This year's VBS theme, Galactic Blast - A Cosmic Adventure Praising God!, promised an out of this world experience learning all about God.  And once again this year our VBS leaders, volunteers, and kids made that promise a rousing success.  Over 70 kids learned about God and our place in the universe!  Everyone had an amazing time dancing to some wonderful music like "Galactic Blast," "Revolution," and "A-M-A-Z-I-N-G."  Each night the kids learned a different Praise Phrase - Our God is Wonderful, Our God is Incredible, Our God is Amazing, and Our God is Awesome - to which we always responded "PRAISE GOD!"  The kids got to hear some wonderful Bible stories from the following Bible passages:  Genesis 1:1-2:4, 1 Kings 19:4-18, John 4:1-42, and Luke 24:13-32.  Some wonderful crafts were made each night (even Pastor Rainey got his done with some help from the kids) including a bookmark, clapping hands, and a glow in the dark cross necklace.

In addition to the fun we had all week, the kids also participated in a mission project to raise money for victims of the tremendous flood that devastated so many people in the Bellevue community and throughout Nashville in May.  The goal was to raise at least $250, with the stretch target of reaching $500 (if the kids raised more than $500 then they got to throw water at our missions leader Ms. Kimberly).  Of course, the amazing kids were able to dig deep and come up with more than $500 that will all go to some of the families in our congregation that were displaced by the floods.  Congratulations to everyone for their enormous efforts to bring in so much to help out those in need.

Thank you so much to Ms. Gina for coordinating our VBS again this year, and to the many great volunteers that make this experience so wonderful year after year.  It is only though the great efforts of so many that we are able to provide this amazing ministry to the children of the community.  Thanks also to all the wonderful children that attended this year.  Your smiling faces are such a blessing to our congregation and we cherish our fun times with you each summer.  We invite everyone to visit our congregation any time to join us in the blessings that God has bestowed on us.

If you'd like to see a video containing snapshots from our amazing week then please click on the "Read more..." link below!

Our God is Wonderful, Incredible, Amazing, and Awesome!  Praise God!

We have received many inquiries into how people can help with flood relief.

Financial gifts for flood relief purposes can be made to the "Bellevue UMC Flood Relief Fund." Gifts can also be made to the United Methodist Committee on Relief "US Disaster Response Fund" #901670. This denominational fund is used to aid the clean up in Tennessee and in other areas affected by spring storms and tornados.  To donate money to either of these funds you may personally deliver the money to the church during normal business hours or by placing the money in the offering plate during our worship service on Sunday mornings at 10 a.m.  You may also mail your check to the church (please no cash through the mail); be sure to write "BUMC Flood Relief Fund" in the memo area of your check and address the envelope to

BUMC Flood Relief Fund
Attn: Financial Secretary
7501 Old Harding Pike
Nashville, TN  37221

Finally, you may also use your bank's bill pay features from its website.  This is an easy and convenient way to send a check to the church when you're not at home or not close to the church.  You can use the address above to send your checks through bill pay or simply use the regular address of the church as "Bellevue United Methodist Church" instead of the relief fund.  Please be sure that you add a memo to the payment that identifies the payment as going to the BUMC Flood Relief Fund.

Non-monetary gifts may also be donated to the church.  There are a number of people in the community that are in need of everything from clothes to food to furniture.  If you have items that you are willing to donate to victims of the flood then please email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it to learn what is needed and what to do with the items you're willing to donate.

Finally, the gift of your time is also needed in various ways.  There are still some individuals that are needing help with the teardown of the affected areas of their homes.  As we progress over the next few weeks and months there will also be a need for people to hang drywall, install cabinets, paint, and many other construction activities.  We also have people with needs as simple as mowing a yard (b.y.o.l.m. - bring your own lawn mower since many people's lawn mowers were lost in the flood)!  Again, please email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it if you are willing to donate your time to those in need.

Thank you to all of those that have already given their time, money, or things to help the many, many flood victims in the Nashville community.  Our church family and our community are blessed to have such wonderful people in our midst!