A Valentine Party–Online!

Sat 02,2021 | By admin

Brian saw our ideas for an online Christmas Party, but he didn’t have time to pull it together, so he and a couple of friends decided to host an online New Year’s Party instead. “Goodbye 2020/Hello 2021!” was so successful, they are now planning an online Valentine’s Party called “This Crazy Little Thing Called Love!”

Read on for ideas to plan your own online Valentine party. (Brian’s ideas are included!) As the impact of the pandemic trails on, your party may be a bright spot for your neighbors, coworkers, family, or friends. Everyone who comes is likely to be greatly encouraged by this time of connection and appreciation!

Tweak these ideas to fit the group of folks that you are inviting.

Sample Emailed Invitation

What?
Let’s have an online Valentine party! We’ll have fun getting to know more about each other, play some creative games on Zoom, and have a meaningful discussion about love!

When?
Sunday, February 14, 7-8:30 p.m. [or pick a day and time that works for you before Feb. 14]

Who?
Everyone in our group [or on our street, in our office, etc.]

Details [Be sure to include any instructions for activities that need advance preparation.]

Dress with a Valentine theme (hats, scarves, be creative)! We’ll take a screenshot and send it to you!
Decorate with a Valentine background. (Go as simple or as elaborate as you want!)
Make or purchase a fun Valentine dessert and enjoy it while we’re together.

RSVP by [a day or two before your party] to this email or to my cell: [555-555-5555], and I’ll send you the Zoom link and more information!

Options to include

Valentine Icebreaker Questions. Ask one of the following questions or read a few that could work well for your group and let everyone choose which one to answer:

What is your favorite Valentine’s dessert (or meal or flower or restaurant)?
What are you passionate about?
What is something that few people know about you?
What do you consider to be one of the best characteristics of a loving relationship and why?

A Short Game. Brian came up with this game: Search on line for famous events that happened on Valentine’s Day. Display a picture of the events on the screen, one by one, and give four different years to choose from for each event. Everyone can write down the year that they think matches with the event. Whoever correctly picks the most years wins a gift card. (Brian made it a $20 gift card to Dairy Queen. $10 to Starbucks works, too!) Check out this link for 15 more Valentine game ideas!

A Short Discussion. Screenshare and read the following verses, mentioning that they are what the Bible says about love. Invite everyone to share their general reaction to this passage or go deeper by asking questions like those below. Of course, don’t become the answer person or teacher or be confrontational. Simply allow people to discuss and respond to the Bible verses, respecting each person’s viewpoint.

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proudor rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. . . . Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.

I Corinthians 13:4-7, 13

Do you agree or disagree with this definition of love? Why?
Which of these characteristics of love do you think is most important and why?
Which one of these characteristics of love is easiest for you to practice with the people you connect with? Which one is most difficult?
Why do you think the Bible says love is greater than even hope and faith?

A Meaningful Wrap-Up

Plan ahead by thinking of something that you appreciate about each person who is planning to come to the party, and write it down. To make this more fun and memorable, find an object that reminds you of the characteristic or quality you thought of for each person.

Leave plenty of time before the end of the party to share these thoughts (and objects). Depending on how many are at the party, plan to take one or two minutes for each person there. Leave a little time buffer in case others want to follow up with their own comments. Then end on time, thanking everyone for coming and letting them know how glad you were to spend the time together!

Fran Goodrich
Q Place Blog Editor

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