Holiday Parties

• Holiday parties are exciting events that churchgoers can look forward to again and again.John Foxx/Stockbyte/Getty Images
  
  Valentine's Day, Easter and Christmas are a few of the obvious holiday choices to consider when planning a church function. With Valentine's Day and Christmas, options lend themselves to everything from a formal ball gown extravaganza to a casual "covered-dish" dinner along with a few choice holiday CDs. Easter on the other hand, allows for the opportunity to draw in the younger crowd with Easter egg hunts, candy-filled baskets and a sweets-only buffet guaranteed to please. Many like to give children a chance to dress up for a Resurrection Party aimed at emphasizing the story of Jesus Christ.
  
  A semi-formal Mother's or Father's Day function gives parishioners a chance to honor their parents. Churches shouldn't rule out holidays like the Fourth of July, Veteran's Day or Labor Day as opportunities to gather around a grill and enjoy each other's company. Nearly every holiday affords the chance for a great party.
  
  

Seasonal Themes

• Seasonally themed parties are a great way to reinforce messages of renewal and hope.Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
  
  Each season brings with it a host of sights and sounds that make for a great party theme. Consider a fall festival, made bright and rustic with pumpkins, hay and other sights of the harvest. Arts and crafts activities for children can focus on this theme while a bake sale with a harvest theme can bring in profits for the church. Likewise, a spring party made pretty with pastels or a winter one decorated with crimson, evergreen and poinsettias is sure to please.
  
  

The Super Bowl

• Sporting events bring out both good-natured competitiveness and great food.Jupiterimages/liquidlibrary/Getty Images
  
  The Super bowl is a much-anticipated event for millions of Americans and people around the world. A church party with all the trappings of the day---sweet and salty snacks, hot dogs, hamburgers, soda and a big screen TV is sure to bring a crowd. Decorations reflecting game rivalries, polls for best commercials and biggest fan contests will capture the excitement of the day.
  
  

Church Anniversaries

• A great addition to any special service held in honor of a church's anniversary is a follow-up party for the event. Everything from a cozy potluck dinner to a ticketed and plated affair with the entire community invited is appropriate when celebrating such a milestone. Imagination, and church budget, are the only limitations.