Mid-Winter Merriment Ideas for Bible Study Groups

Written by Rhonda VanCleave

Either of these two fellowship ideas can provide a chance for families to hang out and have fun together. "Goofy Game Night" is designed for families whose children are old enough to play simple board games. "Happy Noon Year" can be for families with a variety of age groups who are looking for a way to have a holiday celebration at a more "family friendly time.

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Goofy Game Night
Create posters or flyers for your family "Goofy Game Night." Use "goofy" clip art or clip art of board games. Include the date, time, and place on the poster. Unless you have a pretty good idea of who might come, if would help to have a sign-up sheet so you know how many to prepare for.

The Premise:
Groups of four will play a designated board game for about three minutes. At the signal, players will move to the next table and resume play from the previous team. Players will know which game piece to play based on the number on the game piece. For example, a player who is #2 will always play a #2 game piece.

The Basic Set-up:
You will need a simple board game for every four people you anticipate. Most box games give suggested ages on the box. Think about your youngest players. Choose games with basic rules or simple paths where pieces move around the board. You could have multiple sets of some of the games. Arrange playing areas where four players can sit at each game. Number the game pieces 1 through 4 with small sticky dots.

It might help to toss a tablecloth over a few of the tables and uncover one at a time as the tables fill with players. It is fine if the last table ends up with only two or three players. However, if one person is "odd man out," split a team of four, or enlist the extra person to be the timekeeper.

Decorations:
Cut giant game pieces from construction paper and attach to the wall, or mark the path from one game table to another with various colored squares of construction paper to look like a giant gameboard. Make nametags with some of the same clip art you used on the announcement posters.

Choosing up teams:
Players could draw colored squares from a sack to determine teams, or you could let the players choose their own teams. Encourage teams to include children and adults, however, families would not necessarily have to play together.

Explain how to play and demonstrate the signal (a whistle, an air horn, or a party blower).

Alternate idea:
If most children are older and can move and play independently, think about this option. Give the signal to rotate about every two minutes, but call out a different player number (1 through 4). Only the players with that number will rotate. Other players will remain in position. Occasionally call an "all move."

Awards could be given for the evening. If the #2 players won the most games, award each #2 player a "grade prize" of a "$100,000 Bar" candy bar or a mini plastic trophy.

Food:
Have plenty of beverages for this active evening. If you want to add a food option, think about food stations that can be played like a game. Call it "Top This." Begin with a basic food, such as a bowl of lettuce, a baked potato, or a bowl of ice cream. At the signal "players" move from station to station where a variety of toppings are available. An economical way to provide the food is to provide the base (lettuce for a salad bar, baked potatoes for a potato bar, or ice cream for a sundae bar.) On the announcement posters, ask those who plan to come to bring a topping for the related item.

Happy Noon Year
(A New Year alternative for families with young kids)

With a little research, you can find somewhere in the world where it is "New Year's Eve Midnight" at almost any time you'd like to plan this fellowship on New Year's Eve. Whether you choose "noon" or even five or six o'clock in the evening, a quick Internet search can help you find a comparable time around the world. That information can help you choose decorations, food, music, and games.

Besides using the "chosen time zone" to determine food, games, and decoration choices, traditional "New Year's Eve" activities can be incorporated. Provide paper, markers, tape, and various art supplies. Families can create their own party hats. The hats could relate to the "time zone theme" or to "2004." A contest could be held for the "silliest," "most colorful," or "most amazing" party hat.

Think confetti. Make a confetti cake or cupcakes. Some cake mixes have a flavor called "confetti" which has candy sprinkles in the mix or with the icing. Otherwise, use a regular white cake mix and throw in a couple of tablespoonfuls of candy sprinkles. Vanilla ice cream in lemon lime soda makes a simple white frothy punch. Scatter candy sprinkles on the scoops of ice cream to match the confetti theme.

What about "fireworks?" Since the noise is half the fun, provide sheets of the large bubble "bubble wrap." Adults and kids can twist, squeeze, or stomp on the bubble wrap to create a "resounding" celebration.

Simple noisemakers can be made by wrapping a square of waxed paper around the end of a paper towel tube. Hold the waxed paper in place with a rubber band. Hum through the tube in the same way you would a kazoo. Making and decorating these noisemakers could be one of the party activities as well as being used during the countdown celebration.

Announce when the "countdown" will begin. Set timers to go off or clocks to chime. Darken any windows if this is a daytime party. Make a big deal out of it now being "2005 in ___________."

Close the time of fun and fellowship with a circle prayer, committing the New Year together to God.