Synod Spotlight: Community Vacation Bible School
Community VBS hosted by 7 ELCA congregations with participants from 17 congregations in the G-E-T area.
For the past four years, several churches from the north conference of the La Crosse Area Synod have collaborated to host a community-wide Vacation Bible School (VBS). The beauty of this ministry lies in how each hosting congregation contributes its unique gifts, skills, and resources each year. When combined, these offerings create a life-giving outreach ministry that benefits the children, the community, and the involved volunteers.
In 2025, we enjoyed another wonderful year of Community Vacation Bible School at Living Hope, alongside the ELCA congregations of Blair, French Creek, Hardies Creek/South Beaver Creek, Living Hope, North Beaver Creek, and Zion! As a community, we served more than 100 children, including enthusiastic young adult volunteer leaders. We were also fortunate to have five trained counselors join us this year from Luther Park Bible Camp in Chetek, WI.
Megan along with 60+ volunteers make this VBS possible.
Each day the kids gathered for large group worship and were reminded that God’s Family reaches into many families and communities.
VBS consisted of a hot meal served each day in the fellowship hall. Many of the children who participated in VBS came directly from summer school. One of the goals of this Community VBS was to provide continuous childcare from 8 am - 5 pm for families in partnership with the G-E-T school district.
This year, the theme “God’s Word Comes Near” came to life in multiple ways each day through Bible study, crafts, games, science experiments, community service projects- like trash pick-up & chalking the town, and a whole lot of fun music. As we embraced the essence of God’s Word through blessing, listening, serving, and following, we particularly enjoyed ‘Water Wednesday.’ On that day, Fire Chief Wade Noren and Gary McConnell from the Ettrick Fire Department brought a fire truck for the children to experience. Bishop Felix Malpica also visited to check things out and pray with the kids before they got soaked with the fire hose.
God Comes Near through Listening. Bishop Felix Malpica reminded the VBS children that God listens to them when they pray.
Although, this VBS had a ton of people involved, an intentional part of the week long ministry was to have small group Bible Study with a caring leader who cultivated life-giving relationships rooted in God’s Love with each child by name.
God Comes Near through Service. VBS children got to meet local fire fighters and learn about how they serve the community and get wet with the fire hose used as a sprinkler on a 90+ degree day.
Many remarkable seeds were sown in our community during the Community VBS. Over four days of programming, we provided meals and snacks for more than 100 children and youth. After our closing program on Thursday, we served dinner to around 150 people. We connected with youth and families from over a dozen churches, including individuals without any church affiliation.
Children looked forward to creating and wearing their God’s Word Comes Near t-shirts.
A HUGE thank you to all the Committee representatives from each of the organizing congregations. This event is only possible with the dedication and amount of planning this group does to make it happen. Thank you to all the volunteers who were able to help with our week at CVBS by providing food, decorating, and clean up. Thank you to those who donated money, supplies, food, water, and time. And finally, thank you to all the communities for uplifting this incredible event. It is also only possible with the vision and prayerful energy put into this event by the organizing congregation of Blair, French Creek, Hardies Creek/South Beaver Creek, Living Hope, North Beaver Creek, and Zion!
It is a great event that we can all take pride in.
Written by Lanie Baer, Living Hope Lutheran Church
