Vacation Bible Camp - Day 4

Today was a great day at St Thomas Vacation Bible Camp, and an excellent follow-up to yesterday’s thunderstorms!  Our youth Story-tellers told the story of Jesus and his disciples crossing the Sea of Galilee after spending a very long day talking with crowds of people… they were all very tired and Jesus was asleep in the boat.  As they were crossing over, a terrible storm came up!  The disciples were terrified and couldn’t understand how Jesus could possibly be sleeping through it all.  “Don’t you care that we are in this terrible storm and all about to die?” they cried to him!  And so Jesus spoke three very small but very powerful words… “Peace, be still.”  The storm calmed and the waters fell quiet and the disciples were amazed.  It made them wonder who Jesus could be, that even the wind and the sea obeyed him.    We talked about all kinds of storms that happen in nature, and we talked about the kinds of storms that happen inside of us too – storms of anger or hurt or loneliness.  And we thought about how Jesus could help us calm the storms inside of ourselves with his love and the peace that it brings.  In arts & crafts, we made lava lamps that are awesome and lots of fun, but also reminders of how sometimes we feel like we have a volcano inside of us that wants to explode, but we too can settle ourselves by talking and listening to God.  We sang lots of songs and are excited and ready to sing in church on Sunday – psalms and hymns and spirituals abound… parents, you’ll be surprised and delighted to hear your children singing so beautifully.  Outside, we romped and played “Peace, be still,” “Life-Boat” and “Stormy Seas!”  The peals of laughter coming from Medina Park during recreation time this week, can be heard all the way across the street and into the church… playing games together is great fun!

Thanks to all who brought food for Bellevue’s Renewal Foodbank.  Today we sorted and packed all of the food (there was a lot of food!) to take to the food bank.  We spoke of what a blessing it is to have so much more than we need, and how good it feels to share what we have.  We have completed our Vacation Bible Camp food drive, but you may still donate to our clean water fund, or purchase a MiiR water bottle which will also support clean water in the world.  Remember that only $1 will provide clean water for one person for a whole year!  

Tomorrow is our last day of Vacation Bible Camp.  It has been a joy, and we thank you for sharing your children with us.  They have delighted us in ways we could not have imagined!   Many thanks and blessings to you and yours, Karen †