For the first time in a handful of years I did not volunteer at VBS. 

Stewart was also not able to volunteer as he just had a lot of days off work for Costa Rica.

Nigel lead a team.  Marie helped in Bible.  Tab was a youth helper for a team.

Johanna and Katriel were campers.

I did help on Friday in Nigel’s spot because he and John went on a mini-road trip.

The boys started attending VBS in 2006, and Stewart started assisting in 2012.  Nigel started helping in 2014, me in 2015, Marie in 2016, and now Tab in 2018. 

Stewart has been a Bible teacher since the beginning, and Nigel, Marie and I have done different things each year.  This year Nigel assisted in leading group 4, Marie assisted Stewart in Bible, and Tab and I lead group 2.

The theme was Time Lab where we went back in time to see that God is the same yesterday, today and forever.

Here is a week in review.

Hanny seeing the time lab.

Nigel’s crew.

My crew.

It was our second chance to bring Ocean Commotion to life, this time at the Pines of Perinton. 
Our church partnered with Pittsford CC to bring the VBS to the kids right in their own backyards.  It meant daily set up and clean up.  It meant enduring rain storms, which was VERY ironic given the theming of Noah’s Flood AND the fact that we’re in a draught.  It meant not knowing if kids would stay an hour, a day, or all three days. 

It meant FUN and a beautiful opportunity to share how much God loves them.

The youngest girls helped right along with the older siblings.

Tab got to play the part of Alex in the VBS drama. 

Stewart worked on the Bible team again.

Johanna and Katriel got to be part of the VBS programming a second time. 

I had the idea to bring water to help out.  This was a great idea til Stewart mentioned, “Mom, why is the floor of the van so wet?”

Speaking of wet – the rain-rain-rain came down-down-down on Tuesday. 

But production went on a little later and we were no worse for the wear. 

Nigel played Penguin a second time. 

And me?  I led a group of kids through the stations.  Ages varied daily, but it was mostly 9-12.  I did have a 2 year old for a short time, as well as a 14 year old. 

Tab bounced around after drama.  Her favorite thing was holding Daniel when he came around.

Katriel helped with daily set up.  She’s a Butler.

Love this kid.

Final day, closing performance.  Kids were invited to the stage to share the songs they learned.  This posed a conundrum for Katriel.  She wanted to be part of the stage singing, but there was that sticker page that looked like so much fun.  Hmmmm….

It was great.  I was exhausted.  We gave out Bibles and there was one little girl in particular who was eager to hear more. 

Nan blessed my crew by having lunch ready each day so that we could head right to her house to eat.  THAT was huge!

For the last 11 or so years, I’ve had kids attend the VBS at Pittsford Community Church.  For a long while I only had attendants, but since 2012 I’ve had kids serving in the ministry.  This was my second year serving, Marie’s first, Stewart’s 5th and Nigel’s 3rd.

The theme was Noah’s flood and God’s saving grace for us today.  The sea theme was SO amazingly applied to the building.  Over 200 kids attended.  It was fantastic. 

I was a leader for Group 1.  Our mascot was Piers the Puffin.  Johanna and Katriel helped me set up name tags for my group each morning as we arrived.

Stewart clocked in his fifth year as a Bible teacher.  For the first three years he was an assistant, and these last two years he’s been the lead teacher.

Marie was part an assistant in one of the music teams.

On day two we went outside to see just how long the Ark was.

Nigel acted as a villain in the drama for the third year.  This year he was also an assistant in the Kindergarten class.  (Johanna’s group.)

Tab attended.  She had a blast with her friends. 

We get to do this curriculum again in a few weeks with our church’s outreach VBS in a local community. 

Seven of the eight of us went to VBS a POP this week.  Johanna attended, and the other six of us served in different capacities.
Marie was on the music team with Mr. Skifstad and Mrs. McMillan.

John, Nigel, and I lead the “four year old class” (which morphed into a wide variety of ages).  Tabitha, as well as her friend, Sophia, worked along side us as youth helpers. 

 

Stewart served on the Bible team as he had at the Pittsford VBS.
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Daily attendance varied a great deal, but we enjoyed meeting the kids from POP and loved telling them about how much Jesus loves them