Planting Seeds All Year Long:
Saints for Vacation Bible School
I was talking to a mentor years ago about Vacation Bible School. I was very stressed, never having put one together on my own. She told me to relax and reminded me that we do four things in VBS: tell them a story, teach them a song, give them a snack and help them make a craft. It’s like a lot of other great ideas, simple but not always easy!
So I examined these four areas.
Storytellers: Well that could be every single saint, since what we are doing is witnessing our faith, even if it’s just one evening or morning during VBS week; even if it’s just one story that doesn’t particularly resonate with where we are on our faith journey. The fact that we are present and willing is a huge testament. I imagine stories will eventually be told to the next generation one of two ways, a parent will remember you to their child as the volunteer who told us the story of Noah at Bible School, or that same parent, at some point, will pay it forward by “showing up” to their relationship with God as a volunteer.
Songs: No surprise here, St. Cecilia is the patron saint of music. And in each of our families, lives, parishes there is that one music person we love to hear sing or who we are relieved to see approaching the cantor stand because they are easy to sing with! I admire these musical wonders as I have very little musical ability. I am always happy when the music person volunteers year after year for this part of VBS. Thank you St. Cecilia.
Snacks: Let’s give a little thank you to St. Martha, patron of among other things, cooks. In the weeks preceding our VBS kickoff the juice boxes, bags of chips and cookies seem to multiply in almost biblical proportions near the secretary’s desk. To every mother, father, set of grand or godparents I say thank you!
Crafts: St. Tutilo of St. Gall was born in Ireland in 850. He was in many ways the total package. He was an excellent student, poet, speaker, hymnist, architect, painter, sculptor, metal worker, mechanic, composer and musician! He was known as a renaissance man before the term was coined. A crafts person must have many of these qualities.When the room is filled with at least a dozen five and six-year-old students and glue, sequins, feathers, craft foam and crushed eggshells there needs to be an “all purpose” go-to saint and if ever there was one St. Tutilo is our man. So for all the frantic prayers of the craft teacher we have a winner.
While all this may sound a little light-hearted, please do not misunderstand. I depend on the communion of saints every day. I just try not to take myself too seriously with Vacation Bible School. This time of our catechetical year is when my fellow directors and I are able to get on the floor with the children and sing along, or color a page with them, or assist with hand movements to “Michael Row the Boat Ashore,” drink juice boxes and no one thinks it’s odd and have some FUN!
Hope your summer days are filled with love and laughter!
by Kim Long, DRE, Saint Mary of the Pines
2010 Diocese of Shreveport