Think I'll sit down here for a bit... (3)

[dinkime]

we do one-day all day on a saturday VBS at my church (usually 1-2 a summer)

 

[DaSeminarian]

My vicarage congregation charges for VBS, but they always have a capacity attendance, over 100 kids. And all the other churches in the area schedule their VBS around theirs because no one would attend the other VBS's if they had it the same week.

To me this is so wrong. Charging people to bring their kids in. Isn't VBS supposed to be a source of evangelism for the church? To me that is like telling everyone that they are to send their tithe in before the church service and if they didn't they can't come in.

I realize that the materials cost money, but the church pays for it's own Sunday school materieals and doesn't charge extra for those why is VBS any different?

 

[DaRev]

To me this is so wrong. Charging people to bring their kids in. Isn't VBS supposed to be a source of evangelism for the church? To me that is like telling everyone that they are to send their tithe in before the church service and if they didn't they can't come in.

I realize that the materials cost money, but the church pays for it's own Sunday school materieals and doesn't charge extra for those why is VBS any different?

They've never had an issue with evangelism through their VBS. They seem to do quite well in that regard. Besides, all the other churches charge a fee for VBS as well.

The bottom line is, either have a successful VBS program that the church can afford to do with a minimal fee, or not have one at all because the church cannot afford it.

 

[LilLamb219]

We have anywhere from 50-100 kids each year and that includes the teens who help work VBS. We've never charged and I'm not sure if any other churches do charge in our area except for the Catholic ones.

 

[filosofer]

To me this is so wrong. Charging people to bring their kids in. Isn't VBS supposed to be a source of evangelism for the church? To me that is like telling everyone that they are to send their tithe in before the church service and if they didn't they can't come in.

I realize that the materials cost money, but the church pays for it's own Sunday school materieals and doesn't charge extra for those why is VBS any different?

[FONT= "Book Antiqua"]
I think this is something that the congregation needs to think through very carefully. Having VBS because "we always have" is not sufficient. What is the purpose of VBS? How does it fit with the overall purpose of the congregation? Who is benefitting?

Important questions to consider.

In Christ's love,
filo
[/font]

 

[DaSeminarian]

They've never had an issue with evangelism through their VBS. They seem to do quite well in that regard. Besides, all the other churches charge a fee for VBS as well.

The bottom line is, either have a successful VBS program that the church can afford to do with a minimal fee, or not have one at all because the church cannot afford it.

Seems to me that it is more a budget problem. The different church boards and the voters either need to make this a priority in their educational budget or as you say Rev, fuhgedaboutit. If you are trying to reach out to families that don't have the financial resources to put their children into a one-week VBS program they lose out. I don't recall Jesus telling the disciples to make sure they collect the cover charge before the Gospel is preached to the nations.

I also agree that there is a quality issue in how a VBS program is done. There is a lot of schlock in what certain companies are promoting for VBS. I know that most often CPH puts out some good stuff, but even they have gone a little too commercial in the kits they sell to churches.

VBS should be an expense the church finds a way to afford and budgets it accordingly. I would rather see the church eat the expense as long as the word of God is being heard. As you can tell, I have very definite opinions about this.

 

[latebloomer]

VBS has changed through the years. When I was a kid, it was every morning for 2 weeks. Now we have it in the evenings for a week and it's a family thing, not just for the kids. latebloomer

 

[LilLamb219]

There is a lot of schlock in what certain companies are promoting for VBS. I know that most often CPH puts out some good stuff, but even they have gone a little too commercial in the kits they sell to churches.

VBS should be an expense the church finds a way to afford and budgets it accordingly. I would rather see the church eat the expense as long as the word of God is being heard. As you can tell, I have very definite opinions about this.

I agree with this.

We don't usually buy the craft kits. There are 2 craft leaders; one for the 5-12 year olds and one for the under 5 group. I've been the older crafts leader for a few years now.

I generally spend $100 on crafts for the week and I plan for anywhere from 75-100 children. This year I've planned for 90.

I try to match my craft to the day's lesson and I do get ideas from some of the CPH crafts that they have available, but it just is too costly to use them all the time. I think last year was the first time we used them more than any year and we found at the last minute that we had to overnight some kits to us...ack.

So, this year I've made it so that I can have someone run to the craft supply store quickly if we run out. If anyone needs any ideas for their crafts and you're doing Quest for Truth, let me know and I'll share.

 

[TheCosmicGospel]

Seems like a missed opportunity if all the other VBS programs charge. A church might stand out in the minds of the other parents that are sending 2 or more of their kids to a number of VBS programs.

What about youth groups and going to the main youth gatherings? All 3 years are devoted to raising the needed cash. Just what are we telling the world about the work of the church when this goes on continuously with bake sales and car washes???? What are we teaching the kids?

Peace,
Cos

 

[Studeclunker]

VBS has changed through the years. When I was a kid, it was every morning for 2 weeks. Now we have it in the evenings for a week and it's a family thing, not just for the kids. latebloomer

I used to belong to Faith Lutheran in Riverside CA. They took the evangalism philosophy of VBS very seriously. The church would plan their VBS a year in advance, and they would then apportion a part of the monthly budget accordingly. Then the committe would solicit donations of all kinds of needs related to the years programme. The last two years I was there, they did the evening thing and served a full dinner to the entire family. It was enormously popular. Yes, it was also enormously expensive. Our budget was very strained, but we managed. By the way, there was no charge, though donations were encouraged.

 

[C.F.W. Walther]

Our church can hardly meet our budget but we have free VBS every year. We just budget and even have a lite dinner the last day. No charges for anything. If your in an area that charges it would be like babysitting for a week, but in our area nobody charges. We usually do the CPH format even with all the CD's, books and background if needed. Any donations we get we support Christian charities. I think last year we contributed over 200 dollars and had around 45 kids. I play the synthesizer to help the kids learn their songs, I've been doing it for the last 6 years.

 

[DaRev]

Our church does not charge anything for VBS either. But it's getting increasingly tougher to get volunteers to help out.
This year I am having a concurrent Bible study for the middle school youth who will also help out with various activities for the VBS. The CPH kit comes with a great companion study for that age group.

 

[LilLamb219]

The middle schoolers and high schoolers are awesome at helping out during VBS!!! They enjoy being role models for the younger ones

 

[DaRev]

The middle schoolers and high schoolers are awesome at helping out during VBS!!! They enjoy being role models for the younger ones

At my vicarage church the high school kids were more involved with the VBS than the adults were! Same thing with Sunday School! The youth involvement there was amazing, thanks mainly to the SELC Luther League involvement.

 

[DaRev]

Hey, Porter, what are you all dressed up for?? Hot date?

 

[Flipper]

We just got back from the Jubilee - it was her 70th year as a nun, not her 60th. No, she didn’t remember any of us off hand, but had some glimpses of memory where she recognized our faces, and realized we were relatives. She was still very happy to see us and very excited to have cake and punch. The whole thing was kind of sad and happy at the same time.


Now when I was little, we had to go to PSR class every week at our local church for our “church education.” It was on either Wednesday or Thursday nights. Anyway, some friends of Aunt Julie would teach some of the classes. If I ever cut up in class, Aunt Julie would find out. I saw one of my old PSR teachers there and went over and spoke to her. She just celebrated her 60th year as a nun. She didn’t remember me, but she remembered teaching at my church and some of the crazy things that went on there. She still sees the other nun we had for some of our classes. When she asked what my name was, I said “Flipper the Troublemaker.” She thought that was funny.

 

[DaRev]

When she asked what my name was, I said “Flipper the Troublemaker.” She thought that was funny.

Well, at least you were honest with the nun!

 

[porterross]

Hey, Porter, what are you all dressed up for?? Hot date?

Yeah, right! Just felt like a change to reflect my mood. It's a chick thing.

What are you doing, peeking in my window?

 

[DaRev]

Yeah, right! Just felt like a change to reflect my mood. It's a chick thing.

What are you doing, peeking in my window?

Would I do a thing like that?

 

[DaSeminarian]

Would I do a thing like that?

Hey everyone don't let the halo fool ya. He's as red-blooded american male as they come.