The United Church of Christ in Elmhurst Will Hold Vacation Bible School in June

 The United Church of Christ in Elmhurst--Bethel, First Congregational, and St. Peter's--invites all children, from those entering kindergarten to students entering grade 8, to be part of its Vacation Bible School (VBS).  Those entering grades 6-8 are invited to be members of the Middle School Service Squad, which will undertake mini-service missions daily.

The fun begins Monday, June 11, and ends Thursday, June 14, from 9:00 a.m. until noon each day at St. Peter's UCC, 125 W. Church St., Elmhurst.  A VBS celebration and ice cream social will be held Thursday evening at 7:00 p.m. Registration begins April 15. Fees are $20 per child April 15-May 14 (includes a t-shirt) or $28 after May 14 (does not include a t-shirt.)  There is no on-site registration.  Scholarships are available; please check with individual churches.

Operation Overboard:  Dare to Go Deep With God takes kids on a journey miles below the ocean’s surface into God’s Word to find out what faith is all about.  Through interactive lessons in this action-packed adventure, kids will swim with humpback whales and seahorses, scuba through a vibrant coral reef, and take a personal submarine to the ocean floor, where eels and octopi play, meeting along the way people from the Old and New Testaments who show deep faith by depending on God, daring to care, claiming Jesus, choosing to follow, and changing the world.

If you’re a soon-to-be 6th through 8th-grader and are looking for a volunteer experience, you’re invited to be a member of the VBS Middle School Service Squad.  Daily mini-missions will focus on helping those in need in Elmhurst, DuPage County, and our world.  See what a difference you can make in 4 days!  The Squad will meet each morning at St. Peter’s and from there embark on its daily mission.

The first day, the group will partner with Francesca’s Amici to make 40 gourmet lunches for PADS, which is committed to ending homelessness by restoring hope.  On day two the Squad will take part in AMAZING GRACE, a scavenger hunt throughout town which highlights those who help others, finishing the morning by purchasing food for the Yorkfield Food Pantry, which serves those in our community.  The third day Squad members will spend time with people in the Elmhurst area who have special needs, and on the final day they will travel to Feed My Starving Children in Aurora, where they will package food for malnourished children.

Each year Vacation Bible School focuses on a mission to support throughout the week.  This year VBS participants will be collecting gently-used shoes to donate to Soles For Africa, www.solesforafrica.com.  This is an Elmhurst-based organization located at Elmhurst Photo Boutique.  Through its efforts, African children receive the gift of shoes, free of charge, to help keep their feet disease- and injury-free so they can walk to school.  VBS will be accepting donations of gently-used shoes such as sandals, flip flops, flats and gym shoes; no winter boots, please.

Come join in the fun!  Adult and high school student volunteers are needed to make the week a success. Please call 630-530-6000 for information and to volunteer.  Registration forms and Service Squad permission and release forms can be downloaded from Bethel’s web site, www.bethel-ucc.org; click on Vacation Bible School.