Vacation Bible Camp: Day Three

Welcome:  Give and Receive God’s Great Love! 
St Thomas Vacation Bible Camp, Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Another fantastic day at St Thomas Vacation Bible Camp!  Today was a bit different from our other VBC days because we had a church service with Holy Communion.   

The youth Story-tellers told the story of Zacchaeus and his quest to see Jesus.  Zacchaeus was a first century tax-collector, and at the bottom of the barrel as far as nice guys go!  He stole from the people he collected taxes from and was a most notorious sinner!  But when Zacchaeus climbed a tree to be able to see Jesus, Jesus took notice, and invited himself to dinner at Zacchaeus’ home.  Can you imagine?  Knowing that you’re not actually a very good person and yet you’re the person God chooses to be with?  As it turns out, when we invite God to be with us, we are changed!  Zacchaeus became a kind and generous person after spending some time with Jesus… it’s what happens for us too.  The story shows us that there is goodness in all of us, that every single one of us precious to God, and that when we let God in, life can change pretty dramatically. 

Tomorrow is our last day to host Congregations for the Homeless as the men will be moving to another church on August 1.  The youth brought your donations of clothing and toiletries to the altar during our church service today, and all of those items, along with the breakfast muffins the children made yesterday, were blessed and sent on their way.  Thank you again for sharing what you have with those less fortunate.  Although our collections for CFH are over, we continue to collect food for Bellevue’s Renewal Food Bank.  Six hundred children need snacks during summer school and we can help!  Your gifts of food will help insure that children who often receive their most nutritious meal of the day through public school lunch programs, will have nourishing food during the summer months when school is not in session.

We are delighted to be sharing this time with your children… they are surely a blessing to us!  Many thanks and blessings on you and yours, Karen †