Rocky Railway Totally Catholic VBS and COVID-19

What will Happen to VBS

In the Year of the Pandemic?

The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered an earthquake for the Church - unlike anything we’ve seen. And it’s happening right in the middle of planning time for VBS! So, how will you respond? What is God’s desire for your ministry during this unprecedented time?

Don’t be paralyzed. Use this time to take a breath. Relax. And look forward. God is with you. And so are we, here at OSV.

One thing you can count on is OSV will be there to help, whatever the situation. So, let’s start planning, full steam ahead.

PURSUE YOUR MOST POWERFUL MINISTRY OPPORTUNITY

In many parishes across the country, VBS has been a powerful outreach tool into the community, and into the hearts and souls of our children and families. This year, it’s true more than ever. After your parish has been forced to close its doors, VBS can be a critical way to reconnect with the kids and families in your parish and to avoid a stretch of many months without face-to-face contact. In this time of uncertainty, anxiety and stress, kids and their parents need the life-giving ministry of VBS. Not to mention the welcome relief that VBS will offer to parents who have been cooped up with their kids for weeks and weeks.

The theme for this year’s Rocky Railway Totally Catholic VBS is “Jesus’ Power Pulls Us Through!” On the heels of Covid-19, it will be so important and timely to reflect on how God’s grace and strength sustain us in challenging times. This is the most significant year for VBS in your parish’s history. Grab the opportunity. God is with you.

PRAY

Talk to God. Encourage your entire team to pray. Make a prayer calendar and (virtually) gather the team. Give them specific things to pray for. Pray together. Have your kids pray for VBS. It’s one effort that can involve everyone.

BE READY TO ADAPT

No one knows what the summer months will look like. But with some planning and creativity, you can make VBS happen, no matter what.

If your VBS dates are early in the summer, plan alternate dates later in the summer, in case Coronavirus concerns need more time to clear.
If you normally run a big VBS program, consider planning multiple sessions. If gatherings are restricted on size this summer, split your VBS into multiple, smaller sessions. And other locations, such as backyards. VBS PRO provides multi-session support to make registration and admin easier too.
For alternate scheduling, consider conducting VBS over a weekend, or evenings, or once a week over several weeks.
As a backup plan, consider preparing for a VBS-at-home option. Many parishes are already conducting religious education online for their children. Current models of the virus spread tell us that the coast should be clear by some time in June. But on the off chance that your area is still in a stay-at-home status in the summer, you can make VBS happen in every child’s home. You can supply a packet containing everything each child needs, and provide an online experience that children follow each day. If this option is necessary this summer, OSV will provide everything you need, including permissions, to make this transition to the web.
Who said VBS must happen in the summer? Consider offering VBS later--as a back-to-school kick-off, or during fall break, or a fall weekend, or in the evenings, or Thanksgiving or Christmas break.

While many people are currently drowning in hopelessness, you can be a make-it-happen, follower of the “all things are possible” Christ Jesus.

AFFORD IT

The current stay-at-home situation has led some parishes to limit ministry spending. This needn’t limit your VBS, however. Consider:

Remind your parish leaders of the prime importance of VBS. It is the most powerful ministry event to attract and keep families involved in your church. It is one time each year that the children of the parish experience the kerygma, the essential, saving message of Jesus Christ. Leaders know the financial importance of families with children. In addition to the spiritual investment, your parish’s VBS provides a practical investment in the parish’s future.
Invite a few major donors to step forward and provide a special gift to make VBS happen in this critical year. Every parish has people who are ready to respond to a compelling need. Approach them individually. Explain the need. Share your dream of how children will be transformed by God’s love.
If you have not before asked families for an admission fee for VBS, this may be the year to consider it. Many families spend hundreds of dollars for summer camps. They understand the value of quality experiences for their children. Your VBS is a top-quality spiritual experience. And, of course, you may offer scholarships to those families unable to pay.
Remember, if you don’t use some of your OSV VBS supplies, you may return them to us for a refund. No risk. We’ll work with you according to your needs and timing.
Some have asked if OSV’s Rocky Railway VBS will be available in 2021 as well. We are working to make that happen, as long as supplies last.

PREPARE YOUR TEAM

VBS may look different this year. But God has big things in store for you and your kids. So, continue to prepare, train, and encourage your workers. Communicate often. Use simple web tools such as Zoom, available free online, to gather your team virtually to get ready for a great VBS.

WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER

If you’re doing your part to practice social distancing, if you’re confined to your home or office, use this valuable time. Keep planning for your life-transforming VBS ministry. The families in your parish are counting on you.

Your partners at OSV are with you. We’re watching the changes swirling around us, and preparing contingency plans to make sure your OSV Totally Catholic VBS is the best ever. We’re with you.

And, most importantly, God is with you. All the way.