Elements of Family Night
This is a fun family night activity centered on the lumberjack theme. The theme fits men, women, young and old and is easily carried out in decorations, games and food. It’s a great way to involve all members of the corps and community in a fun interactive event.
Invitations and Decorations
The site below offers free printable invitations and decorations for the event.
Decorations should be red and black plaid items. Strips of black, red and plaid material can be tied to a piece of string and hung banner style on the wall.
http://www.papertraildesign.com/lumberjack-party-free-printables/#_a5y_p=5427342
Suggested wording:
Lumberjack Flapjacks and Flannels
The Women’s Ministries group invites you to bring your friends and family to enjoy a night of fun.
Wear your favorite flannels and bring your appetite!
Date, Time and Location
Refreshment Ideas
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/816207132439751742/ (Trail Mix Bar)
https://karaspartyideas.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Lumberjack-Birthday-Party-via-Karas-Party-Ideas-KarasPartyIdeas.com40.jpg (Pancake Kebabs)
Activities
Fun family game suggestions can be found at the following websites:
Axe Toss Game (for all ages)
http://craftmeetsworld.blogspot.com/2016/01/diy-no-sew-axes-for-ax-toss-game.html
This might be a good activity for the women’s ministries group to teach the character building groups (Guards, Sunbeams, Club 316) to make before the party.
Pin the Axe on the Target (for all ages)
This cute game is available for download for $4.99 at Etsy.com
Nail Driving Competition
Ask the Men’s Club or the men in your corps to set–up a nail driving station. Competitions can be held with different age groups to see who can drive nails into boards the quickest. Offer small rewards for winners.
Flapjack Flipping
Make a few extra pancakes for this game. Ask the adults to gather and provide spatulas to each participant. Place a pancake on each spatula and see who can flip the pancake the highest and still catch it upon landing.
Flapjack Eating Contest
This contest should be held by age groups. Serve up a large plate of mini pancakes and see who can eat the most.
Devotions
Use elements of this story to talk about Paul Bunyan and his tall tales: https://www.sps186.org/downloads/basic/558345/paul_bunyan.pdf
Paul Bunyan was a legend—a man bigger than life itself. There are great stories about Paul and his adventures with his ox, Blue. They are fun stories filled with exaggeration, tales just too big to believe.
Stories about Paul Bunyan help us to consider the wonders of nature. We read about pine forests and great rivers and lakes. We hear stories of planting and seasons, reminding us of the truth we find in God’s Word about the majesty of nature.
Psalm 8 reminds us of the handiwork of God and how even through all the grandeur, God still thinks of us.
Psalm 8:1–9, Living Bible (TLB)
O Lord our God, the majesty and glory of Your name fills all the earth and overflows the heavens. You have taught the little children to praise You perfectly. May their example shame and silence your enemies. When I look up into the night skies and see the work of your fingers—the moon and the stars you have made— I cannot understand how You can bother with mere puny man, to pay any attention to him! And yet you have made him only a little lower than the angels and placed a crown of glory and honor upon his head. You have put him in charge of everything You made; everything is put under his authority: all sheep and oxen, and wild animals too, the birds and fish, and all the life in the sea. O Jehovah, our Lord, the majesty and glory of Your name fills the earth.
Tonight, we invite you to join together as friends and family and to spend a few moments in small groups sharing with each other how you experience God in nature. Once we’ve spent a few minutes considering the handiwork of God, we will close together in prayer.
