Outdoor activities at Vacation Bible School at Paoli United Methodist Church.

Vacation Bible School — 2015

2015

The 2015 Vacation Bible School at the Paoli United Methodist Church ran June 22nd through 24th, 6:00—7:30 PM each evening.

Paoli UMC Vacation Bible School announcement for June 2015.

Day 1

Here are the daily reports from organizer Abby Newkirk, the day before it started and after each day.

Preparations have been made for a fantastic 3 evening Vacation Bible School!! Plan to come and take an active role in this special ministry! I'm looking forward to being a part of something that the children will remember for the rest of their lives! We will begin each evening with a light supper in the fellowship hall followed by singing and dancing in the narthex/foyer of the sanctuary. Next, the crafting will take place back in the fellowship hall followed by a short lesson/activity out by the shelter house (weather permitting). See everyone tomorrow!

Great start to VBS this evening with almost 30 kids and adults! Special shout outs to all of the volunteers that came out to be a part of VBS tonight!

Children race outdoors at Paoli United Methodist Church Vacation Bible School.
Children race outdoors at Paoli United Methodist Church Vacation Bible School.
Children playing with a parachute at Paoli United Methodist Church Vacation Bible School.
Children playing with a parachute at Paoli United Methodist Church Vacation Bible School.
Children sitting on a staircase at Paoli United Methodist Church Vacation Bible School.

Day 2

Evening #2 brought more eating....Tacos, corn, and fruit! Delish! There was more singing of some classic VBS songs:

  • The Lord's Army (Mexican and Space versions... ask the kids!)
  • Deep and Wide
  • Do Lord
  • The Books of the New Testament
  • Jesus Loves Me
  • Jesus Lives the Little Children
  • Jonah and the Whale

We finished our canvas paintings of brightly colored fish to go with our VBS Bible verse. They look awesome and the kids will take them home tomorrow!

To finish off the evening, we played Balloon ping pong and had a relay race playing Pass the Water. It's been nice and hot outside so water games have been a must!

One more day to go and I can't wait to see what is in store for tomorrow! Pizza and more water games for sure!!!

Thank you to all of the volunteers that came out to be a part of VBS tonight! I appreciate you all so much!

Children doing colorful crafts at Paoli United Methodist Church Vacation Bible School.
Children outdoors at Paoli United Methodist Church Vacation Bible School.
Children with balloons at Paoli United Methodist Church Vacation Bible School.
Children playing a game at Paoli United Methodist Church Vacation Bible School.
Children on the playground at Paoli United Methodist Church Vacation Bible School.

Day 3

Just taking a moment to thank everyone that came out to VBS this year! The volunteers and kids all had a blast! Here are a few more pictures that capture our last eveving together!

2015 volunteers included: Ann Babcock, Jackie Bosley, Mary Laverne Boston, Megan Bradley, Karen Foster, Valerie Foughty-Killion, Hailey Hutsler, Katie Kumpf, Darlene McBride, Maddy McDonald, Suzanne Newkirk, Carrie Shinkle, Holly Vincent, Maggie Vincent

Children lined up for ice cream at Paoli United Methodist Church Vacation Bible School.
Children tossing eggs back and forth at Paoli United Methodist Church Vacation Bible School.
Children outside at Paoli United Methodist Church Vacation Bible School.

Planning behind the 2015 VBS

Here is some of the hard work going back and forth to plan and support the 2015 Vacation Bible School. From early May:

I'm interested in seeking volunteers (adults and Jr.-Sr. High Students) to spend their time and energy to help ramp up excitement for Jesus and to spread their love of Christ to the young kids of our church and community. This will be a time to put our words into actions! We will be singing, dancing, crafting, playing, snacking, and worshiping TOGETHER! Think "old school" Bible songs (i.e. the classics like "Father Abraham" and "The B-I-B-I-B-L-E, yes that's the book for me") and some tried and true games and crafts that the kids and adults will be talking about for a long time.

Then in late May:

I plan to work on a few things to prepare at church on the evening of Sunday, June 21st from about 5-7pm. Any and all of you are welcome to join in preparations. If you aren't able to make it, no worries! I'll be arriving at church early on the 22nd... around 4:30pm to wrap up any last minute preparations as well. Your help and ideas are more than welcome! I've been talking with Jackie about the light supper that she will be preparing (with help from Suzanne and Jenna...so far) each evening.

I don't know her exact plans but Jackie was planning for Pizza on Wednesday evening for the kids. Carrie Shinkle has agreed to organize and plan for the crafts. She has shared that her direction for the craft will be inspired by her love of water. :) Her preliminary ideas of using a fish design and perhaps a Bible verse on canvas about "fishing for men" are awesome and I'm excited to see what she will come up with! Megan Bradley has expressed an interest in crafting along with Carrie. I'm grateful for the talents that they will bring to VBS this year!Karen has graciously offered to accompany the many tried and true "classic" VBS songs and I'm super excited to help lead everyone in song! We'll be joined in leading by Katie and Daria. I've recruited some older youth from the church to help to rampup the excitement during the song/dance portion of the evening. Packets of song lyrics are being compiled and will be given to each attendee. :) For the "game/activity" part of the evening, I'll again be calling on Katie and Daria for ideas and help from the older youth too. We will tie in a Bible lesson during this time. The order of each evening will look something like this:
6:00—6:15pm. Light Supper
6:15—6:40pm. Singing/Dancing
6:40—7:10pm. Craft
7:10—7:30pm. Game/Activity
We will all move as a group and all adults present will join in together to lead all of the activities! I'm guessing here... Total numbers COULD be around 30 kids. :) That's ADDING probably 8-10 friends/kids that may have never been to PUMC to the list below.

And getting closer to the late June start:

I believe we've got a good solid team to start and so my reply to many church members is simply that we'd love to have any and all come to participate with us as a group. The more adults that the children see participating in the activities of VBS, the better! Looking forward to what's to come in the weeks ahead!