Vacation Bible School season brings excitement, creativity, and a whole lot of cardboard, paint, and storage bins. What if some of that effort and expense could be shared?
Churches across denominations are discovering that partnering with neighboring congregations to share VBS materials and decorations is practical, fun, and a genuinely meaningful way to build community beyond their own walls.
Start with a conversation
Before you order a single backdrop or paint a single banner, reach out to churches in your area. This doesn’t have to stay within United Methodist circles. Baptist, Presbyterian, nondenominational, and community churches are all fair game. The question is simple: “Are you using [curriculum name] this summer?”
You may be surprised how many congregations land on the same curriculum. A quick email or phone call to your neighbors can open the door to something much bigger than shared shipping costs.
Compare your calendars
As long as your VBS weeks don’t overlap, the same decorations can travel from church to church all summer. A few things to sort out:
- Map out who is doing VBS which week and confirm there’s no overlap
- Create a simple rotation schedule (a shared spreadsheet or group text works fine)
- Designate a point person at each church responsible for transport and returning items in good condition
Host a decoration-making day (or two!)
Invite volunteers from all participating churches to come together for a shared build day. Before you gather, agree on:
- What pieces will be made, and who is making what
- What supplies are needed, and who will bring them
- Who stores each item between uses
- How will wear and tear be handled
You save on labor, pool creative talent, and get to know people from congregations down the street you might never have met otherwise.
What can be shared
Almost anything that isn’t consumable works well. Good candidates include:
- Large set pieces and backdrops
- Themed signage and banners
- Costumes and props
- Table centerpieces
- Ceiling decorations and doorway arches
Curriculum books, leader guides, and craft supplies are best purchased individually since they get used up. The big visual pieces are perfect for sharing.
The payoff is more than financial
Yes, you’ll save money. But the real gift is what this kind of partnership does for relationships between congregations. Volunteers who built something together remember it. Kids who see familiar decorations at a friend’s church get a small, tangible reminder that the church is bigger than one building. And when VBS season ends, you’ve got the foundation for ecumenical friendships that show up in other ways for years to come.
Reach out to a neighbor this week. You might be surprised at what you can build together.
And if you’ve already started making your own decorations, file this away for next year and make a plan to share resources and community together.
AI was used to brainstorm and polish this article.