By MOLLY DAVIDSON / Staff Writer

NORTH SHELBY—Family, fun and faith was the theme of the evening at the Asbury United Methodist Church family picnic on July 10.

Hosted by the church’s children’s ministry, the event was your “typical American picnic,” Children’s Ministry Director Kim Burnett explained. Both Asbury UMC members and non-members were encouraged to “just show up with a blanket” and enjoy a night of music, food and fun.

The picnic took place on the church’s soccer field, where a large slide and 50-foot inflatable obstacle course were set up.

Church food service coordinator Bill Marcie catered the evening, cooking up hotdogs, chips, potato salad and “all kinds of drinks,” Burnett said. Staff member Jeremy Huddleston provided musical entertainment.

At the end of the night, those in attendance gathered in prayer and released a prayer lantern. Each family in attendance was also given a prayer lantern to take home and release on their own. Burnett said she hoped the lanterns would give the families an opportunity “to just sit down, be together and say a prayer together.”

The family picnic is an example of one of the new, family-oriented events the Children’s Ministry is organizing this year. Burnett said the events are designed to strengthen and bring families together through fun activities.

“We’re looking at doing some new events for families,” Burnett said. “We’re really wanting to bring back that traditional family formation.”

For more information about events at Asbury UMC and the Children’s Ministry, visit Asburyonline.org.