VBS True North 2025
Spring Meadows Church Service & VBS Sabbath Briefing Document
Overview
This briefing document summarizes the key themes, events, and messages from the Spring Meadows Church service on the Sabbath following their Vacation Bible School (VBS) week. The service was a celebratory occasion, highlighting the success of the VBS program, dedicating a baby, and reinforcing core Christian messages of hope, trust in Jesus, and God’s power.
Main Themes & Most Important Ideas
1. Record-Breaking VBS Success and Community Effort
The VBS program at Spring Meadows was a “record-breaking year” in two significant ways:
- Highest Child Registration: 378 registered children, demonstrating significant community engagement and outreach.
- Record Volunteer Participation: 255 volunteers contributed throughout the week, emphasizing the “army” it takes to make such an event happen.
The service extensively acknowledged and thanked numerous individuals and teams for their tireless efforts in making VBS a reality, including:
- VBS Construction Team (Terry Arnold, Steve Stro, Eric Feedler) for building structures like the cabin and mountain.
- Jonathan Landers for cabin supplies.
- Decorating Team (Vanessa Aori) for creative hallway and lobby decorations.
- AV Team (Eric Prusia) for sound and lighting.
- Registration Team (Valerie Prusia) for managing 378 children.
- Games Team (Heather Fauana).
- Imagination Station Team (Melinda Fields) and Bible Adventure Teams (Stephanie Ticker) for teaching Bible stories.
- Sticky Scripture and Security Team (Pastor Shane) for child safety.
- Music and Program Lead (Milton).
- Actors (Iris Hillman, Christian Tores-Hage explorer Jane, and Scout) who were “superstars.”
- Coordination and Graphics (Jenny and Katie Goliath).
- Overall VBS Prep and Oversight (Diana and John Tari) who spent “tons and tons of hours… since January.”
- Pastor Alex, the Children and Family Pastor, for coordinating scripts and teams and working “tirelessly.”
- General church members who supported “financially with time and effort hands-on.”
The profound impact of VBS was highlighted by the fact that “over 300 and some kids between 350 378 kids this week who’ve gotten to meet Jesus some for the very first time.” This underscores the church’s mission: “here at Spring Meadows we believe first of all in lifting up Jesus and secondly we believe in kids.”
2. Core Message: Trust in Jesus
The central theme reinforced throughout the VBS skits and songs was the importance of trusting Jesus in various circumstances. This was articulated as five key principles:
- When we wonder, we can trust Jesus.
- When I feel alone, we can trust Jesus.
- When I feel powerless, we can trust Jesus.
- When we need hope, we can trust Jesus.
- When we need help, we can trust Jesus.
These messages were woven into interactive skits featuring characters like Scout and Explorer Jane, addressing common feelings and offering Jesus as the solution. For example, when Scout feels alone after losing his “lizard friend” Leo, Explorer Jane reminds him, “we don’t have to be alone when we feel alone we can trust Jesus.” Similarly, when Scout feels “powerless” due to a heavy backpack and a coming storm, the message is reiterated: “When we feel powerless, we can [trust Jesus].” Explorer Jane’s personal testimony about being “shipwrecked on an island and completely alone” reinforced that “when we feel hopeless we can trust Jesus.”
3. Baby Dedication and the Power of Prayer
A significant part of the service was the dedication of baby Josiah, son of Bobby and Lee McCabe. This segment emphasized:
- Community Support: “a lot of people that love you baby” (referring to the standing family members).
- Symbolism of the Quilt: A quilt made “with great love great care and great prayers for Josiah,” serving as a tangible reminder of the church’s ongoing prayers.
- Meaning of the Name: Josiah’s name was given a spiritual interpretation: Jesse means “gift and being strong,” and Josiah means “God heals and or God will save.” Together, this amalgamation signifies “a gift of being strong with a healing God and the God that will save.”
- Scriptural Promise: Zephaniah 3:17 was shared as Josiah’s verse: “The Lord your God in your midst the mighty one will save he will rejoice over you with gladness he will quiet you with his love he will rejoice over you with singing.”
- Parental Commitment: Bobby and Lee brought Josiah “before the Lord because they know that his life needs to be a life filled with Jesus.”
- Prayer for Children: The dedication prayer asked for Josiah to “grow strong,” “know you,” “love you,” and for God to “save our children to your kingdom.”
4. Worship Through Music and Biblical Foundation
Music played a vital role in the service, both through songs learned during VBS and traditional hymns:
- “So Sweet to Trust in Jesus”: Sung by the congregation, highlighting themes of trust, promise, and Jesus as a “Savior friend.”
- VBS Songs: “My God Jesus is Powerful,” “Help Me Jesus,” “Come to Me,” and “My Hope Is In the Lord” reinforced the daily VBS lessons. The recurring “Hey hey hey” chant emphasized God’s love and assurance.
- Scripture Reading: Romans 5:5 was read: “And this hope will not lead to disappointment for we know how dearly God loves us because he has given us his the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.” This verse directly ties God’s love, the Holy Spirit, and the theme of hope together.
- Prayer for Offerings and Burdens: A prayer was offered for the tithes and offerings, asking for blessing and multiplication, and also for those with “burdens” and “heavy hearts,” acknowledging both written and unwritten prayer requests.
5. Mission and Outreach
The service concluded with a strong emphasis on the church’s missionary calling:
- Local and Global Mission: Spring Meadows believes “God has called us to be missionaries not just here in our area but around the world.”
- Upcoming Mission Trips: Two trips were mentioned: one to Belize in July and another “this Thursday to Dominica.”
- Prayer for Missionaries: A special prayer was offered for the team going to Dominica, asking for “protection,” “blessing,” “presence,” empowerment by the Holy Spirit, and “fruit for your kingdom.”
Practical Announcements
- Lost Keys: A set of keys with a black cat charm was found.
- Hyundai Key: A single Hyundai key was found and given to Pastor Shane.
- Prayer Cards/Connect Cards: Collected in offering plates during the service, deviating from the usual practice of bringing them to the front. This will revert to normal next week.
- Father’s Day: Next Saturday will be a “special feature” for Father’s Day.
- VBS Teardown: Volunteers were requested for VBS cleanup and teardown on Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Conclusion
The Spring Meadows Church service served as a vibrant culmination of their VBS week, celebrating significant numerical success and the profound spiritual impact on children and volunteers alike. The messages consistently pointed to Jesus as the ultimate source of hope, power, and companionship in all of life’s challenges, reinforced by communal worship, personal testimonies, and the dedication of new life into the faith community. The church also demonstrated its commitment to both local and global outreach, embodying its belief in “lifting up Jesus” and nurturing children.
Other Sermons In This Series
Rooted in the Word – Pastor Alex Harter
January 04, 2025
Beginnings Matter – Pastor Jonathan Osorio
January 18, 2025