NEW MCKENDREE HOLDS VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL

Elise Graham, a volunteer at New McKendree's vacation Bible school.

Kindergartners and 4-year-olds listened, as they were instructed at vacation Bible school. The featured program this year was "Veggietown Values for the Family!"

Vacation Bible School ran through Friday at the New McKendree United Methodist Church, with the theme of "Veggietown Values for the Family."

A Bible school for children with the familiar "Veggietown" characters was a hit. The "Veggietown" characters taught godly values and have a proven appeal to children of all ages.

The theme for this year was geared toward building God's citizens ... generation to generation. The program provided a chance for participants to bridge age differences, learn from one another and obtain godly values that will last a lifetime.

The "Veggietown" characters, Bob the Tomato and Larry the Cucumber, helped communicate the ideas based on Colossians 3:12-14:

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

"The lessons are broken down into five sites," said Elise Graham, a Bible school volunteer. "They are kindness, forgiveness, gentleness, love and compassion."

For example, at the "Veggietown" restaurant, one of the sites, children were served kindness. The main course was sunshine soup. Each age group went from site to site for five nights, while the volunteers manned the same sites, and by the end of the program, were experts.

The Rev. John Rice had two of his own children at the Bible school last week.

Rice said, "This was a great experience for the church, it brings children and their families together in a unique way. At VBS all neighbors are welcome. This is a Christ-centered program, open to whosoever."