A service to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the International year of the Family

In 1994, Churches Together for Families grew out of a concern of churches to work together to celebrate the International Year of the Family. One of the first events was an ecumenical service of thanksgiving. We have adapted the original service which you are welcome to use at any stage during the year.

Download Service of Thanksgiving

Themes for the Year

Various member bodies of Churches Together for Families have put together worship ideas if your churches want to look at the theme of families in this year. Throughout the year, more material will be added. We hope you will find them useful.

The themes for the months are:

January: Parent, Son and Holy Spirit -- the God family
suggestions from FLAME and the Archbishops' Council of the Church of England
- Download -
February: Marriage -- God's gift in creation
February contains National Marriage Week so Marriage Resource have suggested ideas for this month
- Download -
March: The Family of the Church
as suggested by the Mothers' Union, including Mothering Sunday on March 22nd
A Service for Lady's Day
Instructions for Service for Lady's Day
Mothering Sunday Sermon
Mother's Union Sermon Outline
Praying in March
April: all-aged family -- families getting older and grieving
Organised by Connexions
CTF Ageing
May: faith in the home
The Bethany Family Institute are putting together materials for this month
Additional activites
Introduction
Sermon for Pentecost
Prayers for Petition for passing on faith
Suggestions for music
Additional readings
June: issues of violence/non violence in the family and positive parenting
This month the Churches Network for Non-Violence are giving us worship ideas to look at this subject
Family Hymn list
Resources for Worship - Theme 1 - 21st Century Children and the Church
Worship Resources for IYF 2004
Worship Resources - Theme 2
Worship Resources - Theme 3 - Positive Parenting
Worship Resources - Theme 4
July: Families having fun
As we look forward to the holidays the Seventh Day Adventist Church have given us ideas to include in services this month
Families having Fun
August: struggling families
The CANDL Project, part of Barnardos are suggesting worship materials
Struggling Families
September: family responsibility
Following their report on the responsibility Gap the Salvation Army are helping us this month
Family Responsibility
October: the global family and intercontinental families
November: complex families
December: children in the family
Worship materials from the Children's Society as this month many churches have Christingle services.
Worship Resources - The Children's Society