Summer has arrived and the weather is wonderful. The sky is blue. The clouds are white and fluffy. The weather is warm and I have a lot of free time. Since your kids are out of school, you’re probably looking for faith-based activities to do with them. Here are some summer bucket list ideas for family fun.
1. Summer begins with a prayer walk.
Summer brings a change of pace. Start your summer with clarity and spiritual focus by starting with a prayer walk.
Why should you take a summer prayer walk?
There are many important reasons to go on a summer prayer walk.
●Helpful for families to spend relaxing time.
● Strengthen your spiritual life.
● Taking a prayer walk increases your sense of gratitude.
● It brings peace.
● Connect you with those around you.
Prayer walks don’t have to be complicated. Start by choosing a route that you’re comfortable with and blocking out 10 to 20 minutes to pray to God to guide your steps. As you walk, consciously pray for your friends, neighbors, family, God’s provision, your spiritual growth, and anything else that concerns your heart and mind. Please be aware of your surroundings. Simple things remind us to pray for someone or something specific. Finish your prayer journey with gratitude.
2. Create a Bible Verse of the Week Challenge
Start this week’s Bible verse challenge with your family. This type of challenge is an easy and meaningful way to build the habit of reading, memorizing, and applying scripture. These types of challenges keep God’s Word at the center of our summer days.
The advantage of this type of challenge is that it is impactful and meaningful. Memorizing one small scripture may seem insignificant, but if you spend a week reflecting on it, memorizing it, and discussing it, it can shape your thinking and decisions in powerful ways. It also shapes your attitude.
Other benefits of this type of challenge include some that are less important.
● Helps memorize scriptures.
● Promotes consistency.
● You will deepen your understanding of God’s Word.
● This type of challenge supports spiritual growth.
● Helps build community.
3. Plan a family worship night under the stars.
Planning a family night of worship under the stars is an important commitment. It’s a way for us as a family to slow down, reconnect, and focus on our faith. Combining the beauty of the outdoors with prayer, worship, scripture reading, and conversation makes it deeply personal. The stars also make us realize how big God is and how small we are.
Evening family worship helps families slow down, experience worship in new ways, discuss faith in a quiet environment, and build spiritual memories together.
Start with simple goals
Set goals as a family. This might be…
● Pray for each other.
● Admire and reflect on God’s creation.
● Worship together as a family.
Please select a suitable location
Decide on a place where your family can relax.
●Backyard
● Local park
● Favorite campsite
When using public places, remember to observe safety and lighting, seating and availability, noise, restroom and permit rules.
Choose your natural time and schedule
The best time to do this is just after sunset, when it’s dark enough to see the stars but not so late that the little ones get tired. Also, make plans for the evening. For example, allocate 10 minutes for prayer, 20 minutes for worship, and 10 minutes for reflection.
gather supplies
Don’t forget a chair and blanket, a Bible, a portable speaker or musical instrument, snacks and drinks, bug spray, a flashlight, a journal or prayer cards, and a star map to help identify constellations.
4. Host a faith-filled backyard picnic.
A backyard picnic is more than just eating outside. It will be a meaningful time for fellowship, gratitude, and spiritual refreshment. With some planning, you can create a warm and welcoming atmosphere that centers your faith.
start with a purpose
Let’s start by choosing the meaning behind the picnic. Do you want your family to come together and encourage each other? Do you want to pray together? Do you celebrate the season? Or do you enjoy God’s creation? To make this easier, try choosing a theme like this:
● Gratitude for God’s provision.
● Fellowship and encouragement.
● Family blessings.
● The joy of creating.
create a warm and welcoming atmosphere
No need to worry about elaborate decorations. Focus on simple touches. Things like a checkered tablecloth or blanket, mason jars filled with flowers, and Bible verse cards placed on the table.
Choose simple, shareable meals
Focus on foods that are easy to prepare, transport, and serve. Foods such as sandwiches, pasta salads, fruit salads, vegetable platters, chips and dips, and similar items.
Incorporate prayer time
You can pray when everyone arrives, before the meal, or before everyone goes home.
Add a Bible reading or reflection
A quick read can add spiritual focus to your picnic without it being too structured or feeling like a church sermon. Here are some scriptures to consider:
● Psalm 118:24
● James 1:17
● Matthew 18. 20
plan some activities
Plan activities that allow people to talk about their faith and have conversations with each other.
● Conversation cards with questions about faith, gratitude, and family.
●Outdoor games such as Frisbee and cornhole.
● Sing praises with the accompaniment of a guitar or portable speaker.
Consider service elements
Incorporate small acts of service and generosity to remind others that faith can be lived in love. If you would like someone to donate, please let us know in advance. Here are some ideas for service elements:
● Collect donations for local governments and shelters.
● Pray for missionaries and local leaders.
● Share food baskets with your neighbors.
Make space for rest and conversation
Make sure people who don’t want to participate in the activity can take a break and have a conversation. Also, make sure that everyone is nearby while your little ones are playing.
ends with thanksgiving
The picnic ends with prayers and blessings.
5. Volunteer together in your community
This summer, take some time to volunteer together in your community. Mow the gardens of elderly people in your neighborhood. Consider volunteering at a food bank, homeless shelter, or senior center. Raise money for charity by setting up a lemonade or baked goods stand. Check to see if your local cat cafe or animal shelter needs volunteers. (Note: If you plan on taking your child to a cat cafe or animal shelter, be sure to check their rules.)
6. Create a Christian Summer Memory Journal
Get your jars, decorate them, and label your jars with summer memories. Write down your favorite memories as a family during the summer, and add other memories, like the seashells your kids picked up on the beach, the blue ribbons you put on a pie at the county fair, your pool pass at the end of the season, or the flowers your daughter picked from Grandma’s garden (let them dry first). Also, have them add one thing they are grateful for each day to their notes. At the end of summer, sit down as a family and reflect on the season.
7. Read the Bible Stories Series for Kids in June
Reading is a great summer activity. This summer, get cozy in your child’s bed, backyard, or build a fort and read them a Bible story series. This will keep kids engaged and learning into the summer, help them understand the big story of the Bible, enhance family time through reading and discussion, and build positive habits they can continue all year long.
The benefits of reading Bible stories include building early faith, teaching values, encouraging memory, building family connections, and supporting emotional growth.
Choose a theme and choose an appropriate time to read the book with your child. You may also want to set a schedule where you read together once a week, every day, or twice a month. Choose age-appropriate materials and use engaging materials such as children’s picture books, dolls, and songs related to the story.
Here are some story ideas for June.
●God creates the world
●Noah’s Ark
●David and Goliath
● Jesus calms the storm
End the month with a celebration of gratitude and prayer
At the end of June, families gather together for a celebration of gratitude and prayer. Let’s celebrate all the good things that happened this month and pray for the coming months. Don’t forget to add food and fun to the mix.
As summer begins in June, kids are looking forward to fun activities and quality family time.
Photo credit: ©GettyImages/monkeybusinessimages
Carrie Laurence is a freelance writer and author. Her work has been featured in Crosswalk, iBelieve, Huffington Post, and The Penny Hoarder. She is also the author of three children’s books, three pretty romance books, one romance novel, three poetry collections, and one nonfiction book. When she’s not writing, she enjoys cooking, baking, reading, and spending time with her husband and cute cat, Cupcake. For more information about Carrie and her writing, please visit www.carrielowrance.com.
