”A friend loves at all times.” Proverbs 17:17
A morning or evening of food, fun and fellowship for children and senior adults.
Plan it:
- Select a date and time frame. (A Parent’s Night Out in February would be fun—as it would allow parents to enjoy a night out while kids enjoy a night at church.)
- Choose a theme for room and table decorations (EX: Sports, Hawaiian, etc.) that will draw the two generations together and combine it with Scripture. (EX: Proverbs 17:17; John 15:12)
- Create a menu that is appealing to both groups and appropriate for the time of day. (Ex: Breakfast—Biscuits and Gravy, scrambled eggs and bacon with fresh fruit as a dessert, etc.
Dinner—Chicken tenders, mashed potatoes or macaroni and cheese, etc. Ice cream and cookies are a good, easy dessert) - Determine the number and types of games/activities that will be featured.
Game/Activity Ideas:
- WHO DID THAT? Have seniors write on an index card a fun or unique life experience. Call up three or four seniors and read the index cards. Have the children guess which card matches which senior.
- CHARADES—Use app on Smart Phone or create cards with a variety of careers and activities.
- HANGMAN—Call up teams of senior/kids to play together to solve the puzzle. Utilize a whiteboard or computer/projector and Bible words, phrases and verses for the puzzles.
- PHOTO BOOTH—Create a fun backdrop with props.
- CRAFT—Create a “Take-Home” Memory Page using “photo booth” pics along with facts about their new friends.
- BIBLE DRILL PARTNERS —Allow paired up senior/kids to go against other “teams” and look up “Friend” verses or Bible books.
- Design fun invitations and create posters to advertise the event (include appropriate dress and activities planned and a deadline to sign-up or purchase tickets). Allow children to hand-deliver invitations to the senior adult Sunday School departments.
- Create thematic placemats with “Conversation Starters” to get kids and seniors talking to each other. Questions and/or statements might include:
The first pet I ever had was a . . . B. My favorite subject is school is/was and discuss why. C. Share about siblings. D. Discuss hobbies, etc. - Assemble a team to prepare and serve the meal, serve as greeters, and a team to help with clean-up.
- Put the names of participating children in a container/basket.
- Make an agenda for the event from start to finish—adding a timeline to ensure that you get to everything planned.
- Create a “playlist” to use as background music for activities and dinner.
Enjoy the Event
- Greet and personalize a name tag for all participants.
- As seniors enter, draw a child’s name from the container and seat them together.
- Let the fun begin—following the prepared agenda.
- Encourage “new friends” to look for each other at “big” church and to remember to pray for one another.
Printable version: Friendship-Banquet
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