Discover the expert in you.
Discover the expert in you.
Easter Sunday is the cornerstone of the Christian faith. It celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the promise of restored hope and the opportunity for a new life. Although many Easter symbols like the Easter egg, bonnet and bunny originated from pagan celebrations, Christians are known for "redeeming" societal and cultural symbols to express their faith. Such Old Testament practices as animal sacrifice, the priesthood, circumcision and temple worship have been transformed. Christians use secular activities like ice cream socials, board games and pot luck dinners for fellowship, encouragement and spiritual growth.
Some churches plan festivals in the fall as a safe, Christian alternative to Halloween activities. Other churches may want to have a festival in autumn as more of an outreach event to make people in the community aware of their church and what it's all about. Either way, there are many ideas for fun-filled activities that the whole family can enjoy.
Harvest festivals in churches are traditionally held around the time of Thanksgiving and celebrate the successful bringing in of the produce from the fields and trees. It coincides with the leaves on the trees changing colors and is a colorful, joyous occasion for many who wish to thank God for the food on their table and the beauties of nature. Harvestfests in churches give a welcome opportunity to mark the occasion.
When it's time to plan this year's church winterfest, incorporate some inventive ideas to make it the best one yet. Let winter be your party theme, and express it in several creative ways, from decorations to Bible-themed activities and competitions to food, so that church members of all ages are guaranteed a good time at the winterfest.
With its focus on good works and community improvement, a church fair is the perfect venue for bringing people together for family fun and entertainment. Big or small, no matter what theme or activities you choose, your church fair should be about spreading good will and providing wholesome community fun.
The 84th anniversary of a church is a significant milestone that deserves to be celebrated. Besides a chance to be festive, anniversaries represent the opportunity to strengthen bonds. They encourage people who don't normally work together to do so and give elder church members a chance to mentor younger ones during the planning process. By the time you're ready to celebrate, your church should be reinvigorated and looking forward to another 84 years.
At any given time of the year, travelers may visit your church and may want to purchase souvenirs to remember their experiences. Offer guests a variety of gifts that clearly depict your church and its message through practical items for everyday use. These items may support your church financially as well as keep your church's message alive.
While many feel that Valentine's Day is a holiday only for couples, this need not be the case. Singles can have fun on Valentine's Day too by taking part in a celebration at a local church. Church communities lend themselves to a number of fun and exciting Valentine's Day event ideas.
Offering an event exclusively geared toward the women of a church provides an excellent opportunity for fellowship and detailed study of Scripture passages pertaining to the roles, responsibilities and blessings of womanhood. It also opens the door to mentoring opportunities between older and younger women. Hostesses of any ladies day at church should be sure to plan a feminine theme based on Scripture with discussion of modern-day applications of biblical wisdom and instructions.
Celebrating Halloween is controversial among Christians. Some believe that Halloween is a fun time for children to dress up, play games and eat candy. Others feel that Halloween's focus on fear and the supernatural is not appropriate for Christian families. Most churches have parties around Halloween to offer a safe, positive activity for their members.
Reminiscing over last year's cherished memories, events, achievements and griefs and discussing dreams, goals and hopes for the upcoming year becomes extra special when shared together as a church family. New Year's parties held at church invite the element of shared faith into the celebration while providing attendees with a safe place to ring in the new year.
Church ushers are a major part of the church community. They are responsible for helping people find seats, getting the elderly to their pews, and assisting in the preparation of the church ceremony. Many church ushers serve a long period in the church and are honored for their service. Giving a gift to a church usher for their anniversary shows your Christian spirit, gratitude, and honors the usher for playing such a special role in the church community.
A church carnival has a slightly different focus than a school carnival or other event with a carnival theme. While fun is a focus, the games and activities should also focus on Christian themes, such as stories from the Bible or biblical themes, such as fruit of the spirit or missionary journeys. With a little creativity and foresight, it is possible to host a church carnival that satisfies both requirements.
For members and regular attendees, the church community is an extension of the family. For many, the church represents a place of comfort and a place to which they can turn in times of need. The impact a church makes on its community is significant. When a church has been in service for 25 years, it is only fitting to have a celebration to recognize this milestone.
Thoughtful planning is the key to a successful Valentine's Day party. A church event presents unique challenges to party planners as it is important to keep the festivities church-appropriate and to include all members of the congregation who wish to attend. When planning the party, keep the needs of the church members in mind.
Coming up with something exciting and different for a pastor's church anniversary can be an arduous task. Many members of your church become stuck in the routine of a traditional banquet or church service. This year, give your pastor's anniversary a boost by doing something unexpected, and change his anniversary from a boring gathering into a time of laughter and true, Christian fellowship.
Start planning your church Christmas tea party early. You'll want to lock in a date and send out invitations so that people pencil the date in their calendars. Christmastime can grow busy with parties and other obligations. Planning early will help ensure that you have a good turnout. Also pick a good time of day. Teas generally feature light fare, so the event might best be held in the late afternoon before dinner. If you plan on holding the event closer to lunch or dinner, consider offering more substantial food.
Fall can be an important time of the year for churches. School starts back up and many families who have taken the summer off or are new to the area settle in to join a new church. Church fall festivals are typically an outreach event to help people grow in their relationship with Jesus. Decorating for a fall festival can be an enjoyable event for church members, staff and volunteers, and it need not be elaborate or expensive to be a success.
Build the community and get the members of a congregation together in an environment that is safe and healthy with a church dance. Choose decorations for the church dance that are positive and will lift the spirits of those attending the event. Decorations can, if you choose, revolve around a theme such as a holiday or season.
An Easter party for a church youth group is a fun way to celebrate one of the most important holidays within the Christian faith. From casual mixers to a formal event, there are plenty of ideas you can use to pull off a successful Easter party. The trick is finding that correct balance between childhood traditions and mature socialization that will make for an enjoyable time the teenagers will love.
Add interactive entertainment to your next church Christmas party by incorporating games into the event. Games help to define a party and give it direction. They also make it easier for people to mix and get to know one another. Spread the games throughout the time scheduled for the event to keep the momentum going for the duration. If your church has a tight Christmas party budget, use free games--they may take some time prepare, but they won't cost you anything and the fun factor can still be as big as you want it to be.
In recent years, church interiors have undergone vast transformations from classic traditional to modern contemporary. Today there are a wide variety of styles and themes for your church interior needs, and with the right décor, the worship experience is not only defined by prayer but also by design.
Prom is one of the most important nights of celebration in the lives of many young people. It should come as no surprise, therefore, that the average prom-goer will often still be keyed up and wanting to party well after the prom itself is over. Arranging a little low-key, late-night fun for kids after the prom is a great way to help them get the most out of their night while avoiding situations with the potential to lead to unwise life choices.
Valentine's Day is a time to celebrate romantic love, but it is also a time to celebrate lifelong relationship between a husband and wife. A marriage goes through many stages as the husband and wife grow in and out of love with each other. A wonderful idea for a church function celebrating Valentine's Day is to have a romantic dinner with a message of a realistic approach to marriage.
Church banquets are commonly held around holidays and other celebrations, such as fundraisers, handing out specific honors within the church and service-oriented events. Banquets are a great way to bring the members of any church congregation together and focus on one particular event. Many themes are appropriate for church banquets.
