In the second post of this series on connecting people in your Sunday School or Life Group we will focus on Social Events. I think good social events have a bit of an art and a science to them (see 3 Elements of great church events for more details), but there is one thing that should always be clear: church is not a social club. It is a not a place for the beautiful people, the good people, the smart people, or the cool people. It is a place for all people, and no matter how pretty, good, smart, cool, or all-around awesome we (think) we are, we pale in comparison to the Creator of the Universe Who Sent His Own Son to Die for Us (John 1:1-10, John 3:16). With that in mind, the focus of church social events should be glorifying God, connecting with others, and reaching out to new people.
Here are some suggestions for church social events that are fun, welcoming to newcomers, and conducive to connection:
Outdoor Events
- Fireworks viewing: Gather a group to view your town's holiday fireworks display. Close it with a trip to the local ice cream parlor or bring your own treats to share.
- Overnight campout: Fun for a men's event. Check out what your local campgrounds have to offer and find out what items you need to bring.
- Bonfire & S'mores: If one of your members has a large enough property for a bonfire, this is a nice low-key event (be sure to get the proper permits in advance). A backyard fire pit is also a great substitute. S'mores supplies and some acoustic music up the fun.
- Drive-in Movie: There are still a few drive-in theaters sprinkled around our nation and they offer a unique, low-cost experience. Sometimes group picnic areas are provided near the screen. Meet up for a meal before the sky darkens for the show.
- Pot luck dinner or Chili cook-off: Use a paper sign-up sheet or online form like Sign-Up Genius to get commitments for different elements of the meal and paper goods. This is great at a local park shelter, but check for electric outlets if you'll be having crock pots present.
- Pumpkin carving party: Fun for fall. Provide some extra knives/cutting kits, Sharpies, and scooping spoons. Great at a park, patio, or back yard. Take a group photo with everyone holding their pumpkins afterward. Note: Exercise caution if small children will be around!
- Photo scavenger hunt: As people arrive at a designated meeting place (like a mall, shopping center, park, or even your church), assign them to groups and provide a list of items they must photograph with a smart phone. Make the items challenging by providing clues (ex. "Take a photo of the restaurant that advertises Free Smells"). Each group must report back by a designated time to have their photos checked. Winning team gets a prize.
Indoor Events
- White Elephant Exchange - Unwanted Wedding Gift Edition: In this fun twist on the White Elephant classic, each participant brings an unwanted wedding or Christmas gift that has been cluttering up their home for a while.
- Just desserts & coffee: A twist on the pot luck dinner, this is a nice gathering for a women's social. Works well combined with a craft activity or icebreaker game too.
- Board game night: Pair some snacks with an assortment of board games and you are ready to go! Time the rounds so that people can rotate between different games; a Wii station is a fun addition too. Tip: Provide easy-to-learn group games over complicated, strategy-driven games.
- Minute to Win It: Based on the tv show of the same name, this team-based contest is easy to replicate at home with simple household and office supplies like sugar packets, tissue boxes, and ping pong balls. Do a quick internet search of "minute to win it games" to find lots of examples and choose your favorites.
- Cookie Exchange: Usually a women's event for the holidays. Each participant brings a set amount of home-baked cookies. Host provides each participant a box to fill with a dozen assorted cookies of her choosing.
- $5 Favorite Things Party: A great alternative to traditional White Elephant gift exchange. Each participant brings three identical gifts valued at $5 each, wrapped. Names are drawn and the gifts are distributed while the giver explains why it is his/her favorite thing.
- Tacky Sweater Party: Time to scour your local thrift stores and your grandparents' closet! A prize goes to the person voted tackiest sweater of the evening.
- "Stuff the Box" Operation Christmas Child Party: Since some churches collect boxes for Franklin Graham's Operation Christmas Child at different times of year, this is not necessarily a Christmas event. Make a paper list or SignUpGenius form to have attendees bring different categories of items, such as 5 toothbrushes, 1 bag of hard candy, or 5 toys. Don't forget to request donations for the shipping costs and have a time of prayer for the boxes you prepare.
- Theme Bowling: Bowling is pretty low-key and, given a quiet enough alley, provides some great down time for conversation. Amp up the fun by adding a costume theme to your group-- superheroes, 80s, silly hats, etc.
As with all church events, keep it safe, alcohol-free, and reasonably priced. Advertise your event well in advance and encourage people to bring a friend or neighbor-- these are great ways to reach the unchurched! Mix it up and place people into small groups or teams randomly to encourage new friendships and fresh conversation (but maybe let your visitor stay with someone he or she knows).
I have attended a lot of church social events over the years and must say that my favorite was a White Elephant Exchange with unwanted wedding gifts in our young marrieds class. It was held on a Friday evening in the community room of an apartment complex near our church, so there was plenty of room and parking. The meal included a chili cook-off and it made for a very tasty (and spicy!) dinner. The gift exchange was pretty hilarious as we all traded some very interesting items and stories. In case some of my family members are reading this blog, I will not specify the item we traded away, but in exchange I received the most laughably hideous statue I have ever seen. It was a very cheaply made silvery plastic figure of two wristless hands, one placing a ring on the other's finger. Since I have a strange sense of humor, I made it a personal goal to gain this item in the exchange and proudly displayed in my office at work for a couple of years until we moved. It made me smile whenever I looked at it.
I have attended a lot of church social events over the years and must say that my favorite was a White Elephant Exchange with unwanted wedding gifts in our young marrieds class. It was held on a Friday evening in the community room of an apartment complex near our church, so there was plenty of room and parking. The meal included a chili cook-off and it made for a very tasty (and spicy!) dinner. The gift exchange was pretty hilarious as we all traded some very interesting items and stories. In case some of my family members are reading this blog, I will not specify the item we traded away, but in exchange I received the most laughably hideous statue I have ever seen. It was a very cheaply made silvery plastic figure of two wristless hands, one placing a ring on the other's finger. Since I have a strange sense of humor, I made it a personal goal to gain this item in the exchange and proudly displayed in my office at work for a couple of years until we moved. It made me smile whenever I looked at it.
I hope these ideas will help you in planning your next social event for Sunday School or life group! Share your event ideas below in the comments.
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