3 Elements of great church events

In the future of Rebecca's Inkspot, I hope to share with you some great ideas for church events.  Today, I am going to tell you three elements that make an event great and memorable.

1. Great events are INCLUSIVE.

Inclusive means making a space and a way for everyone in your group to participate.  This means:

• Choose an activity that everyone can do.  If you have someone in your group with a disability or an allergy, make every effort to find ways of including that person.  It will mean the world to him or her, and is a visible demonstration of Christ's love and compassion, which He speaks to in Luke 14:12-14: "He said also to the man who had invited him, “When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid. But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.”
• Invite everyone.  It does your outreach and your community no favors to exclude people.  There are plenty of clubs, associations, and groups that rely on exclusivity as a means of attraction.  Church should reflect an attitude that every person is welcome, including visitors and friends.  Be sure to make announcements of your events public, frequent, and well in advance so that everyone who wants to attend can make plans to do so.
• Choose an activity that is affordable.  Keep in mind the costs of transportation and refreshments as well.  In a future post I will include ways to keep your events cost-effective for everyone.
• Provide child care or child-friendly activities (if there are parents in your group).  Community matters for kids too!  

2. Great events are SAFE.

Yes, I will and do acknowledge that life in general involves risk and that accidents happen.  I also acknowledge that there are different cultures and denominations which may find this advice less pertinent.  However, I am simply speaking from my own opinion and experience and hope that it may be of use to you in your event planning.  An accident or injury is the last thing you would want to have people take away as the memory of your church or event.  While we cannot foresee everything, I believe that when it is in your power to prevent needless hazards, you should do so.  

With that in mind, a safe event means:

• No alcohol.  Simply put, there are numerous venues and events where alcohol is present and easily available.  Your church event does not need to be one of them.  By choosing to be alcohol-free, your event will stand out from the crowd.  It will create fewer problems of poor judgement that can result in verbal altercations, violence, or drunk driving.  It will also keep from temptation anyone who is struggling with alcoholism (don't assume that you know who those people are or that no one in your group struggles with this).  
• Get approval from your department's minister or head pastor.  For purposes of church insurance liability and planning, it just makes sense for your minister to know your class's schedule.
• Provide proper supervision for children.  If you are providing separate child care, your church may have insurance requirements on the location and caregivers.  Be sure to clear this with your minister ahead of time.  

3. Great events give SPACE FOR CONNECTION.

Space for connection means providing ways for people to talk, interact, and form the basis of a relationship.

• Provide child care.  Yes, it can be time consuming and expensive to provide child care or special children's activities at your event.  However, it can be a difficult to have deep and meaningful conversation between an interrupting preschooler, runaway toddler, or crying infant.  Parents love their children, but a break will also be a welcome and valuable opportunity  to connect-- all the more so because these are rare!
• Control the volume.  Some light background music or a football game on the tv can be great, but it's difficult to get to know someone when you can barely hear what they are saying ("So your name is Rhonda?" "No, I drive a Honda!").  Fabric absorbs sound, so carpeted rooms and cloth tablecloths will help soften loud indoor noise.  This is less of an issue at outdoor events.
• Allow for down time in the main activity.  Whether it's watching the SuperBowl or having a scavenger hunt, find time to bring everyone together for fun to chat.  An icebreaker game, meal, or snack time can easily serve this purpose.
• Encourage interaction.  I will openly acknowledge that some icebreaker games are lame.  I will also acknowledge that even the lamest icebreaker I have ever played has helped me get to know someone else better and get out of my comfort zone.  Try a quick google search to find some creative ones.  Even better, encourage people to wear name tags so they can remember names and chat further after the icebreaker is over.

And there you have it!  If your event is INCLUSIVE, SAFE, and gives SPACE FOR CONNECTION, it can bring people in and provide opportunities for them to grow and love on each other as the body of Christ.  Everyone needs a place to love and be loved.  Let your events be that place, and a way to draw interest to Sunday worship as well.  Wouldn't that be wonderful?

But before I go, let me mention one more thing.  Don't forget to make it fun!  :-)