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Interfaith collaboration
By LINDA M. LINONIS
boardman
Teaching children that “all things are possible with God” transcended denominational ties during a vacation Bible school sponsored by three mainline religions.
Westminster Presbyterian, St. Charles Borromeo and Bethel Lutheran churches jointly sponsored a VBS program this past week at St. Charles, the Roman Catholic parish.
Forty children from 4 years old through fifth grade participated.
Elaine Hamilton, Christian educator director at Westminster, said the summer activity for children has been a collaborative effort between Westminster and St. Charles for many years.
Bethel Lutheran joined the other churches this year.
“It all came together,” Hamilton said, adding that she knew the pastor at Bethel from her neighborhood.
Hamilton said the weeklong program was based on lessons on Bible stories and passages.
“We may be different religions but we all believe in the one guy ... God,” she said.
Actually, Hamilton noted, that is a lesson unto itself ... teaching children diversity. When children come to St. Charles, they notice the difference from their churches.
“It’s an opportunity to talk about believing in one God and not so much about the building,” she said.
Hamilton said the programs, which were from 6 to 8:30 p.m., included a lesson/story from the Bible, a craft, music, imagination station with a sciencelike experiment, games and snack.
The overall theme of the VBS was “Sky — Everything is Possible with God,” based on a passage from Mark 10:27. That is “Jesus looked at them and said, “For mortals it is impossible, but for God; for God all things are possible.”
Hamilton said each session emphasized the main idea of “trusting in God.” That belief could help children cope with fear or believe in miracles, she cited as two examples of the lessons.
Hamilton said one of the lessons was based on a pssage from 1Samuel 16:7, which reads in part, “... for the Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”
She said a related craft was photos taken of the children and put into frames they made with the verse written on it.
The children also were involved in a mission project in conjunction with St. Charles, which collects non-perishable food items for families in need.