It’s Over

The shuttle came down, the black skies of space were ripped off, the planets and stars stored away. Instead of the shuttle door, the sanctuary will be wide open to crowds on Sunday.  Moon rocks and landers have been removed and the choir loft again holds chairs, ready for hymns.  The Big Jumpy Things that covered the yard returned to folded pieces that fit into the backs of pickups and went home.

Unless you were at Vacation Bible School, it is as though it never happened, but it did.

Decisions were made this week that will affect individuals and families for years to come.  Children were introduced to each other and made friendships that will last.  Teachers gave and received hugs, praying they would see these children in their Sunday School classes.  Many wouldn’t be coming back on a regular basis.

There was a young brother and sister we invited that won’t.  They spend their summer days helping their Mom at a local restaurant. We were in there for lunch on Monday.  Second Daughter, her niece and nephew were with us.  The children fell into the same age groups and we had fun chatting with them.  She asked, they were interested and the next day one of our vans brought them in.

First Gil (granddaughter-in-law) took photographs all week and one of them is of this young gentleman in group, bright and shiny-eyed, excited and having a great time.  I took a copy to him Friday morning and his Mom looked just as happy about as he was.  Those are the moments!  But, they have a church home of their own and are happy there.  We’ll see them on special occasions, but not on a regular basis.

The workers – and there were many!! – put in hours before hand in preparation, and hours afterward returning the church to pre-VBS cleanliness.  Each day Fellowship hall held five tables full of children every half hour until all were refreshed.  Each day Youth, too old for the classes yet too young to teach, saw to children’s safety as they enjoyed the Big Jumpy Things to their fullest.  Each day there was check-in for attendance, penny counters for offerings, song leaders, skit performers, people in all areas working with and praying for the children.

Why?

For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children: That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children: That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments: (Psalms 78:5-7 KJV)

These workers who display God’s love for man (1 John 4:19) also have beautiful feet, as Paul expounded upon Isaiah 52:7:

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! (Romans 10:13-15 KJV)