hit the streets this week to start canvassing for VBS. This is the first canvassing we've done in two years! Covid is still lingering out there. We've had a family affected in recent days but most everyone seems ready to restart serious outreach. I'm wondering whether other congregations will do VBS this year.

[Pastor Ken Kimball]

We never stopped doing VBS--though we did shorten it in 2020 to 3 evenings and we had the advantage that we have long been using a large tent (70 X 30) pitched outside on the church grounds but we used indoor areas and we didn't require masks.   We also had the advantage of being a rural two point parish that resumed in person services in May 2020 after 8 weeks of no in person worship.  Still attendance was down by half that year (45 kids).  Last year we did 4 days and attendance was up to around 60.  Doing 4 days (evenings) in a week and a half.  Hoping to be back up to 90-100 kids.   

[pastorg1@aol.com]

God bless your VBS.

This is the ministry that brought me to the Lutheran Confessions.
I enjoyed it so much during my pastorate.

Peter (Craft time!) Garrison

[Rev. Edward Engelbrecht]

Thanks, both. We also had VBS each year. Only for the congregation's children the first year and then by invitation to households we had met before in the second year. This is the first year back to the streets and general invitation.

[Dave Likeness]

In our suburban community we held VBS during the first week of August.
In June, many kids are tired of school and want to relax.  In July, many
families were on vacation as Caterpillar Inc. shut down for two weeks.
In August the mothers were anxious to get their children back in the routine
for getting up and going to school.

We held VBS in the mornings from 9am to 11:30am Monday thru Friday.
Our parish had plenty of women available to teach the classes, help with
crafts, music, and recreation.  Most of our staff consisted of public school
teachers who had the summer off.

Bottom Line: VBS is still an outstanding opportunity for evangelism in the
community to  reach out to the unchurched.
 


 

[Rev. Edward Engelbrecht]

We are having an unusual VBS experience this year. Columbus was afflicted with power outages due to a severe storm this week plus temperatures in the mid nineties. We cancelled classes last night at the last minute but are back at it this evening with a new plan. Power just came back to the church but it has come and gone throughout the city so it's not a reliable situation yet.

We're still gathering with a darkness/heat plan in place! Never a dull moment in ministry.

[pastorg1@aol.com]

For once you were darkness, now…

Peter (Cooler if in Ancient Greek, but I’m sleepy after lunch) Garrison