Activities can help unify wards and branches and bring
people to Christ.
“Parties, Picnics, and Potlucks,”
Ensign, July 2004, 29
Why do wards and branches have activities? Can a ward dinner, talent
show, or softball game really help fulfill the mission of the Church—to
invite all to come unto Christ?
The answer is yes, if approached in the right spirit. Here members
explain their insights into the purpose of ward activities, as well as
sharing practical ideas for activities that have been successful. While
most of these comments are directed to those planning activities for their
entire ward or branch, the concepts can be applied by anyone involved in
planning a Church activity, whether it be for the Primary, Young Men and
Young Women, the Relief Society, or a priesthood quorum.
A Spiritual Calling
When I was first called and set apart to be the activities chair in my
ward, my bishop said in the blessing that this calling was a spiritual one
and was meant to strengthen individuals and families in our ward. I was
surprised. I remember thinking, “How can planning parties be spiritual?”
But I took this concept to heart, and I learned a lot along the way.
Our activities helped the members of our ward to love and care for one
another and share each other’s burdens. People were unified and talents
were multiplied as service was rendered with love. I learned how the Lord
works through people to touch others in need. I saw examples again and
again at something as simple as a ward potluck dinner. And now I
understand why the calling is first and foremost a spiritual one. I know
it was for me.
Pattie Moss, Dimple
Dell Ward, Sandy Utah Crescent Stake
Dispelling Some Myths
To help activities committees plan successful and unifying ward
activities, we need to eliminate the myths that currently haunt some
wards:
Myth 1: A successful activity requires an abundance of food to be
served. Where possible, all ward members should be able to enjoy
the activities and not be trapped in the kitchen. Simple refreshments such
as rolls and chili at a pioneer activity or punch and cookies at a family
dance are perfectly acceptable refreshments.
Myth 2: It is impossible to reach the needs and interests of all
ward members. To help unify a ward, we must make an effort to help
all members feel included. Having a variety of activities will enable this
to happen. For example, a regular sporting activity could make some feel
excluded, but with a little creativity, this doesn’t need to be the case.
You might plan to have the activity at a park where there is playground
equipment for the children, grassy areas where mothers can spread
blankets, and shady areas where the elderly can set up lawn chairs.
Provide megaphones and pom-poms to the spectators, and ask them to make up
cheers. Let other spectators act as judges or referees.
Myth 3: The youth can always serve, clean up, or provide child
care. Use youth sparingly. We should most often encourage them to
participate in fun and testimony-building ward activities rather than
always asking them to serve in the kitchen or to babysit.
Myth 4: The longer an activity, the better. Some of the
following ideas may help limit the time a ward activity takes: Start the
activity promptly. Have the structured, quiet, or spiritual part of the
activity either first or last—right after the opening prayer or just
before the closing prayer. Keep the activity flowing without long waiting
periods between the program, games, speakers, or refreshments. Have a
specific ending time and stick to it so that those involved in the cleanup
can get home at a reasonable hour.
Myth 5: The only activities that bring people to Christ are
firesides, spiritual programs, and temple trips. An activity that
nourishes the spirit, strengthens the body, or enlightens the mind can be
an appropriate activity. Appreciating cultural arts, developing talents,
celebrating holidays and seasons, and learning to work together, serve one
another, and enjoy your ward family can help bring people to Christ.
Kathryn Taylor Quist,
Fort McMurray Ward, Edmonton Alberta North Stake
Ward Traditions
As ward activities chair, one thing I found to be particularly
beneficial in keeping a ward close was to have traditional activities.
Just as traditions bind families together, traditional activities can do
the same for wards.
In our ward, traditional activities include our annual chili cook-off
(a tasty competition between the high priests and elders quorums), a
pioneer picnic on the 24th of July, the annual “ice cream dip” (an ice
cream party held at the neighborhood swimming pool), and regular service
projects.
One tradition that has been particularly successful in strengthening
ward bonds has been the organizing of ward dinner groups. Two to three
times a year, the ward is divided into eight to ten groups. Hosts are
assigned and given a list of members to invite. The activities committee
usually chooses a theme such as “soup and salad night,” “international
cuisine,” or “anything goes.” Food assignments are given to the guests so
the load is not too heavy on the host families. Mixers are also planned
that allow those attending the dinner to become better acquainted with one
another. These dinner groups allow ward members to associate with those
they might not otherwise know and to mingle on a smaller scale.
Thelissa Y. Zollinger,
Willow Creek Ward, Denver Colorado Stake
Fellowshipping through Activities
While serving as senior missionary companions, we have been involved in
planning activities to help our small branch grow and become more unified.
We have found it doesn’t cost much money to have fun. We often have
potluck suppers, which save on cost and cleanup time. Our activities have
included a talent show, a Valentine’s dance, and a game night. We have
been able to fellowship those who are less active or are not members, and
we have seen the attendance in our little branch grow.
Mary Hall Walker and
Gayle Robinson, Barnsley
Branch, Sheffield England Stake
Scheduling
As the ward activities committee chair, I schedule dates for ward
activities with the ward council about six months in advance and then
schedule the building, park, or homes of members. We always encourage
members to bring friends, neighbors, and visiting and home teaching
families. At activities where children are included, I try to have a table
of coloring or crafts for them to work on while the activity is getting
started.
While most of our ward activities are for the entire family, it is also
good to plan adults-only activities to let adults have time to visit
without the distraction of children. In our ward we hold a separate pizza
party for the children and youth so couples don’t have to get baby-sitters
and so the children and youth have a fun event to attend as well.
Cynthia P. Kofford,
Crescent 10th Ward, Sandy Utah Crescent Stake
Spotlight Nights
In my ward, we occasionally planned “special expertise spotlight
nights.” We would invite someone with a special expertise to give a brief
lecture on that topic. Lectures on travel, local history, wills, and so on
were well attended. We usually had these events in an individual’s home,
and people of other faiths were invited to attend. We also asked people
who were not members to help us plan activities. I believe we greatly
increased the feeling of unity in our area and brought more people to
Christ.
Gordon Wilson, Ensign
First Ward, Salt Lake Ensign Stake
Feeling the Spirit
Our activities committee had two major goals for our activities: First,
we tried to make each one enjoyable so that members would want to be there
and would want to invite their friends. Second, we tried to make sure
there was always an opportunity to feel the Spirit. Here are two of the
many successful activities we planned:
International dinner. At this activity, several returned
missionaries entertained us with songs and skits. We ate dishes with
international flavor and ended the evening with excerpts from the Church
video An Ensign to the Nations (item no.
53980; U.S. $6.00,
available at distribution centers), which explains how the gospel was
introduced into nations around the world.
Potluck/carnival. Our potluck supper was followed by
carnival-style activities, including a mini golf putt and a bean bag toss,
which had been set up around the cultural hall. Toward the end of the
activity, ward members gathered for a short Church video on families, such
as Together Forever (53411;
U.S. $4.00) or On the Way Home (53062;
U.S. $4.00). It was wonderful to have fun together and then end the
evening with the opportunity to feel the Spirit.
Kristy Sawtelle,
Buffalo Ridge Ward, Phoenix Arizona Deer Valley Stake
Simple Activities
Over the years I have observed that the best ward activities seem to be
simple ones that emphasize service, strengthening testimonies, missionary
work, and activation. Often all it takes to turn a service project into a
fun activity is to provide refreshments and some structure to encourage
socializing and fellowshipping.
These are several of my favorite activities:
• We have had socials where the entire ward has been invited to meet
new converts, less-active members, investigators, and those who have
recently moved into the ward. The guests of honor are then spotlighted or
in other ways introduced to the group.
• We have met together to bake cookies and make greeting cards, and
then we break into small groups to deliver these items to less-active
members of the ward.
• My singles ward often had many records of less-active members with
whom no one had had contact for some time. The young adults would meet
together for breakfast and then break into pairs with lists of the names
and addresses of these members. We would visit them, see if their
addresses were correct, and welcome them to the ward. We would then meet
back together to share the information. This activity greatly assisted our
fellowshipping efforts.
Kimberley Hirschi,
San Diego 12th Ward, San Diego California North Stake
The Success of an Activity
“We should bear in mind that the success of a given activity cannot
always be judged by its size. Rather, it must be judged by its effect on
the lives of those participating.”
President James E. Faust, Second Counselor in the First Presidency,
“Strengthening the Inner Self,” Ensign, Feb. 2003, 4.
Gospel topics:
activities, fellowshipping
"Choose
you this day
whom ye will
serve
but for me
and my
house we will
serve the Lord "
