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Presbyterian VBS explores Joseph’s journey
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Neighbors | Sarah Foor .In the Egyptian marketplace of Poland Presbyterian's VBS, volunteers offered jewelry making and an Egyptian makeover that included a line of kohl eyeliner. VBS camper Raegan Wilson showed off her necklace and fancy eye makeup on July 20.
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Neighbors | Sarah Foor .Egyptian marketplace for their vacation bible school celebration. On July 20, Geno DelSignore (lfet), Brady O'Hara, and Connor O'Hara settled in at the games table to play a round of Egyptian hieroglyph bingo.
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Neighbors | Sarah Foor .While creating Egyptian clay pots decorated with beads and baubles, VBS students Gina Griffith (left), Maddie Anzevino, and Maya Anzevino paused to share a smile.
By SARAH FOOR
In the Book of Genesis, Joseph, the son of Jacob, takes a great journey throughout his lifetime. From his early life in Israel, he is sold into slavery, thrown into prison, yet still transformed into a trusted confidante of the Egyptian pharaoh later in life.
Tthe students of Poland Presbyterian Church’s Vacation Bible School explored Joseph’s brave expedition from prison to palace, as their church transformed into the busy world of ancient Egypt July 18-22.
Martha Coulter, who manages Christian education at the church, wanted to explore Joseph’s history because of the positive lessons his journey imparts.
“When the kids learn his story, they find that Joseph was disgraced by his family and hated for many years, but he believed he had a special gifts and talents to share. For kids who sometimes feel lost in the crowd, I think that Joseph’s journey teaches them to stand out and fight for what they believe in,” Coulter said.
To bring Joseph’s adventure to life, Coulter and 40 volunteers transformed the church into an Egyptian hideaway. Each day, the VBS students explored a different quality of Joseph, which were hope, wisdom, special abilities, forgiveness, and a family, during music, bible study, games, and classes. Each day, parishioner Nick Haught dressed as Joseph and acted out and discussed important scenes of his life.
However, the highlight of the day for the VBS students was the lunchtime trip to a bustling, and functioning, Egyptian marketplace. There, the students completed Egyptian crafts of weaving, pottery, and jewelry, drew hieroglyphics, and made and pressed bricks. The marketplace served as an immersive experience into Joseph’s world.
“We really wanted to bring Joseph’s struggle and triumph to life, while still keeping it a week of fun for the kids,” Coulter explained.