Changes made in Community VBS format
Members of the Albany Ministerial Alliance decided to do things a little differently for this summer’s community Vacation Bible School, and they want to make sure that parents can plan ahead for the new schedule.
This year the Alliance sponsored VBS will take place later in the summer, on Sunday through Wednesday, Aug. 4-7, and will be held from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. each of those evenings.
Pick-up and drop-off sites will be designated at various sites around town, with transportation provided to help participants get to and from VBS.
Dinner will be served at 5:00 p.m. for all children and teachers participating in VBS.
“Many people have expressed a sincere desire to help with VBS, but were unable to do so because they work during the day,” said coordinator Ginger Bumguardner. “And some of the kids have had scheduling conflicts also. Those of us who have been involved with VBS in the past wanted to make some ‘tweeks’ to see if there just might be a better VBS format.”
Bumguardner added that the Alliance doesn’t know if the changes will be continued into the future.
“Each change comes with the promise that if it doesn’t work better for those involved, then we don’t have to keep doing it,” she said. “We don’t want to be so stuck in our ways that we can’t try new things. This is an experimental year.”
Additional changes will include a special VBS experience for pre-K kids and a new family activity on the final night.
“Wednesday night, the VBS kids will put on a program for their families,” Bumguardner said. “There will be a VBS musical followed by fun carnival-type activities including bounce houses, games, a photo booth, and various food stations. You don’t want to miss this!”
Children varying in ages from those entering kindergarten in the fall to those going into seventh grade are invited to attend the “In the Wild” event, which will be held this summer at First Baptist Church.
“We hope our Albany parents will make plans for their age-appropriate kids to participate with us,” said Bumguardner. “And we are hoping that family vacations and visits to out-of-town grandparents can be scheduled around VBS.”
She said that she is also hoping more local parents will volunteer to help with the evening format.
“If you would like to help with VBS this year, please contact your church’s pastor or call me at 325-660-5420,” said Bumguardner. “We are hoping that more men can get involved this year too. Specifically, we will need church vans, busses, drivers, and co-pilots.”
Several things will not change, Bumguardner added.
“There will still be multiple churches in the Ministerial Alliance actively participating, awesome Bible teaching that is age appropriate, fantastic music, fun crafts, wild and wacky recreation, and adults and teenagers loving on the elementary kids in our community,” said Bumguardner.
The members of the Alliance have designed a different program for Resource Center summer day campers this year.
“We will be at the Day Camp doing a ‘Backyard Bible Club’ format for them on their campus, during the time frame best suited for them,” said Bumguardner.
She added that a small team of three or four teachers will go to Day Camp to lead a Bible Study, music, and Bible activity for the first through sixth graders.
“The Bible stories, music and activities will be different than the ones at the August VBS, so the kids who attend Day Camp and later go to VBS will have double the opportunity to learn about Jesus this summer,” Bumguardner concluded.
