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- St. Thomas has started calling the event Vacation Bible Camp because it’s held at night and because it’s open to children and adults.
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- The 2013 subject was water, a concept important in the scriptures.
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- This is the outside of the St. Thomas sanctuary. The church sits across the street from the Texas A&M University campus. Its facilities also include an early learning center preschool and a college student ministry.
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- I love the etched glass window and its depiction of Jesus’ disciples.
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- A simple wooden cross leans against the building.
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- Also across the street from the Texas A&M University campus and from St. Thomas: an LDS institute. I appreciate the cooperation between the various campus ministries.
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- The Texas A&M University LDS institute building, visible from our Vacation Bible School festivities!
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- The Jewish Hillel building is a neighbor to both St. Thomas Episcopal Church and the LDS Institute Building.
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- For close to a week, the church gives itself over to the Vacation Bible Camp, including this decorated hallway.
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- Everyone is welcome – and I have multiple friends from my LDS ward in attendance at the St. Thomas events!
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- Each day, the kids work on a water-related craft, like this colored sand rainbow. They also sing, play games outside, and receive a spiritual lesson.
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- The planned outdoor activities involved getting wet, which was mightily appreciated in the Texas heat!
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- Each child made a tie dye shirt as a souvenir.
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- The overarching VBS theme was an important one.
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- On the last day of Vacation Bible School, everyone enjoyed a bouncy water slide.
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- My daughter waits in line with two girls from St. Thomas Episcopal church and three other LDS kids from our ward.
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- In addition to sliding on the bouncy slide, my son enjoys shaving cream mania!
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- Everyone had fun at VBS, including me!
When I was growing up in the Midwest, some of my friends attended Vacation Bible School during the summer. I thought this meant that they studied the Bible all week in one of their church classrooms. It sounded like Primary class all week long.
But when I moved to Texas, I found that nearly everyone attended VBS during the summer. In fact, in my community, tons of churches hang large banners with pertinent information about their upcoming VBS events and invite anyone interested to show up.
Since the time my kids were preschool-aged, they have been attending VBS at St. Thomas Episcopal church in our community. It’s a wonderful place! A few years ago, St. Thomas moved its VBS from the morning to the evening, to better accommodate family schedules. This time change means that children and adults are invited. One of the delicious perks of the new time is family dinner. Every night! And the food is tasty and plentiful.
Now that summer is waving at us from the month of June, I thought it would be fun to start thinking about this year’s Vacation Bible Schools, where ever they may be, and to remember last year’s festivities, whatever they were.
Do any of you take your kids to VBS? Any favorite themes or events?