Storytelling at Camp Spark

I have not been posting for a while and I apologize. I have been busy though. One thing that took a big chunk of my time this Summer was Camp Spark at Westminster Presbyterian Church in West Chester, PA. Camp Spark was new for us this year, we decided not to have a traditional VBS but to hold a worship arts full day camp for children Pre-School up to rising 5th graders. We wanted to give the children the experience of leading in worship., culminating in a service on Friday morning at 11 where they sang, drummed, danced, did freeze frame, Scripture Echo and drama for their parents and our congregation. I was in tears because it was so beautiful.

My workshop involved helping the kids to learn and tell the story through drama of Paul and Silas in prison from the book of Acts 16:16-36. I had about 12 children ranging in age from 5 to 11. I wrote a script for the passage, sticking as much as possible to just the scripture. We had a fabulous set and amazing costumes. The little ones who couldn't even read yet were still able to participate by being "extras" in our skit. They loved the Greek togas and Roman soldier costumes. We also had some youth helpers who took the more difficult passages and while not learning them by heart, they knew the gist of their part. I was the narrator along with my co-leader Tanie. Not having enough lapel mics, we couldn't mic all the kids up, so in the final performance Tanie and I held the mic to their mouth as they said their parts. 

The theme of Camp Spark was no matter what happens, I'm So Blessed using Romans 8:37-39 as our theme verses;
"No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.  For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Even though the kids didn't learn the story by heart, they all knew the gist of the story and could tell it back to their friends and families. I was so blessed to be a part of it.