On Friday, July 22nd I had an exciting opportunity to attend the closing ceremonies of the Bardsdale United Methodist Church's Vacation Bible School. This year's theme was the “Shake it Up Cafe Where Kids Carry Out God's Recipe!” This year the Bardsdale United Methodist Church's Vacation Bible School started on Monday, July 18th and ended on Friday, July 22nd. There were a total of 83 registered children ages 2 years to 14 years who attended each day from 9:00 am. to 12:00 noon at the Church. The cost to each participant was $10 which also included daily healthy snacks.

The Director of this years program, and for the previous four year's, Sharon Hurd, told me there were 14 staff, 31 volunteers and 10 youth leaders participating and assisting in this year's Vacation Bible School. Of the 83 children ten were Pre-Schoolers. The Bardsdale United Methodist Church's Pastor Kent Fromer told me, “We couldn't have done this program and the programs year after year without the hard work of the Vacation Bible School Director Sharon Hurd and all the hard work of the many volunteers, youth leaders and staff! Sharon begins preparing for the Vacation Bible School months in advance and works many hours selecting the theme and lining up the volunteers and staff in order to have a meaningful Vacation Bible School!”

One of the staff members explained to me the choice and meaning of this year's theme: “The theme for this year's Vacation Bible School, Shake it Up Cafe was chosen because Jesus calls us to “shake up” our lives and become his followers. The Bible gives us the recipe and the Vacation Bible School introduces the children to stories of biblical festivals that reveal these ingredients and link the Old Testament, the New Testament, and our lives today. Each day a different lesson was selected and a recipe utilized as a teaching tool; Israelites Celebrate Passover, Festival Celebrations for the Israelites, Jesus Celebrates the Festival Booths, Jesus Celebrates Passover and Celebrating the Festival of Weeks and Pentecost.”

In addition to learning the daily lessons each participant was taught the lesson of giving to others less fortunate and were encouraged to bring a daily donation to be shared equally between two selected causes. The first cause to help feed needy families and individuals through the Saint Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Fillmore. The Church serves daily meals to 110 people at their Church. The other is the Canine Adoption and Rescue League (C.A.R.L.) in Ventura County. C.A.R.L. advocates for animal welfare, seeking to end the needless deaths of companion animals through adoption, education and outreach programs. At the end of the week $225 had been collected and divide equally among the two selected programs.