Faith-Filled Family Vacations

Michelle Leahy • June 16, 2025

Summer Ideas to Grow Closer to Each Other and to God

Summer vacation is a wonderful opportunity to press pause on the busyness of everyday life and make time for what matters most—faith, family, and fellowship. Whether you're planning a big trip or a simple weekend away, choosing experiences that strengthen your relationships and deepen your walk with God can make a lasting impact on every member of your household.


Here are a few family vacation ideas that combine fun, rest, and spiritual renewal:


1. Christian Family Camp

Camp Lutherhaven has a weekend camp designed with families in mind. This camp offers a mix of outdoor activities, worship, Bible study, and time to unplug from devices and distractions. You’ll laugh, sing, pray, and play together—creating shared spiritual experiences that become treasured memories. Family camp will be offered July 18-20, and you can choose to stay in private rooms in the Lodge, Daniel Retreat Center, or the cabins on the main camp. Click here to register.


2. Service-Oriented Getaways

Serving together as a family can be a powerful way to grow in faith and compassion. Look for mission trip opportunities geared toward families, or plan your own service vacation—helping at a food pantry, volunteering with a home repair ministry, or supporting a local outreach program.


Try This: Contact local missions or organizations like Habitat for Humanity or Lutheran Social Services to see if they offer family-friendly volunteer opportunities.


3. Pilgrimage-Inspired Road Trips

Turn your family road trip into a pilgrimage by visiting meaningful spiritual sites. Explore beautiful old churches or places of historical faith significance. Along the way, listen to worship music or Christian audiobooks, and set aside time for prayer and reflection.


Try This: Visit the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C., or explore the Midwest’s “Church Trail” with stops at historic congregations.


4. Nature Retreats

God often speaks through His creation. A camping trip, mountain hike, or cabin stay can offer the quiet space to reconnect as a family and reflect on God’s handiwork. Start each day with a devotion, and end it around the campfire sharing “God sightings” from the day.


Try This: Bring a simple family devotional book and a journal for each person to record prayers, reflections, and thanksgivings during your trip.


5. Staycations with Purpose

Not every family can travel far—but that doesn’t mean you can’t create meaningful time together. Plan a faith-focused staycation: explore local parks and have daily family devotionals, make meals together, do a mini service project, and enjoy intentional, unplugged family time.


Try This: Pick a theme for the week (like "Fruits of the Spirit") and plan crafts, activities, and discussions around that theme.



Final Thoughts

Whatever you do this summer, remember: the most important part of vacation isn’t the destination—it’s the connection. When we make space to grow closer to each other and to God, we’re building a legacy of love, faith, and joy that lasts far beyond the trip itself. We’d love to hear about your family’s plans this summer! Whether you’re heading far away or staying close to home, may your time together be refreshing, renewing, and rooted in God’s grace.


“As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” – Joshua 24:15


News & Notes

By Tim Degen July 7, 2025
You are invited!
By Pastor Adam McDowell July 7, 2025
I want to share a story, actually several stories. I remember when I was young in Tulsa, Oklahoma and in Fredericktown, Missouri, of going up to the altar rail with my parents and receiving a blessing from my pastor. I remember sticking my head in between the posts on the altar rail and the pastor giving me a blessing. I don't exactly remember the words, but I knew it was important and I wanted that blessing. I remember in confirmation learning about what the pastor was actually saying, what those words actually meant. To understand what God was saying in his scriptures and growing in it. Overall, just being absolutely amazed at what my pastors, Pastor Sean and Pastor Beering were teaching me and knowing God better and just the joyfulness of it. And I remember Lyndi going through confirmation, adult confirmation, with Pastor Schueler in Rosenberg, Texas, and then seeing from her eyes what it meant to be Lutheran, to understand the faith. I had grown up in the Lutheran church, so it was all ordinary for me, but for her it was extraordinary to know and to understand and have that time with a pastor. And I'm so thankful for the pastors in my life and all of the other church workers that have been a part of my life who have helped me to understand who God is. I mentioned in this weekend’s sermon that there's an initiative, a program through the LCMS called Set Apart to Serve. It points out that we have a lack of pastors, teachers, and other church workers. Set Apart to Serve reminds us that the Lord asks us to pray for laborers for the harvest, and I encourage you to pray for laborers for the harvest. To pray for those that teach us who God is and to help us to understand how much we need him. If you happen to know some young people considering church work or being pastors, pray for them, encourage them. God has gifted them to us to answer our questions. Pray fervently that the Lord would send workers into his harvest so that we know him. Keep that in your prayers. I encourage you to look for people who would be good to take God's calling into his church. May the Lord provide workers for His harvest that we may know God and how richly He blesses us. Amen.
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