Hope Community Church Presents 'Birds That Pray'

Approximately 125 elementary-aged school children sat quiet as a church mouse, as they stared at rather large birds of prey - who happened to be staring right back at them.

“These guys are ambassadors of their wild relatives,” Leigh Lightner, Mammal Keeper for the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, said. “What we’re going to figure out is what allows these animals to be in the sky.”

Lightner addressed the youth participants at Vacation Bible School (VBS) special program night, June 28.

During her presentation, Lightner explained that the presented birds of prey were likely from the wild at one point, but due to an injury, the animals had been taken into captivity for long-term care.

The birds of prey included:

• A Harris Hawk
• A Barn Owl
• A Barred Owl
• A Turkey Vulture

[See photo gallery for images of each bird]

Much to the delight of the VBS youth participants, Lightner took out each animal and explained several adaptive features that would help them survive in the wild, as well as taught about conservation and the sometimes-negative impact that humans can have on wildlife habitats.

Hope Community Church VBS

Hope Community Church is located in Willow Grove. Its 11^th-annual VBS took place June 25 – 29, from 6:30 – 9 p.m. each night.

This year’s VBS theme is “Sky.”

“It’s that wonderment of what’s been created,” Jill Sybesma, a teacher naturalist with Academy of Natural Sciences, said. “Birds in the sky are God’s creation.”

Sybesma, a life-long member of Hope Community Church, invited Lightner to provide the special VBS presentation this year.

She is also one of 75 church members that volunteer to facilitate and decorate the annual Hope Community Church VBS..

The decorations this year were particularly spectacular in the sanctuary area, which held clouds made of cotton and foil, model planes, and paper kites all against an expansive sky-blue backdrop. The centerpiece of these decorations was a suspended, rainbow-colored, and real parachute.

Also, on the walls throughout the rest of the church were paper kites and pigs with wings, decorated and colored by VBS participants. Other decorations included images of friendly cartoon bats or butterflies with slogans such as “No Matter What Happens Trust God.”

According to Dom Savoca, a church elder, the VBS program is part of the church’s Children’s Ministry Team, of which he leads. Having been with the program since the beginning, Savoca said Hope Community Church’s VBS is a natural extension of the church’s outreach mission.

“We have 175 to 200 members, 75 are kids,” Savoca said. “We are a very young and kid-oriented church.”

He said anyone from the community is invited to attend the VBS. Also, the weeklong event is completely free of charge.

During the VBS, youth participants are treated to several activities, including a Bible story, drama skit, arts and crafts, outdoor activities and snacks.

Savoca said Hope Community Church is also involved with other youth-focused outreaches.

“What makes us different from other churches in a five-mile radius is that we’re the only one at the top of a hill from a high school,” Savoca said, pointing out the proximity of Upper Moreland High School ().

This past year, Hope Community Church hosted tutoring and homework help sessions for UMHS students.

According to Hope Community Church youth pastor Jeff Hill, other student outreach programs included the “Fifth Quarter,” where the church invited UMHS football members a place to wind down after games. Hill said that the church is also working with the school to offer parenting courses for incoming ninth-grade parents.

The church has also supported local orphans and widows through its Hope’s Treasures program.

 “I think the point is not about getting the church’s name out there, but helping people see church in a different light,” Hill said. “It’s important for the church to be a part of the community.”

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For more information, visit the or http://www.hccwg.org.