Events With A Purpose
EVENTS WITH A PURPOSE
Church Picnic
Old-Fashioned Sunday
Mother's Day
Father's Day
Homecoming
Independence Sunday
Thanksgiving
Christmas
Easter
Ice Cream Social
Sweetheart Banquet
Talent – Un-talent Show
Church Anniversary
Dessert-A-Rama
Find A Parade
Renewing Your Vows
CHURCH PICNIC
Go to a local park, Organize leadership with groups in charge of physical arrangements (tables, chairs, etc.), food (grill hot dogs and hamburgers) and entertainment (games, special music, etc.). Use name tags, dress casually and end with Sunday Evening Prayers to replace evening church service.
OLD-FASHIONED DAY
Everyone wears old-fashioned clothing. Pastor wears large black coat, white shirt, black string tie and black broad-brimmed hat. Recognize different costumes such as "authentic, creative, prettiest, etc." Use old-fashioned songs, etc.
MOTHER'S DAY
Plan special music; Center the service on Godly mothers. Use a "Mom" to share a testimony in the church service. Plan a special gift for each mother present.
FATHER'S DAY
Center on Godly Fathers, use a “Dad” to share a testimony. Give a special gift for each father present.
HOMECOMING
Invite former members. Recognize members who have been members’ longest and shortest number of years. Recognize all new members from last year. Use special music, preaching and food. Use pictures and memories from past years. Perhaps a Bar-B-Cue
INDEPENDENCE SUNDAY
Celebrate Christian citizenship on Sunday before July 4th. Use parade of flags and Pledge of Allegiance. Have children write about being an American. Decorate in red, white and blue.
Thanksgiving
Sponsor a barbecue and hay-ride on a farm, park, or at church with clowns, helium balloons, old-fashioned games like bobbing for apples, sack races, pie-eating contest, etc. Conclude evening around a campfire with chorus singing and testimonies of "God's blessings."
Christmas
Use live nativity. Christmas musical, Candlelight Christmas Eve Communion Service, Christmas caroling to hospitals and shut-ins.
EASTER
Holy Week Services, Maundy Thursday - communion, Foot Washing Services. Good Friday - crucifixion, Easter Sunday - resurrection. Use music, drama, lots of color and decorations on Easter Sunday.
ICE CREAM SOCIAL
Sunday evening invite all visitors and anyone on your prospect list to a "Free Ice Cream Social". Advertise one month in advance. Serve cups of ice cream with toppings to make sundaes.
SWEETHEART BANQUET
On Valentine's Day, offer a banquet at a local restaurant, catered at the church or covered dish. Use individual tables instead of long rows. Use candlelight, special music, and decorate in red and white with lots of hearts and roses. Program options include story of Ruth; Ephesians 5 - love wives as Christ loved the church; testimonies about secrets of a happy marriage. End with recommitment of wedding vows.
TALENT - UNTALENT SHOW
Invite everyone to perform as an individual or group to entertain the rest of the congregation on a Saturday night. Pre-arrange some of your outgoing creative people to invite some of your "shy" members. Give applause for every act, then "gag" gifts for the "Most Creative", "Best Dressed, "Funniest", etc. Serve light refreshments at intermission and give proceeds to some good project in the church.
CHURCH ANNIVERSARY
Celebrate annually your church's birthday. Invite city officials, members who have moved away, denominational representatives, and charter members. Display all pictures, old bulletins, dedication services, etc., that highlight the victories from your past. Saturday night and Sunday morning should include former pastors, leaders, etc., celebrating past victories.
DESSERT-A-RAMA
Invite every family to bring a favorite cake, pie, cookies, brownies, etc., to the church on Sunday evening. After the preaching, meet in fellowship hall for "Great Food and Fellowship". Introduce any visitors or new members and permit them to go through the line first as special guests.
FIND A PARADE
When your town or a nearby town sponsors a public parade, get an attractive banner, decorate a truck or a float, use a very warm slogan on the floats such as "A Place for You" or "The People Who Care About People". Have children surrounding your floats giving out individually wrapped pieces of candy to the spectators. Raise the image of your church in the eyes of the un-churched.
RENEWING YOUR VOWS
At the conclusion of a series on Marriage and Family or at the conclusion of the Sweetheart Banquet or on Sunday proceeding Valentine's Day, ask husbands and wives to stand, face each other and repeat their wedding vows. Be sure to have them "kiss their bride". Be sure to celebrate marriage.