Auburn-area churches host Vacation Bible School

Memorizing multiplication tables and stressing over spelling quizzes is over for most kids, but churches are getting kids in their schools this summer to learn about something else - the Bible.From Bible stories to music to crafts to games, Vacation Bible Schools (VBS) at churches throughout the area have a message they want to give to people who do not go to their church and who do go to their church."The purpose of Vacation Bible School is to give kids a better understanding of who God is in the context of having fun," said Mark Hall, pastor at First Baptist Church in Auburn. His church starts its "Son Treasure Island" school at 9 a.m. June 19 and wraps it up on June 23 at noon with a barbecue. Kids going into kindergarden through sixth grade will learn about God's love through the songs they sing and the words they hear during Bible lessons. They will also have the opportunity to support a missions project that could include taking care of the needs of children around the world through Compassion International, Hall said. At Pioneer United Methodist in Auburn, VBS director Kristi Striplin said their fiesta-themed VBS will also be from 9 a.m. to noon between June 19 and June 23. "It's going to be like a big Mexican party," Striplin said.The church will focus on teaching children who are going into first through fifth grade about Jesus, Striplin said. This involves showing them Bible verses that say he is a friend, that say he is life and that say he is their helper, Striplin said. They will also memorize a Bible verse each day and see Jesus' characteristics incorporated into their activities. "It lets us take one week out of the summer and put the focus on the kids and let them be the stars of the church," Striplin said.Two other churches are going with the fiesta theme, but not until July. Auburn Grace Community Church will kick off their fiesta at 9 a.m. July 24 and go until noon each day until July 28, secretary Diane Custer said. Her church will have dramas and crafts for three-year-olds up to fourth grade that include some interesting cartoon characters."There's a little chili pepper named Pablo and a little cactus named Spike and the sun's named Ray," Custer said. The church's goal is to make children aware of Jesus through a Mexican theme, she said.Sierra Grace Fellowship in Auburn starts the party between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. July 24 through July 28, church secretary Vicki Jensen said. The church will have dinner before it starts its VBS for three year-olds up to fourth grade.Treasures will be on the mind of preschool through eighth grade children who attend St. Paul Lutheran Church's VBS with a "Treasure Cove" theme between July 10 and July 14."We're looking at our greatest treasure, Jesus, and relating Bible lessons of the day to that," Rev. David Toganski said.Vacation Bible School is so named because it happens when many students are not in school and are on summer vacation, he said. His church is also hosting an event for people of all ages from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Aug. 9.Between July 31 and Aug. 4, Celebration Community Fellowship of Meadow Vista will focus on The Chronicles of Narnia at Placer Hills Elementary School by dressing up in character costumes at different activities, said LouAnn Lee, women's pastor and worship leader. They will also have a store where kids from age four to sixth grade can cash in on their "good deeds.""If they behaved right, if they obeyed the teacher, if they said their memory verse, they're just rewarded for good behavior," Lee said. She said they teach children about the Bible at this event from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. each day for several reasons."We do it to reach the kids, we do it to bless our community and we do it 'cause it's a lot of fun."Two other churches are hosting VBS for both kids and adults.Bell Road Baptist Church of Auburn splits people up into three groups from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. between June 26 and June 30 for their courage theme, administrative assistant Emma Ballard said. Dinner, classes on the saints of the church, Bible classes and craft classes will fill up the time between June 22 and 25 at United Methodist Gold Country Community Parrish, planning committee member Georgia Cummings said. "We think that the church is really for all ages and so we like to do something when we can that involves all ages from the senior citizens all the way down to the littlest baby," Cummings said.The VBS will be held at Placer Hills Methodist Church from 5 p.m. to 8:15 p.m., and will also include dinner and building a float.Tanya Roscorla can be reached at tanyar@goldcountrymedia.com.