Day 1 Opening Assembly

The Director can be the M.C. for the Opening and Closing Assembly each day. Be fun and energetic and your enthusiasm will engage the children!

DAY 1 MAIN INTRO

Welcome everyone to our Wilderness Adventure VBS!

My name is _______________ and I am going to be your wilderness guide this week.

I also want to introduce the rest of our crew, as they will be helping to lead you on your adventure. Introduce the other leaders with fun names like “Adventurous Abby, Brave Brian, Courageous Catherine, Evan the Explorer, Lumberjack Levi, Trusty Tracy.”

Introduce the small groups.

For example: Where are the Bears? I want to hear your best bear growls.

How about the Blue Jays? Make bird sounds.

How about the Beavers? Clap to make the sound of beaver tails in the water.

This week at our Wilderness VBS, we are going to explore the sacraments together. Did you know that a sacrament is a outward sign, instituted by Christ, that brings a special grace to our souls?

Speaking of signs, I have a sign post that lists all the sacraments. Point to the sacraments sign.

Who can tell me how many sacraments there are? Seven.

Who can name the very first sacrament? Baptism.

Ask the kids to call out each of the other sacraments. (Reconciliation/Confession, Eucharist, Confirmation, Matrimony/Marriage, Holy Orders, and the Anointing of the Sick.)

As you journey through your life of faith, you will start to see just how incredible the sacraments are!

Picture yourself as an explorer on a wilderness adventure, trekking through deep forests and climbing up steep mountains. You may encounter some challenges along the way, but with the right equipment (prayer and scripture) and the seven signposts (sacraments) showing the way, you will eventually reach the top, which is heaven.

Are you ready for this Wilderness Adventure? Everyone cheer.

MUSIC

Introduce the theme song Hike of My Life. Play the Action Song video. Ask all the leaders to participate, too.

Every other day, play one of the action songs learned in the music station from the previous day.

OPENING PRAYER

Ask your parish priest if he can lead the opening prayer. It’s great to have the presence of a priest at different times throughout the VBS week.

Jesus, thank you for bringing us all together to grow in our faith. This week at our Cat.Chat VBS, we pray that we will learn more about the sacraments and experience a deeper love for you. Bless our day and keep everyone safe. Amen.

SAINT OF THE DAY

Let us ask our VBS Saint of the Day (St. John the Baptist) to pray for us (point to the saint poster). St. John the Baptist, pray for us.

Let us pray:

Our Father, Who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy Will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Go over any rules and make important announcements. Explain the fire evacuation plan and point out fire exits and washrooms.

THEME OF THE DAY

Each day, I’m going to show you something from my wilderness backpack. Let me see what I have in my backpack today. Pull out a water bottle.

Who can tell me what I’m holding? Water bottle.

Water is something we need if we’re going to survive in the wilderness, but water is also something we use in one of the seven sacraments.

Who can tell me which sacrament uses water? Baptism.

You may not remember your own Baptism, but you’ve probably seen someone else being baptized. Today, we are going to have fun exploring the sacrament of Baptism as we learn about the courage it takes to live out our baptismal promises.

Our Bible Verse today is from the Gospel of Matthew.

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Matt. 28:19 Kids will watch the Bible Verse Video in the music or faith station.