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Heritage VBS finds way to teach children
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Neighbors | Eartha Terrell.Garrett Moff crawled his way out of the cardboard maze after searching for lost sheep and coins during Summer Play Days at Heritage Presbyterian church July 19.
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Neighbors | Eartha Terrell.Kathy Moff helped Hannah Hiddin decorate her cup cake during Summer Play Days at Heritage Presbyterian Church July 19.
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Neighbors | Eartha Terrell.Lorieona Jannone taste tested her chocolate icing at Heritage Presbyterian Church July 19.
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Bella Elisel put the finishing touches on her welcome mat during Summer Play Days at Heritage Presbyterian Church July 19.
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Neighbors | Eartha Terrell.Ella Thomas (left), Kristen Baer (center) and Alyssa Thomas enjoyed painting during crafts at Heritage Presbyterian Church July 19.
By EARTHA TERRELL
Children gained a new meaning for the phrase lost and found during Summer Play Days at Heritage Presbyterian Church July 19.
“Each week has its own specific theme. We’re talking about the lost and found parables, so they had to find lost coins — we made welcome mats and they go through a maze,” said Rev. Kristin Stroble.
In an effort to help children understand the complexities of the Bible, Stroble tried to create games, crafts and lessons that kids could identify with. For instance, children got a first-hand account of what it felt like to be lost as they crawled around in a cardboard maze searching for missing chocolate-covered coins and sheep.
“The Bible is so hard for adults, let alone children. We give them hands-on exposure to the scripture. We make old stories come to life,” Stroble said.
The church also decided to change the format of its traditional summer program.
“We’ve seen numbers in Vacation Bible School declining and we’re trying to reach out to kids. It’s just once a week from 10 a.m. to noon each week. We use fewer volunteers and it takes less of a commitment from kids and it’s been growing each week,” Stoble said.
Parents were pleased with the new transition and some children also got the opportunity to experience being away from their parents for the first time.
“The parents have seemed very relieved. They bring them back, which shows me they appreciate it. The kids interact with other children and being without their parents is preparing them for preschool.”
Summer Play Days also gave children an outlet to express their creativity through arts and crafts.
“I’ve been doing crafts. It’s been fun for me seeing their different ideas. They’re so creative,” said volunteer Kristen Baer.