Daily Assembly Scripts
Day 1: Opening Assembly
Welcome (2 minutes)
Props for Day 1 Welcome: suitcase or backpack and various supplies for a jungle river cruise (e.g., hat, bug spray, rain boots, binoculars, flashlight or headlamp, poncho or lightweight hooded jacket)—choose several.
Person 1: Hey, everyone! Welcome to The Great Jungle Journey! Are you ready for the trip of a lifetime?
Person 2: Enter carrying a suitcase or backpack. 
Person 1: Oh, hi there! Are you ready for our jungle river cruise?
Person 2: Ready!
Person 1: Great! Do you have your hat?
Person 2: Oh, I forgot it! Just a second. Run backstage. Be loud and clumsy looking for the hat, then come back with it. Okay, ready! 
Person 1: Good. Let’s get going. You do have bug spray, don’t you?
Person 2: Eerrrhh! I forgot that. Run backstage and come back with it. Okay, now I’m ready!
Continue this way for a minute, forgetting one or two more things.
Person 1: I think you’re finally ready. Everybody, let’s get to our feet and take off on our jungle journey!
Song (3 minutes)
Theme Song 
Song (3 minutes)
Contemporary: “The Manatee Song” / Traditional: “God Is Good”
Mission Moment (5 minutes)
SHOW: “The Good News Cruise” slide
As we spend this week journeying from Genesis through Revelation, we are also going to get the chance to meet a boy or girl living in a different part of the world. We are partnering with Children’s Hunger Fund to help provide meals for children who don’t have enough to eat.
Besides helping provide them with meals, you can also help them hear about the message of the gospel, too!
SHOW: “The Good News Cruise—Nadya” slide
Are you ready to meet the first child? Pause for participation. Great! Today, we’re going to meet a  little girl named Nadya, who lives in the country of Ukraine.  
SHOW: Video 1—Nadya
Country: Ukraine
Problem: War
Before the war, Nadya’s family didn’t have to struggle to provide basic needs like food and a place to live. They had a home, her parents had jobs, and Nadya went to school and had plans for her future. When they had to leave their home in search of safety, everything they had was lost. Thankfully, nearby churches have worked together to help refugees (people who had to leave their homes) just like Nadya and her family.
Do you want to help kids like Nadya? Pause for participation. Great! This week at VBS, we will be collecting coins to put in these Coin Paks. Show Coin Pak. Take this home today and tell your family and friends about Nadya. Ask them to help you collect coins for meals. Just 25 cents can provide a nutritious meal for a hungry child. 
These meals will be packed into a Children’s Hunger Fund Food Pak, which is a box of healthy, nutritious food. This will be enough to feed a family for several days.
Each day this week, bring back any coins you’ve collected, and we’ll count how many meals you’ve given so far. With your help, we can deliver hope to suffering families all over the world.  
Announcements (time varies)
Announce any info pertinent to your situation. Today, you need to explain how the contests work so the kids can participate. Check with your director for details.
Prayer
Dismissal
Song (play as children leave)
Contemporary Memory Verse Song: “God Created (Genesis 1:1)” / Traditional MV Song: Genesis 1:1 / C: “No One Does Good” / T: “Messing It Up”
Day 1: Closing Assembly
Song (3 minutes)
C: “The Manatee Song” / T: “God Is Good”
Song (3 minutes)
Theme Song / C Memory Verse Song: “King of the Ages” /
T MV Song: 1 Timothy 1:17
Creature Feature: Eden the Green Parrot (5 minutes)
Use the PRESENTATION SLIDES or show the CREATURE FEATURE VIDEO. Shorten the Creature Feature scripts each day as needed.
SHOW: Creature Feature title slide
Hey there, explorers! This week we’re going to take a look at a few of the thousands of remarkable creatures that call the various jungles of the world home. Let’s see if you can guess what animal we’re going to talk about today. Here’s a clue: you might hear a relative of our animal say, “Polly want a cracker?” Take responses. It’s a parrot—the double-eyed fig parrot! 
SHOW: Double-eyed fig parrot
Let’s say “double-eyed fig parrot” together five times fast. 
Do so. Phew, that was a beak full.
SHOW: Parrot eating
These adorable little birds get their name both from the fact that they love to eat . . . well, figs, and because the red patches around their small eyes kind of look like another set of eyes, don’t you think? They’re also known as the blue-faced fig parrot, the red-faced fig parrot, the dwarf fig parrot, and the two-eyed fig parrot. 
SHOW: Parrot kind members 
They are a member of the psittacine (si-tah-sine) kind, which includes all parrots, parakeets, macaws, and even cockatoos. 
SHOW: Parrot map
These little parrots live in the forests and surrounding islands of New Guinea, as well as in a place I bet you can all guess. Where might you hear people say, “G’day, mate!” Take responses. Yes, Australia! The double-eyed fig parrot is the smallest parrot found in Australia. 
SHOW: Parrot size
Can you show with your fingers what five inches looks like? Show with your fingers. That’s about how long the double-eyed fig parrot is! Because of their small size, they are able to hide more easily from predators as they fly around looking for food. 
SHOW: Parrot beak 
God gave them another really cool feature. Their strong tongues and beaks! Stick out your tongue for a second. Do so. God gave you a tongue to help you taste and swallow food. God gave the double-eyed fig parrot a particularly strong tongue and beak. The beak helps to crack hard nuts and fruit open, and the tongue helps to scoop out the insides. It even uses its beak to grasp branches as it climbs trees! Can you imagine using your mouth to climb?
SHOW: Parrot feet
Something else that is special about these birds is their feet!  Did you know that the double-eyed fig parrots have what are called zygodactyl feet? 
SHOW: Zygodactyl
Say that with me, zye-go-DAK-tul. You got it, zygodactyl! This means they have two toes on each foot that point forward and two toes on each foot that point backward. 
SHOW: Parrot on branch
This helps them climb and grasp onto tree branches as they search for food. It also allows them to hold and move objects like food, rocks, sticks and even toys! 
God thought of everything when he designed this special bird, didn’t he?
SHOW: Parrot in jungle
God gave the double-eyed fig parrot beautiful green feathers. Why do you think it’s important for it to be mostly green? Take answers. That’s right, camouflage! The green color helps these birds blend in with all of the jungle plants around them so predators, in this fallen world, don’t see them as easily. 
SHOW: Eden the parrot
Notice the beautiful green feathers on our animal pal, Eden. Green is the first color for the week. It reminds us of the first C of the 7 C’s of History, which is Creation. 
SHOW: Creation days
In the Bible, in the first chapter of the book of Genesis, we read that in the very beginning, God the Creator made EVERYTHING in six 24-hour days, including the earth, the oceans, the beautiful green plants, the sun, the moon, the stars, and all kinds of flying, swimming, and land animals. He also made the first two people! He did all that in six days! After that, he rested on the seventh day. This is why our week has seven days in it. The original creation was amazing and full of beauty and harmony, and there was no death or sorrow. It was all very good because God is good. Even today we can see remnants of this beauty in our world, crafted by our amazing Creator! 
Drama (12 minutes)
See the Drama Production section starting on page 27 for details. 
Announcements (time varies)
Cool Contests (3 minutes)
Announce winners of today’s contests. Remind them to do their Go and Do on their student guides, learn their memory verses, and make up a sign or team cheer for tomorrow.
Prayer
Takeaway Time (2–3 minutes)
Each day, right before dismissal, share a thought to leave with everyone. Make sure to allow time for this final thought of the day.
As we wrap up today, here’s something to think on: when something explodes, does it end up with things being neater or messier? Pause. Right, it’s a mess. You could show a picture or a video of a building imploding. But if the big bang were true, then the perfectly designed universe would have had to come from that first explosion. Do you think that’s possible? Pause. There’s no way! Our amazing Creator God created the entire universe. 
After all, who made the sun at exactly the right distance from earth so we aren’t frozen by being too far away or burned up by being too close? God!
Who made the woodpecker with a perfectly positioned cushion in its head, like a shock absorber, so when it pounds on a tree, its head doesn’t blow up? God! 
Who made the earth to be tilted at just the right angle to cause our changing seasons? God!
Who made the sloth with an extra-strong backbone that makes its upside-down lifestyle possible? God!
Let’s say today’s verse to remind us of this truth. Recite Genesis 1:1.
So when you’re out and about, take time to notice God’s amazing creation! In fact, try to notice at least one thing every day! It will bring you joy and God glory when you do! 
Dismissal
Song (play as children leave)
Theme Song
Day 2: Opening Assembly
Welcome (2 minutes)
No props needed.
Person 1: Hey, travelers! Welcome back to day 2 of our jungle river cruise! I’m curious—how many of you have ever been on a boat before?
Person 2: I have! I have! Quickly tell about a boat you’ve been on. 
Person 1: Well, talking about boats reminds me of waves. And talking about waves reminds me of the wave. Let’s try to do the wave right now!
Person 2: Fun! Let’s do it.
Person 1: Okay, everybody, up on your feet! Let’s start over here, and as I point to your area, raise your hands and lower them like a big wave. We’re going to go the whole way across the room and back. Ready? Here we go!
Do this once or twice.
Person 2: Well, that was a fun kind of a wave, right? But we’re going to talk today about a wave that wouldn’t have been so fun to experience. You’ll hear much more about it in a bit, but for now, let’s sing ___. 
Song (3 minutes)
C: “No One Does Good” / T: “Messing It Up”
Song (3 minutes)
“O God Our Help in Ages Past” / Memory Verse Song: “Not Even One (Psalm 14:3)”
Mission Moment (5 minutes)
SHOW: “The Good News Cruise” slide
Do you guys remember Frankie whom we met yesterday? He’s going to be introducing us to children around the world. Each one of these children lives in poverty, which means they don’t have much money for food and clothes. And they also need to hear about God’s love for them. Thankfully, you get to help!
Do you remember how we’re able to help them? Pause for participation. Yes! By collecting coins in your Coin Pak! Remember, just one quarter can provide a meal to a hungry child.
SHOW: “The Good News Cruise—Panit” slide
Today, Frankie is going to introduce us to a little boy named Panit, who lives in the country of Thailand. Let’s hear his story.  
SHOW: Video 2—Panit
Country: Thailand
Problem: Pandemic
Who remembers having to stay home during the pandemic? Pause for participation. A lot of people lost their jobs because businesses had to shut down. Panit’s grandmother lost her job because the people she washed clothes for were afraid of getting sick. It’s a good thing the church was there to deliver food and share about God’s love, right?
Did everyone take home their Coin Paks? Pause for participation. Did you tell anyone what we are collecting coins for? Pause for participation. Remember, every 25 cents you collect this week means one meal for a child like Panit.
Now, do you want to hear how many meals we’ve raised so far? Pause for participation. 
SHOW: Daily Count Day 2 slide with current meal count filled in 
Well, we’ve counted the coins you brought in, and we can provide ____ meals! One dollar can provide four meals.   To calculate your VBS meal progress, multiply the dollars raised by four.
That’s a great start to our week, but we’ve still got a few more days to go. So keep bringing in your coins all week long! If you haven’t already shared with your families what we’re collecting coins for, be sure to do that today! Ask your parents if you can earn money for your Coin Pak by doing some special chores around the house. Get creative!
Announcements (time varies)
Prayer
Dismissal
Song (play as children leave)
Theme Song
Day 2: Closing Assembly
Song (3 minutes)
C Memory Verse Song: “Not Even One” / T MV Song: Psalm 14:3
Song (2 minutes)
C: “The Manatee Song” / T: “God Is Good”
Creature Feature: Tox the Poison Dart Frog (5 minutes)
Use the PRESENTATION SLIDES or show the CREATURE FEATURE VIDEO. Shorten this script as needed.
SHOW: Creature Feature title slide
Our animal pal today is super cute, but you better be careful if you meet it on a stroll through the rainforest. 
SHOW: Poison dart frog 
Let me introduce you to the poison dart frog. 
SHOW: Rainforest 
Poison dart frogs live in the rainforests of Central and South America, and there are over 100 different species of these amazing little frogs, all of which belong to the dart frog kind. 
SHOW: Amphibians
Poison dart frogs belong to a group, or class, of animals called amphibians. This group includes frogs, toads, newts, salamanders, and unique creatures called caecilians (si-sil-yuns) that have no legs. Though often confused with reptiles, amphibians are quite different. For instance, reptiles have tough scales covering their bodies, but amphibians don’t have any scales at all. Instead, they have smooth or sometimes bumpy skin. Amphibians have exposed skin, are cold-blooded, and have a complicated life cycle that usually begins in the water.
SHOW: Poison dart frog with tadpoles
When a poison dart frog hatches as a tadpole, its parents carry it on their backs and put it in a pool of water or in the middle of a cup-shaped leaf that has water in it. This is the perfect place for the tadpole to grow and develop. But how do their parents know to put them there? Because God designed them to know exactly what their young need!
SHOW: Poison dart frog
Now I bet you’re wondering why they’re called poison dart frogs. Scientists suggest that these frogs develop a  poison, or toxin, from the foods they eat. This toxin can be deadly for other animals and humans to touch or eat. Can you put up ten fingers? Do so. One type of poison dart frog, which we’ll see here in a moment, has enough poison in it to kill ten men. That’s pretty scary, isn’t it? 
SHOW: Poison dart frog colors
On the count of 3, I want you to shout out your favorite color. 1-2-3! Do so.
Poison dart frogs come in a variety of colors. When other animals see the frog’s bright colors, they know to steer clear. After Adam sinned, poison dart frogs produced poison which helps protect them in a fallen world from predators. 
SHOW: Blowgun
Have you ever thrown a dart at a bull’s-eye? Poison dart frogs have the word “dart” in their name because some indigenous people who live in rainforest areas rub their blow darts on the backs of the deadliest of these frogs. They then use these darts to hunt other animals. The poison can stick to the dart for a year or more!
SHOW: Frog tongue
Can you stretch out your tongue as far as it will go? Do so. Dart frogs have long retractable tongues that can zip out and back really fast. Their tongues are fastened at the front of their mouth and are coiled up, ready to spring at the moment food is spotted. The tongues are also covered in sticky saliva that allows them to catch and hold onto their prey more easily.
SHOW: Tox
Now our friend Tox is blue and black. And his dark colors help remind us of our two colors and the two C’s that we’re talking about today—his dark color represents Corruption (dark for sin) and his blue color represents Catastrophe (blue for water). He reminds us that the good, perfect world at the beginning isn’t perfect anymore. Before Adam and Eve sinned, there was no sickness, suffering, or death. All animals, including dart frogs, ate only plants. But now, because Adam and Eve chose to disobey God and commit the first sin, bad and sad things happen, like having animals that are poisonous. The Bible says in Psalm 14:3 that we have all turned away and no one does good. What this means is that sadly, just like Adam and Eve before us, we all sin.
SHOW: Pre-flood world
In the book of Genesis, chapters six through nine, we read that eventually the world became so evil God had to judge the sin of the world. He did that with a global flood that killed all the land-dwelling, air-breathing animals and people on earth. 
SHOW: Animals going on the ark
Some of the dart frog kind, like Tox, would have been on board the ark built by Noah. God is merciful and saved Noah, his family, and many of the animals from the coming flood. 
SHOW: Rainbow
And after the flood was over, God placed a rainbow in the sky as a reminder that he would never flood the entire earth again (Genesis 6–9). Every time you see a rainbow in the sky, remember—God can be trusted, and he always keeps his promises! 
Drama (12 minutes) 
Announcements (time varies)
Cool Contests (3 minutes)
Announce winners of today’s contests. Remind them to learn tomorrow’s verses, complete Go and Do activities, and dress up tomorrow for the Dress-Up Day. Any jungle attire works. Jungle animals are great, too.
Prayer
Takeaway Time (2–3 minutes)
Okay, before we leave, let me ask this question: How many of you have ever had a bruise? Wait for raised hands. Okay, now stand up if you have a bruise right now. Pause, then if time, share a quick, interesting bruise story of your own. What colors do we use when we’re describing a bruise? Pause. Right, black and blue. That reminds me of today’s colors. But it also reminds me of something else. When would the reason we get bruises have started? Wait for responses. Right! After sin entered the world, bruises and cuts and sickness and bad stuff started happening, and it affected all of us. Let’s say our verse together. Recite Psalm 14:3.
So any time you get a bruise, it can remind you that all the bad or sad stuff we see in the world started way back in the garden of Eden with sin, and it continues still today. But here’s the good news—that isn’t the end of this true story! Come back the rest of the week to hear the thrilling conclusion!
Dismissal
Song (play as children leave)
Song: C:  “Jungle Jam” / T: “God Is Good”
Day 3: Opening Assembly
Welcome (2 minutes)
No props needed.
Person 1: Knock knock.
Person 2: Who’s there?
Person 1: You.
Person 2: You who?
Person 1: Yoo-hoo! Is anybody out there?
Person 2: Yoo-hoo . . . that was a good one.
Person 1: Now you start!
Person 2: Okay, I’ll start. Knock knock.
Person 1: Who’s there?
Person 2: Umm . . . Remain silent and look confused.
Person 1: You seem confused.
Person 2: Stammer around. I hadn’t really thought about this. I don’t know what to say!
Person 1: That didn’t work so well, did it? You’re all confused. And that reminds me of what we’re talking about today—a confusing time.
Person 2: I’ll look forward to hearing more about it. But before then, I just thought of a knock-knock joke.
Person 1: Okay, let’s try it.
Person 2: Knock knock.
Person 1: Who’s there?
Person 2: Anna.
Person 1: Anna who?
Person 2: Anna one, anna two, anna three, let’s sing!
Song (3 minutes)
C: “Jesus Is My Light” / T: “Hello, Hello, Babble, Babble” 
Song (3 minutes)
C: “Peace, Love, Joy” / T: “At My Journey’s End” / C Memory Verse Song: “Babel” / T MV Song: Genesis 11:9
Mission Moment (5 minutes)
SHOW: “The Good News Cruise” slide 
It’s time to check in on our friend Frankie and meet another child from around the world!
But first, who can tell me what we’re collecting coins for this week? Pause for participation. And who can tell me how much it costs to provide one meal? Pause for participation. That’s right! It only costs 25 cents to send a nutritious meal to a child in need. Isn’t that awesome?
SHOW: “The Good News Cruise—Daniel” slide
Today, we’re going to meet a little boy named Daniel, who lives in Mexico.  
SHOW: Video 3—Daniel
Country: Mexico
Problem: Generational Poverty
Without getting good nutrition and education, it could be hard for Daniel to escape the poverty he was born into. That means when he gets older, his children could be born into the same situation. Without help, that is a difficult problem to solve.
But local pastors in Mexico and around the world are working hard to give families like Daniel’s the help they need to try and break the cycle of poverty. And even better, they are sharing the hope of the gospel with families in need.
Have you asked your parents if you can do any extra chores this week to earn coins for your Coin Pak? Don’t forget to share what you have learned this week and see if your parents want to help you provide meals for kids like Daniel.
Now, do you want to hear how many meals we can provide so far? 
SHOW: Daily Count Day 3 slide with current meal count filled in 
In only two days, you can provide ___ meals! Remember, one dollar provides four meals. To calculate your VBS meal progress, multiply the dollars raised by four. That’s pretty fantastic!
Remember, just like Daniel, every one of the children receiving these meals will get to hear God’s truth of the gospel. I think more children around the world need to hear this good news, don’t you? Who’s excited to see how many more meals we can provide tomorrow? Pause for participation.
Announcements (time varies)
Prayer
Dismissal
Song (play as children leave)
C: “You Made a Way” / T: “Admit, Believe, Forever Receive” / C MV Song: “King of Ages” / T MV Song: 1 Timothy 1:17
Day 3: Closing Assembly
Song (2 minutes)
C: “The Manatee Song” / T: “God Is Good” 
Song (3 minutes)
C: “You Made a Way” / T: “Admit, Believe, Forever Receive”
Creature Feature: Scatter the Silverback Gorilla (5 minutes)
Use the PRESENTATION SLIDES or show the CREATURE FEATURE VIDEO. Shorten this script as needed.
SHOW: Creature Feature title slide
Today we’re going to learn about a pretty cool animal. Any guesses as to what it could be? Let me give you a hint. Beat chest with fists. You got it! We’re talking about gorillas! 
SHOW: Gorilla
Gorillas are members of the pongid (pon-jid) or great ape kind and are found exclusively on the continent of Africa. 
SHOW: Gorilla map 
There are two species of gorillas—the eastern and western gorillas. These two species are separated by a massive forest called the Congo Rainforest.
God gave gorillas some amazing features that help them thrive in their habitats. 
SHOW: Human foot
Try wiggling your toes. Do so. Have you ever noticed how your toes are all lined up in a nice little row? Well, that’s not how gorilla feet look. 
SHOW: Gorilla feet
Wiggle your thumb! Do so. Did you know that God gave gorillas a thumb on their feet? This helps them to climb and grasp things more easily. It’s like having a hand (show your hand), for your foot (point to foot). Pretty neat, huh?
SHOW: Silverback gorilla
Did you know that older male gorillas are called silverbacks? They get this name from the patch of silver fur that develops on their back as they get older. 
SHOW: Gorilla arms
I want you to do a bicep curl like this. Demonstrate. In humans, our lower body parts are usually stronger than our upper body parts. But it’s the opposite with gorillas.
These animals have super strong arms to help support their bodies as they walk on all fours, climb, lift heavy objects, and defend themselves. It’s generally believed that a silverback gorilla has the strength of six to eight men! Wow! Consider having 6–8 men come up and lift you.
SHOW: Gorilla skulls
Now, point to where your skull is. Pause. That’s right, your head. Another cool feature God gave the gorilla is their extra-bony skulls. The skulls of the male gorillas look a little different from the skulls of the female gorillas. Both have what is called a sagittal crest, a structure designed for muscle attachment. This bony crest is for the attachment of the gorilla’s jaw muscles and helps them to powerfully bite and chew hard fruits, vines, and plants they find in the rainforest. 
As you can see, the sagittal crest on the male gorilla is much larger and gives them a much stronger bite. That’s amazing!
SHOW: Gorilla testing water
All right, now pretend you’re swimming as fast as you can. Do so. Did you know that gorillas have a very interesting relationship with water? In fact, gorillas generally stay away from deep bodies of water because they can’t really swim. And it’s nearly impossible for them to float on water because their bones and muscles are so heavy! They also rarely drink water. They get most of their water from the plants they eat. God gave gorillas the intelligence to know they should avoid water. In fact, some gorillas have even been seen using a stick to measure the depth of certain bodies of water to help them see if it’s safe for them to cross. What an amazing, thoughtful Creator we serve who gave animals such incredible abilities!
SHOW: Scatter
Our friend Scatter is here to remind us of our C for today—Confusion. After the global flood was over, God told Noah and his family to spread out and refill the earth. However, people didn’t obey God. Instead, they stayed together and built a great city, with a very tall tower. 
SHOW: Tower of Babel
This tower was called the tower of Babel. Genesis 11:1 tells us that the people spoke the same language. To get them to move apart, God gave the family groups different languages. This made it difficult for the people to work together, and so they stopped building the tower and the city and scattered across the face of the earth. 
SHOW: Fog
Like Scatter, our color for today is gray which is like silver. And just as a thick patch of fog is murky, blurry, and can confuse and disorient us, the color gray reminds us of that confusing time at the tower of Babel. 
Drama (12 minutes) 
Announcements (time varies)
Cool Contests (3 minutes)
Announce winners of today’s contests. Remind everyone to learn tomorrow’s verses, complete their Go and Do activities, and complete their 7 C’s Scavenger Hunt, which should be sent home with each child at dismissal.
Prayer
Takeaway Time (2–3 minutes)
Before we go, let’s say Genesis 11:9 together. Recite Genesis 11:9. 
Now, let’s say goodbye in a few different languages to remember that all the languages, people groups, and cultures around the world began with the tower of Babel event we talked about today. Teach them “goodbye” in several languages: Auf wiedersehen (German), Adios (Spanish), Au revoir (French), Arrivederci (Italian), Sayonara (Japanese).
When we hear people speaking languages that are different from our own and meet people from different cultures, it’s a great reminder of how we can always start with the Bible to answer why things are like they are in this world. God’s Word has answers to today’s issues, and it can be trusted! And it’s also a great reminder that we all came from the same family, and we’re all related, so we should treat each other with kindness.
So with that thought, let’s go out saying goodbye to each other in one or more languages. Do so. 
Dismissal
Song (play as children leave)
Theme Song 
Day 4: Opening Assembly
Welcome (2 minutes)
Props for Day 4 Welcome: Christmas tree and one Easter basket with Christmas ornaments and plastic Easter eggs in it
Person 1: Hello! It’s great to see you today at The Great Jungle Journey!
Person 2: Enter struggling to bring in the Christmas tree  while humming a Christmas tune. 
Person 1: Runs over to help Person 2. What are you doing? 
Person 2: Get the tree situated. Wait! I have more! Run offstage and bring the Easter basket while still humming a Christmas song. Begin to put ornaments and eggs on and around the tree.
Person 1: I’m so confused! You’ve got a Christmas tree and ornaments and an Easter basket with Easter eggs, all on a jungle river cruise!
Person 2: Continue humming and arranging the ornaments and eggs. Well, I heard we’re talking about Christmas and Easter today. So I thought I’d just mix the two into one holiday—Christmas-ter.
Person 1: What?
Person 2: Or I guess I could call it East-mas.
Person 1: Wait! Wait! Wait! We can’t combine Christmas and Easter. That doesn’t work.
Person 2: Why not?
Person 1: They’re each unique and have an important reason we celebrate them. But we’ll talk more about those in a bit. 
Person 2: Wait! Can’t you at least give me a clue why they’re so important? Pretty please, with sugar on top?
Person 1: They’re both about Jesus. There. You have a clue. Now, let’s sing about Jesus!
Song (3 minutes)
C: “You Made a Way” / T: “Admit, Believe, Forever Receive”
Song (3 minutes)
C: “Peace, Love, Joy” / T: “At My Journey’s End” / C MV Song: “Children of God” / T MV Song: John 1:12
Mission Moment (5 minutes)
SHOW: “The Good News Cruise” slide 
Are you curious what job Frankie has on the cruise ship today? Have you enjoyed hearing more about the children he’s met on his travels? I know I have.
Today is our fourth day raising money to provide meals for hungry kids! Can anyone tell me how much it costs to provide one meal? Pause for participation. Right! Just 25 cents can provide a meal! Can anyone tell me what else the family receives with those meals? Pause for participation. Yes! They can hear the message of the gospel.
It’s time for Frankie to introduce us to another child.
SHOW: “The Good News Cruise—Layla” slide
Layla is a girl from the country of Zambia. Zambia is a country in the southern part of Africa.
SHOW: Video 4—Layla
Country: Zambia
Problem: Extreme hunger
Sadly, Layla’s story is not unique. There are many children in Zambia just like Layla. Over half of the people in Zambia struggle to have enough to eat! Can you imagine waking up in the morning and not knowing if you were going to eat at all that day?
When all you know is hunger, would it be hard to see the hope through all the darkness and struggle of living in extreme poverty? Pause for participation. Do you think that knowing about a loving Savior can bring hope and light into even the worst situation? Pause for participation. Layla’s family was able to hear that message of hope thanks to the pastor of a nearby church who delivered meals to their home.
Well, we have had a few days to raise money to provide meals for kids just like Layla. Are you ready to be blown away by how many meals we can provide so far? Pause for participation. I don’t think you sound excited enough. Are you ready to find out how many meals we can provide? Pause for participation. That’s better! 
SHOW: Daily Count Day 4 slide with current meal count filled in 
In just three days, we can provide ___ meals! That’s incredible! To calculate your VBS meal progress, multiply the dollars raised by four. 
The pastors who will be delivering these meals won’t just stop at providing food for families in need. These pastors and church volunteers will also share the hope of the gospel with children and families in need. But the week isn’t over yet! We have one more day to collect coins, so see if there’s anyone else you can ask to help donate coins or if there are any chores you can do to earn extra money.
Announcements (time varies)
Prayer
Dismissal
Song (play as children leave)
“The Great Jungle Journey” / C Memory Verse Song: “Every Tear” / T MV Song: Revelation 21:4
Day 4: Closing Assembly
Song (3 minutes)
Theme Song 
Song (3 minutes)
“O God, Our Help in Ages Past”
Creature Feature: Rose the Pink River Dolphin (5 minutes)
Use the PRESENTATION SLIDES or show the CREATURE FEATURE VIDEO. Shorten this script as needed.
SHOW: Creature Feature title slide
Today’s animal is a bit of a surprise because most of them are found in the ocean. Today we’re talking about dolphins. 
SHOW: Dolphins
When you think of a dolphin, you might think of the playful bottlenose dolphin or the uniquely colored Commerson’s dolphin. There’s also the little hourglass dolphin and the massive orca. But there’s another kind of dolphin that lives in rivers. That’s the dolphin we’re talking about today. 
SHOW: Amazon river dolphin
This is the Amazon river dolphin. As you can probably guess from the name, you’ll mainly find them in the waters of South America’s Amazon River. These adorable and fun critters are commonly known as the pink river dolphin because they turn a pinkish color as they age. 
SHOW: Amazon river dolphin colors
They can be dull gray and pink, a rosy pink, or even like the color of flamingoes. They are also known to indigenous people who live in the area as the “boto.”
SHOW: Amazon river dolphin size
These dolphins are the largest species of river dolphin. Large males can grow up to nine feet (2.7 m) long and weigh around 400 pounds (181 kg). That’s a big animal! However, they’re not the largest mammal in the waterways of the Amazon. 
SHOW: Amazon river manatee
That title belongs to the Amazonian manatee.
SHOW: River objects
Because they live in a river and not an ocean, the pink river dolphin has to move around a lot more objects that could get in their way, such as rocks, trees, boats, and plants. But God gave these dolphins special design features to help them swim through the complicated waters of the Amazon. 
SHOW: Amazon river dolphin neck
God made their necks super flexible. Bend your neck as far as you can—up, down, and side to side. Do so. The vertebrae (bones) in the pink river dolphin’s neck aren’t stuck together like ocean dolphins’ necks. This allows them to turn their heads really far—up to 90 degrees— and easily steer around things in their path.
SHOW: Amazon river dolphin snout
Their snouts are also specially built for life in the river. Unlike most ocean dolphins, the snouts of the pink river dolphins are long and thin. Their long snout is filled with dozens of small and pointed teeth. Both of these traits are helpful for sifting through the silt and mud at the bottom of the rivers to find their prey. 
SHOW: Echolocation
God also designed them to use echolocation to find their way through cloudy waters. Let’s all make a clicking noise with our tongues. Do so. When dolphins use echolocation, they send out sounds that to us sound like clicks. These sound waves bounce off of objects and return to the dolphin. This helps alert the dolphins about where things are located in the water.
SHOW: Amazon river dolphin nose hair
Now wiggle your nose with me. Do so. God also gave pink river dolphins stiff hair on their noses. Most dolphins are born with hair on their bodies that falls off as they grow, but the hair on the pink river dolphin’s nose stays there. It’s believed that these hairs help the dolphins feel where things are on the bottom of the murky Amazon River. 
SHOW: Amazon river dolphin teeth
Another interesting feature these dolphins have is their molar-like teeth. Using your tongue, can you touch your molars? Do so. Those are the large teeth at the back of your mouth that you use to chomp hard foods. This is the only species of dolphin that has teeth that are like molars. Their strong back teeth allow them to grind and chew. Because of this, they have one of the most mixed-up diets of any dolphin: turtles, frogs, crabs, and over 50 different types of fish, including the fierce piranha. That is incredible!
SHOW: Rose
Today’s animal pal, Rose, reminds us of our two colors for today—white for Christ, and red for Cross. If you mix white and red together, they make pink! White reminds us that Christ was born as a baby and lived a perfect life. Red reminds us that he died on the cross to pay the price for our sin.
SHOW: Memory verse
Read memory verse together. When we repent of our sins, believe in the Lord Jesus and that God has raised him from the dead, and we put our faith and trust in him, then we WILL be saved. That is the best news you’ll ever hear!
Drama (12 minutes) 
Announcements (time varies)
Cool Contests (3 minutes)
Announce winners of today’s contests. Remind them to learn tomorrow’s verses, complete their Go and Do activities, and bring in their final mission money.
Prayer
Takeaway Time (2–3 minutes)
I’ve got a question for you. Can you think of a movie where the bad guys are winning, but then the good guy comes and saves the day? Take answers or have them tell their neighbor an example. You may want to share an example. 
You know, many movie stories are pretend. But Jesus is not pretend—he is God the Son and is all good. Movies can remind us about the battle between good and evil, but the truth is that Jesus has the victory over sin and death. He wins! We’ll hear more about how he wins tomorrow. In the meantime, let’s say our verse together before we leave to remind us that Jesus came to rescue anyone who repents of their sin and  calls on him for salvation. Recite John 1:12.  
Dismissal
Song (play as children leave)
C: “Jesus Is My Light” / T: “Hello, Hello, Babble, Babble” 
Day 5: Opening Assembly
Welcome (2 minutes)
Props for Day 5 Welcome: one large fiction book
Person 1: Welcome back, everyone! Have you had a great week? I can’t believe this is our final day already!
Person 2: Enter, engrossed in reading a large book, opened to the last page. Run into Person 1. 
Person 1: Hey! Watch out! Point to the book. What’s that?
Person 2: I started this book the other day and I can’t wait to find out how it ends, so I jumped to the last chapter.
Person 1: Oh, I know what you mean. Sometimes I just can’t wait to find out how things end in a book. Well, today, we’re going to find out how things end in our 7 C’s journey. 
Person 2: How do we find out?
Person 1: We go to the Bible, of course! And—spoiler alert—the last couple of chapters will blow your mind! There’s gonna come a time when God will make a new heaven and a new earth, and all God’s children will live there forever. 
Person 2: Wow! I sure hope I get to live in the new heaven and new earth.
Person 1: Well, today we’ll hear lots more from the Bible about what will and won’t be in heaven. There are a lot of ideas about it floating around out there, but the Bible is the only place to go to get completely accurate, correct information on heaven. But the most important thing to think about is if you will be there! Let’s sing about this amazing, exciting place as we think more about that!
Song (3 minutes)
C: “Peace, Love, Joy” / T MV Song: Revelation 21:4
Song (3 minutes)
Theme Song 
Mission Moment (5 minutes)
SHOW: “The Good News Cruise” slide 
Every day this week, Frankie has introduced us to a different boy or girl facing poverty in a different part of the world. We’ve also learned this week that we have the ability to make a difference!
SHOW: “The Good News Cruise—Marissa” slide
The child we are going to meet today doesn’t live in a small village in a faraway country. She actually lives right here in the United States.
SHOW: Video 5—Marissa
Country: United States 
Problem: Invisible Poor
Be sensitive to the population of children you are serving. Rephrase as necessary to be sure all children feel welcome and included. Does it surprise you to know that there are children in the United States who don’t have enough food to eat? It’s not always easy to see, either. Marissa goes to school with children who don’t have to worry about food. Her friends may not even know that she gets free meals from school.
The coins that you have been collecting all week can be used to provide meals for children like the ones you met this week, like Nadya in Ukraine, Panit in Thailand, Daniel in Mexico, Layla in Zambia, Marissa in the United States, and so many others.
Children’s Hunger Fund partners with churches around the world who search for families in need of food and the saving knowledge of Jesus. Every box of food means a chance to share the gospel. Your quarters are making a huge difference! Isn’t that incredible?
Are you ready to see how many meals we can provide this week? Pause for participation. 
SHOW: Daily Count Day 5 slide with current meal count filled in 
The grand total number of meals we can provide this week is ____ meals! One dollar can provide four meals. To calculate your VBS meal progress, multiply the dollars raised by four.
You guys have done an amazing job collecting coins to feed children in need. Because of you, more children and their families will learn about the love of Jesus.
Did you know that you can keep sending meals to children in need even after this week is over? You can keep making a difference for children around the world with Children’s Hunger Fund. Ask your parents how you can continue to share meals and the love of Christ with children in poverty. 
Announcements (time varies)
Prayer
Dismissal
Song (play as children leave)
C MV Song: “King of Ages” / T MV Song: 1 Timothy 1:17
Day 5: Closing Assembly
Song (3 minutes)
C: “Peace, Love, Joy” / T: “At My Journey’s End”
Song (3 minutes)
C: “You Made a Way” / T: “Admit, Believe, Forever Receive”
Creature Feature: Bliss the Bird-Wing Butterfly (5 minutes)
Use the PRESENTATION SLIDES or show the CREATURE FEATURE VIDEO. Shorten this script as needed.
SHOW: Creature Feature title slide
Our last animal is a talented shape-shifter. Today we’re talking about the bird-wing butterfly. One species, called the Cairn’s bird-wing, is the largest Australian butterfly!
SHOW: Bird-wing butterfly
Just how big are they? The females, which are larger than the males, can have a wingspan of over six inches! Show how big that is.
SHOW: Queensland, Australia
This insect was first discovered in 1853. And it can be found in a small region of Queensland, Australia. 
SHOW: Butterfly development
All butterflies go through four stages of development—from an egg, to a larva, to a pupa, and finally to an adult—but the bird-wing butterfly looks very different in its caterpillar or larva stage than in its adult stage.
SHOW: Caterpillar and butterfly
This is the Cairn’s bird-wing butterfly. See how different these look—and yet, it’s the same animal. Pretty incredible huh? The caterpillars, called larvae, have lots of pointy spikes called tubercles. These little spikes make the caterpillars look painful to eat, which helps keep some predators away. The larva stage usually lasts about six weeks, and in this time the young caterpillars eat and eat and EAT until they’re big enough to move on to the pupa stage. 
SHOW: Chrysalis
In this stage, the caterpillars form a thick skin that hardens into a structure called a chrysalis. Inside the chrysalis, the caterpillars undergo an absolutely amazing process called . . . can you guess? That’s right, metamorphosis! 
SHOW: Butterfly emerging from chrysalis
This whole process takes about a month. Then on a nice, humid morning, the adult butterfly emerges from the chrysalis and spreads its wings. 
SHOW: Bird-wing wings
Their wings, though big, still have a delicate look to them, don’t they? Pretend you’re flapping your wings like a butterfly. Do so. God made their wings from a material called chitin (kigh-tuhn) that allows the wings to be light and flexible enough for flight, but also strong enough to lift the butterfly off the ground and to keep from breaking in the air. The wings are attached to a muscular body that allows the butterfly to control their flight pattern with pinpoint precision. 
SHOW: Butterfly body parts
Like all insects, the body is made up of three major parts —the head, the thorax, and the abdomen.
SHOW: Butterfly feeding
As an adult, the bird-wing butterfly’s diet is mainly a liquid-only diet. It gets its nutrients from nectar—the delicious, syrupy substance found inside some plants. At least it’s delicious to butterflies. God gave butterflies the ability to tell if a plant has the food it needs by giving it a special taste test using sensors on its feet. 
SHOW: Butterfly on flowers
Can you imagine having your taste buds on your feet instead of your tongue? I wonder what my shoes taste like? When a butterfly lands on a flower, it can walk around and tell if the flower is safe to eat or lay its eggs on!
SHOW: Butterfly proboscis
Once the butterfly decides something is edible, it uses its proboscis (prah-bah-sis) to gather its food. Pretend you’re slurping something through a straw. That’s sort of how the proboscis functions. God truly thinks of everything! 
SHOW: Bliss
Our friend Bliss reminds us of our color for today, yellow, and our C, Consummation—how God’s plan is completed.
He is also here to remind us of the transformation that Christians will one day experience. Just as Bliss transformed from a little caterpillar into a beautiful butterfly, those who believe in Jesus will one day be transformed and live for eternity with God where there will be no more death, suffering, or tears. The Bible tells us in Revelation 21:4 that God will wipe away every tear from our eyes, death will be no more, and there will be no more mourning crying, or pain.
SHOW: Bird-wing caterpillar and adult
Just as the bit of yellow on the caterpillar is only a small reflection of the greater amount of yellow on the adults, those who are followers of Christ should reflect the Lord while we’re here on earth. We do that in the way we behave, the way we think, the way we speak, and in how we treat others. However, it isn’t until Christ returns and we get to heaven that we’ll be a perfect reflection of Jesus. Then everything will once again be very good. 
Thanks for fluttering by, friends. Now, let’s get out there and be tree-mendous for God’s glory!
Drama (10 minutes)
Announcements (time varies)
Cool Contests (3 minutes)
Announce winners of today’s challenges. Invite them to come back to the Closing Program to hear how much money was raised for the mission project.
Prayer
Takeaway Time (2–3 minutes)
Can you think of a day you might call your best day ever? Take responses or have kids share an example with their neighbors. You may want to share an example as well. 
You know, today we learned about the new heaven and new earth. This will be by far all believers’ best day ever. Except it won’t just last for 24 hours, but forever! Never, ever, ever will there be a bad day. 
Let’s say our verse together to remind us of this most incredible place. Recite Revelation 21:4. 
Revelation 21:4 tells us there will be no more what? Point to them to shout out an answer and agree with their various answers: no more tears, no more death, no more mourning, no more crying, no more pain.
The streets will be the color of: Point to them to shout out their answer—gold. 
Our bodies will be: Point to them to shout out an answer and agree with their various answers: new, transformed, beautiful, without sin.
The best thing that we’ll be with: Point to them to shout out their answer—God.
So no matter what happens here on this earth, all believers have the hope of what’s to come. It’s good to think on these things often. It changes how we view our life here on earth. Why don’t you start by chatting about it on the way home? And remember—the Bible is the place to go to find out what heaven really will be like. 
Dismissal
Song (play as children leave)
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