On the Move Crafts
Session One
Today’s VBS craft is intergenerational. The communally decorated bus points to the daily affirmation, “I will work with others for God’s justice!” Like Deborah and Barak in the Bible story, and Gloria Richardson during the Civil Rights Movement in Cambridge, Maryland, who led their communities to be “on the move” for justice, this activity is an opportunity for the entire community to work together to reach a common goal, recreating a symbol of the Civil Rights Movement, a bus. Participants will enjoy decorating the bus with slogans, affirmations, Scripture, color, signage, people pictures, and whatever else they desire. Upon completion, have everyone shout the affirmation, imagining a bus that is moving from place to place, spreading the word of God’s justice for all.
Session Two
Today’s VBS Bible lesson is located in Egypt. Contrary to what most people understand, Egypt is in Africa, the ancestral homeland of African Americans. Like the ancestors of many African Americans, Joseph was carried into slavery from his homeland of Canaan. While Joseph was in prison in Egypt, Pharaoh had a dream about seven cows coming out of the reed grass. Writing today’s word, greatness, in hieroglyph letters in a scroll or banner reminds us that in ancient Egypt, they wrote on paper made of reed grass, papyrus. Hieroglyphics was an ancient Egyptian form of writing. Additionally, Africans carried into slavery in America brought the skill of making baskets from reed grasses. They passed on the skill to their descendants and in South Carolina today, there are people who make baskets in the patterns and styles of those who came from Africa many years ago. Survival in a strange land requires a greatness of soul proven by Joseph in Egypt and those enslaved in America.
Session Three
Today’s VBS craft activities demonstrate the need for organization and God’s blessing on all that we do. In our Bible story, Jesus told the disciples to organize the people in groups of fifty before he blessed the loaves and fishes. After the people finished eating, the fragments of uneaten food were accounted for. The use of recycled materials in today’s crafts shows how to multiply blessings by putting everything to good use. The Civil Rights Movement was also most effective in Mississippi when the various civil rights groups were organized, as one, under the Council of Federated Organizations (COFO). As a result, the blessings of leadership, ingenuity, resources, and personnel were multiplied and used more effectively in the fight against poverty, hunger, and social inequity. Constructing the mancala board and playing the game, teaches the lessons of organization, counting, multiplying, and accountability. There are versions of the mancala game around the world, and especially in Africa.
Session Four
The Queen of Sheba knew her value. She had access to much treasure. But she knew that the treasure of God’s truth was the most important thing. And so she went seeking for it. King Solomon had great material wealth but he desired wisdom, knowledge, and truth most of all and did not mind sharing what he knew when the Queen came to visit. The jeweled picture frame craft is designed to help young children know that like royalty, they are greatly valued. At the same time, the jeweled box and treasure chest with scripture coins will help elementary-aged children understand that God’s truth is the greatest treasure of all.
Session Five
Even though participants will do this craft during age-level class time, these two easy craft activities are for all ages. Paul was a missionary who took the Gospel of Jesus Christ all through the Roman Empire. Yet, even Paul had a need for reconciliation in his relationship with a fellow missionary, John Mark, in order to continue to spread God’s word from place to place. The Bible keychain is a portable reminder that Jesus Christ came into the world to reconcile the world to God. After decorating the Bible keychain with stickers and streamers or making it into a bookmark, participants have a symbol of God’s word to keep or to give away as a sign of God’s reconciling love that indeed makes us sisters and brothers in Jesus Christ.