Our VBS was full of Growing in God’s Garden. Plants and vines, and a garden full of flowers created by the children filled the church. Learning about God’s creation and our need to really take care of it, we also learned a bit about plastic garbage. It is not only an eyesore but also dangerous to animals, sea creatures, and even dangerous to our own health. Making creations out of junk was a favourite free time activity and even kept the children indoors at lunchtime during the very hot weather. We planted cress seeds and learned about God sowing seeds of love in our hearts in the parable of the Sower and the Seeds. Seed mosaics were created by the older children. And they helped plant a birch tree behind the church. We learned about the importance of remaining connected to God and to one another in the words of Jesus: “I am the vine, you are the branches. Remain in me and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine” (John 15:4). We practised the Lord’s Prayer, because prayer is one way of abiding in Christ. And finally, we learned some of the fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal.5:22-23). And we ate a lot of fruit!
Many thanks to all who came, all 39 children from Erickson, Rolling River, Onanole, Brandon, Winnipeg, and even Alberta! They divided very evenly with 9 or 10 in each class. Many thanks to all the teachers and assistants: Pastor Jim for grades 5-7, Linda Squance for grades 3-4, Sue Riediger for grades 1-2, Hilde Vickers, Joan Lee and Betty Lynn Nylen for pre-school & kindergarten. Thank you to Viola Burkett and Val Wickdahl for the great music and songs! Thank you to Kayla and Krystal Fucci for their tireless enthusiasm and fun games in the heat outside! Many thanks to Barb Clarke, Islay Shellborn and their special helper, Erica Miko, for the beautiful garden in the narthex and all the craft creations! (It was very hard to see that garden taken down so the kids could take their flowers, bees, birds, and butterflies home.) A big thank you to Marlenne Beatty, Marie Zatylny, Kathy McMurphy, Lana Bachewich and Portia Kruse, for keeping us very well fed! And thank you to all who contributed muffins and pizza bun toppings! Thank you to all, for your help, your support and your prayers, that made this VBS grow into something great for God!
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