Here are four ideas for Rally Day/ renewal fellowship activities that can adapted to your church:
1. Take Me Out to the Ballgame. Many towns have a local minor league baseball team -- or, if you really want to emphasize a “Kickoff” theme, perhaps a football club. Have the church purchase a block of seats so families can sit together; folks cover their own food and beverages costs. Many venues will display your church name & logo on the Jumbotron. It’s a fun afternoon or evening activity that’s a great way for church families to be together outside the church building. (If “the beautiful game” of soccer is popular in your area, consider live-streaming a soccer game in your parish hall. Qatar hosts the World Cup from November 21-December 18th. In the opening round, USA plays Ukraine on opening day, November 21st; England on November 25th, and Iran on November 29th.)
Yes, we are called to be disciples of the Good News. But every once in a while, nothing beats a good old-fashioned ball game. Fireworks are fun, too!
2. Your Church’s Feast Day/Celebration Day/Make Your Own Special Day. Select a day that’s important to your church, lift it up, and celebrate it. Perhaps your namesake’s special feast day – for example, St. Clare is August 11th; St. John the Baptist is August 29th. Is your choir returning after a summer break? Consider opening your doors and host a concert for your community to enjoy.
Thanks to Hallmark, every day can be special. Did you know that August 2nd is National Coloring Book Day? During church school on a Sunday morning, have children draw pictures of the sanctuary, nave, parish hall, Sunday School classroom, etc. Make a booklet of the drawings on card stock, and hand them out for all to color. September 21st is National Pancake Day. Sounds like a great reason to host a parish-wide, Wednesday evening pancake supper – exactly five months to the day before your church’s likely next pancake supper on February 21, 2023 – Shrove Tuesday.
3. Vacation Bible School/Summer Camp Wrap-Up Dinner. Are you hosting a summer camp? End the week with a Wrap-Up Dinner and invite the whole parish, not just families of campers. We’re running Cokesbury’s “Food Truck Party: On a Roll with God” next month, and a real food truck is coming on the evening that camp concludes. It will be a great way for campers to share what they’ve learned -- by presenting a puppet show and by showcasing their artwork (one wall of the parish hall will become an art exhibit) and science experiments.
4. Host a Pumpkin Carving Evening. Host a full evening of fun and fellowship to show that believing in God and Jesus is kind of like being a pumpkin. Have plenty of supplies on hand, like scoops, votive candle, fire-starters, etc. (extra pumpkins, too) for folks to carve their own pumpkins. At dusk, we lined all the pumpkins along a stone wall for passing cars to admire. We provided pizza, and we showed “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.” We adapted a lesson plan found at True Money Saver.Com
