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Dawn
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| Posted: May 01 2006 at 7:20pm | IP Logged
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Well, I just signed up my 6yo for VBS in August and (gulp) volunteered my 10 yo and myself as "leaders."
The very nice woman who is organizing it all is dropping the leader manual off this week (the theme is Fiesta!) so I'll know more soon, but I'm a little leery. We have only done VBS once before, at a friend's Congregational church, and let's just say that did not go well ... 
But, my kids so want to do this, and I'd like to get to know more parish families, so in true form, we jumped right in!
Does anyone here have VBS experience they would share, whether leading, planning or participating?
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Dawn, mum to 3 boys 
By Sun and Candlelight
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folklaur
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| Posted: May 01 2006 at 7:57pm | IP Logged
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We're doing the same one at our parish this year.
My dd16 goes and volunteers each year, and always enjoys it (and keeps an eye on things for me  )
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JennGM
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| Posted: May 17 2006 at 10:39am | IP Logged
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Dawn, I know old thread, but Maureen Whitman just posted something on Catholic VBS. She's excited about Cat Chat VBS.
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Jennifer G. Miller
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MaryM
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| Posted: May 17 2006 at 11:11am | IP Logged
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Cat Chat VBS - that's great! My kids love the tapes. I also meant to post on this topic. There is a great VBS (they refer to it as a Parish Mission for children) called Totus Tuus. It started in Kansas CIty, I think but has spread to other dioceses around the country. All you need is for the bishop to invite them and then have a state coordinator. It is a great program put on by young college students and seminarian teams. It's very little work for the hosting parishes (just feeding and lodging the teams - they do the program). We have had it sereral years here at our parish and it is great - very solidly Catholic
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Mary G
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| Posted: May 17 2006 at 2:24pm | IP Logged
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I am in the process of writing a review of the retreats that Theresa over at CHC has available. Called It's A Mystery! Retreats, these retreats would make awesome VBS or CCD sessions. The retreats, written by Sandra Garrant, cover 4 different topics:
- The Trinity
- The Perfect Personality (the three persons of God)
- Secret Garden (Marian doctrine)
- The Household of God (the Church and its members)
These really would be a great -- and easy -- resource for parishes or small groups to use because she has everything there -- the schedule for the week-long retreat; the letters to get parents to volunteer; the activities, budgeting. Everything.
Here in the Bible belt, the VBS is so often based or completely "borrowed" from the Protestants. These retreats really could fill a need, at least here in the South.
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Kelly
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Please let us know about your reviews when you're done, Mary. We used to do VBS, but over and over, they were simply Protestant VBS, warmed over a bit. In fact, all the Protestant churches in our area were doing the same one!!!! Even with wellmeaning folks trying hard to Catholicize the program, it just wasn't the same. I really yearn for a bonafide Catholic program: maybe this is it!
Kelly in the Bible Belt of FL
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Dawn
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| Posted: May 17 2006 at 3:41pm | IP Logged
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Mary G wrote:
| I am in the process of writing a review of the retreats that Theresa over at CHC has available. Called It's A Mystery! Retreats, these retreats would make awesome VBS or CCD sessions. |
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Oh I'm so happy to hear this, Mary! I've been meaning to ask about those retreats for some time.
I am all signed up to help lead at our parish's VBS this August (in fact there's a meeting this week). The program is called "Fiesta" and it's put together by by Group Publishing. I just got the manual the other day (for "Grande Games" where I'll be stationed   ) but haven't looked throught it yet. Does anyone know if this is a Protestant publication? I'm just curious.
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Dawn, mum to 3 boys
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Karen E.
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Dawn,
I've helped with our parish's VBS for several years, doing snacks, babysitting and then last year I was a preschool crew leader. This year signed my eldest daughter up as a preschool volunteer, and I'll be in the room to help her learn the "volunteer ropes" as well as to be available to my youngest child, who is signed up.
We're also doing "Fiesta" this year -- Group Publishing offers a "Catholic version" of each of their themes, though I haven't really found that stuff has been overtly Catholicized. But, I also haven't found anything that's offensive. The programs are pretty much Bible-based, focus on learning Scripture stories and verses, and tie in all the usual fun-VBS-type stuff.
I think you'll have fun! It's an intense week, but always a rewarding one!
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Karen E.
mom to three on earth, and several souls in God's care
Visit my blog, with its shockingly clever title, "Karen Edmisten."
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Karen E.
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| Posted: May 17 2006 at 4:29pm | IP Logged
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Dawn wrote:
| We have only done VBS once before, at a friend's Congregational church, and let's just say that did not go well ... |
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This is unfortunate, but true ... many Protestant churches see VBS as an evangelization tool, and issues can arise that can confuse our children. I don't normally allow my kids to go to other church's VBS programs for that reason. I don't want someone telling my kids that their Bible is "wrong" or "has added books" etc., etc. Sadly, it does get tricky.
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Karen E.
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Visit my blog, with its shockingly clever title, "Karen Edmisten."
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Dawn
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Karen E. wrote:
| We're also doing "Fiesta" this year -- Group Publishing offers a "Catholic version" of each of their themes, though I haven't really found that stuff has been overtly Catholicized. But, I also haven't found anything that's offensive. The programs are pretty much Bible-based, focus on learning Scripture stories and verses, and tie in all the usual fun-VBS-type stuff. |
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Thanks, Karen! This is all good to hear. 
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Dawn, mum to 3 boys
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rm4mrfrus
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Mary, is your review posted anywhere?
I am trying to look at VBS's for next year. Our parish does an ecumenical VBS (not totally sure what THAT is?) at some other church every year. My hope is to introduce the idea of doing a CATHOLIC one at our own church next summer. (Dh brought it up at the parish council planning meeting last week and the DRE shot it down explaining that they already do an ecumenical one...but we hope to keep pushing anyway ) Only 10 kids from our parish attended it and ours were not among them.
My argument is going to be that maybe more kids will go if it is a Catholic one...and if they say the ecumenical one is enough, then I'm thinking of asking to be allowed to also do a Catholic one as well or even try to host one at our house? Or is that overstepping boundaries? We have a pretty small parish....couldn't be that many kids!?
We refuse to send our kids to some other church's VBS even though the word ecumenical is used. Because really, if it isn't Catholic, then it is Protestant, isn't that correct? (if I am wrong about what ecumenical means in this case, please let me know.) because there would be no mention of any of our Catholic beliefs at an ecumenical one would there? So there goes Mary, the saints and everything else.
I have a feeling I am going to be really stirring the pot with some people soon....dh and I also just were asked by our pastor to start up a parish pro-life group and I am thinking of suggesting they use a better CCD series (like Faith and Life) instead of this Faith First one they are using. I wonder which battles I should push...
Anyway, if any of you all have any ideas for me, I'm all ears!
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ds(96), dd(97), ds(00), ds(02), ds(03) and dd(05)
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Jen L.
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3 Things come to mind:
1)The choir director at our church has written 2 Catholic VBS in the past 2 years. She wrote a complete set of songs and professionally produced a CD for each theme. The themes are the the Eucharist (which included a great introduction to Adoration) and Mary. I know that she is selling it to other parishes, if you are interested, pm me and I can put you in contact with her.
2) I have not seen them, but we love the CatChat Catholic Radio show and so I'm very intrigued by the CatChat VBS: Mary Leads me Closer to Jesus (click on "What's New")
3) The last one has totally fled my mind  I think it is something from Regnum Christi that is put on as a sort of VBS. Help, I'm having a senior moment! 
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4Real Forums : Domestic Church
Topic: VBS?
