Churches Celebrate Summer With Vacation Bible School

By Shannon Hicks

Two of Newtown’s churches welcomed children into their sanctuary and grounds last week, encouraging some light-hearted study of scripture away from the traditional Sunday morning setting. Many of the town’s churches will be offering Vacation Bible School during the summer; Newtown Bible Church and Newtown Christian Church, both on Sugar Street, were the first to present theirs this season.

At the Bible Church, children met at the 35 Sugar Street church for three hours each evening, July 16–20, for sessions of “Rescue Zone, Saved By God’s Power.” Children in grades pre-K through 6 spent time exploring Bible stories, playing games, making crafts, and enjoying music.

In keeping with the “Saved By…” part of this year’s theme, a few evenings also welcomed special guests to Vacation Bible School. One night the children met members of Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps, another night it was someone from the American Red Cross, and on Friday the children met three members of Newtown Police Department.

Patrol Officer Michael Edis, Patrol Officer John McClusky, and K-9 Officer Andrew Stinson spent time at the church, talking about their work as police officers and reminding the children of basic safety measures they should always keep in mind. The presentation began in the church sanctuary, with the police officers speaking with — not lecturing to — the children and their parents and VBS leaders about when to call 911 and when not to, how to tell if someone is a police officer, what their uniforms and equipment include, and even what to do if they ever see a gun.

After telling the kids that they should never touch a gun, that they should just find a police officer because guns can sometimes be triggered unexpectedly, Office Edis offered a perfect motto for everyone to remember: “If You See Something, Say Something.” In other words, don’t try to take care of an unsure or scary situation on your own, the kids were told.

Once the discussion about police work was finished, the children were invited outside to take an up-close look at a patrol car, and then even got to meet Baro, Newtown’s canine officer.

Taking The Plunge

Newtown Christian Church also offered its Vacation Bible School last week, inviting its youngest members and friends to “Take The Plunge.”

Also offered Monday through Friday evenings, NCC’s summer offering was an adventure that taught participants how Jesus used the very common element of water to teach some very uncommon lessons.

Students soaked up the Word, learning about obedience, worship, courage, faith, and service. Each day there was time to Take the Plunge at Raise the Reef Praises, Oceans of Motions, The Snack Shack, Craft-Away Cove, and Bibleland Bay.

Meanwhile, other churches in town are getting ready for their own presentations of Vacation Bible School.

Children entering pre-K through sixth grade will be participating in an Evening VBS at Christ the King called “Quest For Truth,” scheduled to run Sunday, July 27, through Thursday, August 2. An ecumenical VBS will be hosted at Newtown United Methodist Church, with participants also coming from Newtown Congregational, St Rose of Lima Roman Catholic, and Trinity Episcopal churches during the mornings of August 6–10.