BAY MINETTE, Ala. — “PandaMania” Vacation Bible School at First United Methodist Church will be held at 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and will feature panda-bear and other animal puppets, crafts and more to teach Bay Minette children about Jesus.

Music, arts and crafts and Bible study will be among activities, according to First United Director of Children’s Ministries Cheryl Mothershed.

“They’ll make panda name tags, memory buddies about different Bible stories and a ‘God Is Watching You’ bracelet,” she said in a telephone interview. “There will also be a special-guest appearance by a fireman.”

The free event will be held for ages 3-12, according to the church website.

Children will be split into eight crews of four to six, mixed-age children in each, Mothershed explained. Groups will consist of a variety of first- through sixth-grade students with a separate pre-school area.

The animal theme will continue with the church taking up a special offering each night for the North Baldwin Animal Shelter, according to Mothershed.

One lesson children will learn next week is titled, “God is ‘Wild’ about You.” Using Psalm 139, the lesson is “based on God's care for each and every one of us,” Mothershed said.

A familiar face will return to this year’s Vacation Bible School as Puppet Chatter the Chipmunk joins the pandas after being part of the event for the past three and always captures children’s attention, Mothershed said.

“He gets into a lot of mischief,” she said. “He shows them (children) how God will take care of us through different situations like the jungle of PandaMania. It shows God’s love and care for each one.”

Mothershed said First United teamed with other churches for joint Vacation Bible Schools in the past, but held its own event for the past three years with approximately 60 children attending last year.

“We look forward to it each year, and we grow each year,” Mothershed said.

She added that pre-registration is not required but would help the church know how many children to prepare for.

To pe-register or for more information, call 937-8303 or visit www.fumcbayminette.com.