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Activity nurtures ‘fruits of the spirit’
Vacation Bible School uses fair theme as teaching tool
By LINDA M. LINONIS
poland
Poland Presbyterian Church cultivated the “fruits of the spirit” — love, joy, peace, patience and kindness — in its Vacation Bible School this week. The program culminates at the 10 a.m. worship service Sunday when the children will sing a song they learned.
Eighty-two children attended the weeklong program with the “Son Harvest County Fair.” Martha Coulter, director of Christian education, said the church uses VBS materials from Gospel Lights; the county fair one dates to 2003. Since the Trumbull County and Canfield fairs, along with other smaller such events, are popular in the Mahoning Valley, she opted for it.
Poland Presbyterian is among a host of churches that sponsor Vacation Bible Schools. While some individual churches are able to offer the programs, others join together to present them.
Coulter said the program at Poland Presbyterian has about 30 volunteers; their time and talents contribute to the success. Emily Slaven, a longtime music teacher at Boardman High School, coordinates the music portion.
The children were divided into four age groups with vegetable names — pre-K were the tomatoes, those who finished kindergarten and first grade, corn; finished second and third grades, cucumbers; and finished fourth and fifth grades, carrots. Arts and crafts, games, music were featured daily and on Friday, a petting zoo and carnival games. Coulter said some of the children come from the church while others from surrounding communities.
Coulter said each day featured a theme. Monday was about “grow love;” Tuesday, “sprout joy;” Wednesday, “plant peace;” Thursday, “produce patience;” and Friday, “pick kindness.” She said Bible study used accompanying verses appropriate to the themes including the parable of the lost sheep from Luke 15:1-10.
Coulter said the qualities of love, joy, peace, patience and kindness are especially needed now. “These are timeless qualities that we need more of,” she said. “We as a staff want to help children learn about and practice them.”
Coulter said the staff works to impart to each child “how special they are and how God loves them unconditionally.”
“We live in a harsh world and kids need to know that they are loved,” she said.
She noted that the staff’s job is to “plant the seed of faith” but no denomination is promoted. “The children and their families are welcome to the church if they decide to come,” she said.
“Love begets love. We talk about prejudice and how everyone has the power to stop it,” she said.
Coulter said the question of “What would Jesus do?” relays to children that they should strive to “have the heart of Jesus.”
Coulter said her hope is that “something in five days makes an impression” on each child.
And there certainly is plenty packed into the weeklong session including some 20 craft projects. Hands-on activities including making strawberry jam and butter, planting seeds and tie-dying bandanas. Natural coloring was used for the last project with blueberries for blue, beets for purple and carrots for orange.
Carly Carcelli, a member of 4-H County Kids and Critters in Springfield/New Middletown, was among volunteers. She also is a youth deacon at Poland Presbyterian.
Carly helped the children make tie-dyed bandanas. “It’s showing them how natural dyes work,” she said, noting that the bright colors “are the physical representation of the Holy Spirit and represent joy.”
She noted that she hoped the “nurturing environment” would motivate children to want to keep giving and keep the cycle of people helping people going.
Katie Hartwig, a volunteer and church member, said the children donate loose change in a competition between boys and girls. “It makes it more interesting,” she said.
The VBS selected 4-H as its mission project; it will receive funds collected and other donations.