This year, the Vacation Bible School from Concordia Publishing House is called Planet Zoom.
While I believe that CPH consistently has the best mass-produced curriculum from a major Christian publisher, I continue to be disappointed by the songs included.
Here are our suggestions for substitute/supplemental VBS Hymns for Planet Zoom:
Theme Hymns (Ephesians 5:1-2)
706 Love in Christ
473 Our Paschal Lamb (double use: Day 5)
697 Awake
Day 1 (Luke 2:41-52)
410 Within the Father’s House
Day 2 (John 6:1-15)
774 Feed Thy Children
Day 3 (Mark 5:21-43)
552: 1, 5, 6, 4 O Christ
Alternate: 849 Praise the One
Day 4 (Matthew 27:62-28:20)
466 Christ Has Arisen
In Christ Alone (See #752 in the WELS Christian Worship: Supplement)
Day 5 (Acts 12:1-19)
473 Our Paschal Lamb (Also one of the theme hymns)
These recommendations, in my opinion, give better support to the overall Scripture themes and daily themes than those included by the publisher.
All are from LSB, with one exception.
Also, using these hymns will give the children in our congregations hymns to grow into, rather than songs to grow out of.
And, hopefully, you may be more inclined to support our LCMS publisher by purchasing their VBS. http://planetzoom.cph.org/
Finally, give them constructive feedback to make the good even better.
PJC
