VBS Thanks!
Dear VBS Volunteers and Supporters,
Twenty-five years ago Dorothy Hamm decided Wright’s Chapel needed to bring back vacation Bible school. Reverend Charles didn’t point out that we really didn’t have many children to justify the planning this would take because his theory has always been to plan for what you want, not what you have. Charles drove me to church with infant Taylor to help with the 8 or so children that attended and I was hooked. Over the years, there have been so many changes: themes, format, ages, attendance and times. This has been quite a week! We have touched over 100 children with a nightly attendance of about 75 during this year’s vacation Bible school. Along with the 15 or more middle school youth who had their own program and helped in the marketplace, it was a busy week! Your flexibility and patience were extremely important! Thank goodness for my planning team and activity directors: Sandy, Shawn, Nikki, Charles, Chris, Tim, Angela, Jessica, Susan, Connie, and Molly.
You are one of the awesome people that makes this event possible! You sacrifice so much for the members of this church and we do notice! You brought your talents, time, and even your own marketplace craft ideas. You allowed children to experience Bible times in a concrete way, a way that they will always remember. They were able to try crafts and foods, smells and music that children don’t usually experience. They made important choices about how they wanted to spend their time and how their crafts would look. This type of atmosphere requires a lot of adult guidance – more than the usual Bible School program – but it is worth it. People remember so little of what they see, even less of what they hear but remember the most what they DO. This week’s parables on Growing with Jesus will serve them well as they go from us to other summer activities and school. Wright’s Chapel is so blessed to have people like you who put children and youth first, making The Marketplace not only possible, but also a joy to organize! One of the joys I have each year is that I get to know the adults who come to Wright’s Chapel during a different service than I attend. I have truly enjoyed becoming reacquainted with former friends and making new ones. Children who attended the early sessions are now running activities and caring for tribe members. Creating bonds with children that have them coming back years later to help others is a special, rare, superhero power. Thank you so much for sharing your time and talents for this program. You have created a summer memory that will last a lifetime.
Blessings,
Kathy Johnson