Mission Service Activity of the Month

July 2021: Steady Shoulders

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness (Lamentations 3:22–23).

A perfect description of our God is that He is steadfast and everlasting. Steadfast is defined as unfaltering, unwavering, stable, and dependable. God is the unwavering constant in our lives. People who have experienced a trauma, such as a death of a child, struggle to be steadfast with the Lord.

There are some grieving parents who have lost themselves and the ability to “steady” themselves in the Lord as they grieve the loss of a child. An elderly woman’s daughter died in a car accident and, after 65 years, she was still unable to get over the loss of her daughter. Another woman miscarried and, five years later, still grieves the unborn baby she loved and lost. 

We encourage you to reach out to those who mourn the loss of a child by preparing comfort kits.  The comfort kit may give the grieving person a few small tools that will encourage and enable them to turn to our Lord and find peace and comfort in prayer and His Word. 

Ingathering suggestions:

Create comfort kits to share with families who have experienced the death of a child. These kits can include:

• decorated cards with comforting Bible passages
• a soothing lotion, bath salts, or candle for mom
• a journal and colored pencils
• a prayer shawl that has been blessed by the pastor
• a small wall cross, framed biblical verse, or a biblical picture of Jesus
• a donation in the child’s memory to an organization of the parents’ choice

Gospel Focus

Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ (Galatians 6:2).

Devotion as You Plan:

Choose from one or more of these devotions from the LWML resources available online: 

• Bearing One Another’s Burdens
• Back to School in the Word!
• A Circle of Light
• Compassionate Caring
• Summertime
• Bible study: The Loss of a Child

Prayer as You Plan and Prepare

Dear Lord, we thank You for the steadfast love You provide us. When we falter and stumble, help us to remember we are saved because of the sacrifice of Your only Son. We look forward to Your heavenly kingdom that awaits, and know that those who have gone before us are embraced in Your arms. Guide us to help those who are in need and to remind them of Your steadfast love. In Your name, we pray. Amen. 

The Gospel Outreach Committee would love to hear about, and share, your mission service activities! Please contact the Vice President of Gospel Outreach here. Thank you!

View past Mission Service Activities

Mission Service Activity of the Month

Why, God?

It is difficult living in a sin-filled world. Conditions like dementia can be especially challenging. A friend shared how troubling it was to visit his mother, who suffered with Alzheimer’s, as she no longer knew who he was. He said she would ask the nurse, “Who is that nice man who visits me?” She didn’t know his name or their relationship, but she did know that he cared about her. Showing compassion for this special group of people is a precious type of service. 

Contact local assisted living centers, memory care facilities, adult day care centers, or other places where people are dealing with memory loss. Ask about helping with activities or collecting needed items. Let them guide your activity planning to fit the needs of their patients.

Ingathering ideas:

• Fidget blankets (search online for “Fidget blankets for dementia patients” or “Fidget blankets for dementia patients pattern”)
• Stuffed animals or baby dolls
• Other suggested items of need given to you by the agency you contacted

Assemble a healthy snack box or basket to deliver to the agency staff members when you deliver the patients’ items. Possible items to include:

• Pre-packaged sweet or salty snacks
• Fresh or dried fruit
• Gum
• Flavor packets for bottled water
• A note of encouragement and thanks

Gospel Focus

[Joseph said,] “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good” (Genesis 50:20a).

Devotion as You Plan and Prepare:

Choose one of these devotions from the LWML program helps available online: “Compassion in Our Daily Life,” “My Light with a Purpose,” or “Something is Missing” from LWML devotion archives. They are listed alphabetically by title.

Prayer as You Plan and Prepare

Heavenly Father, we don’t always understand why bad things happen. It hurts when someone dear to us gets sick, and a sickness like dementia is really difficult. Don’t let the devil cause us to doubt Your love for us. Give us strength to trust Your promise to never leave or forsake Your people. Give us patience to find one more smile or one more gentle touch when we need to repeat something one more time. Give us wisdom to understand no harm is meant even when someone is acting out. Give us insight to realize we need to take care of ourselves, too. Help us to see with Your eyes, feel with Your love, and act with Your compassion. We pray in the name of the one true God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Download the printable PDF of this Mission Service Activity

Why, God? Mission Service to Those with Memory Loss

The Gospel Outreach Committee would love to hear about, and share, your mission service activities! Please contact the Vice President of Gospel Outreach here. Thank you!

View past Mission Service Activities

Mission Service Activity of the Month

May 2021: Raising Christian Children

Including children in mission service activities is important. Serving others is a blessing! Seeing happiness result from our efforts is affirming and uplifting. During this month, take advantage of ways to include children in outreach efforts. 

Activity ideas:

Invite children in your congregation to make May baskets. These can be delivered to homebound congregation members, neighbors, family members, police officers, firefighters, health care workers, or anyone you think of who might need a smile.

Possible items to include:

• Card saying “God bless you!” or “Jesus loves you!”
• Card or bookmark from LWML downloadable resources
• Small plant for indoor or outdoor use
• Artificial flowers — purchased or handmade
• Packaged sweet or salty snack items

Assemble items in small box, basket, or bag. Delivery on May 1 is traditional, but happy surprises are a treat on any day!

Another thing that can be done is to make a happy phone call or online visit. Have children prepare for the conversation by making, drawing, or finding something they can share in conversation. When making a phone call, if the technology is available to both parties, encourage the children to take a picture of the item and send it via text or email.

Possible items to discuss:

• Explain the chosen item or drawing
• Share things for which they are thankful
• Ask what the call recipient is thankful for
• Ask how the call recipient can be supported in prayer
• Remind the call recipient that they are loved by our Lord
• Sing a song together like “Jesus Loves Me”

Gospel Focus

Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it (Proverbs 22:6).

Devotion as you Plan and Prepare:

Foot Washers from www.lwml.org

Prayer as you Plan and Prepare

Loving God, You have demonstrated the need to show love through caring for others. Bless these gifts, those who prepare them, those who distribute them, and those who receive them. May Your love be evident through their use. Help us always remember how Christ served us by paying for our sins through His death and resurrection. We pray in the name of the Triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

The Gospel Outreach Committee would love to hear about, and share, your mission service activities! Please contact the Vice President of Gospel Outreach here. Thank you!

View past Mission Service Activities

Mission Service Activity of the Month

From Good to Better to Best

Christ has taken us from “damned” to “saved.” It doesn’t get any better than that! The Holy Week\Easter story can seem fragmented when it is spread out over several weeks. The Easter joy doesn’t always carry over after Easter Sunday. Plan a Victory Party to be held two or three weeks after Easter. Gather together in person, virtually, or celebrate in your homes at a common time.

There are some wonderful free resources available through LWML that can serve to set the stage ahead of the Victory Party or remind us of Christ’s Victory if used after the Victory Party. Check them out here.

Possible Victory Party plan:

• Begin with the prayer listed below.
• Sing a favorite Easter hymn or “Jesus Loves Me.”
• Read Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, and/or John 20:1–23.
• Make a list of blessings we receive because of Jesus’ death and resurrection.
• Shout: “Hallelujah! Christ is Risen!”
• Closing prayer: But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:57).
• Serve refreshments.

Gospel Focus

But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:57).

Devotion as you Plan and Prepare:

Redeemer from www.lwml.org devotion archives 

Prayer as you Plan and Prepare

Heavenly Father, You created us and You continue to care for us. We praise You! Christ Jesus, You have redeemed us lost and condemned creatures. Thank You! Holy Spirit, You give us faith and its blessings. We adore You! Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — the one True God — we glorify You! Amen.

Download the printable PDF of this Mission Service Activity

From Good to Better to Best
 

The Gospel Outreach Committee would love to hear about, and share, your mission service activities! Please contact the Vice President of Gospel Outreach here. Thank you!

View past Mission Service Activities

Mission Service Activity of the Month

Serving One Another

There are those in our communities who need our service, help, and prayers. During this month, take advantage of ways to reach out to them with loving care through blessing kits. Items for kits can be donated and kits assembled at a safe gathering, or completed kits can be donated. 

Contact your local law enforcement, fire department, social service agency, or homeless shelter. Ask for items they need for immediate use. See what restrictions they might have on contents for such kits. Depending on your community’s needs, and your opportunities to reach out, it might also be appropriate to keep a few kits in your car.

Blessing kit content ideas:

• Athletic crew socks
• Small hand sanitizer
• Small tissue pack
• Bottle of water
• Gum
• Packaged snack items like cheese and crackers or granola bar
• Other items of need suggested by the agency you contacted

Assemble items in large plastic zipper bags:

• Mark as male or female, if appropriate
• Include a Mustard Seed Devotion or Bible verse if possible
• Include a note of care and encouragement

Gospel Focus

Through love serve one another (Galatians 5:13b).

Devotion as You Plan and Prepare

Foot Washers or Jesus’ Servants

Prayer as You Plan and Prepare

Loving God, You have demonstrated the need to show love through caring for others. Bless these kits, those who prepare them, those who distribute them, and those who receive them. May Your love be evident through their use. Help us always remember how Christ served us by paying for our sins through His death. We pray in the name of the Triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Download the printable PDF of this Mission Service Activity

Serving One Another (blessing kits)

The Gospel Outreach Committee would love to hear about, and share, your mission service activities! Please contact the Vice President of Gospel Outreach here. Thank you!

View past Mission Service Activities

Mission Service Activity of the Month

February 2021: Prison Ministry

Why is prison ministry important? Lives that had no hope can have hope. The main purpose of Prison Ministry is to share the Gospel of Jesus with others. The Holy Spirit, through prayer, will prepare and guide you to deliver God's Word to all inmates unconditionally. 

One way to do this is by marking Bibles for Prison Ministry. You can find the instructions here. 

Additional resources may be found archived in the March 2019 Mission Service Activity. 

The Gospel Outreach Committee would love to hear about, and share, your mission service activities! Please contact the Vice President of Gospel Outreach here. Thank you!

View past Mission Service Activities

Mission Service Activity of the Month

January 2021: Serving the Least of These

January can be a hard winter month for all of us, but if you are a child in crisis, the darkness and the cold can be especially frightening. Plan an ingathering of items to bring comfort to children in your community who are in crisis.  

Contact the local law enforcement, fire department, or children’s social service agency and ask for a list of items to collect that could comfort the children they encounter during these cold winter months. Ask, “Are there any items you cannot accept? Are there age restrictions?”  

Ingathering ideas:

• Small fleece blankets (these can be tied blankets, no sewing necessary)
• Small stuffed animals
• Child-sized stocking caps or winter hats
• Child-sized gloves or mittens
• Flashlight and batteries
• Other items suggested by the agency you contacted

Assemble a healthy snack box or basket to deliver to the agency staff members when you deliver the children’s items. Possible items to include:

• Pre-packaged sweet or salty snacks
• Fresh or dried fruit
• Gum
• Flavor packets for bottled water
• A note of encouragement and thanks

Gospel Focus

And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me' (Matthew 25:40).

Devotion as You Plan and Prepare:

“You Look Like Your Father” 

Prayer as You Plan and Prepare

Heavenly Father, You have called us to take care of the “least of these”, which includes children who are in need. We know there are many hurting children in our community and we place them in Your loving hands. Please guide and direct our efforts as we gather items to provide comfort. We also lift up those who serve these children. Be with them, providing the strength they need to support these little ones. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

The Gospel Outreach Committee would love to hear about, and share, your mission service activities! Please contact the Vice President of Gospel Outreach here. Thank you!

View past Mission Service Activities