Musical VBS Was a Hit

WAITSBURG – The creek may not have overflowed, but the church pews sure did on Sunday when 190 people crowded into the Waitsburg Presbyterian Church to watch local kids perform the musical 'Down by the Creek Bank.' The performance served as the big finale for a popular, week-long Vacation Bible School created by co-directors Bethany Moser and Pam Conover.

Moser said she and Conover were having a hard time deciding on what to do for VBS this year when they hit on the idea of a musical. Moser already had the score for 'Down by the Creek Bank,' a timeless children's musical she remembered singing as a child.

The creek bank theme lent itself nicely to a study on the days of creation, so the pair decided to create with their own lessons, activities and crafts, and turned the musical into a week-long VBS program. The main theme was, "God Made it All."

The idea was a hit, and 63 children participated in this years' Bible school. For the last couple of years, the Waitsburg Christian and Presbyterian churches have held a joint weekend VBS, which was nice because it required fewer volunteers. This year, volunteers from the Christian Church, Presbyterian Church, and New River Fellowship all pitched in to make the event a success.

"We usually have about 35 to 40 kids show up, so having 60 plus participate this year shows that the musical was a big draw," Moser said.

Moser said she mimicked the auditions and rehearsals after the process used by the Missoula Children's Theater. Kids auditioned on Monday, practiced Tuesday through Friday, met for a dress rehearsal on Saturday, and the big performance took place Sunday morning.

In addition to rehearsing dialogues, songs, and solos, the children had a snack and craft time each day, as well as a special presentation. Blue Mountain Wildlife from Pendleton Ore. showed birds of prey, and former park ranger Gary Lentz gave a historical portrayal of famous botanist and explorer David Douglas.

Rene Hadley and Lisa Stearns from the Walla Walla Conservation District presented information on streams and waterways. Children built a mini homestead in a bin, and the presenters then poured water in to see if their homes were situated in a way that would avoid flooding.

Local veterinary assistant Sandra Farley talked about animal care and how to properly approach a strange dog, and Janet Lawrence brought in several of her snakes and a ferret for the kids to pet.

"It was a big job, but it was a lot of fun and we got it all done," Moser said. "The kids seemed to really love it and the parents have posted lots of pictures and videos on Facebook. I think everyone enjoyed it and had fun," she added.