Area churches holding VBS programs in July
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“Galactic Starveyors” is the theme for the Laura Street Baptist Church Vacation Bible School program this summer. Several churches throughout the area are holding VBS programs throughout the month of July.
With no school in session, churches are very busy during the summer months.
As June becomes synonymous with camp in the church calendar, July becomes a more common destination for Vacation Bible School. Laura Street Baptist Church minster of music and children, Brian Sparks, said VBS is a great opportunity to reach kids at their level with the story of Christ.
“It’s an opportunity for kids during summer break to have some fun and learn a lot about the Bible,” Sparks said. “It also gives parents something for their kids to do.
“The cool thing about VBS is the ability to mix arts, crafts, games and activities, music, and lots of other different things that appeal to kids and infuse the Bible message into those things to create something they’ll remember going into the year. It appeals to them at their level.”
The VBS offerings throughout Maryville are as different as the churches offering them, from themes to the way they are implemented. Laura Street Baptist Church, for instance, is using Lifeway’s “Galactic Starveyors” theme this year.
“We’ve always used Lifeway’s programs,” Sparks said. “This year, the theme has to do with looking at God’s creation – us – and knowing that He has amazing things planned for us to do and learn in this life.”
On the other side of town, both First Christian Church and Countryside Christian Church (C3 Maryville) are using Group’s “Maker Fun Factory.” C3 Maryville youth minister Atlas Oliver said the theme centers around a passage in the Bible.
“In Ephesians, Paul refers to us as God’s workmanship, that He crafted us for a purpose from the beginning,” Oliver said. “Throughout the week, we talk about different stories in the Bible where God used someone for a bigger purpose.
“Our purpose for VBS is to bond with the families of the community, and the past few years we’ve really worked toward that goal by inviting lots of families throughout the area. We just want to teach the kids who Jesus is. Our mission is to show people Jesus, and VBS is a great way to do that.”
St. Gregory’s Catholic Church will also be using a different theme altogether for their Catholic Kidz Camp and Totus Tuus programs. While the Catholic Kidz Camp will be geared toward children from four to six years of age, students entering first through 12th grades will participate in the catechetical Totus Tuus, which the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph notes is meant to “inspire in young people a true longing for holiness, a deep desire for daily conversation, and an openness to their vocation by constantly challenging them to give themselves entirely to Christ through Mary by continually strengthening their prayer lives in imitation of Her.”
Meanwhile, the First United Methodist Church and the First Presbyterian Church will be teaming up to offer a “Traveling Day Camp,” whose curriculum is developed at the local Presbyter near Kansas City. Pre-kindergarten students and kindergarten students will be at the First United Methodist Church, while those going into first through seventh grades will be at the First Presbyterian Church.
The Traveling Day Camp at First Presbyterian Church will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 17-21 for the older group of students, while the pre-kindergarten and kindergarten program will run from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church. The camp is free of charge, and registration is available at maryvillepresbyterian.org.
St. Gregory’s Catholic Kidz Camp also runs July 17-21, from 9 a.m. to noon. The camp costs $10 per child, not to exceed $50 per family.
Totus Tuus is open for students entering first through sixth grades, running from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 17-21. The program costs $20 per child, not to exceed $50 per family. Campers are responsible for bringing their own lunches.
Totus Tuus at Night is open for students entering seventh through 12th grades and runs from 7:30 p.m. to 9:40 p.m. The program costs $20 per child, not to exceed $50 per family.
Registration for all St. Gregory’s Catholic Church programs are available online at stgregorysmaryville.org.
C3 Maryville’s “Maker Fun Factory” VBS also takes place July 17-21, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Anyone from pre-kindergarten through fourth grade is able to participate for free, and registration is available online at countryside-maryville.org/c3-kids-ministry.
First Christian Church’s “Maker Fun Factory” VBS takes place July 23-27, from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The church is offering a light dinner for VBS participants from 5:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. each night of VBS. Anyone from age three to fifth grade can participate for a $5 fee, which includes a t-shirt, nightly dinner, and snacks for each day. Registration forms are available at First Christian Church or on their website, fccmaryvillemo.com.
Laura Street Baptist Church’s “Galactic Starveyors” VBS takes place July 24-28 from 9 a.m. to noon. There is no cost to participate for students from age four through junior high. Registration for VBS will be available online at laurastreet.com or by visiting the church.