Continuing Formation in the Summer Months

Summer typically means relaxed schedules and more time for creative formation. Groups may choose to meet on Sunday mornings or off-site during the week. Leadership can be provided by clergy, lay leaders, or families. Here are some suggestions for unique gathering and formation opportunities this summer:

Host a Film Viewing

Form a small group to explore videos from The Work of the People. Choose one of the curricula series to go deeper into themes such as liturgy and worship, vocation, spiritual birth and renewal, or practices of an abundant life. Films are typically less than ten minutes each, leaving plenty of time for discussion and prayer. If meeting in the evenings, why not include a meal as well? The Work of the People charges a small monthly subscription.

Another interactive streaming platform is Waterbear. This is a library containing many rich and compelling films to broaden your thinking and perhaps inspire action. Create a free account and check out the many documentaries, locally told stories, and accounts of grassroots initiatives. Recommended for household or small group viewing and discussion, in-person or online. Suggested for Coloradans: Watershed

Form a Summer Book Group

Consider holding a summer book group. Take turns meeting at different members’ homes, or gather in a park. Unsure what to read? Consider one of these:

  • An Altar in the World by Barbara Brown Taylor
  • The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World, Douglas Carlton Abrams with His Holiness The Dalai Lama and The Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Other books we recommend:

Get Outdoors

The months ahead are a perfect time to experience worship outside the walls of your church, and in a state that loves to hike, why not take worship to the trails? There is an increasing enthusiasm around the idea of combining hiking and worship and we live in a perfect state to try it out. Check out Holy Hikes. Several of our own churches have already started holding regular hikes that incorporate prayer stations, reflections, and whole liturgies.

Grow Together—Try Intergenerational Formation

This could take the form of an intergenerational VBS that meets one evening a week for five weeks, or a Godly Play series where all are invited to participate on as Sunday Morning. For VBS curricula ratings, one of the best resources is VTS’ Vacation Bible School Reviews for 2021.

Parish families may want to use summer as a time to come together monthly or bi-monthly to deepen fellowship and engage in fun activities that add a touch of faith learning and deepening of family ties. A Homemade Year provides a number of summertime ideas, or you may want to check out our Faith-Full Families Summer Pinterest board.

Have a summer idea of your own? We’d love to hear about it and include it here. Reach out to anyone on the formation team:

The Rev. Canon Greg Foraker, Canon for Formation
Tracy Methe, Missioner for Baptismal Living
Elizabeth Cervasio, Missioner for Children, Youth, and Campus Ministry
Janet Choyce, Events Coordinator