Showing Dads We Care

A card, and maybe a tie, a sweater, or some golf balls.

That’s the extent of Father’s Day for many dads. Don’t get me wrong: we dads don’t mind receiving gifts, especially when they come from our kids. There’s the possibility, however, for this Father’s Day to be something special, and for dads to be recognized and encouraged not just at home, but also at church. How can you make this Father’s Day one that will really have an impact on the lives of all of the dads (and, hopefully, everyone else) in your congregation?

Use media

A stereotype of dads (one that is, unfortunately, true of me!) is that we love to watch TV—especially if there’s a remote control involved. This fact gives those of us who are involved in the creation of worship services an instant “in” with dads when we use video and other visual media. In fact, video can be an excellent, “non-preachy” way to communicate to dads the message of Father’s Day: their families love them, and so does God!

A good rule of thumb when designing visuals and creating media for Father’s Day is to start light and go deep. Dads are often suspicious types; it can sometimes seem to some of us that church is a place where people are trying to sell something. Humor can be a tool to help dads lower their guards and open themselves up to the idea that there really might be something to all this religious talk. Funny videos can be the icebreakers that set up or complement a sermon.

Start light

Here are a few examples of humorous media that can be used to hit the lighter side of things:

A video that pokes fun at less-than-stellar Father’s Day gifts. Try making a video called “A History Of Neckties;” have the narrator speak in a dry, English-accent and talk about the many centuries of “quality” necktie giving. Other potential titles related to lame gift bashing include “101 Uses For Socks,” “You Can Never Have Too Many Power Tools,” and, of course, “How To Use Leftover Aftershave To Clean The Engine Of Your Lawnmower” (make sure to include a “don’t try this at home” disclaimer)!
A 2-minute “commercial” of a dad pulling aside his son to explain “the most important lesson in life”—which ends up being how to extend the footrest of the recliner while simultaneously operating the remote control (with emphasis on proper channel surfing technique).
Create a “sportscast” of an average dad’s day. Have a couple of commentators follow dad through his daily activities, giving a play-by-play as he weaves through rush hour traffic, takes a customer out to a “power lunch,” and washes the car later on at home. A twist on the sportscast concept might be to broadcast a “Dad Olympics,” where judges award skill points for best lawn mowing pattern, or style points for dads who take out the garbage while still wearing their pajamas.
A 1950s-style video in black and white called “Duct Tape Is Your Friend”—the possibilities with this one are limitless!

Go deep

If the programming of your Father’s Day service calls for the video or multimedia elements to lean to the deeper side, there are many possibilities; there are, however, a few potential pitfalls. Many dads are—how can I say this diplomatically—not overly in touch with their emotional sides (I’m among them). One of the most obvious yet effective ways to bring a tear to a dad’s eye is to have his children on video; virtually every dad loves to see his kids up on a big screen! Ideas for video in this category can be as simple as filming the kids in Sunday school saying “Happy Father’s Day” in unison, or as complex as having a number of sons and daughters give a brief history of all of the selfless things their dads have done for them in their lives.

Here are a few other possibilities for media that lean to the more serious side:

A young man or woman could be shown in a video from a front view, fairly close up. They might start speaking using a phrase such as “Dad, since it’s Father’s Day, I wanted to talk to you. I realize I’ve never really told you how much you mean to me …” and so on. The speaker would then go on to list many of the things that he or she is thankful for. At the end, the camera would pan out, and the viewer would realize that young individual is at the grave of his or her father, pouring out their heart in a way that they never had the chance (or took the time) to do in the past. This video has the power to be really manipulative, so make sure you’re aware of the effect it might have on some people.
Another possibility is to show a video “time capsule” of a dad and a child together throughout the child’s growing up. The footage and stills could start as the child is born and move through his or her childhood. This idea works especially well when the video is made using media from the lives of a father and child in the congregation; it can also be extremely powerful when used in conjunction with a live interview.

Consider transitions

Oftentimes, a video itself can be a transition between light and deep moments. For example:

When I was a kid, I specialized in giving my dad “coupons” on Father’s Day which said that I would fulfill various household jobs for him, like washing the car. A number of these coupons could be shown close up so that the messages were readable. They could start with generic “chore” coupons such as “Good for one free car wash” or “Good for cleaning out the gutters.” The sentiments could grow increasingly more heartfelt, such as “Good for a lifetime of my trust and admiration” and “Good for my respect for who you are.” A final coupon could simply read “Good for my love always. I love you, Dad.”
Another possibility would be to have stereotypically “tough guy” dads sitting through a course on how to get in touch with their emotions. Fathers sitting in a circle could answer an emotionally charged question with humorously superficial or macho responses—until one dad unexpectedly gives a serious answer and opens up his heart to the others. The mood could then shift as the dads begin sharing emotional issues with one another. Potential question topics could include “What do you love most about your family?” or “How do you think that God has blessed you in your life?”

As always, the purpose of any media used in church is not to be clever, to show off the skills of the filmmaker, or to allow a chance for personal artistic expression. It’s all about God. Even though we dads don’t always show it, we have hearts, souls, and minds that are waiting to be filled up with Jesus and his love, truth, and power. Maybe through our media, we can help point dads in the right direction. Maybe we can show them the place that they have in our hearts. Maybe the service elements will be another way for all of us to say, “Thanks, dads—we love you!”

Greg Wallace is Producer/Programming Director at Willow Creek Community Church—DuPage Campus, in West Chicago, Illinois.