by Elizabeth McBride
I have many fond childhood memories of attending Vacation Bible School. For years afterward, my mom held onto the wooden napkin holder I created during the arts and crafts class one year. I remember learning about Bible stories brought to life through creative storytelling, activities and skits. My friends and I loved dressing up with painted t-shirts and participating in the end-of-camp performances.
Recently, I was inspired by listening to Rachel Kurtz’s rendition of “Jesus Love Me.” The song reminded me of both my own VBS experience and the wonderful digital resources that Women of the ELCA publishes, like Gather magazine, Cafe (boldcafe.org), our online publication, and our website http://welca.org. I thought it could be fun to recreate the wonder of VBS but for adults!
With the theme, “Jesus loves you”—Women of the ELCA’s first-ever digital VBS experience will be available on our website, welca.org. Details about accessing this DIY digital guide will be sent in the next issue of Bold Connections, July 1, 2022.
If you do not currently subscribe to Bold Connections, our monthly e-newsletter, you can sign up today.
As children of God at every age, let us always remember that we are beloved.
P.S. What’s your favorite VBS memory? Share it in the comments.
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Making paper chains with colored construction paper, each link had a Bible verse on it that I had memorized.
That is classic VBS! Thanks for sharing this memory, Clarinda.
Two memories;
1. From my childhood (I’m 69), making a hut using card table, chicken wire, and lots of brown paper grocery bags and green construction paper. We could crawl under it.
2. From my daughter’s childhood – my daughter memorizing the cassette of God’s People Puzzle – all of it. She’s almost 40 now, and she still remembers many of those songs!
Thanks for sharing, Priscilla! Yes! I also remember classic VBS songs. Sometimes my mom and I will just utter the lyric, “. . .Some just clap their hands, or paws or anything they got now.” 🙂
Ritz crackers and Tang!
Isn’t it interesting how so many of our VBS memories involve food!
Along with Ants on a log… celery sticks filled with peanut butter topped with raisins!
Yes! The perfect snack! I still love Ants on a log.
Wonderful memories! Thanks for sharing, Becky and Julene! Singing at camp was such a highlight!
Tag games on the church lawn and bringing lunch to VBS in an ice cream pail- single serving pudding cups were a rare treat back then 🙂
Singing & signing “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands” , memorizing Bible verses and painting plaster molds made by our pastor.