Page 32 - South Mississippi Living - May, 2016

COASTNOTES
Gulfport churches schedule free summer Vacation Bible Schools
Churches across Gulfport are scheduling annual summer Vacation Bible Schools for children. Vacation Bible Schools began in the late 19th Century as a way for churches to provide educational opportunities
to their home communities during
the summer. These programs soon spread across the nation, and by 1923, Standard Publishing of Cincinnati began offering a full curriculum for churches to use for their own VBSes.
Today, this tradition of providing Christian education and character building activities to school-age children during the summer continues. Church partners within the Gulfport Ecumenical Fellowship, a new Coast- wide gathering of church leaders
from across geographic, racial and denominational lines, are pleased to announce the following schedule. All VBSes are operated independently by their host churches, free and open to the public:
First Baptist Church of Gulfport.
June 5-9, 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. Curriculum: Lifeway’s “Submerged,” based
story by Will Shurley on Psalm 139:23-24.
12190 Highway 605,
Gulfport. Registration:
228.831.3400.
St. Peter’s By-the-Sea
Episcopal Church.
June 6-9, 5:30 - 8 p.m.
Curriculum: “Cave
Quest: Following Jesus,
the Light of the World.”
1909 15th Street, Gulfport. Registration: 228.863.2611.
Trinity United Methodist Church. June 13-17, 1 - 4 p.m. Curriculum: “Aloha! Say Hello to God’s Grace and Love.” 5007 Lawson Avenue, Gulfport. Registration: 228.863.2717, ext. 15; children@trinityumc.com; or www. trinityumc.com.
First United Methodist Church
of Gulfport. June 26-30; 6 - 8 p.m. Curriculum: “Everest: Conquering Challenges with God’s Mighty Power.” 2301 15th Street, Gulfport. Registration: 228.863.0047. Westminster Presbyterian Church. June 27-July 1; 9 a.m. - noon. Curriculum: “Barnyard Roundup:
Jesus Gathers Us Together,” based on Psalm 23.
5005 Lawson Avenue, Gulfport. Registration:
228.864.3143; or www. vbsmate.com/
wpcgulfport.
St. Mark’s Episcopal Church. July 5-8: Music,
art and drama camp for grades 3-6. July 18 - 22: Vacation
Bible School for pre-K through grade 2. Curriculum: “Deep Sea Discovery.” 11322 West Taylor Road, Gulfport. Registration: 228.896.7597.
Gateway United Methodist Church.
July 18-22; 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. Curriculum by Cokesbury. 16020 South Swan Road, Gulfport. Registration: 228.832.0135.
Those interested in attending these camps are encouraged to contact
the churches directly to confirm registration details and age/grade eligibility.
This is not a complete list. For more information, please check your local listings.
32 SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living • May 2016
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