MEXICO – A 10-foot plywood pterodactyl can be seen hovering over the parking lot at First Baptist Church. It’s one of the strange creatures popping up to greet a visitor to the church: the Rev. Paul E. Veit of Bridgton, an expert on fossils and their relationship to biblical Creationism.

To kick off the church’s “Amazon Expedition Vacation Bible School,” Veit (aka “The Dino Pastor”) will share his scientific expertise at the worship service at 10:45 a.m. and in an expanded Creation vs. Evolution presentation at 6 p.m. Sunday, July 20.

Plans include the opportunity for the congregation and guests to view a number of genuine fossil specimens of various sizes and to get answers to their questions, as time permits. For more information, visit www.dinopastor.com.

On Monday, July 21, the church will begin a week of “Amazon Expedition: The Ultimate Trek Though Time.” Using a curriculum created by “Answers in Genesis” (www.answersingenesis.org), the staff and students (age 4 and up) will explore the scientific and historical accuracy of the Bible and how it applies to lives today.

Veit will make a return visit on Wednesday, July 23, for the day’s look at “Cataclysm: The Great Flood.”

The visits are open to all. Preregistration for the Amazon Expedition will be conducted before the services. Final registration and the Amazon Expedition adventure will begin at 5:30 p.m. Monday and will continue from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. through Friday, July 25.

For details, call the church at 364-8712 or e-mail rocklight1 @roadrunner.com.