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“I’ve Got the Fruit of the Spirit in Me” Theme Set for 2011 VBS

STATE COLLEGE, PA — It just wouldn’t be summer in Happy Valley without the annual HTOC Vacation Bible School (VBS) and today participants enjoyed an exciting first day. As the Orthodox Church is in the joyous Pentecost post-feast period, the theme this year is “I’ve Got the Fruit of the Spirit in Me!”. The theme centers on Galatians 5:16-26 and these gifts are being studied to encourage the spiritual growth in the students. They will make connections between the Bible stories and “real” life and although the VBS offers serious study about God there will also be plenty of fun.

Some goals for the week include:

  • Understand who is the Holy Spirit;
  • Identify each of the Fruits of the Spirit (love, joy, etc.);
  • Learn that the fruits are outward signs of an inward change in one’s life;
  • Encouraging participants to understand that they should do their best to work with the Holy Spirit to get the this fruit into their personality;
  • Have the students discuss and understand Bible passages where the attributes of each fruit are revealed and how to apply them to their life.

What is the Fruit of the Spirit?

Today the VBS students got their first taste of spiritual fruit with the stuffy of the fruit of love. St. Paul says, “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” Notice that St. Paul uses the singular “fruit” instead of a plural “fruits.” This indicates that these “fruit” comprise a singular cluster of characher “in Christ,” and not to be considered independent of one another. What a nice bunch of fruit we should all strive to become!

Who Do You Love?

The neat thing about God’s love is that it’s not a feeling to Him, He can’t fall out of love with us. He loves us even when we’re not “lovable” and when we’re grumpy or doing bad things. He loves all of us no matter what.

Now, the real tricky part is loving others like God loves us. There is a special kind of love we can have for others, it’s called agape love. Pretend for a day that you have special glasses on and that everyone you see you love just because God loves them, like the way you love a mom or dad, brother or sister.

You may run into somebody you don’t think deserves your love or you just don’t want to love at all, but God loves them and if we love God we are supposed to live them too. Who exactly are we supposed to love?

  • Love God
  • Love yourself
  • Love your family
  • Love your friends
  • Love your neighbors
  • Love your enemies

FPO — For Parents Only

Parents please be prompt when dropping off and picking up your children day. If we are not at the church for dismissal, please come to Holmes-Foster Park. Also, don’t forget your children must signed-in/signed-out each day.

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