Building Friendships in the Church Body This Summer
Summer seems to have finally arrived. Just yesterday I played a round of golf at a nearby course, and simply being outside in the sunshine was absolutely glorious. Now, my golf game was far from glorious. I lost nearly half the golf balls I brought with me! But it was just a delight to be walking in the sunshine on a warm afternoon. I, like many of you, have been longing for the sun’s arrival, lamenting day after day of late-Spring rain. I am finally thrilled to read the 10 day forecast on my phone, excited for days in the 70’s, 80’s, and even 90’s.
I sure hope we have a ton of great weather ahead of us for this summer. But I have hopes beyond the weather. I hope for dates out with my wife. I hope for some really awesome family time. I hope for the chance to connect with friends. I hope for the chance to see acquaintances grow into friendships. I hope to get to know some people who I don’t really know yet at all. I hope this is a great summer for relationships. And I hope you hope that too!
Some of those great relationship opportunities are things we each need to plan in order to make happen. But there are also some great opportunities for relationships at EBC to grow this summer, and I want to encourage you to get involved.
ALL CHURCH OPPORTUNITIES
- Backyard Barbecues – Friday, July 8 and Friday, August 5
This last weekend we had sign ups available to host a Backyard BBQ at your house on Friday, July 8. We have a handful of hosts who signed up, and over the next two weekends you will have an opportunity to sign up to go. So sign up and go! It’s the perfect chance to invite yourself over to someone’s house. And a whole bunch of other people will be inviting themselves over to that house, too, so that you’ll have a chance to make some new friends, eat some delicious food, and enjoy some wonderful sunshine (gotta think positive!). These really can be excellent opportunities for friendship development, so I highly encourage you to sign up. And if you’d be interested in hosting but didn’t get a chance to sign up this weekend, or if would like to know more about hosting, contact me and I can help make that happen.
- Spanish Food Festival – Saturday, July 30
Our Spanish church is hosting a food festival in the EBC parking lot for the community and they are inviting all of EBC to come and enjoy food from many countries.
- EBC Family Camp – Friday-Sunday, August 12-14
Every year we convene at Toby’s parents’ property down in Triangle Lake, OR on the second weekend in August for a time of camping out together. The price is super affordable, and it’s a great opportunity to connect with people you already know, as well as with people you’ve never met before. It’s a mix of some structured time together in Word and Worship, as well as some unstructured time to hang out, have fun, swim in the creek, play games, sit and talk, or doing whatever else comes to mind. Register here.
- Thursday Night Prayer – Every Thursday from 7-8pm at EBC
While many Life Groups and other weekly gatherings either end or meet les soften over the summer, the weekly prayer meeting will continue to happen. It’s a great place for connection, a great place to pray for the needs of others, and a great place to ask for prayer for needs you may have.
WOMEN’S MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIES
- Craft Night – Friday, July 15 from 6:30-9pm at the home of Amy Winegardner
Women, this is an opportunity to come have fun with a bunch of other women from EBC. The plan is to bring your own craft to work on, although I bet if you don’t have anything you’re working on, others in the group will have extra supplies that would allow you to join in. Just a great night for connection and fun together.
- Game Night – Friday, August 5 from 6:30-9pm at the home of Lyne Farness
Bring your favorite game, or just show up and play along with others who brought their favorites. You can sure get to know people in new ways in the midst of a little competitive game play:)! Or play together in a cooperative game, if that’s more your style. Whatever the case, this will certainly be an opportunity for connection.
MEN’S MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIES
- Men’s Hike – Saturday, July 23 – Time and Place TBD
We don’t have a specific plan yet, but expect to hear more details to come about a hike somewhere semi-local (maybe in the Gorge?) for any men who want to participate. It’ll be a great chance to get out in the sunshine (always hoping!) and see some of God’s creation.
- Men’s Breakfast – Saturday, August 27 from 8:00-9:30am at EBC
Come join us as we look back on the summer and then look ahead to the Fall at the End of Summer Men’s Breakfast.
YOUTH MINISTRY OPPORTUNTIES
- Wednesday Night Youth Group – Continuing now through July 20 from 6-7:30pm at EBC
- High School Hang at LeRoy Haagen Memorial Park on Friday, July 15 from 1:00-4:00
CHILDREN’S MINISTRY OPPORTUNTIES
- VBS – Monday, July 25 – Friday, July 29
VBS is an incredible week of fun, games, Bible stories, crafts, songs, and more for kids going into Kindergarten through 5th grade. I know for my kids and many others, it is one of highlights of the year, and that’s no exaggeration. Register here.
That’s a whole lot of opportunity. Seriously, jump in and take some of these opportunities to build and grow friendships with others in the church body!
Ryan Donovan
Categories: Evergreen Connection