A weeklong Vacation Bible School, hosted at Escalon Presbyterian Church, drew several dozen youngsters and was focused around the theme of ‘Illumination Station,’ featuring a variety of activities every day, June 22 through June 26.
It was open to students in four different class level groups, Pre K-K; first and second grade; third and fourth grade; and fifth and sixth grade.
Head teachers included Mady Fahey for the Pre K-K group; Andy Anderson for first and second; Michelle Sandoval and Laura Thompson for third and fourth; Joel Adams for fifth and sixth.
Each group also had a mascot and, with the theme being Illumination Station, they were each based on light. The youngest group members were known as Candles, followed by Flashlights, Lava Lamp and Disco Ball for the rest of the age/class groups.
Each day featured a rotation for the participants, taking part in crafts, music, recreation and snack, after an all-VBS gathering to start the day with some worship time in the church sanctuary.
On Friday, all participants had the chance to take the stage with their class group and perform songs for family members and friends attending the closing program, which ran from 11:30 a.m. to noon, and then was followed by a lunch at the church for all, VBS participants and guests.
Serving as coordinator was Lisa McCune, who said they had 50 VBS campers registered and had about 45 attend on a regular basis throughout the week.
“We’ve also had such good, energetic youth volunteers,” McCune shared, noting that many of them had attended VBS as campers when they were younger.
While Escalon Presbyterian Church on First Street served as the host site, the VBS was open to all kids in the community.
Goal of the VBS was ‘Shining a light on who Jesus really is’ and John 8:12 was used as the Bible verse to highlight the Illumination Station theme.
“I am the light of the world,” the verse reads. “Anyone who follows me will never walk in darkness but have the light of life.”
Craft projects during the week for participants ranged from special VBS T-shirts to picture frames, kaleidoscopes, bookmarks and more, many of them tailored to the age group. Recreational activities included outdoor games, fun with bubbles, bowling, tug of war, and fun competitions.
Creative snacks were also featured each day and the music portion of the VBS program got the kids ready to perform in the closing program.
“We’ve had a really good week,” McCune added. “It has been fun.”
Along with the VBS, McCune said the church also put on its Summer Fest for the community on Sunday, June 28. That ran from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. and featured a cornhole tournament, an ice cream contest, pickleball, burgers, waterslide, and other family-friendly activities.
