by Jennifer Buzza
The Mapleton Baptist Church sponsored a very successful Vacation Bible School earlier this month.
Nearly 30 children ages 4 through grade 5 participated in the weeklong sessions. For two-and-a-half hours each day, children learned songs, made crafts, had Bible study time, played games, enjoyed snacks and made their very own video all surrounding a “Lights, Camera, Action! God’s Story: The Big Picture” theme. Josh and Melanie Duncan of Massachusetts, formerly from the area, once again returned “home” to lead the fun-filled week.
Children collected a daily offering to benefit a mission’s project of the church’s choosing. This year Pastor Ken Phelps decided to donate all funds received during the week to the pre-school lunch program in Thailand. The goal was to collect enough to provide daily hot meals for 30 children at the House of Blessing in Chaing Mai, Thailand. According to the information shared with the children, the program helps preschoolers learn enough of the Thai language and math skills to allow them to enter public schools. Through the generosity of the children and their families, over $250 was collected for the program.
During the closing program held Friday afternoon, children had the opportunity to share with their families some of the exciting aspects of their week. They sang a song, each received a participation certificate and bag of “goodies,” and the top three children in each of the three age groups were awarded special prizes for achieving the most points. During the week, children earned points for their attendance, bringing their Bible with them each day, bringing a friend with them, and for memorizing memory verses.
The week was so successful, thanks to the numerous volunteers, including several middle school students. The program ended with the viewing of the highly anticipated music video featuring all of the children that attended throughout the week.
The Mapleton Baptist Church has Sunday School at 9:30 a.m. and morning worship service at 10:45 a.m. every Sunday. The church also has an active youth group for children in grades 3 through middle school.
Birthdays
Birthday wishes this week go out to Paula Elliott, Janet Gilson, Mike Kelle, Todd Stephenson, Sheridan Boucher, Jenika Buck, Keenan Eaton, Addison Cole, Brian Ellis, Lisa Simpson, Michael Michaud, Nickolas Barclay, Elsie Ayotte, Sheryl Grendell, Dara Raymond and Sherry A. Spaulding.
Anniversary
Happy 15th anniversary wishes this week to Scott and Christa Galipeau on the 17th!
Baked bean supper
The Mapleton United Methodist Church will be hosting a baked bean supper Saturday, Aug. 27 from 5-6:30 p.m. at the church. Tickets are $8 for adults and $4 for children under 12 and can be purchased from any church member or at the door.
Don’t miss your chance
There are only two more Saturdays left this month, so don’t miss your chance to visit the Haystack Historical Society Museum! The Museum is for visitors on Saturdays through Aug. 27. Doors are open from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Every Saturday that the museum is open, there will be a yard sale in the East wing. Visitors of all ages will enjoy the one-room schoolhouse, agricultural artifacts, clothing, furniture, and Girl Scout uniforms and handbooks all from decades ago. There is also information about the lynching of Jim Cullen. New this summer is a display of artwork by SAD 1 students. There is no charge to visit the museum, so stop by this Saturday! Please keep in mind the Historical Society meets the last Monday of the month at 7 p.m. at the Museum. Members and guests are always welcome. Are you interested in becoming a working member? Stop by and get a job assignment.
Jennifer Buzza is the correspondent for Mapleton, Castle Hill and Chapman. She can be reached at 760-9115, or by e-mail at jbuzza@ainop.com.
