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Ideas for Service Projects
Parish life should be more
than committee meetings and church dinners! Listed below are some ideas
that can be implemented in parishes of all sizes to bring the healing love of
Christ to a broken world. What's even better is to involve the parish
youth in opportunities to learn the blessing of serving Christ by
serving others.
Praying for the
Church around the World
We often become so wrapped up in our own lives, even our collective life
as a parish, that we forget to take time to focus on the very real need
to spread the Gospel to the uttermost parts of the earth. You may not be
able to serve in lands across the sea, but your prayers can support
those who do. Here are some ideas to help you focus your prayers:
Time for Tea
Time for Tea ministry provides an
opportunity to serve ladies who are physically or emotionally frail for
whatever reason (age, illness, grief, loneliness). Those who are called
to this ministry will gather all the necessities for a tea party (china
cups/saucers, linen napkins, tea, simple food items, and a basket or
other container for carrying it all). Then when a need is identified,
the Time for Tea participant will set an appointment to visit the lady
to be served, bring in the tea party furnishings, and serve high tea
along with the grace offered by a loving spirit and a listening ear. The
visit should be one-on-one, should remain brief (about an hour) and
should be focused on the joy of fellowship in Christ. Above all, the
lady who is celebrated with a tea party should begin to recognize that
she is a cherished member of the Body of Christ.
Food Pantry
Even if your parish does not have a permanent building, you can find a
way to provide for those who are unable to feed their families. Such
needs have increased with the downturn in the economy, and they are even
more pronounced during the holiday season. Assess your parish's
situation and either provide a food pantry or partner with another
church or ministry that is doing so. The ideal program would connect
with the individual and address more than just the immediate need of
food on the table—job leads, life skills training, mentoring, etc.
Baskets for ICU Waiting
Rooms
Check with a local hospital to find out their policy on providing
baskets of goodies for the families of critical ill patients. These
baskets can include pre-packaged snacks, fruit, bottled water,
travel-sized toiletries (e.g., hand sanitizer, wipes, lotion, tissues),
devotional booklets, prayer cards, and Bibles. Anyone who has ever spent
several days in a waiting room knows that a few creature comforts are
greatly appreciated during such a crisis.
Prayer Shawl
Ministry
Changes in our lives, even good changes, are occasions for
prayer. A prayer shawl, either knit or crocheted, can be a tangible way
for a women's group to say "We're praying for you" at the birth of a
child, during an illness, at the death of a loved one, or to a friend
who is moving away.
Caregiver's Night Out
Offering crafts, movies, games, tutoring, or other ways to occupy time
in a positive way allows overworked caregivers to have a short break
from their duties and allows your parish to "bear one another's
burdens."
Kairos Prison
Ministry
Check this
Kairos page to learn how you can assist with in
your local Kairos prison ministry.
Retirement
Home Visits
Many people think of visiting shut-ins only at Christmas, but their spiritual
needs last the whole year. Many facilities will allow churches to
sponsor regular worship services or hymn singing. Sometimes what is
needed most is one-to-one fellowship, with opportunities to read
Scriptures or write letters for the visually impaired.
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