EMERALD CROSSING VBS

An Irish Adventure Through Psalm 23

JUNE 8 - 12, 2026

9:00am - 12:00pm

(registration is now closed)

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VBS Family Picnic

Wednesday, June 10th

12:00-1:30PM

All are welcome to attend our 1st Annual VBS Family Picnic, to be held immediately after VBS dismissal. There will be a free lunch served of WALKING TACOS (please RSVP HERE to let us know if you'll be eating lunch with us on Wednesday.)

Activities will include a DUNK TANK featuring our Skit Characters, Shepherd Seamus and Sheep #99 and #100. There will be a meet and greet with IRISH WOLFHOUNDS from GLIWA (Great Lakes Irish Wolfhound Association.) The WESTMONT FIRE DEPARTMENT will arrive at 1:00pm with their trucks and personnel... and the KONA ICE TRUCK will be onsite selling their shaved ice treats (cash, credit or Samsung/Google/Apple Pay accepted.)

Special musical performances by an Irish bagpiper and Midnight Combo Jazz Ensemble from Downers Grove South High School will provide live music for your enjoyment.

This will be an Outdoor Block Party. Please bring a lawn chair if needed.

We're always looking for ways to improve VBS for everyone involved. Please click HERE to leave feedback for the VBS Director.

At Emerald Crossing, we will discover Jesus, our Good Shepherd, through exciting music, skits, crafts, games, small group time and snacks!!

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We will learn about the historical King David of Israel through interactive and kid-friendly Bible Time sessions from adult members of Bethel and Pastor Szeto.

Who can attend?

Bethel's VBS is for kids entering K-7th grade in the fall.

BELC students MUST register for VBS through Ms. Lisa Graziano, BELC Program Director by calling 630/968-3232 or at www.bethelearlylearningcenter@yahoo.com

Who can volunteer?

8th graders (fall 2026) can sign up to be a Jr. Leader.

High School Youth through Adults can serve on Bethel's VBS Team

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To sign up to serve on Bethel's VBS Team, please email bethelwestmontVBS@gmail.com

To register an 8th grade Jr. Leader, please email bethelwestmontVBS@gmail.com

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Bethel Westmont's VBS Mission Statement

At Bethel Westmont VBS, we seek to discover Jesus together and engage in God's kingdom work by offering free, high-energy activities and biblically sound teaching to our Bethel & BELC families and the community.

We will accomplish this mission by working hard together, serving the Lord together and having fun together as a church family while loving the VBS kids and families in Jesus' name.

What is offered at Bethel's VBS?

Campers get a full week of excitement through high-energy Opening & Closing Sessions (including live music by the Bethel Band & fun and engaging skits with well-loved characters), kid friendly and interactive Bible Time, make and take Crafts, group Games led by our enthusiastic leaders, a daily themed Snack and small Group Time sessions to chat & learn to pray together.

What's NEW This Year?!

VBS FAMILY PICNIC

Wednesday, June 10th from 12:00-1:30pm

Instead of an evening block party, we will be hosting a Family Picnic to be held outdoors on the Bethel grounds. It is FREE to attend, but we're asking everyone to please RSVP (see link above) so we know how much food to prepare.

The KONA ICE TRUCK of DOWNERS GROVE will be on-site from 11:30am-1:30pm selling their delicious shaved ice treats. They graciously donate a portion of their proceeds to Bethel's Youth Programs. They accept cash, credit or Samsung/Google/Apple Pay.

There will be a DUNK TANK giving kids the opportunity to DUNK our Skit Characters. All VBS Campers will receive ONE TURN to throw a ball at the release button and try to dunk them. As a fundraiser, we will be selling Raffle Tickets for a chance to PUSH THE RELEASE BAR...giving FIVE people the opportunity to DUNK them for sure :) Cash or Venmo at the event.

The Westmont Fire Department will arrive at 1:00pm (pending availability that day.)

The Great Lakes Irish Wolfhound Association will be bringing Irish Wolfhounds for a meet and greet. Come meet these gentle giants!

There will be musical performances by an Irish bagpiper along with live music performed by Midnight Combo Jazz Ensemble composed of students and graduates from Downers Grove South High School.

VBS PRAYER PARTNERS

Prayer Partners will be given the first names of one VBS Group to include an Adult Group Leader, two teen leaders, a Jr. Leader and 10-12 kids. The Prayer Partner will pray regularly for these individuals and lift them up to the Lord before and during VBS week.

Who can attend?

VBS is open to kids entering K through 7th grade in the fall of 2026.

(see below for specific details regarding grades 6 & 7)

BELC students MUST register through Ms Lisa Graziano. Contact her for information at bethelearlylearningcenter@yahoo.com or 630/968-3232.

Registration is closed.

Once full, a waitlist will be formed and we will contact you if space opens.

Our L.I.T. (Leaders In Training) Program is for kids entering 6th & 7th grade in the fall.

Kids in the LIT Program will participate both as campers and as Jr. Leaders throughout the week. LIT Program kids will participate as campers each day in our exciting Opening & Closing Sessions and Bible Time, but will have their own separate Group, Service, Craft and Game times. A daily snack will be served.

Group Sessions for the LIT kids will feature leadership training, crafts, games, a service project and activities and tackle age-appropriate questions related to the Christian faith and Jesus with our LIT Program leaders (Jill, Brett, John, Laine & Sandy.) LIT kids will also have a chance to practice what they are learning during the week by having a Jr. Leader experience during the VBS week.

L.I.T. Program kids should register using the link above.

Teens entering 8th grade can join our VBS Team as a Jr. Leader under the supervision of an Adult Leader. Email bethelwestmontVBS@gmail.com if interested in this opportunity.

Who runs Bethel's VBS?

We are honored to have around 80 VBS Team members on our VBS Team who work hard and demonstrate the love of Jesus during the week. Bethel's current Pastor is Dave Szeto who will be present at VBS.

The 2026 VBS Director is Ms. Maria (same as last year) and assisted by Ms Nicole.

Both Maria and Nicole have been serving at Bethel's VBS for over 20 years. They have served as Group Leaders, Craft Leaders, script writers, Bible curriculum writers, design team, hospitality team, props creation and vision, Skit writer, games...pretty much serving in all ways possible for VBS.

Bethel's VBS Team consists of Bethel church members, BELC teachers, 8th grade Jr. Leaders, high school aged teens, college students and adults from Bethel and the community...some of whom have been around Bethel's VBS for many years.

Reach out to BethelWestmontVBS@gmail.com with any questions or to inquire about opportunities to serve.

A free lunch is offered each day to our amazing and hard-working VBS Team, their families and our Jr. Leaders.

Can I volunteer to serve at VBS?

YES !

We welcome all Bethel & BELC members, friends of Bethel and parents/guardians of VBS Campers to serve the Lord at Bethel's VBS.

We have a variety of opportunities available: behind the scenes, group leaders, crafts, photography, tech/av, games, hospitality, props/decorations, Prayer Partners, etc.

You can serve for one day, two days or all week depending on your schedule. It really is a lot of fun to serve and be present at Bethel's VBS.

We also get together in the months preceding VBS to prep crafts, decorations and supplies needed. Our Wednesday Work Nights will occur from 6-8pm in the West Basement on the following dates: May 6 & 13 and June 3rd.

Please email bethelwestmontVBS@gmail.com to serve at VBS.

Can donations be made to Bethel's VBS?

Yes!

We continually accept donations for our VBS program which is offered FREE to the community. You can click the GIVE button above to be redirected to our giving page. Please choose Unified Budget and type VBS 2026 in the note section. Questions to Deb in the Bethel Office at 630-968-3232 or Deb@bethelwestmont.org

Past VBS Themes

2025: True North / an Alaskan adventure with Northern Lights, Musher Mack and Husky Harriet

2024: Simon Peter & the Temple Rock / an "Indiana Jones" themed week with a rolling rock, Papster, Petey & Petra

2023: Beyond The Sea / beach bash with Moses & catching a wave with Jesus

2022: On A RollerCoaster Ride with Jesus By My Side

2021: Incredible 2 Super Heroes / hybrid online/in-person version live streamed from the Bethel Sanctuary

2020: Incredible Super Heroes / covid year online version live streamed from the Bethel Sanctuary

2019: Out Of This World / outer space miraculous mission

2018: Splash Canyon / white water rafting, water Bible stories...Lemonade Stand

2017: Mighty Fortress / medieval castle theme

2016: Barnyard RoundUp

2015: Camp Discovery / 1970s camping themed

2014: Gangway to Galilee / nautical theme

2013: Tell It On The Mountain / Mount themed VBS; Mt. Sinai, Golgotha, Mt. Carmel, transfiguration)

2012: Amazing Desert Journey

2011: Big Jungle Adventure

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