Fall into Fellowship: 10 Cozy Autumn Activities for Your Bible Group

For many people, the year’s end means studying for finals, coordinating travel plans and trying to find the perfect gifts for friends and family. Add in the cold weather and shorter days, and fall can feel downright stressful! 

Thankfully, the season also brings countless opportunities to relax and connect with the community. Here are 10 ways you and your bible group can make the most of autumn.

1. Build a Bonfire

A chill is in the air! On a crisp autumn night, build a bonfire — or a campfire, if you’re working with a smaller space — and huddle around it. Roast marshmallows and make s’mores. You can play guitar, tell spooky stories or just enjoy talking without any distractions, enjoying the warmth and smell of woodsmoke.

2. Carve Jack-o-Lanterns

Visit a pumpkin patch and pick your favorite pumpkins. Then, bring them to the church or community center and have a jack-o-lantern carving contest. Roast and salt the leftover seeds to enjoy a crunchy, delicious snack.

3. Have a Game Night or Movie Night

Invite your bible group over for a game night at the church or in your home. Get competitive with games like Catan, Monopoly or even a chess tournament, or play something cooperative like Mysterium or Mansions of Madness. 

Turn the garage or basement into an impromptu movie theater with surround-sound speakers, using a projector and a screen to make the film larger than life. Create a snack stand so your friends can grab popcorn, candy and drinks at their leisure. 

4. Walk Through a Corn Maze

What’s more autumnal than getting lost in a cornfield? Bring your bible group to the nearest corn maze and meander through it, enjoying the sights and sounds of birds along the way. As you make your way out, take a moment to give thanks for the cool weather and bounty of the fall harvest. 

5. Throw a Costume Party

Organize a party at your church, home or community center and ask everyone to come dressed up. Serve spooky foods and fall-favorite drinks like mulled cider, hot cocoa and coffee.

Up for a little friendly competition? Host a costume contest and judge contestants on the scariest or most creative outfit, the cutest couple’s costume, the best costume on a budget and so on. Award prizes like gift cards and candy to the winners. 

6. Take a Hike

With 63 national parks in the U.S. —  and even more state parks, historic sites and local trails to choose from — why not take advantage of the cool weather? Fall is the perfect time to get outdoors, especially if you live in an area where the leaves change color. Step outside and enjoy the crisp air and gorgeous scenery. 

7. Host a Potluck

A potluck is a great way to practice generosity and express gratitude for your friends. Organize a lunch or dinner party where everyone brings their favorite dish to share with the group. To ensure there are no duplicate meals, create a sign-up sheet so everyone can announce what they’re bringing.

8. Go to a Carnival

What better way to enjoy an autumn evening than by going to a carnival? Ride the rides, try your hand at darts and eat funnel cake. Get your caricature drawn and play the strongman game to test your strength. You can also ride the Ferris wheel to get a bird’s eye view of the city, giving you a new perspective.

9. Celebrate Giving Tuesday

The first Tuesday after Thanksgiving is known as Giving Tuesday. This relatively new holiday encourages people to donate to charity, and you can participate by organizing an event through your church. For example, you could host a holiday bake sale to raise funds or start a food drive to benefit a local school. The spirit of Giving Tuesday is all about selfless service.

10. Go Apple Picking

Strolling through an apple orchard is a quintessential fall activity. Grab a cup of hot cider, bundle up in your favorite flannels and look for the ripest red fruit you can find, filling your basket to the brim. Later, you can take the apples home and bake them into pies or muffins. 

For Everything, There Is a Season

Autumn is a time of praise and thanksgiving. It reminds us to be grateful for friends and family, counting our many blessings as we transition into a slower pace of life. This fall, enjoy spending some meaningful time with your bible group outside of church, connecting with the surrounding community.