Church/Vacation Connections

Help busy families in your church take advantage of the summer break with these faith building ideas:

A Worship Map
Ever wonder where everyone goes in the summer? A worship map is a great way to satisfy your curiosity and encourage families to make time with God part of their travel plans. Here’s how it works:

• Post a huge map on a bulletin board in a central location at church.

• Provide thumbtacks and lots of space on either side of the map.

• Encourage families to pinpoint their vacation destination and post a bulletin from a worship service they attended along the way.

By the end of the summer you’ll have an awesome display of the worshiping body of Christ spread across the continent—or maybe even across the entire globe!

Vacation Bags
Here is a fun way that your church can help families grow in faith even when they’re on the road. Fill a few travel sacks with items that kids and parents can use on road trips and cross-country adventures. Be creative, including things like

• a journal for recording funny stories (about siblings, of course!).

• a “Flat Stanley”-style laminated photo of your senior pastor and a disposable camera. Junior will love pulling out Flat Pastor to pose for photos at zoos, monuments, and amusement parks. By the end of the trip the pastor in the pulpit will feel like part of the family!

• Several blank stamped postcards addressed to homebound folks in your congregation. Kid-printed notes from far away are a delight.

• A set of God’s Big Story Cards from Faith Alive (available in May)—this fun devotional game is small enough to take on the road and perfect for helping families talk about faith together.

Have families sign up to check a bag out, and encourage them to return the bags with one small souvenir for the next family to enjoy. Be sure to restock bags as they come back in.

These great ideas come from Anne Wilson, director of ministries to children and families at Northwoods Presbyterian Church. If you have other great ideas, post a comment below!