Our first get together a few years ago was an olympics theme at church.  We had lots of games to play.  Some favorites we do annually are a fall hay ride (sponsored by a member), a day at the lake in January (people bring snowmobiles, sleds, fishing gear for ice fishing, ect. and there are board games in the home for those of us who hide from the snow), and a day at the lake in the summer (people bring boats, water toys, etc.)

We charge $3 per family for each event though there is no official records kept so if someone does not pay, no big deal.   We also have a budget line in the church budget to cover any costs that don't get met by $3 fee.

Our family ministry is geared more toward the fellowship aspect of life.  Family gatherings are important and our church family needs to have fun together once in a while.  You get to know your fellow members better.

Adrianne

That’s huge getting the church to make the official paradigm shift to a Family Ministry.  From what I remember, your family worship services and family Holyland Adventures were family ministry.  They are just now putting a title and a jd to go with what was already working in your congregation!   

As the new Minister to Children and Families, and the first person to have that title at this church, I do have a job description but I am finding they are looking to me to show them what that really means.  So the first thing I started doing was seeing the church as a family (all ages, all stages, married couples with children, single parent families, singles, youth, etc.) and seeing how I could implement ways of doing that embraced them all. 

-The All Ages Holyland Adventures was my first big splash and it taught the philosophy by simply experiencing how we can engage all ages with the Relational, Applicable, Experiential and Learner-based!

 -During EVERY worship service, I offer a Children’s Message, but I slowing and methodically began engaging the adults in the message.  I told the pastor that eventually I want to call it the Family Message, but  for now what I call it isn’t the issue, it’s how I do it that counts.  (Read the Thread I started about Children’s Message and see how Peggy Emerson and I are exploring this approach to congregational worship.)  As much as I would LOVE to do a family worship service like you’ve got going on, this is how I implement the same principals into the regular services.  (Of course, having pastors that totally GET THAT is crucial.)

-Children’s New Member’s cl are Parent/Child affairs – We invite parents into the celebrations and training for the milestones of receiving a Presentation Bible and then first communion and baptism… and what that means for a New Believer.

-Parenting- I hope to offer parenting cl in house in the future, but we did have Josh McDowell come to the area and we publicized the event and sold tickets.  I also offer parent counseling on an as needed basis. 

 -Being the Voice for the Family -  I try to evaluate all we do from the perspective of the family.  Trying to be the advocate that helps ministries recognize families need time together and less time separated.  (For example, our GA’s Mother/Daughter Tea last year had the moms and daughters doing separate activities and crafts in different rooms…. I added in some inclusive activities and plan to work with the leadership to make it totally inclusive this year. )

  I’m only a year ahead of you in this arena, so I would love to get your ideas so I can continue to grow in this area in the coming months and years. 

 

Lisa B from NC