“Journey with the Saints to the Mountains”

Summer is the time for Vacation Bible School! Each year in July Saint Michael and All Angels host VBS

on Fridays, 5:30pm-7:45pm. This event takes place after the holiday weekend, with the date night model for parents in mind. “Journey with the Saints to the Mountains” was this year’s theme. I created this curriculum, “Journey with the Saints” nine years ago after having watched “The Way” a film produced Emilio Estevez and Martin Sheen. The movie spoke to the archetypal journey similar to the Wizard of OZ. “The Way” is a pilgrimage and journey of friends making their way along the El Camino de Santiago de Compostela in Spain. Due to Covid19 restrictions, our “pilgrimage” program for children and youth was entirely outdoors this year. Fortunately, with the long California summer days and warmer temperatures, the pandemic safety guidelines were not cumbersome. Our evening began with check in, permission slips and photo release forms signed, and payments made by the parents who happily exit to return in two hours. We ask for a nominal fee because each January, due to the success of the program, we have learned to make budgetary arrangements. At the starting point, each child was given a backpack, pretend passport (which gets stamped along the way) and a lanyard. This year, I added colorful broad brimmed hats to the online purchase cart. Friends of mine helped paint the sets of the mountains on the backs of voting booths. I had originally thought about the theme on mountains in the Bible because there are plenty! How God meets and visits his people on the mountain tops can be found in many of the stories of the Bible. Mount Ararat, Mount Sinai, Mount Tabor, Mount Zion, Mount of Olives and the Sermon on the Mount. “As the mountains surround Jerusalem so God surround his people from this time forth and forever.” Psalm 125:2 and “I will lift of mine eyes to the hills, from whence come my help?” Psalm 121. My wish has always been to instill in children and youth the understanding of the bigger picture of other cultures and finding God and the ministry of Jesus in whatever city or location that they travel. I want to be ecumenical and interfaith. The second Friday night I will be talking about the iconic mountains around the world, Mount Fuji, Mount Kilimanjaro, Mount Everest and Mount Zermatt. We typically run four consecutive Friday nights in July and the beginning of August. But once again, the pandemic scaled things down a bit. Last summer we had only one VBS night, this year, I made the call to extend it to two, as the children and youth look forward to this event.

On our North Wing patio of our church, all the children and youth gather to hear a short teaching

time and reflection on the Gospel message. I lead this part out each year as I know once we get started

on our pilgrimage, I will be spending most of my time corralling the sheep as we journey together in a

big group, ages three years old to thirteen. This year, I have a Saint Bernard puppet named Oliver and a bald eagle whose soaring wing-span is delightful. I will talk about Saint Bernard de Menthon or Bernard du Mont-Joux, the Archdeacon of Aosta and his hospitality and sharing the gift of safety, food and compassion to weary travelers making their way to a holy spot. Christian compassion and

lovingkindness and self-sacrifice, the Hebrew word of hesed is often embodied in hospitality. After the

teaching time, the children and youth will pilgrimage our outdoor labyrinth and into the campus

gardens. It will be here that they hear more stories shared by our parishioners. The children will see Beth of Galilee, Myrna’s Mountain and a guest appearance made by Moses. Moses will be at the foot of

Mount Sinai and beside the Burning Bush! Craft time will follow as well as dinner served on the patio.

We have found that mac and cheese, dinosaur chicken nuggets, slice apple, carrots, cookies, pita chips

and hummus are a tried-and-true menu. As children finish at different intervals, I have colored chalk on

the patio waiting for the whim of the budding artist. One of the highlights for the children is being able

to pick a toy, puzzle or game from the “prize table”. Hot wheels, Play Doh and or a rubber ball seems to always be the favorites. Free time to play is also a favorite at the end of the evening before it is time to go home. This year, we added a final time of regrouping together in a circle to share around a make-

believe campfire. Pinecones and Talking Stick were an addition. My prayer each year is always two-fold,

that children remain safe and happy. The Lord has always answered in a marvelous way, and I am

thankful.

https://www.growchristians.org/2021/07/22/journey-to-the-mountains-at-vacation-bible-school/