Container Gardening, Auto Repair & Sumo Wrestling In The Parking Lot! --

Yep, Its Vacation Bible School Time Again!

Jay Horsley

Schools out, so the congregation's mail box has been filling up with Vacation Bible Schools fliers. I have come to appreciate VBS's. I had very little experience with them as a child, so I didn't know what I was missing. My children have learned much from dedicated teachers in those summer days dedicated to learning more of God's word. They've also sung songs about God and His people that they will remember for a lifetime.

The places I grew up never had VBS. My only experience with a VBS as a youth was while visiting my uncle who attends an institutional church. An older gentleman had the boys class and taught us Bible and life lessons that I remember to this day. There was a daily pot luck in the basement after each day's lesson, so social activities that the church is not authorized to do was always linked in my mind with VBS. Thankfully, I've seen that things do not have to be this way and my children won't have to grow up with such misgivings about VBS.

But think what we've been missing and what conception we would have of the church if we'd have gone to Houston's Southwest Central Church of Christ's VBS. Here's a sampling from their list of activities for each evening that we could choose from:

Sunday:

No regular evening worship, instead there will be an “Uncommon Worship” session with the Shady Acres Chorus.

Monday:

Container & Herb Gardening

Intro. To Genealogy

Intro. To Sign Language

“Uncommon Worship” session with the Spring Woodlands Praise Team

Tuesday:

Basic Auto Upkeep

Legal Issues For Senior Adults

When You Walk Through The Storm (Dealing With Crisis)

“Uncommon Worship” session with the Southeast Praise Team

Wednesday:

How To Prepare For Court

When We Can't Take Care Of Ourselves

Developing Discipline

“Uncommon Worship” session with the Sugar Grove Praise Team

Thursday:

The Alzheimer's Predicament

What's Changed Your Insurance

Learning To Rule Feelings

“Uncommon Worship” session with the Tomball Praise Team

Friday:

How To Settle Disputes

Preparing For The Inevitable (this is about physical, not spiritual arrangements - wjh)

Keeping Right Relationships

“Uncommon Worship” session with the Bammel Praise Team

Saturday:

Fun Day! for all ages. Featuring a giant slide, moon walk, obstacle course, sumo wrestlers and free food and drinks in the parking lot.

Sunday:

“Celebration Sunday” at Worship time with Special Presentations and Retrospective Video Slide of the week. “Special Praise and Worship Service” Sunday Evening featuring “The ZOE Group” Praise Team of Nashville, TN.

Aside from all the social, educational and recreational activities that this congregation engages in, the thing that caught my eye was all the “praise teams.” What's that? I was confused at first since I can't find any of these in my Bible. But their literature gave this explanation:

Gifted worship leaders and resource people, multi-media presentations, great communicators and meaningful worship activities will lead those who attend these sessions into deeper levels of worship. All who participate will be invited to lift their own voices in praise, along with enjoying the vocal talents of each evening's presenters.

So you can sing if you'd like, and if are able to follow along, just make sure no to interfere with those with “vocal talents” because others are there to “enjoy” them.

To emphasize the entertainment nature of these “choirs” (as their own literature calls them), two of these groups received special promotion. Under a graphic saying, “Choir Presentation,” was this description:

You are invited to hear the Shady Acres Chorus from the Shady Acres Church of Christ. The Shady Acres Chorus is directed by Kevin Barnes. They have a unique rhythmic a cappella gospel sound. This chorus regularly tours through the southern United States, and are in high demand. It is a privilege for us to have them for this special presentation. Come to hear this group sing, and be prepared for a high-energy evening of worship and devotion.

Of another group it says:

Do you enjoy a cappella singing? You are invited to a special singing featuring “the ZOE GROUP Inc.” The ZOE GROUP is a nationally acclaimed group of gifted worship leaders, who will lead those who attend this special singing into deeper levels of worship. The ZOE GROUP is based in Nashville, TN. Their repertoire includes uplifting music, stirring drama, choral reading & singing, concerts of prayer and more.  Come and see!

Do you think that this “deeper level” of “meaningful” “worship” was found from careful Bible study to find something that the rest of us have overlooked, or is this simply aping the denominations to put on a big show to get a bigger crowd? In which passagee of scripture can I find a “concert of prayer?”

But even as enticing as watching these “gifted worship leaders” with their “multi-media presentations” or “unique rhythmic sound” and “stirring drama” would be, I wonder how many people examined the list of offerings and decided instead to go to other parts of the church building so they could learn how to grow herbs in containers or fix their cars?