NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Even though a Vacation Bible School (VBS)
decorating team may never have set foot in New York City, decorating for a Big
Apple Adventure could be a piece of cake.
“You probably already have, have had or will be able to find
or borrow almost everything you need for great decorations that scream New
York City,” said Bruce Edwards, minister of education
and evangelism at Airline Baptist
Church in Bossier
City, La.
Edwards led a breakout session called “Decorating Out of the
Box” during a VBS preview at LifeWay Christian Resources in Nashville,
Tenn.
“I want to encourage you to reuse and recycle,” Edwards
said. “You don’t have to make decorations so sturdy that they will last until
Jesus comes. Be ready to tear apart decorations you’ve used before and
repurpose them for this year’s VBS.”
The same could be said for old prom or bridesmaid dresses.
They could become part of a display representing Broadway. Add to this some
sparkly shoes and a homemade top hat and you have instant glamour.
“Remember that you are decorating for the children, not for
adults,” Edwards said.
Skyscrapers don’t have to be 10 feet tall to make an impact,
just taller than the children. “To my kids in Bossier City, Shreveport is like
New York City,” Edwards said. “They have buildings 12 stories tall.”
One idea is to make a church hallway like a subway tunnel.
Registration can happen at the tollbooth. Colored tape can become the red line,
the green line, etc. These lines can lead to different age group classrooms or
activity areas. A few pieces of PVC pipe can become a turnstile.
New York is
known for its ethnic neighborhoods, and Edwards said many decorations can come
from things people already have in their homes or can save from eating out.
Pizza boxes can be the start of Little Italy. The carryout boxes from a Chinese
restaurant can be the beginning of Chinatown. Add some
lanterns, scarves, posters, whatever one has. Central Park
can start with a bench and even a tropical ficus tree.
Edwards uses Decorating Made Easy, available through LifeWay’s
VBS site www.lifeway.com/vbs2011. Send your VBS photos to [email protected].
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