Welcome to Emerald Crossing: An Irish Adventure Through Psalm 23 !
Grab your shepherd’s staff and whistle for your sheepdog. Our Irish adventure is about to begin! 
Every day, our kids are bombarded with questions: Does God care about me? Why do we have hard times? Do things happen because of “good luck” or “bad luck”? Can I trust the Bible?
At this VBS, your kids will explore the biblical answers to these questions as they take a shepherd’s tour across the Emerald Isle through Psalm 23. Each day at the Emerald Crossing bridge, kids will hear how they can cross from living life our way to living God’s way. Every stop along our path will teach us about God, the Great Shepherd, and how he cares for his sheep (believers in Christ Jesus). Like David (the writer of Psalm 23) discovered throughout his life, first as a shepherd and later as a king, your kids will also discover important truths:

Day 1: I can be a child of God and have the Lord as my shepherd. 
Sheep and people have a lot in common, including being lost at times. That’s why God compares us to sheep in the Bible. Jesus called himself the Good Shepherd. He laid down his life for us, just as shepherds would do for their sheep. And he cares about every lost person, or “lost sheep,” out there. A person is lost in a spiritual way if they aren’t part of the Good Shepherd’s flock. To be in his flock, each of us needs to belong to Jesus and ask him to be our shepherd—like it says in verse 1, “the Lord is my shepherd.” It doesn’t say the Lord is a shepherd. It says he is my shepherd. This is personal for each one of us. God takes a personal interest in YOU and wants to be YOUR shepherd, caring for you.
Day 2: I need the Lord to lead me on the right path through his Word.
Did you know sheep are helped by a shepherd’s guidance? They can overgraze a pasture, eating the grass down to the bare soil. So it helps them to follow their shepherd as he leads them to new pastures. Sometimes sheep wander off on the wrong path rather than move to better land. But a good shepherd leads his sheep on the right path so things like that won’t happen. We, like sheep, need the Lord to lead and guide us from the wrong path, where people make bad decisions based on what the world says to do, to the right path, where we’re being led by God through his Word to make wise decisions.
Day 3: I can turn to the Lord for comfort when I'm feeling anxious or afraid. 
Like sheep, we can often be frightened and benefit from the comfort of our Good Shepherd, who helps us move from being fearful to peaceful. Peace comes from having a relationship with God and walking closely with him as we’re led through his Word and prayer.
Day 4: I can have an attitude of gratitude in every situation.
The best protection farm sheep have is their shepherd’s protection. He comforts and cares for his sheep, even in the midst of their enemies, like foxes, wolves—or pesky bugs. For us, “enemies” can come in different forms, from difficulty with certain people to just having a hard day. Rather than complain and grumble, we can be grateful for the overflowing goodness we receive from our good God.  
Day 5: I need to be on the lookout for God’s goodness and mercy, my traveling companions through life. 
Sheep form deep bonds with their shepherd. In fact, they even know their shepherd’s specific voice. Sheep are loyal to their shepherd because he’s shown them love and care. Jesus talked about this as a picture of us and the Lord. When we follow God as our Good Shepherd, he promises that goodness and mercy shall follow us through this life. Then we will go to be with him in the house of the Lord—heaven—forever.  
Beauty and adventure await us each day at Emerald Crossing where lads and lasses will gather at the Emerald Isle Assembly. This high-energy beginning includes wacky intros, lively songs, a mission moment, and prayer.
Then they’re off to rotate through five fun sites:
1.	Flock Talk Time, where Bible lessons are taught in creative, hands-on ways.
2.	Celtic Corner Science and Crafts, where kids will create their own crafts and explore God’s world through science activities.
3.	Still Water Snacks, where kids enjoy scrumptious Irish fare.
4.	Green Meadow Games, the rambunctious rec time where kids join in some lively competition.
5.	Top o’ the Morning Missions, Music, and Memory Verses, where kids sing songs, learn their memory verses, or go in-depth with the mission moment featuring Children’s Hunger Fund.
Finally, everyone heads back to the Emerald Isle Assembly for the closing where there’s more singing, contest results, and the highly anticipated daily drama. Lads and lasses will be introduced to an Irish sheep farmer named Grandpa Fitz who runs Stillwater Farm. Through some challenges, some fun, and a few big surprises, Fitz shows how the Lord has been his comforter and guide his whole life.
So pull on your work boots, grab your walking staff, and get ready for a grand ol’ time  at Emerald Crossing!

Daily Overview
Day 1: Lost to Found at a Sheep Farm in Donegal
Bible Passage: Psalm 23:1; 1 Samuel 17:34–37
Lesson Focus: Like David, I can be a child of God and have the Lord as MY shepherd.
Apologetics Content: Is the Lord a distant God? Did he create the universe and then just sit back and watch?
Names of God: Shepherd 
Animal Pal: Mia the Connemara Sheep
All ages: The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. Psalm 23:1 (ESV)

Day 2: Wrong Path to Right Path at Green Pastures in County Galway
Bible Passage: Psalm 23:2–3; 1 Samuel 17
Lesson Focus: Like David, I need the Lord to lead me on the right path through his Word.
Apologetics Content: Is the Bible a trustworthy guide to lead us through life?
Names of God: Leader
Animal Pal: Guide the Border Collie
Toddler/Pre-Primary Memory Verse: 
He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. Psalm 23:2 (ESV)
Primary/Junior Memory Verse:
He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Psalm 23:2–3 (ESV)

Day 3: Fearful to Peaceful at Black Valley in County Kerry
Bible Passage: Psalm 23:4; 1 Samuel 19–23
Lesson Focus: Like David, I can turn to the Lord for comfort when I’m feeling anxious or afraid.
Apologetics Content: Why do we even have hard times?
Names of God: Comforter
Animal Pal: Shadow the Raven
Toddler/Pre-Primary Memory Verse: 
I will fear no evil, for you are with me. Psalm 23:4 (ESV)
Primary/Junior Memory Verse:
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23:4 (ESV)
Day 4: Grumbling to Grateful at Enemy Territory in Dublin
Bible Passage: Psalm 23:5; 1 Samuel 16:1–13; 2 Samuel 9:3–7
Lesson Focus: Like David, I can have an attitude of gratitude in every situation.
Apologetics Content: Are good things because of “good luck” or a good God?
Names of God: Provider
Animal Pal: Pesky the Woolly Aphid
Toddler/Pre-Primary Memory Verse: 
You prepare a table before me. . . . My cup overflows. Psalm 23:5 (ESV)
Primary/Junior Memory Verse:
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Psalm 23:5 (ESV)
Day 5: Shaky to Sure at Higher Lands in County Antrim
Bible Passage: Psalm 23:6; 1 Chronicles 22
Lesson Focus: Like David, I need to be on the lookout for God’s goodness and mercy, my traveling companions through life. 
Apologetics Content: What should rainbows remind us of?
Names of God: Promise Keeper
Animal Pal: Shirley the Highland Cow
Toddler/Pre-Primary Memory Verse: 
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me. Psalm 23:6 (ESV)
Primary/Junior Memory Verse:
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Psalm 23:6 (ESV)
News You Need to Know
T-Shirt Info
VBS T-shirts are available in the foyer for $5 each. They are nice quality, 100% pre-shrunk cotton shirts. Sizes available: Youth extra-small, Youth small, Youth medium, Youth large, Adult small, Adult medium, Adult large, Adult XL, Adult 2XL, Adult 3XL, Adult 4XL. Limited quantities available so get yours now!
Music CDs for Sale
Music CDs featuring songs from this year’s VBS are also for sale. These are $2 each and are available in the foyer. 
Cool Contests
We will be having exciting daily contests this week for ages 4–12. Your child can earn individual and team points each day by participating in the following:
 	[INSERT YOUR CHOSEN TREASURE HUNT AND CONTEST INFO HERE]
VBS Bookstore
Our bookstore this year will have a fantastic assortment of both child and adult Christian resources for sale at great prices. The bookstore will be open Monday through Friday and the Sunday morning following VBS. It will be located in the foyer, so stop and have a look.
Games
Sturdy shoes are recommended every day so your children can freely run and play without twisting an ankle.
Craft Alert
Our crafts are awesome, fun, and potentially messy! Please make sure your children wear play clothes that can get dirty. 
Mission Moment—Food Paks with Children's Hunger Fund
Our mission project this year is called Guided by Grace. We'll be raising money for a ministry called Children’s Hunger Fund that delivers the hope of the gospel in a special way. During the Mission Moment, your group will meet Quinn, an enthusiastic shepherdess-in-training. Quinn is preparing to join her cousins on their sheep farm in Ireland and has been busy learning everything there is to know about raising sheep. Join her as she attempts to train her dog, Penny, to be a sheepdog. Throughout the week, she’ll also be sharing stories about children around the world. Your mission is to collect coins and help provide meals for children in need, just like the ones Quinn will introduce to you throughout the week.
When your VBS children earn coins for their Coin Paks, they make it possible for Children’s Hunger Fund to fill Food Paks. A Children’s Hunger Fund Food Pak is a box of nutritious food that can provide meals for a family in need. With a Food Pak, just 25 cents can provide one meal!
The Food Paks are provided to partner churches in the US and around the world who deliver them to homes of families in need. Along with food delivery, relationships are built, and the gospel is shared.
Arrival/Dismissal Procedures
Arrival: Insert your specifics here.
Dismissal: Insert your specifics here.
Closing Program
On Sunday morning we will host a closing program. 
[INSERT SPECIFICS HERE]
This will be a big, exciting time for the children, so we’re looking forward to seeing you on Sunday morning!