Zion’s Vacation Bible School

2024 Edition

Vacation Bible School 2024

Zion's Vacation Bible School was held August 19-23, 2024. The program, "Hometown Nazareth: When Jesus Was a Kid", featured events in the life of the Virgin Mary: The Annunciation, the Presentation in the Temple, the Flight into Egypt, the Boy Jesus in the Temple, and the Wedding Feast at Cana. Each day included the Bible story, crafts, music, games, science, and a snack all related to the lesson. The week culminated in a potluck supper and musical performance by the children.

We had 21 children, 7 teens, and 20 adults, including:

Planning: Peggy Kelland, Gwen Higgins

Publicity: Peggy Kelland, Steve Kelland, Father Alex, Doug McNeil

Shopping: Dora Ruf

Registration: Nancy Mann, Anne Friedland, Steve Friedland

Decorations: Karen Watkiss, Evan Watkiss, Emma Watkiss, Alexandra Rutledge

Opening and Hebrew Lesson: Fr. Alex

Music: Emma Watkiss, Alexandra Rutledge, Father Alex

Science: Sylvia Propfe

Bible Story: Nancy Rubsam, Marilyn Hill

Crafts: Kaylene Odums, Angelica Coronel

Games: Jade Trosa Hooten, Landon Odums

Snack: Marlena Norris, Jayda Motes

Assistants: Maya Hennebery. Kathy Pendzuk, Carlos Flores

Sign Out: Terri Rhodes

2023 Edition

We welcomed 23 children to this summer's Vacation Bible School, held from August 14 to 18 in Zion's parish hall. We had a staff of 4 teens and 9 adults from 5 different churches (Zion, St. Nicholas, Bethel Baptist, Community Methodist, and New Hackensack Reformed). The adapted program, "Stellar", presented Jesus, the Light of the World, through Bible stories, astronomy, crafts, songs, and games. The week culminated with a potluck supper and entertainment by the children.

We could not have done it without the many volunteers who gave their time and talents to the program. Thank you to:

Graphic Design: Chris Dorsey

Leaflet Door to Door Distribution: Peggy and Steve Kelland

Signs: Gwen Higgins, Peggy and Steve Kelland

Decorations: Karen, Evan, and Emma Watkiss, Alex Rutledge

Shopping: Dora Ruf, Marion Paskey

Registration: Steve and Alison Friedland, Chris Dorsey, Dora Ruf

Bible Stories: Nancy Rubsam, Marilyn Hill

Crafts: Arra Mowry, Maya Hennebery, Dora Ruf, Kaelynn Odums, Moriah Downes, Jennifer Klein

Science: Peggy Kelland, Landon Odums, Caleb Ceballos

Music: Father Alex, Iris Douglas

Games: Gwen Higgins, Caleb Ceballos, Landon Odums

Snack: Dora Ruf, Kaelynn Odums, Moriah Downes, Landon Odums

Sign Out: Terri Rhoades

Potluck Supper: Joy Maryniak, Chris Blatz, Dora Ruf

Custodial Support: Doug McNeil

Peggy Kelland

Vacation Bible School - 2022 Edition 

This summer's Vacation Bible School, "Look Up and Go: Stories about Moses", was held from 9:00-12:00 Monday-Friday, August 15-19, in Zion's parish hall and grounds. Karen Watkiss and her family transformed the parish hall into a striking recreation of ancient Egypt, the burning bush, and the parting of the Red Sea. We welcomed 22 children from preschool to sixth grade. Teachers/helpers included 6 adults and 9 teenagers. Each day included music, Bible stories, crafts, science, games and snack. "Egyptian Eyewitness News" updated us twice daily. We learned several songs about Moses: "Baby Moses", "Talkin' Moses", "Go Down, Moses", and "Go Tell it on the Mountain". Crafts included a felucca (raft), an ornamental collar, a sheep puppet, burning bush sand art, a frog, a seder plate, a chariot, a manna-gathering basket, a figurine of Moses, and a ten Commandments bookmark. Due to the favorable weather, science was held outside and focused on earth science: flooding of the Nile, mountain formation, volcanoes, earthquakes, and tsunamis. Games varied from "Hailterskelter" to water games, while snacks were also thematically related to the story of the day.On Friday evening almost 50 people (including the children) shared a potluck supper and enjoyed the children's singing and a recreation of one of the daily skits from "Egyptian Eyewitness News".

Special Thanks to the following people:
Graphic Design: Chris Darcy, Gwen Higgins
Distribution of Flyers: Peggy and Steve Kelland
Supplies and Craft Samples: Marion Paskey, Peggy Kelland, Gwen Higgins, Maya Hennebery
Scene-setting Decorations: Karen, Evan, and Emma Watkiss
Registration: Anne and Steve Friedland
Sign Out: Terri Rhoades, Nancy Rubsam
Egyptian Eyewitness News: Peggy Kelland ("Tut") and Gwen Higgins ("Cleo")
Music: Emma Watkiss, Dylan Sharroch, Alex Rutledge
Bible Story: Nancy Rubsam, Patty Wiersch
Crafts: Kaylin Ernano, Kaelynn Odums, Bella DiGirolamo, Alex Rutledge, Dylan Sharroch
Science: Karen Watkiss, Evan Watkiss, Caleb Ceballos, Nicholas Ernano, Ashton Vicente
Games: Gwen Higgins, Caleb Ceballos, Nicholas Ernano, Ashton Vicente
Snack: Alex Rutledge, Emma Watkiss, Dylan Sharroch
Potluck: Dora Ruf, Peggy and Steve Kelland, Maya Hennebery