Do you know how big Noah’s ark actually was?
Do you know what Noah’s profession was while he built the ark?
Do you know precisely how long Noah and his family had to live aboard the ark?
Rest assured all the children who attended Peace Lutheran Church’s VBS certainly do. Each day the children learned more and more about the Christian faith through songs, crafts, prayers, and even lessons taught aboard the ark itself! (One of the Sunday school rooms was transformed into a room aboard the ark.)
On the first day the children learned about faith. The author to the book of Hebrews tells us that “faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” The children learned this lesson well as they helped build the ark, even though it looked like it would never rain. Yet Noah had faith and continued to blindly trust God’s Word.
During the second day the children learned how Noah was not only called to be a great architect, but a preacher as well. [2nd Peter 2:5] Together we heard how Noah preached God’s Word and invited everyone to come aboard the ark, but sadly no one listened. On this day the children finally boarded the ark along with all their animal friends.
On days three, four, and five life aboard the ark was rough. It became very crowded. There wasn’t much light. The animals were noisy and growing impatient. The ark itself began to smell like a barn with hay everywhere! Yet throughout it all the children knew that God would keep His promise.
All those who attended VBS passed their time aboard the ark much the same way Noah and his family probably did. Together we prayed. We sang songs. We encouraged one another by recalling many examples of how God had saved His people in times past. One day we all noticed the snakes and were told the story of Israel and the fiery serpents. [Num 21:4-9] We learned how Moses (a man born many years after Noah) was told to set a bronze serpent on a pole in order to save Israel much the same way God set His Son upon the cross for our salvation. Another day we noticed the sheep and learned how Christ is our Good Shepherd. (Luke 15:1-7) And still another day we saw the dove and heard about Jesus’ baptism and all the promises given to us in our own baptism. (Matt 3:13-17)
Finally on the last day the children learned how God had kept His promise to Noah. Gathered around a rather large rainbow we rejoiced by singing songs, eating pizza, silly stringing the pastor, and soon said our goodbyes. Some of the children and parents were even reminded how a church is a lot like an ark. In fact, at every child’s baptism we pray: “Behold now this child and bless him with true faith by the Holy Spirit, that through this saving flood all sin in him would be drowned and die. And grant that he may be kept safe and secure in the holy ark of the Christian Church.” (LSB, p. 269.) All in all this year’s VBS at Peace Lutheran church proved a great success. The VBS was six days long and attendance was up from last year. There has been talk that next year the lessons should focus on Moses and the children of Israel. Maybe than we all will build a pyramid, but I guess we will have to wait and see!
Peace Lutheran Church enters float in Oelwein’s fourth of July parade. This year’s float made many in the community aware of the church’s Vacation Bible School as well as Pre-K. Peace Lutheran Pre-K begins on September 3rd and meets on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. For more information please call the church office at (319) 283-5778.
Do you know what Noah’s profession was while he built the ark?
Do you know precisely how long Noah and his family had to live aboard the ark?
Rest assured all the children who attended Peace Lutheran Church’s VBS certainly do. Each day the children learned more and more about the Christian faith through songs, crafts, prayers, and even lessons taught aboard the ark itself! (One of the Sunday school rooms was transformed into a room aboard the ark.)
On the first day the children learned about faith. The author to the book of Hebrews tells us that “faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” The children learned this lesson well as they helped build the ark, even though it looked like it would never rain. Yet Noah had faith and continued to blindly trust God’s Word.
During the second day the children learned how Noah was not only called to be a great architect, but a preacher as well. [2nd Peter 2:5] Together we heard how Noah preached God’s Word and invited everyone to come aboard the ark, but sadly no one listened. On this day the children finally boarded the ark along with all their animal friends.
On days three, four, and five life aboard the ark was rough. It became very crowded. There wasn’t much light. The animals were noisy and growing impatient. The ark itself began to smell like a barn with hay everywhere! Yet throughout it all the children knew that God would keep His promise.
All those who attended VBS passed their time aboard the ark much the same way Noah and his family probably did. Together we prayed. We sang songs. We encouraged one another by recalling many examples of how God had saved His people in times past. One day we all noticed the snakes and were told the story of Israel and the fiery serpents. [Num 21:4-9] We learned how Moses (a man born many years after Noah) was told to set a bronze serpent on a pole in order to save Israel much the same way God set His Son upon the cross for our salvation. Another day we noticed the sheep and learned how Christ is our Good Shepherd. (Luke 15:1-7) And still another day we saw the dove and heard about Jesus’ baptism and all the promises given to us in our own baptism. (Matt 3:13-17)
Finally on the last day the children learned how God had kept His promise to Noah. Gathered around a rather large rainbow we rejoiced by singing songs, eating pizza, silly stringing the pastor, and soon said our goodbyes. Some of the children and parents were even reminded how a church is a lot like an ark. In fact, at every child’s baptism we pray: “Behold now this child and bless him with true faith by the Holy Spirit, that through this saving flood all sin in him would be drowned and die. And grant that he may be kept safe and secure in the holy ark of the Christian Church.” (LSB, p. 269.) All in all this year’s VBS at Peace Lutheran church proved a great success. The VBS was six days long and attendance was up from last year. There has been talk that next year the lessons should focus on Moses and the children of Israel. Maybe than we all will build a pyramid, but I guess we will have to wait and see!
Peace Lutheran Church enters float in Oelwein’s fourth of July parade. This year’s float made many in the community aware of the church’s Vacation Bible School as well as Pre-K. Peace Lutheran Pre-K begins on September 3rd and meets on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. For more information please call the church office at (319) 283-5778.
