Stephanie Brader
Director of Education for Children & Youth, First Presbyterian Church, Hastings, Nebraska
A GenOn Partner Church
It is the time of year when many of us start to wrap up our LOGOS program year (known as Wednesday Night Live or WNL here at First Presbyterian Church in Hastings, Nebraska), so I thought I’d share what that looks like for us.
We have a picnic and play date at a local park on the last scheduled day of our program. Our scheduling is not “typical” for this evening, so we begin sharing the picnic information in the last several weeks of the program year. Believe me, you can never share this information too much! It does help that we have ended our program this way for a couple of years now.
We meet for free play and fellowship from 5:00-6:00 pm and then follow with a meal from 6:00-7:00 pm. Our dinner crew provides the main dish (usually burgers or hotdogs), table ware, drinks, and condiments. Families are asked to bring a side dish, salad, or dessert to share. Also, I have found that this is a great way to use up frozen leftovers from past WNL meals -- it cleans out the fridges so we are ready to re-stock for the next program year.
By far, the most rewarding part of the evening is enjoying the fellowship and play. The intergenerational relationships that grow throughout the year really bring a smile to my face. The relaxed atmosphere and schedule really allow all of us to witness the love and respect our children and adults have for one another. Praise be to God!
Other articles from the May-June GenOn Connect
Cardboard Bricks, Little Sanctuaries, and All-Church Choirs
Encountering LOGOS in West Virginia
Parents' Corner: Parent’s Role in Raising a Faith-Filled Child