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

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Fieldworkers: Preparing Future Pastors

By Pastor Adam McDowell • July 27, 2026

Our Partnership with Our Seminary

August Happenings

By Amy Widener • July 27, 2026

August Opportunities for Fellowship & Learning (In alphabetical order) Altar Guild Annual Potluck Meeting Wednesday, August 19th @ 6:00 pm in the Cornerstone Room If you're one of the ladies in our Altar Guild thank you. Be sure to join us for our annual potluck supper with a meeting following. Bible Studies (click for details) New Sunday series continues, but summer plans for weekday studies will be ending soon. Stay tuned for dates of when those will start to meet regularly again. Christian Education Weekend (Backpack Blessing) During all worship services August 8-9th Rededicate our faculty and staff to their teaching ministry as well as rededicate ourselves as a congregation to praying for them, encouraging them, and supporting the work God has given us to do together. Students may also get their backpack blessing tag for this school year. School starts August 12th! At the 10:30 AM service, we will also install Janet Bahr as our assistant principal and Dianna Bultemeier as a called teacher of St. Peter's. Please join us for a reception honoring Janet and Dianna on the church's front porch following this service. Confirmation Kick-Off Sunday, August 9th during the Bible Study hour @ 9:15 am in the Sanctuary Parents and students (7th & 8th graders) of our day school and public school will meet to prep for the upcoming year with Pastor McDowell. Plan to attend and remember the Confirmation Site on The Hub will be updated soon with everything you need to know as far as expectations, handbook, assignments, deadlines, and event dates. Collections/Fundraiser (ongoing) The Compassionate Care Collection is prepping hygiene kits for the Lutheran World Relief: The LWR collection will be through July and August--details can be found on the LWR.org/kits site or HERE . Needed are: light weight bath sized towels (between 20" x 40" to 27" x52"), bath-size soap bars in original wrapper, adult toothbrush, sturdy comb, metal nail clippers--all items must be new and NOT have religious symbols or patriotic decoration. Special Monthly Offering: This month we collect for our Preschool which is so appreciated by the faculty and students. You'll also see their annual Giving Tree displayed in the Ministry Center soon. Take a letter of the alphabet off the tree and bring back the supply listed. Stay tuned for a video from our Preschool Director, Barb Christian, next week about these two opportunities to support our Preschool. Drums Alive Drums will take a break in August and come back in September with an updated schedule. Stay tuned! Monday Night Worship Summer Monday night worship ends August 31st. The following Monday is Labor Day and the church offices and schools will be closed. Senior Saints Monday, August 10th @ 11:30 am in the Cornerstone Room REGISTER HERE for this month's Lunch N' Learn featuring our own Tina Acosta who does amazing work through Turnstone. Turnstone is a place unlike any other and anyone who knows about it only has good things to say. If you'd like to know another reason Fort Wayne is such a great place to be, come listen as Tina will offer an overview of Turnstone and their services. Serving in the Church Offering your talents or acts of service is often something we all want to do, but not always sure where to start. Opportunities present themselves, but it's hard to remember them all or keep track of something that called to you at one point. The Serve tab in the Realm Connect app continues to add areas that are open and looking for someone just like you. Log in on your computer or through the app on your phone and scroll through the Roles to see if one is a good fit for you. Remember, signing up doesn't commit you to it, but does share that you'd like to be contacted about it. Sisters in Christ: Simple Quilting Craft Saturday, August 15th starting at 10 am in the Cornerstone Room REGISTER HERE FREE Regret never learning how to sew? Or haven’t picked up a needle and thread in a long time? Do not miss this opportunity to learn from ladies who’ve been sewing since 2nd grade! It’s nearly a lost art, but we’re bringing it back with Linda Thiele, Debbie Haenftling, Carol Nahrwold, and Jan Bultemeier who have curated a perfect practice project to teach you sewing and the basics of quilting in the form of a pot holder or trivet. Coordinate colors with your kitchen! It’s made for beginners, but any sewing ability is welcome. There’s so much knowledge combined in this room, if you have a question about anything related to needle and thread, they can answer it! We also gather the last Wednesday each month (July 29th this week and August 26th) at 5:00 pm Kekionga Craft Co, 7328 Maysville Rd. Come & go. Enjoy a little fellowship, prayer idea, and grab something to eat if you’d like. Young Adults Second Sundays, August 9th starting at 6 pm @ Pastor Nate's house Hosted by Ben & Gwyn Corley, we'll have dinner together, games, and devotion. Bring a friend and fellowship with us. REMEMBER August 9th is also the last day to sign up for Combat Ops Laser Tag. REGISTER HERE. You can pay later, but sign up today! Don't miss out! Get on the text thread to be sent reminders and invites. Text 'stpfw' to 94000 and follow the prompts.