A VBS for Eucharistic Revival
Come to the Table
When you eat with Jesus, anything can happen!
An interactive VBS where children learn that everyone is welcome at God’s table! The five Bible stories in this curriculum explore stories about Jesus from the Gospels of Luke and John. These stories show Jesus eating with unexpected people, providing food for a crowd, demonstrating humility, and extending welcome and forgiveness. Through worship and drama, Bible study, art and science projects, and active games, children are welcomed to taste and share at God’s table, where there is always enough!
Come to the Table invites children to see that God loves and welcomes all people and challenges them to share that same love and hospitality in their everyday lives.
Children in grades K–5 will see Bible stories come to life in the dramas during worship time, and will reflect on them during three response times: Bible Response, Active Response (Physical Games), and Creative Response (Art/Crafts).
Preschoolers ages 4–5 may participate in worship with the older children or have their own worship time. They too will share in the Bible story and engage in crafts, games, and other activities.
Daily Schedule
This theme provides content for five flexible sessions, from as short as one hour to over three hours each day. Scroll right to see all five days.
| DAY 1 | DAY 2 | DAY 3 | DAY 4 | DAY 5 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Be Our Guest |
Jesus and the Giant Picnic |
Guess Who's Coming for Dinner |
A Supper to Remember |
Breakfast on the Beach |
|
| Purpose Statement | Food for thought: Everyone is welcome at God’s table. | Food for thought: There is more than enough at God’s table. | Food for thought: Jesus’ welcome changes everything. | Food for thought: Jesus shows us what love looks like. | Food for thought: We can love like Jesus. |
| Scripture | Luke 14:15–24 | John 6:1–14 | Luke 19:1–10 | Luke 22:13–20; John 13:1–20 | John 21:1–17 |
| Story Summary | Jesus is invited to a meal at the home of an important Pharisee. Jesus tells a parable about a great feast. The host of the dinner sends out his servant to tell the invited guests that everything is ready. The invited guests make excuses about why they can’t come. So the host invites people from the streets and countryside instead—people who can’t walk or see, people who are hungry, and people who are often forgotten or excluded. More and more people come until the entire house is full. | A large crowd follows Jesus up on a mountain. “Where shall we buy bread for every- one?” Jesus asks his disciples. A young boy shares five loaves of bread and two fish with Jesus. He blesses the food and has the disciples distribute it among the people. All eat and are satisfied. Twelve baskets of leftover food are collected so that none will go to waste. | Zacchaeus, a chief tax collector, climbs a sycamore tree to see above the crowd as Jesus passes through Jericho. Jesus sees Zacchaeus and asks him to climb down and then invites himself to Zacchaeus’ home. The crowd grumbles against Jesus’ choice to be a guest of a tax col- lector. Zacchaeus tells Jesus he will give half his possessions to the poor and return four times the amount he earns from cheating others. Jesus considers Zacchaeus right with God. | Jesus shares Passover with his disciples. At the meal, Jesus shares bread and wine with his disciples. He asks the disciples to remember him with those symbols. Then Jesus takes a basin and towel and washes the disciples’ feet. Peter does not want Jesus to wash his feet, but Jesus says he is doing it to set an example. By washing one another’s feet, they are serving God. | Jesus’ disciples are fishing and do not catch anything all night long. Toward morning, a voice from shore tells them to cast their net on the other side of the boat. Their net fills with fish! Realizing that it is Jesus on the shore, Peter jumps out of the boat and hurries to meet him. Jesus prepares a breakfast of bread and fish. After they have eaten, Jesus asks Peter three times if he loves him. When Peter answers, “You know that I love you,” Jesus tells him, “Feed my sheep.” |
Features
- Available in download-only or physical + download kits.
- Reproducible (with exception of student booklets and family music CDs/MP3s).
- Physical leader guides are in a binder with tabs to make them easy to rearrange or duplicate.
- Bulk-priced music can easily be sent home with every family.
- Focuses on Eucharist, the source and summit of our faith.
- With parish-wide suggestions for engaging in the National Eucharistic Revival, for which we are a formal collaborator.
- Daily insights from Pope Francis.
- Featuring top musical artists from Oregon Catholic Press.
- Hummable, top-notch, kid-friendly music that connects closely with the theme.
- Easy to lead, with Powerpoints, sing-along music videos, and hand motions.
- Songs by Jesse Manibusan, Steve Angrisano, Foundnation, Bryan Sirchio, and Sarah Hart.
- All the core features you expect in a VBS, without overwhelming complexity.
- Earth-friendly, without plastic trinkets that will litter our common home.
- Early childhood leader guide makes it easy to include preschoolers.
- Easy to adapt to your timeframe and preferences.
- Focused on the Eucharist and Jesus' table fellowship: perfect for this time of Eucharistic Revival.
- A fun and effective way to help children appreciate the Mass.
- Includes Scripture, prayer, drama, music, games, crafts, and activities, all nicely integrated.
- Thoughtful take-home pages (in English and Spanish) to bring parents into the process and coach them on how to talk to their children.
- Extra resources included to help you market and manage your VBS.
- Optional gestures/motions are provided for prayers, memory verses, and songs.
Preview Leader Guides
Look inside the whole first day of each leader guide below. To preview full-screen, click the icon on the upper right of the preview.
Director Guide
Overview of the VBS and guidelines for orchestrating the process. Includes a planning chart, sample schedules, tips for working with staff/volunteers, forms, Bible backgrounds, snack ideas, a book list, a letter to parents, guidelines for inviting children to faith, and more.
Early Childhood Leader Guide
Full guide for all aspects of VBS for younger children (ages 4-5). Makes suggestions for full daily schedules, including snack ideas, Bible sessions, activities, crafts, books, song/motion suggestions, and more.
Worship & Drama
Leader Guide
Full guide for leading Worship & Drama sessions for each day, including gathering (introducing theme, opening prayer, etc.), worshiping (prayer, song, Bible verse, drama), responding (offering project), and sending (schedule review, blessing, and song)
Sprout
Active Games Leader Guide
Full guide for leading interactive activities & games each day, including advance preparation, session plan, material list, step-by-step instructions, and debrief.
Dig In
Bible Study Leader Guide
Full guide for leading Scripture response sessions for each day, including Biblical background information, materials list, advance preparation, session plan, and suggestions for teaching Bible memory verses.
Create & Discover
Art & Science Leader Guide
Full guide for leading craft sessions for each day, including Biblical background, materials list, advance preparation, and debrief.
Child Booklet Preview
Dig In
K-5 Student Booklet
Full-color 24-page 8½" x 11" activity booklet for grades K-5, including puzzles and other interactive activities.
Scoop of Stories
Early Childhood Student Booklet
Full-color 16-page 8½" x 11" activity booklet for ages 4-5, including a retelling of the Bible story for each day, puzzles, and other interactive activities. Send this booklet home so parents can follow up with their children!
Other Items
Invitation Poster
Customize and post these 11" x 17" posters around your parish or around town. Two copies are included in the physical starter kit.
Bible Memory Verse Poster
Make it easy for kids to learn the verses day-by-day. One copy is included in the physical starter kit.
Area Posters
Set of five. Hang them above each of the key areas. One copy of each is included in the physical starter kit.
Send Home Parent Engagement Notes
Engaging letters in English & Spanish to keep parents in the loop and coach them on how to follow up with their children each day.
Plus:
- Logo artwork (use to create your own t-shirts or documents)
- Music components (see below)
- ...and much more!
Music Video Previews
Catholic composer, singer/songwriter, storyteller, humorist, catechist, evangelizer and encourager Jesse Manibusan leads our music and offers one song for this theme.
Music Components
The eResource (downloadable) starter kit includes:
- MP3 audio files of all songs
- Songbook with lead sheets melody line scores, lyrics, and chords (lyrics only for "Eucharistic People")
- Hand/body motions for all songs
- Simple sing-along videos, showing the motions (stream or download)
- Simple sing-along lyric presentations (Powerpoint)
The physical starter kit includes:
- Full access to the eResource (downloadable) starter kit
- USB drive with all download files, including videos
- Printed songbook
In addition, purchase inexpensive bulk MP3 downloads/audio CDs to send home with families, so they can continue to sing the VBS songs!
Pricing & Purchase
Starter Kits |
Downloadable Starter Kit | Physical Starter Kit + Downloadable |
|---|---|---|
$99 |
$149 |
|
| All leader guides with permission to reproduce | Online access | Physical binder & on USB drive |
| Child booklets (preschool & elementary) | Online preview* | Physical sample copies* |
| Invitation Posters | Online access | 2 copies & on USB drive |
| Bible Memory Poster | Online access | 1 copy & on USB drive |
| Area Posters | Online access | 1 copies of each & on USB drive |
| Music audio | Online access (MP3s)** | on USB drive** |
| Music sing-along videos | Online access | on USB drive |
| Music files (lead sheets, motions, lyrics) | Online access | In physical binder & on USB drive |
*Child booklets are not reproducible. If you choose to use these recommended components, please buy one copy for each child (see below).
**Music from starter kits may not be reproduced and distributed to participants and their families. If you wish to do so, please buy the very affordable bulk-priced audio CDs or MP3 download cards from us (see below).
Physical Add-On Options
This program is a collaboration between The Pastoral Center and MennoMedia. Adapted and reprinted with permission from Come to the Table. © 2021 Shine Curriculum, Harrisonburg, VA 22803. All rights reserved.