August 8, 2012

The Church that Plays Together

I’m packing our bags.

This weekend, half of the church is heading to the diocesan conference center for retreat. Since this is our first time, we have had lots of recommendations for packing: Sturdy shoes for hiking, bathing suits for swimming, coolers for refreshments (adult and non-adult options).

There’s no set agenda for the weekend. Some might spend the time exploring the mountains deep in Kentucky. Spelunking might be in order too, with curious souls checking out the caves – and bats. Others might find a shady spot and a hammock, perfect for reading a book or sky watching. Each morning and evening, we’ll gather for prayer, and each afternoon, we’ll enjoy another Episcopal tradition of happy hour.

More than 100 people have signed up to spend a weekend in cabins mostly air conditioned by nature, to wear flip slops while showering, and to sleep on inch-thick mattresses on a top or bottom bunk. For our congregation, the 110 people represent about half of Sunday morning attendance. 

To me, that’s a pretty remarkable percentage of people willing to take off work to drive two hours to spend one of the last pre-school weekends with their church family. As a newcomer to the church, this desire to spend time together beyond Sunday morning is one of the attributes I admire and appreciate.

Corporate worship is, of course, central to the vitality of a congregation. But so too is the willingness to play together, to be in fellowship, conversation, and relationship. Talking with people around a campfire, on a hike, or over a meal builds connections. You learn about kids and work, vacation plans, and garden harvests. 

The people in the pews start to have names. 

I’m curious: Is play a priority at your church? Are there times and events, both scheduled and spontaneous, that creates space for those casual conversations, for laughter and connection? 
Share some of the best examples here, so that as we are all building our fall schedules, we can be intentional about setting aside times for refreshment. 

A healthy church must pray together. But I’ll make the case here that it also needs to play together.