Sharing the Gift of God with Others

Introduction

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this is not from yourselves, it is a gift of God not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Eph. 2:8-10).

Program Ideas

a. Invite a volunteer coordinator to share on the benefits of volunteering.
b. Invite the women to compile a list of acts of kindness. For suggestions check the Internet.
c. Ask them to be prepared to share next week about what they did and what happened.

Decorating Ideas

Use Christmas colors of red and white. Wrapped small gifts could be used as centerpieces and then given to the women at the end of the program.

Snacks

Healthy Options

Christmas tree charcuterie: On a wooden rectangle tray, lay out cubed cheese, red and green grapes, pepperoni, and salami in the shape of a Christmas tree (Garnish with rosemary twigs). Or a veggie tray wreath can be served with chilled-flavored sparkling water. You can find examples on Pinterest.

Simple Options: Christmas cookies, punch, and chips.

Group Volunteer/Contribution Ideas

• Kettles – Organize one or more groups to stand at a kettle location. It’s always more fun with friends. Depending on the size of your group, you could have a friendly competition to see who can raise the most money. The winners could be crowned “Kettle Queen” and awarded a silly homemade prize.
• As a group, adopt a family and have each woman contribute an item. Select a couple of angel requests and fill them as a group. Hold a mini–toy drive. Ask each woman to bring a gift to contribute to the toy effort. Even small items can be used as stocking stuffers.
• Camp Assistance: Have volunteers collect and wrap items that campers may have difficulty bringing to camp—hygiene products, suitcases, backpack.
• Corps Community Days Including Property Clean up. Have a day in which volunteers help clean up the inside and outside of the corps building.
• Pantry- Have the volunteers do a can food drive and ask them to sort and organize the food pantry.
• Create a volunteer registry through Sign Up Genius (https://www.signupgenius.com). This will allow you to know who, what, and when of the skills, desires, and availability of the volunteers in your area.
• Community Care Day for Nursing Homes or Senior Housing Units: Allow the volunteers to assist in the visits to the Nursing Homes during the Christmas and Easter Seasons.
• Create a food basket for shut-ins. Put together a group who enjoy visiting shut-ins. Package food bags that contain fresh produce for the elderly, which are always welcome.

What is Your Purpose?

Some people live their whole lives looking for their purpose and never find it. I think it is sad when the scripture tells us exactly what our purpose is. It should be clear to those of us who have been saved by grace, as stated in Ephesians 2:8, 9. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.” This gift of salvation that God gives us, is not just to assure us that we will be with Him in heaven. It makes us even more alive to do the things He wants us to do now.

In Ephesians 2:10 it tells us that we are created in Christ Jesus to do good works. That is our purpose. The next line is exciting because we don’t have to sit around and wonder what good works we are supposed to do. The Word tells us that God prepared these good works in advance for us to do, so it seems that all we need to so is to pay attention and seek His will.

The most beautiful thing about Christmas in The Salvation Army is there are so many ways we can be the hands and feet of Jesus by serving others. There are many ministries that give us the opportunity to step outside of ourselves and do things for others. The “Good Works” are there, planned. We just need to step into the plan God has for us. We get to help others in His Name. And the best part is, we don’t have to come up with it on our own. Keep an eye out for a place that He has prepared for you and step in and help.

In Matthew 22: 36-39 when Jesus was questioned by an expert in the law as to the greatest commandment, He replied. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Our purpose, and the greatest commandment are one and the same. We love God, and because of our love for Him, we love others and do good works in His Name. Then, Jesus says later on in Matthew 25:40 that whatever we do to others, we are doing it to Him.