Magnolia Ecumenical Vacation Bible School was started in January of 1976, during a meeting at the Episcopal Church of the Ascension. Founder Janet Haltom-Ames was inspired by her memories of attending vacation Bible school at St. John's Cathedral in Spokane.
The inaugural week for the new program was held the final week of June 1976 at the Episcopal Church of the Ascension, with 35 children from three churches in Magnolia attending. The five worship services were led by lay reader Robert Kenneth Ames, and crafts, combined with Bible stories, were given by members of Ascension parish.
In 1977, Magnolia Lutheran Church became the host church, and the vacation Bible school has been located there for the past 29 years.
Today there are more than seven churches represented, and approximately 140 children involved, ranging in age from 3 to 11 years old, as well as a host of teenagers who serve as volunteers in music, games and in the recreation of the marketplace of Jerusalem, which is filled with loaves of bread baking by the bread makers, spices, crafts, food as well as the carpenter's shop.
In all, as many as 225 children, teenagers and adults are involved in setting up and taking down the structures used during the Bible camp, including the tents outside.
Those people who have provided help, guidance and talent in running the Bible school include Pastor Mark Rieff; the late Pastor Doug Langholtz; Pastor Ron Davids (of the Hebrew School); Father T. Quinn, retired from Our Lady of Fatima parish; former chairperson Bonnie Berg; Suzy Reynolds; Mindy Vredenoogd; as well as chairman for 2006, David Thompson-all of whom kept this dream alive for three decades.
At the closing service there will be a free will offering for ALS, in memory of Pastor Langholtz, along with an ongoing collection of food for the Magnolia and Queen Anne helplines. There is a plaque given to the library of Magnolia Lutheran for the 29 years of outreach services provided through the Bible program to the Magnolia community, and in thanksgiving to the memory of Robert Kenneth Ames, whose faith in this dream from the beginning inspired this founder and others to keep going and believing in this vision that has survived not due to one person but on the energy and talent of many volunteers through three decades.
Walking down McGraw the last week of June, you could smell the fragrant loaves of bread baking and the many tribal members lifting their hearts in song and praise. Indeed, they have crossed the Red Sea.
Their journey will continue.[[In-content Ad]]
