The ancient city of Babylon setting for Salem VBS

The market place at Salem Church was open for business and the VBS youngsters stopped at the different “shops” to make the daily crafts that were offered throughout the Bible school. The shops were aptly named “Jewelry Bazaar,” “Metal Working Shop,” Mosaic Studio,” “Cylinder Seal Shop,” “Astronomy School,” “Hanging Gardens Nursery,” and “Food Court.”

Volunteer Lois Robbert assists VBS kids, Kylie Pryal, left, and Kailyn Van Court as they pound nails to make holes in the flutes they are making. Robbert said the flutes actually work when the children complete them.

Shop keeper, Londa Kirchenwitz, prepared her Astronomy School where the children would make paper mache crystal balls using balloons, paper scraps and luminaries.

Seventeen-year-old Mitchell Johnson helped the youngsters make a cylinder seal similar to what was used for marking and sealing important documents and correspondence in ancient times.