I am a list maker. They help me plan my day, think through what I need to do and stay organized. I also take great pleasure as my pencil strikes through the things I have accomplished. For most tasks, at work and at home, list making helps me feel a sense of control over what needs to be done. That works for most things….not vacation bible school!
Right now I am waist deep in VBS prep and the details are overwhelming. Still.
Vacation bible school stands alone in the year’s worth of programming I am responsible for at Faith. It runs only for one week of mornings but the amount of details that go into planning is enormous. In fact it is so
enormous that in the beginning of the process which started weeks ago, list making is impossible. I just start wading through what needs to get done: the first round of volunteer phone calls, creating spreadsheets of participants, and preparing each area of curriculum so the leaders feel comfortable and excited about their
responsibilities.
Right now it is the week before and I finally feel like I can start making my lists! I am glad because this is the week I get excited for vacation bible school. As each of the details are accounted for I start to imagine the relationships that occur over the week of VBS.
~ The storytellers that help the kids make connections with God’s story to their own story.
~ The crew leaders that learn the names of the children in their group and share in important conversations.
~ The middle school volunteers getting their first taste of leadership and growing in self-confidence.
~ Retired folks volunteering “just to help me out” and then realizing that their faith is growing along with the kids.
Next week when everyone is here and the building is buzzing with energy, the details and the lists take a back seat to the Spirit’s work of relationships. That week of concentrated energy and learning is what makes
vacation bible school a unique and powerful experience. My heart is full when I see the kids and the adults excited to be at church learning together about God’s great love for them.
But that is next week. Right now I have a list to make!
~ Pam
Right now I am waist deep in VBS prep and the details are overwhelming. Still.
Vacation bible school stands alone in the year’s worth of programming I am responsible for at Faith. It runs only for one week of mornings but the amount of details that go into planning is enormous. In fact it is so
enormous that in the beginning of the process which started weeks ago, list making is impossible. I just start wading through what needs to get done: the first round of volunteer phone calls, creating spreadsheets of participants, and preparing each area of curriculum so the leaders feel comfortable and excited about their
responsibilities.
Right now it is the week before and I finally feel like I can start making my lists! I am glad because this is the week I get excited for vacation bible school. As each of the details are accounted for I start to imagine the relationships that occur over the week of VBS.
~ The storytellers that help the kids make connections with God’s story to their own story.
~ The crew leaders that learn the names of the children in their group and share in important conversations.
~ The middle school volunteers getting their first taste of leadership and growing in self-confidence.
~ Retired folks volunteering “just to help me out” and then realizing that their faith is growing along with the kids.
Next week when everyone is here and the building is buzzing with energy, the details and the lists take a back seat to the Spirit’s work of relationships. That week of concentrated energy and learning is what makes
vacation bible school a unique and powerful experience. My heart is full when I see the kids and the adults excited to be at church learning together about God’s great love for them.
But that is next week. Right now I have a list to make!
~ Pam
