EDUCATION COMMITTEE

Chairperson:  Kim Legard

Members:       Kim Legard, Debbie Sutter, Lydia Halbrook, Jeannie Davis

Responsibilities:  The Education committee is responsible for providing all members of our church , infants through adults, with the opportunity to grow in God's Word.

Goals:    Our goal is to offer curriculum to all students that is both engaging and meaningful, and an environment that is inclusive and friendly, so that all may grow in their understanding and relationship with the Lord.

Accomplishments:  Sunday School is offered each Sunday morning between Labor Day and Memorial Day. Sunday School continues to be an active and important part of our congregation. We are blessed by many dedicated teachers, assistants, chapel leaders and other helpers who weekly share their enthusiasm and time with our students.  Students are offered stories and lessons about God and His Son Jesus Christ and the love He has for each of them. Students also learn to share God's love through two mission projects. One, through student's weekly offerings,  an annual sponsorship of $300.00  is sent to a student at the Yi Kuang Orphanage in Taipei Taiwan.  The second, students participated in Operation Christmas Child which brings gifts and God's Word to needy children around the world.  Students participated in the annual Children's Christmas program and the Palm Sunday procession.

Issues:  Our main issue or concern would be attendance. As in other parts of the church we have seen a decline in our average attendance.

Recommendations:  We continue to focus on an excellent program hoping this will encourage children and their parents to continue to participate.

Prayerfully submitted by,

Kim Legard

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL

     This year we had a Baobab Blast at Good Shepherd the last week in July!  The kids learned how we are all part of God's community and discovered how to live each and every day as God's disciples, all within the theme of the Baobab Tree and other vibrant images from the African savannah.  They met critters who introduced each day's story and Bible verse, and participated in exciting activities including Madagascar Music, Kalahari Crafts and Woodworking, Grassland Games, and Serengeti Science.  Our 5th and 6th grade day campers spent an extra couple of hours each day with Pastor Embree and Youth Commander Jeremy, eating lunch, going on field trips and having more fun.
   

Highlights of the week included:

        * Stepping literally through a baobab tree at the front door and into a brightly decorated

               sanctuary with balloons, posters and abundant foliage.
        * "Driving" on a racetrack in the parking lot
        *  A performance by a real live African drumming group
        *  Raising almost $100 for Africa Jam, a youth empowerment organization serving young

               people in Cape Town, South Africa
        *  Skits featuring our own Good Shepherd Youth ("Who's that old man?  That's Meagan!")
        *  All of us becoming much more knowledgeable about peanut allergies!
   

     Similar to many of Good Shepherd's functions this year, attendance was lower than in recent years, with approximately 50 students.  While initially disappointing, this relatively calm year gave us the opportunity to appreciate smaller group sizes and really focus on the structure of the week ... what works, what doesn't, where we can make improvements.  The kids themselves were of course, just as excited and joyful as always.
    

     Youth volunteers gave over 475 hours of service to the children of our church and community.  In addition to helping lead the morning celebrations, they worked as assistants to our adult volunteers in every area -- classroom, music, crafts, recreation, nursery, etc. -- and the kids loved them.  Youth volunteers at VBS get lots of hugs and hand holding!  Our adult volunteers, as always, were dedicated, loving, and enthusiastic.  I hope that spending that week at church, with the sounds of happy children filling it inside and out, gave you a spiritual boost.  A special thank you to Alyssa Hurdle, last year's Director, for sharing her experiences and setting me on my way.  Thank you to ALL who volunteered, for sharing your gifts, your talents, and your time.  Thank you for your willingness to serve so generously and so faithfully.  May God bless you!

Cindy Grover
2010 VBS Director