In an age of increasing individualism, connection is more important than ever. Our faith reminds us that we were created for relationship with God and with one another. Community is not simply an added benefit of life; it is part of how we are formed, encouraged, and sustained.

The Summer Scatter

Helping parishioners, especially families, stay connected during summer has been a particular challenge in my role as Family Ministry Coordinator. The summer season can scatter families and pull them away from the rhythms and relationships that help keep their faith grounded. With the varying schedules that families have during summer, I have found that simple and flexible formation opportunities are more manageable for families in my congregation.

Here are three ideas that I have used to help members of my community develop meaningful connections with God and one another during summer through both ordinary and significant moments.

1. Gathering at Restaurants

Throughout the summer, we gather for meals at different restaurants around the city. I look for restaurants that are kid-friendly, cost-effective, and offer a simple but varied menu that has something for everyone. These gatherings create space for families to connect with whoever happens to be in town at the time without adding pressure or extra commitments. They also offer meaningful opportunities to come together in the holy act of sharing a meal and breaking bread together.

What makes these gatherings meaningful is not the events themselves, but the relationships they nurture. Children see their church friends during months when they might otherwise lose touch, and adults have opportunities to deepen connections outside of Sunday mornings. Meals like this also enable children and youth to interact with adults other than their parents who are also on journeys of faith. These relationships can help young people see faith as not isolated to their own families, but shared by a larger community of believers. Families have really enjoyed these opportunities to be together, building and deepening relationships while watching their children enjoy time with their church friends in a different environment.

2. Supporting Faith Conversations at Home

Summer can also be one of the best times for meaningful faith conversations at home because families often have more space in their schedules than they might during the school year. Simple practices like praying together, talking about where they saw God during the day or week, or reading a short devotion together can make a lasting impression. These are small moments that can help children understand faith as part of daily life and not just for Sunday mornings.

To support these conversations, I provide parents with resources and information they can keep in their back pockets as questions arise. I also make myself available to talk with parents and children when questions come up and they need a different perspective or wording.

3. Adapting “Flat Stanley”

A third way that I have sought to foster connections across generations in my community during the summer is by adapting the “Flat Stanley” project that some children do in school. Instead of Flat Stanley, I print an illustration of St. Luke, my church’s patron saint, as a coloring page, and I invite children to color him during Children’s Chapel as school is winding down and families are looking toward summer. Families then take St. Luke with them throughout the summer, capturing pictures of their adventures and sharing them with the church community.

I like to display the pictures on a bulletin board with maps of the United States and the world and connecting each picture to the place St. Luke visited. Beyond the fun of seeing where St. Luke travels and what kind of innocent shenanigans he gets into, the project helps families feel connected to the parish even when they are away. It also gives parishioners of all ages something to celebrate together and creates natural opportunities for conversations across generations.

Small Moments of Connection Matter

Staying connected does not require constant activity or packed schedules. It is not about guilt or perfect attendance. It is about continuing to nurture, practice, and share faith in community while recognizing that rest, vacations, slower schedules, and intentional family time are important and holy too. One of the gifts of summer ministry is that it can be lighter, more relaxed, and free from pressure while still offering meaningful opportunities for faith formation and community. Even small moments of connection can help families remain encouraged, supported, and rooted in their faith. What matters is providing spaces for faith to remain an active, encouraging part of everyday life in a different season.

Featured image is by Afonso Vieira on Unsplash; image of Flat St. Luke at the St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Baton Rouge VBS petting zoo is provided by article author, Sarah Bolt