Pastor’s Message for June 2025

Greetings, Friends!

Summer is almost here. What a whirlwind year it’s been so far! It seems like Christmas was just yesterday and now here we are preparing for the summer, and with summer comes summer vacation. And with summer vacation comes Vacation Bible School.

The origins of VBS date back to the 1890s, when Sunday School teachers in different areas of the country began coordinating time to teach the children in their communities about the Bible during those months of the year when school was not in session. Over the years, the idea evolved into a nation-wide movement, and the length of the school term shortened eventually settling on a one-week program of learning, music, crafts, and snacks.

I remember many summer weeks in my childhood going to VBS. Those opportunities for learning and friendship were wonderfully formative. For years, I had a plaster set of Ten Commandments that I’d painted in VBS craft time on my wall in my room. (And yes, I had to fight the urge to smash them on the ground like Moses did!) I can’t remember anything particular about those days, just the feeling of love and caring that was on full display from the people of my home church. It told us that the congregation thought that the kids were an important part of the church, and worthy of the time and effort it took to make a VBS possible.

When I aged out of VBS, I became a volunteer, and eventually a teacher. Those early teaching experiences were times of growth and learning for both the students and for me. The influence of those early teaching experiences were part of those early nudges toward a life of teaching and ministry. And it was always fun! That was a requirement.

These experiences are moments that are so important, and why I am so grateful to have VBS in our charge again this year. VBS is an opportunity to connect with the young people of our church and community that changes lives. This year, we will be running VBS at the Monaca church June 23-27 from 9am-Noon.

Opportunities for volunteers are available, and I hope God might give an extra nudge to someone who is thinking about signing up! And of course, all children are welcome to participate. Maybe you have a child or grandchild who has some free time this summer to have an experience that might just change their life. There is information in this newsletter for how to sign up, and if you’d like more information please let me know. When we see the children gathered around Jesus, he didn’t just welcome them, he made them feel important. VBS is an opportunity for us to follow in his footsteps.

God loves you, and so do I,
Pastor Jim Sands