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On the road to faith
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Beth Harrell (left) and Kristin Miller, dressed at tourists, led the opening worship rally at Old North Church’s Vacation Bible School. The destination of the day was Knott’s Berry Farm, hence the strawberries on the ladies’ heads.
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Attendees of Old North Church’s Vacation Bible School were taught Bible lessons during the week.
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At the opening worship rally, classes were asked to go up on stage to lead the attendees in singing songs.
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Attendees of Old North Church’s Vacation Bible School enjoyed playing Red Light, Green Light during game time.
By ABBY SLANKER
A road trip across the United States was on tap for attendees of Old North Church’s Vacation Bible School July 19-23. The theme of the week was Route 254, in reference to Psalm 25:4, and the children “traveled” to Washington D.C., Chicago, Lebanon, Kan., which is the center of the country, Yellowstone National Park and Knott’s Berry Farm in California.
The Bible school averaged 275 children a day with 100-plus volunteers helping out in every aspect. The children, referred to for the week as “ramblers,” enjoyed crafts, games, snacks, songs and lessons.
Attendees were divided into age groups and were given color-coded Route 254 T-shirts to wear during the Bible school and were able to take them home at the end of the week.
Pastor Steve Scott said the color-coded T-shirts were given to the children in the name of safety.
“Each child in a class was given the same color T-shirt, so if there was a group of children all in the same color of shirt with one child there in a different color shirt, it was evident that child was in the wrong place and was then helped back to where he was supposed to be,” Scott said.
At the beginning of each day, the children gathered in the worship center for the opening worship rally where they sang songs and watched a video on the day’s road trip destination. They also gathered together at the end of the day for the closing rally.
The Bible school is free and open to children 4 through fourth grade and has been held for seven years.
Shari Thomas and Beth Harrell were co-directors this year and started planning the Bible school in February.
“VBS is a great week for kids to have a lot of fun while learning about and growing in their relationship with Jesus. It’s such a privilege for the adults to invest in kids and build relationships that will help their faith stick,” said Thomas.
Children attending VBS were invited to the church’s Sunday service to perform the songs they had learned during the week. An ice cream social was held in celebration of VBS after the service and the church held a swim party that was open to all attendees at Firestone Park the following week.