Children's Ministry
Upcoming Events & Programs:
Vacation Bible School 2011 - June 20-24, 9 am -12 noon
Grab a vine, brave the rapids, and prepare for a BIG JUNGLE ADVENTURE!
Preschool through rising fifth grade kids (and volunteers!)
won't want to miss a minute of this amazing
week of Vacation Bible School at Bethany! We’ll be going wild for Jesus! Be a part of
it all.
June 20th through the 24th, from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm.
We’ll all share in interactive and engaging activities and kids will learn about Jesus' amazing love! With such characters as Bobo the Gorilla and Humphrey the Hippo, kids will experience Bible stories like the “Rockin’ Red Sea Rescue” from the book of Exodus and the “Mighty Mountain Mission” from the book of Matthew.
Participants will be able to visit Bobo’s Banana Hut for yummy snacks like fruit filled Bagel Baskets, take part in making some cool crafts and play some exciting “Go-Wild” games!
And as for our yearly Vacation Bible School Mission project, we’re asking kids to bring in their change for the “Nothing But Nets” campaign to fight malaria.
Did you know that malaria is preventable?
Every $10 we collect buys an insecticide-treated net. This gets draped over the beds of
families in Africa so they will be protected from the mosquitoes while they sleep. Kids
will learn how they’re help can reach across the globe to help others! Pretty
awesome, huh?
It is my hope that with an energetic and compassionate team of Leaders; the whole experience will leave children full of God’s love!
Registration forms, supply cards and more are available on the bulletin board near the Warren Belvin fellowship Hall so come check it out!!
We’re due to have an awesome week so come with us and step into the jungle. . . it's time for your journey to begin!
VBS Volunteers Needed!!
Do you love the Lord? Do you love children? Then you’ll love being an important part of Bethany’s Big Jungle Adventure Bible School! Station Assistants, Group Leaders and Jr. Group Leaders are still needed! Come and join us as we follow Jesus through the Jungle! Don’t forget to check out the VBS bulletin board for donation cards, decorative items that are required for our transformation. Parents and Grandparents: we are offering pre-registration for all four year olds thru rising fifth graders now!
Contact VBS Director, Kris Kent at 642-6438 or kentcrew@cox.net.
VBS Director and Christ’s Servant,
Kris Kent
Detailed Description: Here is a more detailed description of our week long VBS Journey Through the Jungle:
Are you ready for the adventure of a lifetime? Begin your
faith journey with a dramatic rescue and finish with eternal glory. Five Bible stories
focus on Jesus' work for His beloved children.
Key Theme:
A Faith Journey with Jesus
Theme Verse:
The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into His heavenly
kingdom. To Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen. 2 Timothy 4:18
Grab a vine, brave the rapids, and prepare for a BIG JUNGLE ADVENTURE! Kids (and volunteers!) won't want to miss a minute of this big adventure where they can go wild for Jesus! Complete with interactive and engaging activities, kids will learn about Jesus' amazing love all day, every day.
Day 1
Bible Story: Baby Moses Rescued (Exodus 2:1–10)
Take Home Point: God takes care of us through Jesus, our Savior.
Bible Memory Verse: 1 Peter 5:7, “[Cast] all your anxieties on Him, because He cares
for you.”
Location:Visit Falls National Park. The Big River cuts through a rock escarpment only six
meters wide.
Animal Connector: The Kob is a medium sized antelope species which hides in the water or
reeds to escape from predators.
Day 2
Bible Story: Crossing the Red Sea (Exodus 14:10–29)
Take Home Point: Jesus rescues us from our enemies—sin, death, and the devil.
Bible Memory Verse: Psalm 18:2, “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my
deliverer.” PK: “The Lord is my rock.”
Location: Jinja (Literally, “rock” or “place of flat rocks.”) One of
the few places you can cross the Big River on foot. Launching spot for river adventures.
Animal Connector: Hippos live along the full length of the Big River. While they may
appear to be cute, at the same time they can be extremely dangerous.
Day 3
Bible Story: Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:14–16, John 8:12)
Take Home Point: Jesus is the Light of life that we share with others.
Bible Memory Verse: Matthew 5:14–16, “You are the light of the world. . . . Let
your light shine before others.” PK: “Let your light shine.”
Location: The Impenetrable Forest Park. The terrain here is difficult and rugged. Those
who want to see the elusive God’s Word challenges us to live as a light in an
unbelieving world.
Animal Connector: Mountain gorilla—scientists estimate there are only 600 mountain
gorillas still living in the wild.
Day 4
Bible Story: Peter and John Run to the Empty Tomb (John 20:1–10, 19–21)
Take Home Point: Jesus rose from the dead to save us.
Bible Memory Verse: Luke 24:34,“The Lord has risen indeed.”
Location: Valley National Park is the most remote of the park in the country.
Animal Connector: The cheetah is fastest land mammal on earth. The running cheetah can
serve to remind us of Peter and John’s footrace to the empty tomb.
Day 5
Bible Story: John’s Vision of Heaven (Revelation 21:10–22:5)
Take Home Point: Jesus, our Savior, prepares our heavenly home.
Bible Memory Verse: Revelation 2:10, “Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the
crown of life.”
Location: The Mountains of the Moon, are the highest mountain range in the area.
Animal Connector: The Rwenzori turaco is a brightly-colored bird found only in the
Mountains of the Moon.
Past Events:
VBS 2010
Journey to Ancient Egypt
Imagine living in a dusty, bustling, noisy
city along the Nile River in ancient Egypt…you’d gossip about Pharaoh’s
palace, work with people that followed countless gods and perhaps
hear about a “dreamer” that Pharaoh put in charge. Well,
you don’t have to just imagine for long because
Each day children will experience
Celebration Time in the sanctuary, Family Time with their Group Leaders, they will travel
with Joseph’s on his journey, play awesome games at the Pyramid Playground and shop
with real silver coins at the Marketplace! Along the way they
will be looking for God Sightings and experiencing mission work first hand as they hand
tie blankets for children with AIDS in
Do you love the Lord? Do
you love children? Then you’ll love being an important part
of
Contact VBS Director, “Queen Vee Bee Essah” (a.k.a. Kris Kent) at 642-6438 or kentcrew@cox.net. Shukran!
Past
Events & Programs:
Pictures from Camp Edge - Summer 2009
Our Campers and Volunteers
A Trip to the shores of Lake Galilee
A Church Safe for Children
Several years ago Bethany UMC approved a Child Protection Policy for its children’s and youth ministries. The policy involves a comprehensive process of screening, training, and monitoring all Bethany staff and volunteers who work with children and youth in order to minimize the risk of child abuse. Part of the policy specifies that adults shall work together in teams of least two in all church classes and with all church activities involving nursery age through senior high. Recently, Jo Ann Lewis was chosen as Child Protection Administrator for our church. She is being trained by the Virginia Conference to lead our program here. We anticipate the full cooperation of all of our staff and volunteer workers as we gear up to full compliance with our policy.