Vacation Bible

Brooklyn Heights United Methodist Church will sponsor vacation Bible school from 6:30 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. starting tonight and continuing through Friday. This year's theme is "turnabout Paul." Classes are for children ages 2 through eighth grade. Adult classes also will be held.Everyone is invited to share in the crafts, music, stories and fun. Children will need to bring a clean T-shirt the first evening.The church is at 110 Townsend Ave. For more information, call 789-3688.*St. Paul Lutheran Church will sponsor vacation Bible school from 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. beginning tonight and continuing through Friday.

A Vacation Bible School with the joint ministries of Friendship United Methodist Church, Mount Zion United Methodist Church and St. James Parrish will be held from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. June 23-27 at 5757 Solomons Island Road in Lothian. Bible school is for children age 3 through the fifth grade. The fee is $10. Register by June 1 and receive a T-shirt. Information: 408-867-2838 or tinyurl.com/vbsinsouthcounty.

One more week until school begins. Time for the last vacation Bible school of the season.Brooklyn United Methodist Church will sponsor Bible school from 6:30 until 8:30 p.m. today through Friday.Classes are available for children in kindergarten through high school. Come join in the fun and fellowship.To register or for more information, call 355-8740.*North County High School news: There will be a staggered opening to provide ninth-grade students with an orientation program. Ninth-graders only will report to school Aug. 28. All students will report to classes Aug. 29. Doors open at 7:10 a.m., with classes starting at 7:25 a.m.* There will be a PTSA executive board meeting at 6 p.m. tomorrow in the conference room.

Open house - Open Arms half-day program, Thu., Aug. 4, 3:30-6:30 p.m., Open Arms School, Our Savior Lutheran Church, 13611 Laurel Bowie Road. Children and parents invited to meet the director, staff and teachers who will be working with children during the 2011-2012 school year. 240-568-9352. Vacation Bible school - Monday, Aug. 15 through Friday, Aug. 19, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Solomon's Porch Worship Center, Quality Inn and Suites, fifth floor Patuxent Room, 1 Second St. Take a trip down Gratitude Avenue, Compassion Drive, Forgiveness Lane, Grace Parkway and Faithfulness Road.

Summer is in full swing and with it the opportunity for parents to enter their children in a vacation Bible school.* Classes at Friendship Church of the Brethren will run from 9:30 a.m. to noon the week of July 10.The theme of this year's program is "The Storyteller Series." Bible school will have six classes: preschool for children turning age 4 this year, preschool for those turning age 5 this year, kindergarten, first and second grades, third and fourth grades, and fifth and sixth grades.

TWO CONGREGATIONS at Wilde Lake Interfaith Center are teaming up to offer a vacation Bible school "where Jesus is the main attraction," says Daiva Orentas, one of the organizers.St. John Lutheran and St. John United Methodist-Presbyterian churches will sponsor the program, which will be held from 9 a.m. to noon Aug. 4 to 8 at the Interfaith Center.Children who have completed kindergarten through sixth grade may participate.The program is free and open to the public."We have a very exciting program," said Orentas, the coordinator at St. John Lutheran.

About the fourth or fifth week of summer vacation, boredom sets in for my children. That's when I need a few tricks up my sleeve.I have found that a good Vacation Bible School program is worth its weight in gold. The programs offer children the chance to meet new friends, make crafts, participate in recreational activities and even learn a lesson or two.St. Stephen's Reformed Episcopal Church on Liberty Road will hold its Bible school from 9:30 a.m. to noon Monday through June 30. Children who will be entering kindergarten through sixth grade may participate in a free sports theme program called "God's Champions."

FERNDALE UNITED Methodist Church, 117 Ferndale Road, is having vacation Bible school Aug. 10 to 14 at the church.Crafts, games and Bible stories will be available for children. A light dinner will be served at 5 p.m., and classes will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.Information or registration: 410-761-2880.Massage therapyMary Ann Roesler, a massage therapist, is offering five-minute massages to senior citizens Aug. 10 and 24 at Burwood Senior Housing, 6658 Shelly Road.Participants will have a choice of head, foot, back or neck massage.

Megan Walburn, 5, squatted on the porch of a Manhattan Beach home and smiled as she surveyed her handiwork: her photo, framed by cardboard she'd painstakingly colored during morning Bible club."

A sea of exuberant children with outstretched hands praised God recently during a vacation Bible school sponsored by First Evangelical Lutheran and St. John's Episcopal churches in Ellicott City. "Give Him Everything! Jesus loves the gifts we bring!" the children sang while clapping as instructors led them. A record 163 campers - children from preschool through middle school - participated this year, most likely because the organizers advertised early and participants from previous years spread the word, said Melinda Becker, a co-director of the camp.

Vacation Bible School at Franklin Baptist Church from July 25-29 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. for kids ages 4 - 17 with transportation available by calling Rick Wilson at 410-378-5346. The church is at 2106 Franklin Church Road in Darlington. All are welcome to attend. Vacation Bible School will be Aug. 1 through Aug. 5 at the Dublin United Methodist Church. A light supper will be served beginning at 5 p.m., followed by the start of the program. For further information call 410-836-3647.

First United Methodist Church of Laurel will offer vacation Bible school Sunday, July 10 through Thursday, July 14, 6:30-9 p.m., at the church, 424 Main St. There is no fee. Children ages 3 through sixth grade can enjoy music, games, snacks and stories centered on Jesus growing up in Nazareth. Class sizes are limited, assigned on first come/first registered basis. Stop by the church and fill out a registration form or contact 301-725-3093 or office@fumcl.org .

Summer is just around the corner, and vacation Bible school registration has begun at some of our area churches! At Friendship Baptist, a free Bible Week for the whole family begins with a kickoff celebration July 10 from 5:30-6:45 p.m. and then classes run July 11-15 from 7 to 9 p.m. Children and teens will enjoy "Beach Blast: God's Faithfulness" while adults participate in a fun, interactive discussion. To register, go to http://www.fbcmd.org , or call the church office at 410-442-5506.

`Great Bible Reef' at St. Stephen's St. Stephen's Episcopal Church will hold vacation Bible school from 9 a.m. noon Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, next week at 1110 Saint Stephens Church Road, Crownsville. This is for children from pre-school through fifth grade, and the theme will be "Great Bible Reef." Wednesday is family night at 6 p.m. for dinner and activities. Registration is required. Information: 410-721-2881 or www.ststephens-severn.ang-md.org Charity indoor sale in Glen Burnie The Women of the Community Church of God will hold an indoor yard sale from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. tomorrow at 306 Fifth Ave., SE, Glen Burnie.

A sea of exuberant children with outstretched hands praised God recently during a vacation Bible school sponsored by First Evangelical Lutheran and St. John's Episcopal churches in Ellicott City. "Give Him Everything! Jesus loves the gifts we bring!" the children sang while clapping as instructors led them. A record 163 campers - children from preschool through middle school - participated this year, most likely because the organizers advertised early and participants from previous years spread the word, said Melinda Becker, a co-director of the camp.

At the '90s version of Vacation Bible School, the traditional flannel boards and "I love Jesus" songs just don't seem to cut it anymore.In this era of sound-bite attention spans and schedules crammed with soccer practice and computer camp, Vacation Bible School leaders have found they have to innovate to compete.So they employ creative themes, such as the tropical-oriented "Sonlight Island" at Faith Lutheran Church in Eldersburg, where each session recently started with a song by a Christian rock band.