Last week's FAMILY CAMP is a memory, but I'd like to highlight some of the creative things we did to engage the parents and kids together in one setting. As I stated before, having so many different ages together was a tough challenge for programming, but it was met and succeeded because of the creativity of the team.MORNING WORSHIP: This was a time for all of the generations to get together to worship (I'm talking Pre-school-to High School). You may ask how this worked. It was just understood that we were all going to be together.
The songs were geared towards the little ones ( a little lighter and more FUN) as well as some of the activities. (ie--the pre-schoolers came and "led"us on a fun song in worship. The older kids provided the rhythm for one of the songs)
Each morning was followed by an opening activity to break the ice with the school age kids, teens and parents. The first day we did a timed instruction sheet (where we were suppose to read the entire sheet of instructions and then just sign our name to the top of the paper,however, my family didn't read all of the instructions and we ended up doing some of the silly stuff like "I'm a little teapot" (see picture). I knew we were doing this so I didn't tell.
Another morning we created foam shadows of one parent and one child (see picture) 
and then the parents kept a shadow and the kids took one with them.
and then the parents kept a shadow and the kids took one with them. Each of them were to write expectations for spiritual growth on them and to use them in our conversation time at night after evening worship. (see picture)
EVENING WORSHIP was just as creative. Brad Gartman used object lessons in each of his talks.
EVENING WORSHIP was just as creative. Brad Gartman used object lessons in each of his talks.
1. Paper Plate--the divided kind. Each family member had to draw their 3 favorite rooms in their house--to talk about where they felt most at home and where the conversations about the busyness of life could take place. Each of our kids did a fantastic job and we're displaying their plate in plate holder on the walls.
2. A Calendar--a 12 month blank calendar was created. Each family member got to draw the picture for the month of their birth. Families were challenged to mark off a family night each week for the next 3-6 months to see if they could institute this practice in their family life.
3. FOIL FAMILIES. Each family received a roll of 25 foot foil and were asked to create a sculpture that represented them. Some of them looked like this. It ended with the largest foil fight I've seen since I've been in ministry. (by the way-foil balls hurt-just like cheaply thrown words and phrases in families--get the lesson?)4. Communion- Each family was given bread and juice to take back to their rooms to do communion together as a family. For my family it was a time of discussion and also a time for me to share about the provisions God has made for us ( I tied it back to the Table of Bread I saw at the National Worship Leader Conference last week in Austin)
Here are some other random shots of the week:
Here are some other random shots of the week:
Our hotel was the Victorian Condo. A great place right the beach-it was the perfect setting for 160 people.
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3 comments:
It looks like amazing fun!!!
I particualrly like that you have family communion.
Now that looks fun!
Pete--it was fun, but also a learning experience. My kids are growing up so fast. All I have to say to you is cherish the time you have with your boys...Ministry is secondary to family. Slow down and enjoy the time with them. Teach them (like I know you do) to walk in the ways of the Lord.
Do ya'll do family ministry there @Crosspoint? What's it like?
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