Family News
Updates on recent events and activities of St. Paul's family ministry program.
St. Paul's Vacation Bible School
Children, youth and adults at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church recently enjoyed a week of Vacation Bible School, July 11-16. Songs, games, crafts, stories, and snacks enriched our lives as we focused on the VBS theme, “Baobab Blast,” about life around the African baobab tree and the wildlife creatures found out on the Savannah. Zebras, monkeys, and elephants added excitement to the learning each night, which centered on Christ and stories from the Bible
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The kids learned a song with actions that taught the theme Bible verse, "From east to west, the powerful Lord God has been calling everyone together on the earth." The daily Bible themes taught the kids to TRUST in God, that LOVE never fails, to FOLLOW Jesus, to CARE for others, and to SHARE your faith. The african animals were a huge highlight for the week, and the large cardboard cut outs, painted by the older youth, were put to good use. Each day we learned interesting facts about the day's chosen animal, such as...
- Zebras take baths in the dust and mud to get clean.
- Red Colobus monkeys can jump 25 feet with a baby hanging on.
- Elephants can swim 30 miles if they have to and can talk to each other five miles away.
- Meerkats welcome other animals into their homes.
- Baby giraffes are six feet tall at birth.
Many parents and older youth joined in the fun as small group shepherds and activity leaders. Some of the kids’ favorite activities included decorating home-made day packs, making faith bracelets, learning fun new songs, and of course, playing lots of games. They loved the "animal wall" where they could stick their heads through cut outs and pretend to be their favorite animal. During the week, the kids also learned about “Heifer International,” an organization that works to relieve hunger and poverty in countries around the world. The kids participated in a specific Heifer project by bringing special offerings each day. The donations totaled enough at the end of the week to purchase a goat, sheep, a flock of chicks, three rabbits, a flock of geese, and a hive of honeybees to be sent to people in Uganda and Zambia. Thanks kids!
The intergenerational nature of St. Paul’s V.B.S. program made for a excellent week, where parents and children gathered as a community of faith to learn and grow together. It was a great opportunity to invite our Waverly friends and neighbors to experience the vibrant spiritual life at St. Paul’s.
Thank you to all the parents, adults, youth, and volunteers who worked hard to make the week a success! And thank you kids for being there to sing, play, worship, and explore your faith!
For more information about these and other events
contact Paul Frantsen, Director of Family and Youth Ministry
at 319-352-3850 or paul.frantsen@stpaulswaverly.org