A Letter from the Hilton Clergy about Vacation Bible School

Dear Friends, 

For more than 30 years our churches have partnered together for Vacation Bible School. It has been an amazing ministry! Through story, art, music and play we share the good news of God’s love for us all in Jesus Christ. It is awe-inspiring to realize we have reached literally thousands upon thousands of children in our community. We make a difference for good in our neighborhood. VBS is a true blessing, and we long to see it continue. 

We are in a time of transition. You will remember last year, due to road construction we had to change our venue, schedule, and program format. Securing enough adult volunteers was a big challenge, and now we’ve had several members of our VBS Steering Committee retire after many years of faithful service. 

We believe VBS remains a vital ministry opportunity. For it to continue, though, we need a strong new leadership team and an adequate number of adult (ages 18+) volunteers. We are looking for talented, energetic and committed individuals who love to create, organize, recruit and teach. The new leadership team may follow our traditional VBS model (5 days in July, 9:00 am - noon, workshop rotation model, 30+ adult volunteers, 100+ children participants). Or the team may conceive and implement a VBS program totally brand new! 

If we are to offer VBS this summer, our new leadership team must be in place by January 15. We are looking for two members from each congregation. Program design would begin in January. Recruitment of adult volunteers would begin no later than March, and by May 15, we would need to have solid commitments from the minimum number of adult volunteers we would need to carry out the program. 

Are you ready to be a part of our new VBS Leadership Team? God is calling! Give it some prayer. Talk it over with your family. It is a big responsibility, but just think of the blessings we can share! 

If you are interested in serving on the new VBS Leadership Team, or if you have any questions, contact your church by Jan 10.  (At St. Andrew’s, contact Anne Kirchmier.)

Grace and Peace,

Natalie Chamberlain, Hilton Christian Church

Clark DeSarro-Raynal, Hilton Presbyterian Church

Anne Kirchmier, St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church

Elizabeth Lutz, First United Methodist Church

Tina Melusky, Trinity Lutheran Church