Vacation Bible School returns to local churches for the summer
Vacation Bible School (VBS) is coming back this year to local churches near you.
VBS is a free program for children to learn about the Bible for a few days during the summer. Each local church has a VBS theme and will be hosting VBS at different weeks in June and July.
While each location practices VBS a little bit differently depending on the theme of their study, children congregate together with crew leaders for a few hours each day of the week where they learn hand motions to sing-along songs, engage in arts and crafts, play fun games, and sit down together for snack time. VBS gives parents a few hours during the day or evening to themselves while their children make new friends and learn about God. It’s a great opportunity for kids to jumpstart their faith.
This year, the themes for VBS are:
Gadgets & Gizmos
The theme “Gadgets & Gizmos” sets out to teach children about creation and how each child is made to love God, made to have a relationship with Jesus, and made to love others. Children with their crew leaders will discover the beauty of uniqueness as they glorify the Lord and how to apply their special gifts and different talents in daily life.
Maker FunFactory
“Maker FunFactory” explores the concept of creation, giving children an opportunity to become “hands-on inventors” in which they will discover being “lovingly crafted by God.” But that is not all. Not only will they uncover how uniquely made they are, they will also find out that God made them for a reason, in hopes that it’ll encourage them to grow in their faiths and eventually learn what their individual purposes are.
Galactic Starveyors
“Galactic Starveyors” is a fun, interactive program which points children to “use their telescopes” towards the “night sky” to seek out the wonders of the universe. In doing so, children will discover the Creator of these wonders, and they will learn just how much God wants to have a relationship with each child. By searching the visible, they’ll discover the invisible.
Below is a list of local churches hosting VBS this summer for any interested in getting involved.
JUNE 2017
Christ Church
*Christ Church is sponsoring eight separate VBS sessions at eight locations. The following sessions are held in the O’Fallon area. For more on the other sessions, please visit Christ Church’s website.
Theme: “Gadgets & Gizmos”
Ages: Completed Kindergarten – Completed 5th Grade
WEEK #1: June 6-8
Location: Christ Church Pavilion (339 Frank Scott Parkway East, Fairview Heights, IL 62208)
Time: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
WEEK #2: June 13-15
Location: O’Fallon Sports Park (301 Obernuefemann Road, O’Fallon, IL 62269)
Time: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
WEEK #3: June 20-22
Location: Moody Park (525 Ruby Lane, Fairview Heights, IL 62208)
Time: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
WEEK #6: July 18-20
Location: Scott Campus (4051 St. Rt. 161 E, Belleville, IL 62221)
Time: 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Registration for Weeks 1-4 can be found on http://mychristchurch.com/vbs
Registration for Weeks 5-7 can be found on http://mychristchurch.com/campusvbs/.
Contacts:
Kathleen Cardona & Amanda Cates
kathleencardona@mychristchurch.com
amandacates@mychristchurch.com
(618) 277-4659
Christ Church will also be hosting a VBS specially coordinated for children with special needs.
Dates: July 13-14, 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. / Family Celebration: July 15, 5 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Ages: 4 – Rising 8th
Contact Rachel Frazure for additional questions and / or to register your child. rachelfrazure@mychristchurch.com or (618) 212-1256
All VBS events hosted by Christ Church will offer free lunch and snacks for the children.
Blessed Lutheran
1205 N. Lincoln Avenue
O’Fallon, IL 62269
Theme: “Maker FunFactory”
Dates: June 5-9
Time: 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Ages: 4 – 12
Volunteer & Student Registration: http://mybslc.org/vacation-bible-school
*Free dinner is provided for children
Contact:
Elain Kjosa
vbs@mybslc.org
Cornerstone Christian Church
775 North Green Mount Road
Shiloh, IL 62221
Theme: “Maker FunFactory”
Dates: June 5-9
Time: 9 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Ages: 3 – Rising 5th graders
Volunteer & Student Registration: http://onecornerstone.org/blog/2017/04/maker-fun-factory-vbs-2017/
Contact the church office for questions.
(618) 239-9710
cornerstone@onecornerstone.org
O’Fallon First United Methodist Church
504 E. Highway 50
O’Fallon, IL 62269
Theme: “Gadgets & Gizmos” – Uniquely wired and wonderfully made
Dates: June 12-16
Time: 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Ages: 3 (potty-trained) – Rising 6th Graders
Volunteer & Student Registration & Background Check forms: offumc.org/vbs.html.
*Volunteers must have a background check.
Contact: Stacy Robinson, Children’s Director (618) 632-2354
Shiloh United Methodist Church
210 South Main Street
Shiloh, IL 62269
Theme: “Maker FunFactory”
Dates: June 12-16
Time: 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Ages: 3 (potty-trained) – 6th
Volunteer & Student Registration: https://www.vbspro.events/p/events/shilohvbs
*Volunteers must complete the church’s Safe Sanctuary Training prior to VBS.
Contact: Bev Comeaux (618) 632-6913
Belleville First Church of the Nazarene
1901 Lebanon Ave
Belleville, IL 62221
Theme: “VBS Hero Central”
Dates: June 12-15
Time: 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Ages: Grades K – 5
Contact: Karen Dissett (618) 234-6981
Register online at bfcn.org
First Baptist Church of O’Fallon
1111 E Hwy 50
O’Fallon, IL 62269
Theme: “Galactic Starveyors”
Dates: June 19-23
Time: 9 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Ages: 4 years – 6th Grade
Volunteer & Student Registration: http://www.fbcofallon.org/vbs2017/
Contact: Donna Senster (618) 632-6223
Lebanon Community Vacation Bible School
Held at : Lebanon United Methodist Church
603 W. St. Louis St.
Lebanon, IL 62254
Theme: “Maker FunFactory”
Dates: June 19-23
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Ages: Kindergarten – 5th
Email vbslebanon@gmail.com to request a registration form. Registration forms can also be found at each church in Lebanon.
For additional information, please contact Lebanon FUMC.
Office hours: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., Monday – Friday.
618-537-6622
JULY 2017
O’Fallon United Church of Christ
206 West Adams St
O’Fallon, IL 62269
Theme: “Maker FunFactory”
Dates: July 17-21
Time: 6 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Ages: 3 years – Completed 5th Grade
Volunteer & Student Registration: at http://www.ofallonucc.org/
Contact: Sara Koester, sarahjimkoester@gmail.com
St. Clare of Assisi Catholic Church
1411 Cross Street
O’Fallon, IL 62269
Theme: “Message Received: Hearing God’s Call”
Dates: July 17-21
Time: 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Ages: 4 – 10
Volunteer & Student Registration: https://stclarechurch.org/documents/2017/4/VBS%202017%20Reg%20Form.pdf
Contact: Jane Dotson, Faith Family Formation Director (618) 632-3562
“Message Received: Hearing God’s Call” focuses on teaching children the basic understanding of discipleship by learning how to hear God’s Call and how to respond. The purpose is for children to grow into being enthusiastic followers of Jesus.