MAINE—After Sabbath services on December 31, 2022, 21 Philadelphia Church of God members from the Brunswick congregation played games and warmed themselves around a bonfire.

The entire congregation joined in for Pictionary, spreading out to three teams. The teams “duked it out” toward the end for nail-biting finish. Deacon Gerry Frederick started the bonfire in his firepit, and young and old talked and laughed over drinks and smores. Rainfall forced everyone back inside for more games, including “Yahtzee,” “Candy Land” and “Codenames.”

Frederick said his favorite part of the activity was “seeing all the brethren laughing together and spending time together as family.” He said this kind of activity is a “bonding experience that builds the family.”