FTO Feature: 10 fresh ideas for Mother's Day
|
|
NASHVILLE, Tenn., 3/1/2008 -- It happens every year in May, and pastors anticipate it expectantly. Mother’s Day!
May 11, 2008, promises a high energy, high attendance Sunday with a smiling, eager congregation. There’ll be extra guests galore – sons, daughters and grandchildren attending worship services with their mothers. There will be regular moms, new moms, pregnant moms, substitute moms, stepmoms, foster moms, grandmoms. What an opportunity!
No pressure, pastor, but how will this year’s Mother’s Day celebration be different from last year’s? How can your church esteem mothers, yet point the worship service toward God? It’s time to get creative. Need a few fresh ideas?
1) Mom & me video – Ask your tech team to interview children and prepare a montage of testimony clips explaining why "My Mom’s the Best!" Or invite the youth group to prepare a short video to honor mothers. Or gather dozens of photos of church members with their mothers for a slide show set to music. Use the video for pre-service viewing or play it along with an appropriate music special.
2) Here’s your daisy – If your church presents gifts on Mother’s Day, it’s a good idea to give one to each woman present. (Many childless women have been like a mother to other children.) Each year’s gift can be unique and meaningful, such as a single flower, book, CD or pin. Other ideas include a multi-ribbon bookmarks for her Bible, a corsage made by children in your church or a laminated copy of an original Mother’s Day poem. Recruit a different group of people (teen boys, deacons, fifth-grade girls, new members, elderly men or church staff ) to present the gift each year,
3) Old women, please stand – Not to be a fuddy-duddy, but pointing out the oldest, youngest and most prolific mothers during worship is not always flattering. As an alternative, consider recognizing mothers with a new baby since last year, great-grandmothers, mothers of teenagers or mothers of active members of the military. Then include all mothers in a thanksgiving prayer.
4) I was born – One pastor announced a special prayer time for mothers, asking everyone in the congregation who had been born to a mother to stand. That’s everyone!
5) Preschool parade – Prepare signs for all preschoolers, such as, "I thank God for my mom," "Honor your mother and father" or giant MOM letters. While worshippers sing a chorus, the joyful Mother’s Day parade of preschoolers marches in one door and exits another. Delightful!
6) Senior adult BYKTSS – If it fits your church, plan "Bring Your Kid to Sunday School" for senior adults. The oldest adult Bible classes invite their adult offspring to join them for class, arriving early for snacks and studying God’s Word together.
7) Moms brunch – Youth can pamper their moms by planning and serving a lovely brunch. Guys carry a towel draped across their arm and wear an eyebrow-pencil-drawn curly mustache. Plan a program of poetry readings, serenading and prayers.
8) No cooking – How about a catered picnic for a church-wide Mother’s Day lunch at the local park? The pastor and men of a Filipino church in New Jersey reserved an entire local restaurant for lunch and surprised their mothers and families with a special meal.
9) Sense and sensitivity – Scripture instructs us to honor our fathers and mothers, but use discretion in your service. Some in your congregation may dread Mother’s Day because of marital status, childlessness, death or problems with parents.
10) Worship Him, not her – Many unchurched family members will attend worship with their moms. Tell them how Jesus can change their lives. It’s a great day for a baptism, baby dedication or children’s choir song. Joyfully honor mom on Mother’s Day, but focus on the only One worthy of worship – our God.
This column was adapted from Fresh Ideas: 1,000 Ways to Grow a Thriving and Energetic Church, published by B&H Publishers.
Give us your feedback: Use any of the tips in this article? We want to know! Send us a photo to Facts&Trends@LifeWay.com.
- Share this:
-
Blink
-
Del.icio.us
-
Digg
-
Furl
-
Simpy
-
Spurl
-
Y! MyWeb