We invited ladies of all ages and stages to Ladies Game Night to achieve three goals: (1) connecting with other local churches of our new denomination, (2) fostering multigenerational love and witness, and (3) nurturing new and deeper friendships through table games.

Event: Ladies Game Night
Logistics: Thursday 6:30-8:30pm
Rooms: 1 room for large group game (on screen Scattergories & Bingo) then set up multiple board games (checkers, Sorry, Otrio, decks of cards, and a puzzle; 1 room for quick, noisy games (Pictionary, Yahtzee, Giant Jenga, Tapple, Spoons); 1 room for big game (Dominoes).
Prizes: Scattergories table winners; Bingo
Refreshments: Cucumber lemonade, ice water, individual bags of chips, individual banana pudding cups (another generous lady brought brownie cups just because)
Welcome table: name tags, sharpies, registration sheets
Cost: $5 per person to cover new games and prizes
Prize table: left items unwrapped and set on table for winners to choose

Schedule:
6:30-7:00   Welcome & Scattergories on-screen game
7:00-7:15 Devotion about rules of UNO
7:15-8:00 Game play & refreshments
8:00-8:30 Bingo
8:30 Closing prayer and cleanup

The feedback was so positive that, since some boys and men also wanted to join, we scheduled a Family Game Night every other month for the next school year. We’ll add a theme and ask people to bring refreshments. A $5 per family fee will help buy new games, prizes, and ensure commitment.

Sharing the table is a key part of our Christian community. Game Nights will offer food, fun, and memories, providing a multigenerational chance to learn new games and make new friends.

Tip: For games without a box (UNO, Spoons, War, etc.) I printed the rules and placed with the game pieces just to keep everyone on the same page for the original game play rules.

Chuck Peters, Jana Magruder, and Stephanie Salvatore wrote in Flip the Script: Disrupting Tradition for the Sake of the Next Generation, “Kids and students aren’t the only ones who benefit from finding friends at church. Friend relationships are vital to everyone. Relationships enrich our lives and create a platform for the hard work of sanctification. Relationship-building ministry cannot be confined to kids and students. As a whole congregation, we have the opportunity to create on-ramps for kids, students, adults, families, leaders, and pastors to connect with each other.” (p107)

“As those relationships grow, kids and students will begin to have ‘influencer’ relationships with other parents, older kids, and students.” (p 107)

“Influencers are relational connectors who tend to inspire or guide the actions of others. Pursuing new relationships that extend influence outside of current circles is a way to serve others that will enrich kids and students as well. Influencers of all ages may be the key to helping the ministry of biblical belonging become a church-wide movement.” (p109)

What new games should we include in the future?

“Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy.” Psalm 33:3