This past week, Immanuel Lutheran Church in Alpena hosted more than 90 children in preschool through fifth grade for their evening VBS.

Pastor Jim Erickson said Immanuel’s VBS has been offered in the evenings for the last 20 years or so, to make it easier for working parents to get their children to the church after work.

“When you have it in the evening, one parent is usually free by 6,” Erickson said.

VBS Director Amy Schultz coordinated programming, Erickson and Immanuel Lutheran member Doris Puls led the teaching, and Associate Pastor Josh Schultz was the emcee. The pastors said it takes about 40 volunteers to put the whole thing together, from decorations to craft and lesson leaders to snack providers and everything in between.

News Photo by Justin A. Hinkley Vacation Bible School Director Amy Schultz on Tuesday at Immanuel Lutheran Church displays a “best plate of rice and fish” — a play on the breastplate of righteousness discussed in the Bible — to the kiddos participating in the church’s Vacation Bible School.

The kiddos have a blast at VBS, which has a different theme each year.

“This year, it’s called ‘Keepers of the Kingdom’,” Erickson said. “It’s really about truth, and the importance of absolute truth in the scriptures, and being armed with the truth while we do battle in a broken, sinful world.”

Children learned about putting on the full armor of God, detailed in Ephesians 6, which talks about the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, the shoes of peace, and the sword of the spirit.

“The reason why we picked this theme this year is because we’re trying to get the kids, and the parents, along with it, to be thinking about this world that we’re living in,” said Associate Pastor Josh Schultz. “We’re really highlighting that truth is found not in the world, but in God’s word. We just really want to make sure that kids know that.”

He said VBS is a nice refresher for kids to remind them to think about God during the summer.

News Photo by Justin A. Hinkley Pastor Joshua Schultz of Immanuel Lutheran Church leads participants in Immanuel Lutheran Church’s Vacation Bible School in song on Tuesday at the church.

“For us, we don’t have Sunday school during the summer, so VBS is like five days of summer Sunday school, and reminding kids that we don’t take a break from these things,” Schultz added. “You don’t take a break from church. You don’t take a break from Jesus for the summer.”

Erickson said the children learn a lot in a very fun way.

“It’s really one of the highlights of their summer,” Erickson said of VBS.

Darby Hinkley is Lifestyles editor. She can be reached at 989-358-5691 or dhinkley@thealpenanews.com.

Area VBS offerings

News Photo by Justin A. Hinkley Art Hoch, second from right, a volunteer with Immanuel Lutheran Church’s Vacation Bible School, on Tuesday takes pictures of Vacation Bible School participants behind a picture that makes them look like a knight while Linda Woytaszek looks on.

If you missed the Immanuel Lutheran Vacation Bible School, there are still upcoming opportunities for your children to participate in free programs offered by area churches.

Here are some upcoming free VBS options:

Living Hope Church

1499 M-32, Alpena

July 31-Aug. 4

News Photo by Justin A. Hinkley Brielle Avery, 6, sings during Immanuel Lutheran Church’s Vacation Bible School on Tuesday at the church.

Grades K-6

5:30 to 8 p.m.

NORB-E: An Out-of-this-world Mission to Discover God’s Glory!

Friday is family night with a hot dog dinner.

Questions: Sue O’Neill, 568-216-1177 or Shannon Meek, 630-456-0707

News Photo by Justin A. Hinkley Clare Schultz, 11, works on a breastplate of righteousness craft during Immanuel Lutheran Church’s Vacation Bible School on Tuesday at the church.

Hope Lutheran Church

5462 Nicholson Hill Road, Hubbard Lake

Aug. 1-3

Grades K-5

9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Stellar: Shine Jesus’ Light!

Lunch and snacks provided.

Questions/registration: 989-727-3206

St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church

Starlite Pavilion at Starlite Beach, Alpena

Aug. 1-3

Ages 4 through fifth grade

6 to 8 p.m.

Splash into God’s Word!

Wear clothing that can get wet as you learn about God in a fun way!

Questions: 989-356-1658

News Photo by Justin A. Hinkley Eleanor Stevens, 10, works on a breastplate of righteousness craft during Immanuel Lutheran Church’s Vacation Bible School on Tuesday at the church.

News Photo by Darby Hinkley Some of the materials for Vacation Bible School at Immanuel Lutheran Church are seen recently at the church.

News Photo by Darby Hinkley Some of the decorations for Vacation Bible School at Immanuel Lutheran Church are seen recently at the church.

News Photo by Justin A. Hinkley Participants in Immanuel Lutheran Church’s Vacation Bible School on Tuesday sing “trust in the Lord, take up your sword” at the church.

News Photo by Darby Hinkley Some of the decorations for Vacation Bible School at Immanuel Lutheran Church are seen recently at the church.

News Photo by Darby Hinkley Associate Pastor Josh Schultz, left, and Senior Pastor Jim Erickson stand in a hallway at Immanuel Lutheran Church, decorated for Vacation Bible School by Suzanne Thibault.

News Photo by Justin A. Hinkley Lauren Larsen sings and dances with Nathan Larsen, who turns 1 later this month, during Immanuel Lutheran Church’s Vacation Bible School on Tuesday at the church.

News Photo by Justin A. Hinkley Taylor Thornton, 10, works on a breastplate of righteousness craft during Immanuel Lutheran Church’s Vacation Bible School on Tuesday at the church.

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