37 “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.”
Summer has begun. School is out. A joy for children. A strain on working parents. The season of vacation bible school. Thank God for these opportunities to provide children with a nurturing environment to learn about our Creator. Thank God for the thousands of volunteers across the mid-south that will shepherd loud, active, joyfully noisy children between locations. Thank God for the Elmer’s glue and glitter that will begin in a container, and like the Holy Spirit, find its way into dark and forgotten spaces all over the city.
Dear Lord, we lift up these vacation bible schools at local churches.
https://www.2pc.org/event/23070928-2024-06-03-vacation-bible-school-2024
https://www.gracestlukes.org/news/posts/vacation-bible-school
https://www.hopepres.com/hope-for-kids
https://www.christchurchmemphis.org/kids
https://www.stlouischurchmphs.org/vacation-bible-school
And these are just a few. You know where doors are open.
Lord, bless this time for the children and the volunteers. May Your joy be everpresent. May the love of Christ be shown and known by those in attendance. Open up the heart to gospel conversations at a young age. Lord, use this time to show these children and adults how to love one another and encourage one another in Christ.
Lord, grant the volunteers endurance during the day and restful sleep each night. May they be filled with the Holy Spirit and invigorated by the Word. May the children develop lifelong friendships centered in Christ. May this time be a chance for the Word of the Lord to be heard and accepted.
Bless the other staff and volunteers behind the scenes, preparing meals and snacks and cleaning up. Bless the parents who sign their children up. May there be a joyful noise in the city this summer!
In Christ’s name, amen.