Here are some creative Father’s day ideas for your church service.  If you’re looking for Father’s Day videos, songs, themes, ideas, or scripture, you’ll find a good starting point here.

Video

*New Video* Foster Kid Father’s Day

Not everyone has a good experience with their earthly Father.  This video helps to acknowledge the challenge of having less than perfect father experiences while providing a unique perspective on how we can look at God our heavenly Father in a new way.


If for some reason your church cannot afford to pay this cost and you would still like to use this video, please send me an email at loewen.dan (at) gmail.com.

 

Ideas & Themes

Our Father In Heaven Service

Structure your Father’s day service by walking through the Lord’s Prayer.  You can pick some themes from the prayer for different sections in your service.

  • “Hallowed be Your name” – pick some songs about God’s holiness, his worth, etc.
  • “Give us this day…” – Spend time in prayer for various needs.  Give thanks for the ways in which God provides.
  • “Forgive us our sins as we forgive those…” – This sets up nicely for a time of confession as well as reflection on who we might need to forgive in our lives.
  • “For thine is the Kingdom…” – Explore the ways in which we see God’s kingdom on earth and how we participate in seeing God’s kingdom coming on earth.

Prodigal Son Story & Dealing With Our Shame

At it’s crux, the prodigal son is less about the specific ways in which he failed, but more in the fact that he was extremely self aware of ‘missing the mark’ and his shame consumed his thoughts and actions.  Why else does a Son ask to go work as a slave if he hasn’t come to a point in his mind where he thinks very little of himself.  The pertinent question then is, where in our lives do we miss the mark and then allow shame to separate or hinder our relationship with God.  (Note that often it’s the shame that can affect our relationship with God more profoundly then the actual failure we’ve experienced.)

Help the congregation reflect on where they are feeling shame and find a way to remind them that God the father welcomes them home with open arms.

A few song options:

  • Before the Throne of God above
  • Good Good Father
  • How Deep The Father’s love For Us
  • How He Loves Us
  • This is Amazing Grace
  • I Stand Amazed In The Presence

A Father Who Disciplines

“Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father?”  Hebrews 12:7

It’s interesting to explore and try to pinpoint the ways God is leading, coaching, and disciplining us to help us live more whole lives.

A Father Who Comforts

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort…” 2 Corinthians 1:3

Explore with the congregation the areas of life where we need God’s comfort.  So often we ignore hardship and fail to create space for lament.  Your Father’s day service might be just the place to create some space for lament and help people reflect on how God their heavenly Father can bring them comfort.

A Father Who Mentors

Find an example of someone in your congregation who has learned or been taught by their father.  For example my Dad taught me how to cut grass and run a lawn-care business.  Use the story and the example to transition into how God teaches and mentors us or how we can disciple and mentor one another.

Pray for Fathers

Spend time with a dedicated prayer for Fathers.  Being a dad isn’t easy and most Dad’s are really trying their best.  I think every Dad out there would appreciate prayer that they can continue to be loving, caring, supportive, providing, and demonstrating to their kids what it means to be a follower of Christ… etc.

Father’s Share Their Story

Pick 3 Father’s of various ages in your congregation and have them briefly share in a 5 -10 minutes what they have learned being a Father and what it’s taught them about their relationship with God.

Fun Stuff

While we certainly want to help people have a meaningful experience of God as Father – Father’s day can also be a fun time to exploit the typical Father stereotypes and have a little fun.

Lazy-boy Sermon

Have someone bring a lazy-boy and set it up in the sanctuary.  Then nominate either the oldest father or youngest father to come and listen to the sermon while relaxing in the lazy boy.

Dad related snacks

Dad’s cookies, or Dad’s Root beer are always a staple, along with pretty much any other type of chocolate or candy.  Having kids hand them out at the end of a service is an added bonus.