June 4, 2015

 

Dear MLEPC Members and Friends:

 

Did I get your attention with the title of this Pastor's Letter? I hope so, because we are in serious need of volunteer assistance for our upcoming Vacation Bible School scheduled for Monday, June 22, through Friday, June 26. Large gaps have to be filled. Yes, we've run appeals in the church bulletin, newsletter, and elsewhere. Our Children's Director Ashley Gardner has addressed the matter to us during Sunday morning services. But the need continues, so I am adding one more shameless request for help.

 

Before listing the areas available, let me remind us why VBS at MLEPC is totally worthy of our support. We anticipate between 250 and 300 children participating with a very large percentage of them coming from outside our congregation. While VBS is one of many fine venues in which we help our own MLEPC young people to grow in faith, it is a primary setting for reaching out to unchurched children in the South Hills. It's evangelism to kids! And it is evangelism to their families who join us on Thursday night (June 25) for a program and dessert afterward. Ashley says that the theme for this year is for the kids "to learn that God has the power to provide, comfort, heal, forgive, and to love us forever." What a great message! So let's get it out effectively with a full complement of volunteers.

 

This being said, according to Ashley here are the current needs:

• Donations
  • Aluminum cans
  • Fabric
  • Wire coat hangers
  • Food for the hospitality room
• Volunteers
  • Prior to VBS
    • Help to prepare crafts materials
    • Collect sticks
    • Assemble the set and decorate rooms and the Sanctuary
  • During VBS week (Come the whole week or even 1 or 2 days!)
    • Mornings --Registration, teaching, music, crafts, gym, running the sanctuary sound board, hospitality, prayer
    • Afternoons--Adult chaperons for Travel Camp; adult chaperons for middle school madness
    • Evenings--Prepare VBS snacks for the next morning (1 hr of work)
  • After VBS--Help with taking down decorations and cleaning up rooms

As we can see, there's something for everyone to do, and most of the tasks simply require us to be available with loving hearts and willing hands. A spot for us is available if we are a single individual. Or if we belong to a family, why not make this a family service project? The Janiszewski family members at MLEPC--Juli, Rob, and I--look forward to working under the direction of the VBS leadership team that week. And we know it will be fun!

 

One of my first vivid memories of my ministry at our church was VBS 2007. I had served at three previous churches in which VBS was fairly small and not a point of emphasis. So naturally, my expectations weren't their highest. Then I walked into the Sanctuary for the first Monday morning session. I was totally blown away. It was fantastic. It was amazing.

 

It will be fantastic and amazing this year for VBS 2015. But to help make that happen, we need your help. Please contact Ashley Gardner (agardner@mlepc.org) to find out what you can do.

 

Pastor Tim

 

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