Virtual Adult Vacation Bible School? Who even knew this was a thing? I was so thrilled when Reverend Alexis Engelbrecht, a dear friend from my time at Phillips Theological Seminary invited me to participate in an adult virtual VBS. Not only was I thrilled to be in her midst, if only virtually, but also to learn something new and in a new way.
I always loved VBS as a child. I am certain that I attended every VBS each summer in our neighborhood and it never mattered about the denomination of the church. I just loved being with groups of kids and adults to learn new songs, make crafts and have a snack. I mean, isn’t that what VBS is all about? Music, stories, crafts, and don’t forget the snacks!
Rev. Alexis partnered with a United Methodist church in Greencastle, Indiana to host the six-week series of virtual VBS. We completed an online survey so that she could be mindful in planning the lessons. Then, in true VBS fashion, we each received a packet of craft supplies in the mail!! It had a little bag of colorful beads, two of those scratch off bookmarks where you scratch out a design and colors appear, a little notepad, a fun rainbow pen, a few stickers and what would VBS be without some pipe cleaners….
We gathered each Sunday evening via Zoom to delve into the theme of “I was told, now I wonder.” It was a nice size group of folks from around the country, some from the church in Indiana and others who knew Rev. Alexis from various aspects of her different ministries. Following along with the theme, each week Rev. Alexis guided us with open ended questions stacked with historical and theological information. We discussed what we had been told about how the Bible as we know it came to be, what we were told about God, what we were told about Jesus, what we were told about heaven and hell and with each topic, we discussed what we now wonder about those things. Do we still hold the same beliefs about these things as adults? How has our belief changed, or has it remained the same? I loved this format because it gave a new perspective to topics that we often don’t discuss with others. I also found it interesting to hear about others’ experiences growing up with or without a connection to a church and how that connection or lack thereof has impacted their faith journeys now.
Alongside each week’s lesson, we were encouraged to jot down notes of things we thought of along the way in that cute little notepad from our mail package, to use the pipe cleaners as fidget tools, to scratch out a mindful message on our bookmarks and the best part was to make a bracelet with all of those colorful and whimsical beads. Those of us who were interested, then participated in a bracelet swap and mailed our homemade bracelets to someone from our virtual VBS world! Now, I’m not a Swiftie (as in Taylor Swift) but I understand the love that goes into making a bracelet and the connection that swapping homemade goodies creates so I was all in! I mailed a bracelet and received a bracelet from a precious fellow VBS crafter in Indiana! I think we are bonded for life now with our little plastic bead stretchy bracelets!
Is VBS from our childhoods about songs, crafts, and snacks? Some would absolutely say YES! But I would venture to say that VBS as either a child or an adult instills so much more into our spirits. It firmly plants foundational thoughts, processes, and theologies into our souls.
What are your memories from VBS? I would love to hear!