Advent Club and Easter Vacation Bible School
With the increasing secularization of Christmas and Easter the Children’s ministries felt it was important to provide an intensive time to teach the children about the true meaning of Christmas and Easter. After much prayer the following programs were added in order to counteract the pull of the world and promote a Christian view of these holidays. Both Advent Club and Easter VBS serves children from Kindergarten-7th grade.
December 2007 we added Advent club to our annual programs. Advent club meets the four weeks before Christmas. We meet from 9-12 am on the four consecutive Saturdays before Christmas. We have several goals for this program. One is to teach children about God’s plan of salvation. Another is to prepare children for Easter. A third goal is to give children a spiritual focus for the Christmas season. And a fourth goal is to provide children a way to make presents for family and friends.
We provide a serious Bible study time with stories based upon the Advent readings. The children learn traditional Christmas hymns in opening and closing assemblies. Unlike summer VBS the art time is more standardized. We give the children the opportunity to makes gifts or Christmas ornaments. This year the children made Christmas wreaths, necklaces and bracelets, cards, decorated cookies and much more. The Bible lessons covered: the Fall of man, God’s plan of redemption, the birth of John the Baptist, The announcement to Mary that she would give birth to the Messiah, and the story of Jesus’ birth.
Registration will begin Oct. 1, 2008
In March 2008 we added Easter VBS to the annual programs we offer our children and the community. Easter VBS is designed to be a fun and enjoyable time that thoroughly grounds the children in their understanding of Easter and its purpose. The theme this year was: Jesus is the Lamb of God. The children’s lessons covered the first Passover and the symbolism of the sacrificial lamb, that Jesus is the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world; why it is necessary for sin to be punished; God’s plan of salvation and the crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension of the Lord Jesus.
As well as the lessons the children were given craft and art opportunities. They made Easter baskets, decorated wooden Easter eggs, made sand pictures, and much more. We rounded out their experience with opening and closing assemblies where they learned Easter hymns and praise songs as well as played games and ate snacks.
Check this site later in the year for the dates for next year’s Easter VBS.
The celebration of holidays and the traditions that go with them are very important to children. Traditions can help provide continuity and stability, as well as fun and enjoyable time that children look forward to all year. At Soaring Oaks, the Children’s Ministries is developing a number of traditions that our children can work toward, look forward to, participate in, and remember fondly as they grow up. Corporately held traditions help promote a sense of community and belonging. The Christmas and Easter pageants are some of the annual events that our children and adults look forward to. Both of these events is one of the few opportunities for the children to serve the church.
As with Advent Club and Easter VBS we recognize the importance to counteract the increasing secularization of these two holidays. We believe that these two pageants help in this by giving the children something that is spiritually valuable to focus on.