SUMMER TIME FOR BIBLE SCHOOL

On one side of the Fellowship Baptist Church's sanctuary, about 30 teachers and students nestled in pews awaiting the procession of the flags and Bible. It's Thursday afternoon, the fourth day of vacation Bible school, which began June 12 at the Cape Girardeau church.

The Rev. Mike Dugan cajoled the procession to the front of the church decorated with paper murals of sea weeds and sea life along the altar railings. The Bible school's theme: "Good News Ocean Odyssey: Diving into the Depths of God's Faithfulness." As the flag bearers and Bible bearer walked to the front of the church, a couple of college students from the Baptist Student Union Center at Southeast Missouri State University led the group in a song.

The three children one bearing the American flag, one bearing the Christian flag and one holding the Bible stood on the platform at the front of the altar of the church.

Pastor Dugan, who has been at the church since April 1999, led the group in pledges to the flag, the Christian flag and the Bible as the words to the pledges were projected onto the wall at the front of the church.

There was a pledge to Jesus, and then two of the college students led the singing of some songs.

Along with the program and materials provided from the Southern Baptist Association was a video that told the story of ocean scientists being trapped in an undersea vessel. The scientists had withstood an earthquake and were waiting for help from their crew above water.

The theme for the day was commitment, and Dugan spoke to the children about their commitment to God. It was part of the ABCs of being a Christian the children had learned during the week. A stood for Admit that you are a sinner, B is for Believe in Jesus as the son of God and C is Commit to becoming a Christian.

Scenes similar to this are occurring throughout the area this summer as churches either have already held or are planning to hold summer vacation Bible school.

Fellowship Baptist at 830 Koch Ave. is a small church of 100 members.

After Dugan's talk, the children gave a collection to the church's missions work. Dugan had skipped his usual talk on missions this day.

Another song, and the children were sent off to their Bible reefs or classrooms.

Keeping with the ocean theme, classes had sea-related names. Besides the Bible reefs were the snack sand bar, the crafts cove and the music marina.

Cheryl Crews of Scott City, Mo., was the Bible school director, and her husband, Lonnie, taught the preschool children's Bible reef.

On Thursday, there were 25 children at Bible school. Dugan said the church had planned for 60 children. Last year between 35 and 40 children attended.

It was Cheryl Crews' first year as director although she has been active in the church since joining four years ago.

Angie Hankins, who taught the fifth- and sixth-graders, had worked with the Bible school the past six years as a music director or teaching in the kindergarten classes. In her reef was a huge balloon whale hanging from the ceiling to go with the sea theme.

Her class on Thursday had grown by two members to four. Come Friday those children were expected to recite the five Bible verses they had learned during the week and to write an essay on what they had learned from Bible school. She wanted to know what the children had learned.

At the snack sand bar, children received fish-shaped treats. Dugan's wife, Jennifer, taught the music, including a song fifth-grader Wesley Spinks called "Take the Plunge." Wesley, the son of Mark and Susan Spinks of Cape Girardeau, says he does a lot of swimming during the summer and that the song reminded him of diving into the water.

The college students provided the recreation portion of the Bible school, which sixth-grader Chelsey Clark, daughter of Chad and Shelley Clark of Jackson, Mo., said was her favorite. She especially enjoyed playing with the water guns. Wesley liked the part where the children had to lift full buckets of water with their legs.

"I like everything they did in recreation," Chelsey said. She had come to the Bible school because Angie Hankins was friends with her mother and because Angie picked her up each day.

At the crafts cove, both Chelsey and Wesley had completed decorating their light switch covers with sand and sea shells and had progressed into the special project Wesley's mother, Susan, had prepared. They were creating a fish key chain with pony beads.

Susan Spinks coordinated all the crafts projects for the Bible school and made them fit into the daily themes. On Monday, the children made deep sea treasure chests, decorating them with sea shells, glitter and beads. Tuesday's project was a picture frame that was decorated with macaroni shells and spray-painted. The children had their pictures taken in front of a sea scene painted for the Bible school. Susan planned to take the film to the one-hour developing counter so the children could put their pictures into the frames.

Wednesday's project was a fish flag, and on Friday, the children were to do a message in a bottle.

For Chelsey, it was her first Bible school at Fellowship Baptist, but for Wesley it was old hat. It was his third year at Bible school.

This year was the best, Wesley said. This one had "more stuff." It was just "much funner" than last year, especially the recreation portion.

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOLS

The following is a partial list of area vacation Bible school activities:

Fruitland Community Church will hold vacation Bible school beginning Monday through Friday from 6-8:30 p.m., on newly-purchased property along Highway 61 in Fruitland, Mo. Tents and canopies will be visible from the road. The theme is "Ocean Odyssey" and the event is open to students from kindergarten through sixth grade. For information, call 204-0724.

Shawnee Hills Baptist Church in Jackson, Mo., will set off on a voyage to the "Fantastic Good News Ocean Odyssey" Monday through Friday from 6:30-9 p.m. children ages 3 through the completion of eighth grade are invited to attend. For information or to pre-enroll, call the church at 243-1078 or the director, Donna Dockins, at 243-5430.

First Baptist Church will hold its vacation Bible school this week from 9 a.m. until noon. The theme this summer will be "Ocean Odyssey," and includes a fishing trip to Elk's Lake. Children from age 4 through those who have completed sixth grade can attend. For more information and to register for the fishing trip, please call the church office at 334-9691. Parental permission is needed for the trip.

St. Marys Cathedral will hold vacation Bible school June 26-30 from 8:15-11:45 a.m. The theme is "2000 Arc Avenue." Kindergarten through sixth grade students can attend. For more information, call the church office at 335-9347.

First Baptist Church of Jackson, Mo., will hold its vacation Bible school July 10-14 from 8:30-11:30 a.m. The theme will be "Ocean Odyssey." Children age 4 through sixth grade can attend. For more information, call the church office at 243-8415.

Lynwood Baptist Church also embarks on an "Ocean Odyssey" with its vacation Bible school July 10-14. Times are 9 a.m. through 12 noon and children in kindergarten through sixth grade are welcome. Call the office at 334-4600 for more information.

New McKendree United Methodist Church in Jackson will begin its summer Bible school July 17-21 from 6-8 p.m. The theme is "Outback Games: Hope of Glory Jesus in You." Classes are offered for children age 2 through sixth grade. Call 243-8487 for details.

Cape Bible Chapel will have its vacation Bible school July 17-21 starting at 9 a.m. until 11:45 a.m. The theme is "Champions for God," and activities are planned from 9-11:45 a.m. Children age 4 through seventh grade can participate. Call the church office at 334-5948 for details.

St. Andrew Lutheran Church will hold vacation Bible school July 24-28. Classes are from 9-11:30 a.m. The theme is "Outback Adventure." Kindergarten through sixth grade students may attend. For more information, call the church office at 334-3200.

Grace United Methodist Church will have its vacation Bible school July 29-Aug. 4 from 9 - 11:30 a.m. For more information call the church office at 334-1321.

Hanover Lutheran Church will start vacation Bible school July 30 and run through Aug. 4. Times are 6-8 p.m. The theme is "Son Zone: Discovery Center." Kindergarten through sixth grade students are welcome. For more information, please call the church office at 335-8583.

Red Star Baptist Church will hold its vacation Bible school July 31-Aug. 4 from 6-8:30 p.m. The theme is "Ocean Odyssey," and classes are open to kindergarten through sixth grade students. For more information about the school, please call the church office at 335-3381.

Southside Baptist Church will begin its vacation Bible school July 31-Aug. 4. Classes are from 6:30-8:30 p.m. There will be a Nascar racing theme this summer. Kindergarten through sixth grade students are welcome. Call the office for more information at 334-3656.

First Presbyterian Church and Emanuel United Church of Christ in Jackson, Mo., will hold a joint vacation Bible school July 31 to Aug. 4 from 8:30-11:30 a.m. The theme this year is "2000 Arc Avenue," and children from nursery age through sixth grade are welcome to attend. Call Margaret Puchbauer at 243-3323 for information.

Broadway United Methodist Church in Scott City, Mo., will hold its vacation Bible school July 31-Aug. 4 from 6-8:15 p.m. The theme is "Road Rally," and all children from preschool to sixth grade are invited to attend. Call 264-4942 for details.

LaCroix United Methodist Church will hold vacation Bible school July 31-Aug. 4. Classes will be held at 8:30-11:30 a.m., with a theme "Son Zone Discovery Center." Children 4 to sixth grade can attend. Call the church office at 339-0302 for information.

Hobbs Chapel United Methodist Church will "Celebrate Life! From beginning to eternity" during vacation Bible school Aug. 7-11. Children of all ages can attend each night from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Adult courses also will be offered. For more information call the church office at 334-3080.

The Salvation Army will host vacation Bible school Aug. 7-11 from 6-8:30 p.m. The theme will be based on the Odyssey series, and all children up to the sixth grade can attend. For more information, call 335-7000.

First Presbyterian Church and Westminster Presbyterian Church will team up for vacation Bible school Aug. 13-18. The theme is "Under Construction," which is a Habitat for Humanities-based program. Children age 2 and older can participate. Classes will be 0. 13, 14 and 15 at 6 p.m. at Westminster Church then will moved to First Presbyterian Church for Aug. 16-17. For more information, call Sharon at 335-2579.