The days are long, and the air is warm! Take advantage of this summer’s evenings by hanging with your neighbors.
Hoops
For the past 15 years, Christ Temple Community Church in Oklahoma City, Okla., has hit the courts with area youth every summer Friday night for “Midnight Basketball.” They start each gathering with prayer and end the summer with a pizza party.
—NetMinistries.org
Flicks
Last year Journey Church in Clyde, Ohio, hosted a free outdoor Family Movie Night in their parking lot. They provided the movie, popcorn and drinks and asked families to just bring their own chairs.
—ExploreJourney.org
Movies to Consider
Big Hero 6
Inside Out
Frozen
*All movies Dove “Family Approved” for all ages (Dove.org)
Tunes
Each year, St. John’s Episcopal Church in Valle Crucis, N.C., hosts four summer concerts featuring nationally recognized artists playing local Appalachian music—think hammered dulcimer, fiddle and banjo.
—HolyCrossValleCrucis.net
Parties
Located next to multiple apartment buildings, Hammond Christian Reformed Church in Hammond, Ind., throws parking lot parties once a week for five weeks during the summer. Complete with food, petting zoos, moon bounces, games, crafts and more, the parties each drew between 60 and 100 people last year.
—HammondCRC.org
Find more summer outreach ideas »
Check out more “Try This” idea starters »