VBS is the one week of the year when the church spends months planning decorations, crafts, lessons, and schedules… and God quietly changes lives through spilled juice, off-key singing, and children asking impossible questions. Author unknown.
This past week our parish became something unexpected and wonderful.
For a few days, the familiar hallways and classrooms gave way to Rainforest Falls Vacation Bible School—a place filled with color, songs, laughter, crafts, stories, and enough joyful energy to power the church for months. Oh, how I wish I could bottle that energy and enthusiasm!
At first glance, VBS can look like organized chaos with decorations, snacks, and children moving enthusiastically in every direction. But beneath all of that is something deeply sacred.
This was my first time to lead VBS since 2010. Throughout the week I was reminded that this once-a-year experience is one of the clearest pictures of the Church at work. It is adults, youth, and children coming together to experience God and the Gospel in living color.
Children arrive with open hearts and endless curiosity. They ask honest questions. They sing without embarrassment. They pray with confidence. They notice details adults often miss.
This week they explored stories of God’s faithfulness and discovered again that God’s love is not distant or abstract—it is present, personal, and alive.
As an Episcopal priest, I am always struck by how naturally children understand something we adults sometimes forget: God meets us through ordinary things.
Through water and song.
Through shared meals and friendships.
Through creation’s beauty.
Through kindness offered by volunteers.
Through moments of wonder.
This year’s theme, Rainforest Falls is not a random thing. Rainforests are remarkable ecosystems—alive, interconnected, and dependent upon countless relationships. In their own way, churches are too.
Rainforest Falls happened because so many people gave generously of themselves. Volunteers decorated classrooms, prepared materials, welcomed families, led activities, cleaned up messes, and showed extraordinary patience and joy. Parents adjusted schedules. Youth leaders stepped forward. Children brought their enthusiasm and imagination.
Thank you to every person who made this week possible. There are too many to name individually in this short space, but I especially want to thank Angela Stengl, our Director, for her hard work and leadership in making this week happen. You created more than a program. You created space for children to experience the love of Christ. And to all our volunteers, both youth and adults; thank you for your loving, sacrificial gift of your time and talents to help bring Rainforest Falls into being.
And perhaps one of the quiet surprises of VBS is that, while we hope children leave changed, the adults often do too. We leave reminded that faith includes wonder…that joy belongs in church…that hospitality matters…and that the Kingdom of God sometimes sounds like children singing at full volume in the nave and down the parish hallways. Jesus never said, “Let the children come to me after they have learned the words, sat still, and completed the craft correctly.” He just said, “Let the little children come.” And thank goodness for that.…for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Indeed, I assure you that the man who does not accept the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”
As we return to our ordinary routines, may we carry a little of Rainforest Falls with us—not the decorations, skits, and songs, but the spirit of gratitude, curiosity, and trust. Thank you all for a beautiful week and for allowing me to be a part of it.
On another topic: The deadline to register for our upcoming trip to the Holy Land is fast approaching, and Bonnie and I would like for more of our St. Dunstan’s family to join us.. Dates are November 12-24, 2026. We are keeping essentially the same itinerary we had planned for March, when the Iran Crisis forced us to cancel and re-schedule.
Many of you have asked if it is safe to go to Israel at this time. We spoke to Reuven, our friend and guide last week, and he assures me that groups are returning and that it is absolutely safe. As he is often says, “Tell the people who are worried about coming to Israel now that it is always now in Israel, Contact me if you are interested in joining us. A $300 deposit holds your place. Come be a part of the journey of a lifetime. This year in Jerusalem!
Grace and peace,
Fr. Steve
