The Old, Old Story
Vacation Bible School has been a summer tradition for over a hundred years. Fifty years ago, we called it Bible School. Now, in this age of acronyms, it is simply referred to as VBS.
When I was a child, nearly every Protestant church in town conducted its own version of Bible School, which was held every weekday morning for two weeks, or sometimes all day long for one week. It was a special treat to be able to take a sack lunch to Bible School during those all day sessions.
In the past, children were divided by grade, with ten or fifteen, or even more children, grouped together in a tiny room, or perhaps crowded into a small space that was divided from the other groups with a curtain or some other form of temporary partition. The teacher, assisted by a teenage helper, taught the lesson via a workbook format, and helped the class work on their crafts. Each child was given a commercially-produced cardboard box containing everything that was needed to create a flimsy craft that reinforced each day's Bible lesson. Some enterprising congregations scorned the use of those expensive, sub-standard craft boxes, and enlisted one or two creative individuals to come up with their own more substantial and, hopefully, cheaper crafts. I suspect that nearly everyone in my age-group has made at least one matchstick cross and some kind of clay pot.
Each morning began with an opening session, usually held in the sanctuary. Children were seated together, by grade. After a prayer and some announcements, an offering was collected to defer the cost of Bible School materials, or it was designated for missions. Sometimes a small fee was collected from each child in attendance to help cover the cost. I remember carrying a dime to Bible School each day, securely tied in the corner of a cloth handkerchief until I put it in the straw offering basket that was passed up and down each row of seated children.
A song leader and pianist worked together to teach new songs and review old favorites, like "Jesus Loves Me" and "I Love to Tell the Story." Later, the children returned to the sanctuary for more music, and at the end of the day's session, they returned yet again for a formal closing session.
Everyone looked forward to recess, when we all trooped outside to play "Red Light, Green Light" or "Mother, May I?" on the church lawn.
We loved Bible School back then, just like the kids love VBS now. But things have changed. Oh, how much things have changed!
This week, I've been privileged to help with VBS for the umpteenth time. Years ago, Bible School classrooms were decorated with Bible story posters. Now, VBS kids are immersed in a theme. The front of the sanctuary is filled with looming, icy mountains. The main hallway has been transformed into a magical snow tunnel. The song leader is accompanied by electronic images of excited kids, singing and dancing enthusiastically up on the screen in the front of the church. The kids in attendance join in eagerly.
Children are no longer divided into age groups. Now, about five children of varied ages are shepherded from one station to another by their crew leader and a young assistant. Because of this new approach, behavior problems are kept to a minimum. Station leaders present the same material to several groups of children, who rotate through four or five stations each day. So, after a brief opening session, the kids join in an interactive Bible lesson, often acting out the Bible story. Another session incorporates a brief video presentation with the day's Bible verse. Later, children play some innovative outdoor games that reinforce the day's theme, create and eat a coordinated snack, and make some kind of craft or perform a science experiment that illustrates the point of the day's lesson. A designated photographer stages photos of a few children at a time, and inserts the photos into a video presentation that recaps the day's Bible story at the end of the day.
Kids still bring their pennies and dimes and quarters to add to the offering box, but we see quite a few dollar bills, too, and even an occasional twenty. This year, the children's offerings will be used to purchase Bibles for kids in Thailand.
Our VBS meets in the morning this year, but it is more common for VBS to meet in the early evening, often incorporating supper into an already full agenda. But, whatever the format, VBS is fast-paced and exciting for everyone involved.
With all of the changes I've seen in my lifetime, one thing about Vacation Bible School remains the same: the kids still learn the stories that are found in the Bible. And virtually every VBS curriculum stresses the most important thing, Jesus' love for the children. I pray that this one thing will never change.
When I was a child, nearly every Protestant church in town conducted its own version of Bible School, which was held every weekday morning for two weeks, or sometimes all day long for one week. It was a special treat to be able to take a sack lunch to Bible School during those all day sessions.
In the past, children were divided by grade, with ten or fifteen, or even more children, grouped together in a tiny room, or perhaps crowded into a small space that was divided from the other groups with a curtain or some other form of temporary partition. The teacher, assisted by a teenage helper, taught the lesson via a workbook format, and helped the class work on their crafts. Each child was given a commercially-produced cardboard box containing everything that was needed to create a flimsy craft that reinforced each day's Bible lesson. Some enterprising congregations scorned the use of those expensive, sub-standard craft boxes, and enlisted one or two creative individuals to come up with their own more substantial and, hopefully, cheaper crafts. I suspect that nearly everyone in my age-group has made at least one matchstick cross and some kind of clay pot.
Each morning began with an opening session, usually held in the sanctuary. Children were seated together, by grade. After a prayer and some announcements, an offering was collected to defer the cost of Bible School materials, or it was designated for missions. Sometimes a small fee was collected from each child in attendance to help cover the cost. I remember carrying a dime to Bible School each day, securely tied in the corner of a cloth handkerchief until I put it in the straw offering basket that was passed up and down each row of seated children.
A song leader and pianist worked together to teach new songs and review old favorites, like "Jesus Loves Me" and "I Love to Tell the Story." Later, the children returned to the sanctuary for more music, and at the end of the day's session, they returned yet again for a formal closing session.
Everyone looked forward to recess, when we all trooped outside to play "Red Light, Green Light" or "Mother, May I?" on the church lawn.
We loved Bible School back then, just like the kids love VBS now. But things have changed. Oh, how much things have changed!
This week, I've been privileged to help with VBS for the umpteenth time. Years ago, Bible School classrooms were decorated with Bible story posters. Now, VBS kids are immersed in a theme. The front of the sanctuary is filled with looming, icy mountains. The main hallway has been transformed into a magical snow tunnel. The song leader is accompanied by electronic images of excited kids, singing and dancing enthusiastically up on the screen in the front of the church. The kids in attendance join in eagerly.
Children are no longer divided into age groups. Now, about five children of varied ages are shepherded from one station to another by their crew leader and a young assistant. Because of this new approach, behavior problems are kept to a minimum. Station leaders present the same material to several groups of children, who rotate through four or five stations each day. So, after a brief opening session, the kids join in an interactive Bible lesson, often acting out the Bible story. Another session incorporates a brief video presentation with the day's Bible verse. Later, children play some innovative outdoor games that reinforce the day's theme, create and eat a coordinated snack, and make some kind of craft or perform a science experiment that illustrates the point of the day's lesson. A designated photographer stages photos of a few children at a time, and inserts the photos into a video presentation that recaps the day's Bible story at the end of the day.
Kids still bring their pennies and dimes and quarters to add to the offering box, but we see quite a few dollar bills, too, and even an occasional twenty. This year, the children's offerings will be used to purchase Bibles for kids in Thailand.
Our VBS meets in the morning this year, but it is more common for VBS to meet in the early evening, often incorporating supper into an already full agenda. But, whatever the format, VBS is fast-paced and exciting for everyone involved.
With all of the changes I've seen in my lifetime, one thing about Vacation Bible School remains the same: the kids still learn the stories that are found in the Bible. And virtually every VBS curriculum stresses the most important thing, Jesus' love for the children. I pray that this one thing will never change.
- I love to tell the story of unseen things above,
Of Jesus and His glory, of Jesus and His love;
I love to tell the story, because I know ’tis true,
It satisfies my longings as nothing else would do.
I love to tell the story, ’tis pleasant to repeat,
What seems each time I tell it more wonderfully sweet;
I love to tell the story, for some have never heard
The message of salvation from God’s own holy Word.
I love to tell the story, for those who know it best
Seem hungering and thirsting to hear it like the rest;
And when in scenes of glory I sing the new, new song,
’Twill be the old, old story that I have loved so long.
I love to tell the story,
’Twill be my theme in glory,
To tell the old, old story
Of Jesus and His love. Arabella K. Hankey, 1866
’Twill be my theme in glory,
To tell the old, old story
Of Jesus and His love. Arabella K. Hankey, 1866
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