"For as in one body we have many members, and all the members do not have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them."      Romans  12:4-6

I love Vacation Bible School. To see the program at the end of the week, my children and all their friends singing and dancing, the lessons they've learned about the gospel - it always makes me smile. I smile at the joy of the children and the adults who have worked with them. And then I say a quick prayer of thanksgiving that another year has gone by and I have not had to teach VBS!!!

My role in VBS, you see, has been to be the snack assistant, which means that mostly I hang out in the kitchen, wipe down tables and pour snacks into cups. During the final evening program, however, I sneak out early to scoop ice cream into bowls to prepare for the ice cream social portion of the evening.

But even the festive chaos of the ice cream social is not my favorite part of VBS. My favorite part comes at the very end - as we clean up the leftover ice cream and throw away the plastic tablecloths after a week of hard use. There is no official clean up crew for VBS, and yet the clean up happens because people pitch in to do what needs to be done. This year several families stuck around to fold up tables and chairs so the floor of the fellowship hall could be cleaned and to return the chairs and hymnals to their proper places in the sanctuary. No one had to stay. The paid staff would have made sure that things were ready for Sunday worship. But people volunteered out of love and gratitude for the VBS program, for the staff and for this small opportunity to live out the gospel.

Our VBS program is wonderful because we have fantastic leaders, teachers and activity directors, but it demonstrates the ways we are church as we clean up the fellowship hall. My gifts don't generally run toward teaching songs with motions or making crafts out of popsicle sticks or games that involve beanbags. But I can scoop ice cream and move chairs and thus become part of the body of Christ we call Vacation Bible School.

Almighty God, your Holy Spirit equips the church with a rich variety of gifts. Grant that we may use them to bear witness to Christ in lives that are built on faith and love. Make us ready to live the gospel and eager to do your will, so that we may share with all your church in the joys of eternal life; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen. (from ELW, p. 76)

Contributed by Linda T.
Sunday August 19, 2007
Liturgical Year C Week 38