Good Bye Big Jungle Adventure!

And what a great adventure it was! I am so pleased to have finally had my first Vacation Bible School experience with First Christian Church. We were not able to celebrate VBS last year due to our construction and my late arrival to your church family. But boy did we make up for lost time! We ministered to 26 children throughout the week and utilized the gifts of 35 volunteers to make our Vacation Bible School program the success it was.

                Many of you joined us on June 26^th where we worshipped beneath the jungle canopy and celebrated the children, their mission project, the songs and lessons they learned and contributions of so many church members. There may be a few things you aren’t aware of in regards to this past VBS…

• Our church made every effort to keep our VBS ‘green’ this year in the following ways.
  • We served 75 people a potluck meal using washable plates.
  • We recycled every scrap of paper used throughout the week.
  • We reused tobacco canvas from Julia Jones’ wedding in the construction of the canopy.
  • We reused tissue paper scraps in the construction of the flowers for the jungle.
  • We reused the empty spray paint cans that painted our canopy as our ‘Sound-off Shakers’ rather than purchase cheap plastic shakers from the curricula providers.
  • We created curricula supplements on an as-needed basis rather than running dozens of copies ahead and then having to dispose of the unused items.
  • We borrowed butterflies from a fellow congregation rather than purchase new ones. These items are safely boxed and ready for reuse another time.
  • We created craft projects reusing regular household items such as coffee canisters.
  • And, we’ve saved each and every item used to construct our jungle so that we can reuse them later, loan them to a sister congregation, or to create another jungle in years to come for our own congregation.
• For the first time we offered a meal for children, parents and volunteers each night of Bible School.
• We offered such an incredible Bible Study for adults that people are requesting more.
• At the close of the week everyone was excited for next year.
• Plans are already being made for a bigger and better VBS next year!

What gifts do you think you could bring to next years’ program? I hope you are as excited as I am about our future together in ministry and are always thinking of creative ways to spread God’s word to others through our experiences together!

Blessings,
Tracy