Balloon Launch
Fill biodegradable balloons with helium and attach information about your church and release them during a special ceremony. This is also an excellent way to celebrate Easter.
BEST SUITED FOR: Any Size Congregation
WHAT'S INVOLVED?
 | Purchase colorful balloons and arrange a helium tank to fill them. |
| Attach a small sheet of paper with information about your church (name, address, meeting times, etc.) |
| Plan a mini-service to accompany the release of the balloons . . . or include it as part of a larger celebration of the church. |
| Consider attaching a stamped postcard for persons finding the balloon to mail back to you. You might invite each person releasing a balloon to address the postcard back to him/herself, then ask persons receiving the postcards to bring them back to the church for a bulletin board display. |
DO'S AND DON'TS
| DO......use biodegradable balloons so as not to create long-term litter or chance injuring animals that otherwise might try to eat the balloon. |
| DO......involve children in this activity—they especially enjoy the excitement involved and will be impacted by a returned postcard. |
| DO......create a bulletin board to collect the returned postcards. You might even include a map to pinpoint how far away the balloons traveled. |
| DO......consider this for activity for special holidays (celebration of the Resurrection on Easter, for example), vacation Bible school, children's after-school programs, etc. |
| DO......have at least one balloon for every participant. Even adults enjoy the experience! |
| DO......check with the state department of natural resources or local authorities to be sure there are no prohibitions against this activity. |
| DON'T......fill the balloons outside or in a room with high ceilings. You need to be able to retrieve the filled balloons. |
RESOURCES NEEDED
| See the special planning guide at http://justthinkingpages.tripod.com/easter_balloon_notes.html |
| Biodegradable balloons - check the Yellow Pages for "balloons" or for local party supply stores. |
| One or more tanks of helium - your supplier should be able to tell you how many balloons one tank will fill. |
| String to attach information or postcards. |
COST
| Generally less than $100 and depending on how many balloons you use. |
This idea adapted from "A Thousand Easter Balloons" developed by Bill Hunter of Faith Christian Church, Maple Lake, Minnesota, and reported on the "Justing Thinking . . ." web site (http://justthinkingpages.tripod.com).
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