Groovy VBS 2026: A Joyful Celebration of Peace, Love, and Jesus

This August, Church of the Nativity was transformed into a far‑out summer adventure as children ages 4–11 gathered for Groovy VBS 2026: Peace, Love, and Jesus. Over three joyful days, nearly 60 children explored the miracles and teachings of Christ through groovy music, creative crafts, engaging stories, and fun games.

Day 1: Peace

The week kicked off with a focus on Peace. Children learned the story of Jesus calming the sea, a powerful reminder that even when life feels stormy, Christ is with us. Our memory verse for the day came from John 14:27:

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid."

The Parish Hall was filled with singing, arts and crafts, story time, games, and plenty of smiles as we began this exciting time together.

Day 2: Love

Day 2 focused on Love through the story of the Good Samaritan. We learned that loving our neighbor means showing mercy and kindness even when it is inconvenient—and even when the person in front of us seems different from us.

Our memory verse was a simple and powerful one:

"We love because he first loved us." — 1 John 4:19

It also seemed especially fitting that today's Psalm in the Daily Lectionary reminded us:

"Things that we have heard and known, that our ancestors have told us. We will not hide them from their children; we will tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders that he has done." — Psalm 78:3–4

Watching these children learn and grow in faith is a beautiful reminder that this is exactly what the psalm calls us to do: to tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the Lord and the wonders God has done.

Day 3: Jesus

On our final day, the children learned the story of Jesus calling Peter and the first disciples, inviting them to leave their nets and become "fishers of people." Our memory verse came from Matthew 4:19:

"And he said to them, 'Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.'"

What a beautiful reminder that following Jesus is an invitation to a life of love and sharing the Good News with others.

The laughter kept rolling, the singing got a little louder, the crafts got a little messier, and our kids spent each morning learning just how deeply God loves them.

A Heartfelt Thank You

A special thank you goes to Madeline Kirk for the months of organizing and leading that made this week such a success. We are also grateful to our wonderful music team—Alicia, Charles, and David—whose energy and joy filled the Parish Hall with songs that the children will be singing for weeks to come.

And to our many, many volunteers, thank you. Whether you welcomed families, prepared snacks, led crafts, taught lessons, played games, kept children safe, or quietly stepped in wherever you were needed, you made this ministry possible. Every smile, every lesson, every song, and every act of kindness helped share God's love with nearly 60 children this week.

Three wonderful days, countless smiles, and hearts full of God's love. Groovy VBS 2026 has come to a close, and what a joyful week it has been!

We are already looking forward to next year!

A Joyful Mother's Day: Youth Lead Worship at Nativity

We had a wonderful Mother's Day service this morning at Nativity. The church was full of joy as our young people stepped into leadership roles and helped lead the worship.

Our children sang beautifully, filling the sanctuary with their voices. Our teens served throughout the Mass as readers, ushers, and leaders of the Prayers of the People. The church was full of young acolytes, serving at the altar with reverence and grace.

Celebrating Our Graduates

We also celebrated the graduation of Benz Porter, a standout athlete from Pillow Academy, as he prepares to attend Mississippi State this fall. We are proud of Benz and all of our young people who helped make today such a special day!

Gratitude

A big thanks to Rachael, Alicia, and Charles for helping arrange and oversee the service. Their dedication to our young people is a gift to the entire parish.

Mother's Day at Nativity was a beautiful reminder of the life and energy our children and youth bring to our church family. We are grateful for each one of them!