Faith Alive: Vacation Bible School is in session

Children from preschool to sixth grade were invited to join St. Jude Thaddeus Church, Van Orsdel United Methodist Church, Messiah Lutheran Church and First Lutheran Church for Faith Alive Vacation Bible School, June 17-21 from 9 a.m to noon.

Activities have begun every morning at St. Jude Thaddeus Church where the counselors, who are students from Flathead Lutheran Bible Camp, have led the group in songs and prayer.

The three counselors who came to lead the Bible school this year, Kelsie Lew, Maria Vachlon and Anthony Markuson, are being hosted by volunteer families of participating churches.

Participants from first to sixth grade are led by the traveling counselors, and while the overall theme is Faith Alive, each day is focusing on a different lesson.

For example, Monday the children explored the Bible, and were taught to learn about themselves and God through Bible stories. Tuesday was focused on worship, and the students learned about the different ways of worship, including music. To further explore music as worship, said Lynn Benjamin, who is the arts and crafts teacher, students made musical instruments.

Tim Maroney, pastoral minister at St. Jude Thaddeus Church, said preschool- and kindergarten-aged students had a different program altogether.

The theme for younger participants was “climb the mountains,” and the lessons were based on Bible stories that took place on mountains, such as the story of Moses and the Ten Commandments.

Today is the final day of Bible school, and participants and families are scheduled to join in the fun at a final program held at Pepin Park.