Uxbridge Baptist Church
Due to COVID-19, our normal VBS was converted to an online format in order to reach our Church and broader community safely. Instead of doing one full week of VBS, we stretched it out to be each Wednesday for five weeks. We prepared baggies for each day that the kids could come pick up from the church. It was a treat to see all the kids safely during the pick-up times outside.
The baggies would have a snack, a pin that had their Bible Point on it, and anything special that the kids needed for a craft or weekly challenge. Each week the kids received their 30-40 minute VBS video by email which follows a “normal” VBS day with games, songs, crafts, a skit, weekly challenges, and a Bible story that includes a Bible Point and Bible verse.
After the video we have three separate Zoom calls based on age, in which we dig deeper into the Bible story (taught by Pastor Kathy McIntosh) and give the kids a chance to share and ask questions. This allows the kids the opportunity to connect with us and their friends online.
VBS has been an uplifting time for us and a joy for all the travelers (kids). This year’s theme is Rocky Railway and the kids are learning that “Jesus’ Power Pulls Us Through.” We have close to 60 travelers registered, with some travelers even participating from British Columbia.
It is so much fun to see the pictures and videos that the parents will send to us of their children completing a craft or challenge. Our intern, Brooke Weir, has run the crafts which have been very creative. Each day the kids complete a craft that will come together on the last day to make a Rocky Railway scene. The weekly challenges and games are run by our other intern, Todd Winder, and have provided travelers with activities that are fun for the whole family and have created some friendly banter on our Zoom chats.
We are so thankful for the opportunity to run VBS, albeit in a different format, and are so excited to see how God is working in each of these kid’s lives!
