During the week of June 6-9, the hallways and rooms of the church will be filled with the children of the church, as they learn, sing, pray, and laugh. They will be asking the question, “Have U Seen?” Have you seen the fingerprints of God in the world around you? They will look for these fingerprints in the stories of scripture, in the stories of the church, and in the stories of their lives.
Each day, the children will “look” up, around, here, there, and at themselves. The fingerprints of God are found everywhere, for all of us. Vacation Bible School is not like any other week in the life of the church. Where else can we find both “vacation” and “school” in the same place, including the formation of faith and the fun of community? Laughter and prayer are woven intricately together for the sake of the youngest amongst us, as well as for the rest of us.
Vacation Bible School weaves the entire congregation together because of the many teachers and volunteers, guiding and loving the children of the church this week. During this time, as we “look” up, around, here, there, and in ourselves, we will discover the fingerprints of God in so many ways and in so many places.
It is like the story from John 9 when Jesus and the disciples meet a man who cannot see. Jesus takes handmade mud and wipes it on the man’s eyes so he can see. The man is elated, even though he is not quite sure what has happened. The crowds and the Pharisees are also not quite sure what has happened on the Sabbath, and some of them are upset because of the timing of what has happened. For others, though, they see clearly the fingerprints of God.
We can look and miss what is right in front of us, or we can discover something sacred. This is our prayer for Vacation Bible School. We hope to rediscover together with our children the fingerprints of God, which are found everywhere, for all of us.
If we have trouble seeing through all of the organized chaos and bustling energy of this week, we have only to look at everything the children touch. They leave evidence of the presence of God, as they are gifts from God. As we ask together, “Have U Seen?,” we will discover the fingerprints of God.
—Tripp