ACUMC Parent’s Date Night Out

Sponsored by the Andrew Chapel Adult Council

Member care is an important aspect of who we are at Andrew Chapel.  The Adult Council sponsored the ACUMC Parent’s Night Out on Saturday June 30th to provide members with young children a fun & care free evening with their spouse without the kids.  This special event was attended by over 40 participants and was a lot of fun for all.  This was our gift to the parents to have some special time with their spouse while we provide babysitting and young children activities at Andrew Chapel Kids Camp from 5:30 pm to 10:30 pm.  We had several adult and youth volunteers to play games and had other activities for the children while at ACUMC Kids Camp.  There was a small fun fair with games to play, a cook out dinner for the kids, a campfire for the evening and stories for the young ones.  A nursery was provided for infants that were too young to participate in the activities.  Several large tents were pitched for the young ones to sleep in until parents came back.  Did the parents have to come back? YES! What did the kids bring? A smile, permission slip, sleeping bag or pillow, and sweatshirt for night activities.  Thanks to all that participated and made this a fun event for young and old.

One campfire story was of the angels coming to Andrew Chapel late at night on June 29th to paint their wings for the summer festivities held every July 4th.  Proof was provided in the field behind and we have pictures.   

Parent's Comments:

• “A hearty thank-you on behalf of Val and me for organizing and hosting the Andrew Chapel Parent’s Night Out!  We get so few hassle-free evenings out without the kids.  It was almost too good to be true.  Our boys enjoyed the campfire so much that they stayed over an hour AFTER we came back to pick them up.  I don't know how you entertained such a wide age range of kids but they all were having a great time.  It was a really wonderful service to provide for the families at church.  We took advantage by going to one of our favorite kid un-friendly restaurants in McLean.  Everyone who we told about what our church was doing really thought it was a neat thing to do...we felt lucky to call it OUR church!”  -- Cathy and Val Sribar

• "My husband almost didn't believe me that we had a FREE sitter lined up and could take as long as we wanted at a nice grown-up restaurant.  And boy, did we!  This event was a wonderful gift to parents of young children - and shows that Andrew Chapel looks for ways to help families, by allowing the parents a "night off."  My kids had so much fun, they want to know when the next one will be!"  -- Karen and John Bush

• "What a wonderful treat it was for us to have an evening out while the kids enjoyed a safe and fun party at church during Parent's Night Out.  It was a special evening for all of us.  Dick and I enjoyed a romantic dinner at a lakeside restaurant (no sippy cups!!)  while the kids had a great time in front of the campfire.  We really appreciate the folks who so generously gave up their own Saturday night plans to watch our children.  Another reason why we LOVE OUR CHURCH!"   -- Grace and Dick Obermann