VBS is on!

This is an intergenerational VBS, so there are not only tons of kids but adults participating. The church has been transformed into a Roman marketplace with seven or eight shopkeepers, a home-arrest room where Paul, while chained to Brutus, writes letters to the early churches, an underground church in a cave-like setting, and two areas of 1st century games to participate. Everyone is divided into Roman families (I belong to Cassius family, but there are 7 other familes) and we begin singing. As family groups we go to the marketplace to shop with three coins that have been given us (so we're able to go to two shops and the snack table), then to visit Paul as he talks with Brutus and us (his friends who visit), then to the underground church, then up to play games, and back to the Roman city as an entire group to Extoll (praise God, through song).

We learn scripture, tonight's verse came from Romans 12:2: Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is. (New Living Translation). I will remember this verse as the "transformer" verse because a little one in the family I belong to is really into transformers!

We ask questions of the shopkeepers: Are you Christian? How are Christians different from others living in Rome? The adults who are the shopkeepers are really playing their roles. Some are Christian, some are pretty antagonistic to "those people who call themselves Christians." It's been interesting to know that the view of how the Christians are different from others is a reflection of whether or not one is a Christian. Those who are, understand Christians to be generous and honest. Those who are not, understand Christians to be different, but not necessarily in a good and positive way, but just "weird or strange."

VBS will end on Thursday (it started Sunday evening) with an ice cream party and slide show.