New Mission Servant Activities

Mission Service Activity of the Month

Fall 2024: Pack the Pantry

Thanksgiving is portrayed as a time of bounty. Pictures of tables packed with luscious food are seen in grocery ads, on magazine covers, and on television. For some, those images are reminders of what they do not have. When circumstances place people in need of basic food supplies, it can be difficult to feel thankful. Consider hosting a food drive in your congregation. Contact your local food pantry and ask what is needed. Also ask what hours they are open for pick-up. Advertise those needs in your congregation. Collect items and deliver them so community members can have a full table for Thanksgiving.

Alternate idea: Locate families in your community that are in need. Collect the items for a Thanksgiving dinner, including a frozen turkey. Arrange a time to deliver the items. Include a note of encouragement and sign it from your LWML group or church congregation.

Possible food pantry donations:

• Traditional Thanksgiving food items like stuffing and sweet potatoes

• Canned chicken or ham
• Simple dessert ingredients like angel food cake, fruit pie filling, and whipped cream
• Ethnic foods common in your area
• Juice
• Paper products
• Foods with pop-top lids
• Powdered milk or cocoa mix
• Disposable baking pans or serving dishes
• Can openers
• Hearty soups or chili

Remember not everyone receiving these items has an oven, microwave, or even a can opener. They may not have anything to use as serving dishes. Talk to those working at the food pantry about what is really needed.

Gospel Focus

And he answered them, “Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise” (Luke 3:11).

Devotion as you plan and prepare

“Sharing the Bread of Life” from LWML archived devotions.

“5 Images of the Giving Christian” from LWML archived devotions.

“God’s Plan for One Ordinary Woman” from LWML archived devotions.

Prayer as you plan and prepare

Heavenly Father, give us thankful hearts. Give us eyes to see the needs in our community. Help us gather items that will bless those in need. Let our works reflect Your love. Use our efforts to bring others to You. Help us make our churches welcoming places to those in need. Thank You for the daily bread with which you bless us. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Download the printable PDF of this Mission Service Activity

Pack the Pantry

Sharing Jesus’ Love in Action — October is Pastor Appreciation Month!

[Qualifications for Overseers and Deacons] Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task. Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap (I Timothy 3:1–7).

Can you think of any other job where an employee must be on call 24x7x365, carry the emotional burdens of dozens of people, be held to a higher standard of behavior just because of the position, and still find time for a personal and family life? It’s no wonder we hear some depressing statistics around pastor burnout. Take a few moments to think about your pastor (or pastors) or other church workers you know. Do you think there might be something you and your LWML sisters might be able to do to lighten their loads and lift them up? The month of October is designated as Pastor Appreciation Month so now is the time to organize some activities to do just that!

Pastors and Church Workers are God’s Gifts to Us:

So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ (Ephesians 4:11–13).

Let’s remember that pastors and teachers are given to us to help us learn God’s Word and to carry out God’s will on Earth. Where would we be without them!? Who would we ask when we have tough questions? Who would we turn to when faced with illness or grief? Who joins with us in the celebrations of baptism and marriage? Why, of course, our pastors!

Ways to Show Support:

Here are just a few ways you can support the pastors and church workers in your congregation:

• Take some time to talk with your pastor one-on-one to tell him how much you appreciate him and ask what you and your LWML sisters can do to support him.
• Review the LWML Toolkit for Pastor Support. This resource has several ideas for encouraging and uplifting your pastor.
• Refer your pastor and other church workers to the LWML Church Workers in Mission page on the LWML web site.
• Suggest that your congregational leaders review the tasks your pastor performs with the goal of identifying those tasks that could be performed by lay workers. In other words, if your pastor is regularly doing things that don’t require a seminary degree — maybe someone else should be doing them!

A Prayer as You Plan:

Dear Father in heaven, please bring to our minds all those who serve us as pastors and teachers. Help us be mindful of their needs and to show support for them. Father, help us also remember that we are partners in ministry with them and that we too are charged with bringing Your Word to the lost and erring. Thank You God for placing these men and women in our lives. In Jesus’ precious name we pray. Amen.

Download the printable PDF of this Mission Service Activity

October is Pastor Appreciation Month

Collecting Arch Books for Church or School Libraries 

Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, directs His people many times in Scripture to care for each other. He reminds us in Proverbs 22:6 to care for and train children. Training a child in God’s Word is no easy task. Arch Books, available at Concordia Publishing House (CPH), St. Louis, are a good way to share Bible stories in a simplified way. As these stories are read to children, they can grow in knowledge, seek clarification and guidance, and ask questions. If you are blessed to read these stories to children, you can ask questions. These Bible stories can create a foundation for future years of reading and learning from the Bible.

Preparations for the Activity:

• Contact Lutheran churches and schools in your area to find out if they would be interested in receiving Arch Books for their libraries or classrooms.
• Contact your church elders for permission to take a door offering to purchase Arch Books.
• If a member, apply for a Thrivent Action Team grant ($250) to further fund this project. 
• If approved, set up a display of Arch Books at church/school so people can learn about Arch Books.
• Check the Concordia Publishing House (CPH) website to order Arch Books.
• Deliver Arch Books to church/school libraries.
• As an extension of this activity, set up a time at school when you could read an Arch Book to a class.

Extra credit: Take pictures of this service activity and submit them to share on your district website or in your district newsletter. Get permission to take and share pictures.

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:

As you plan this service activity, you may want to share this devotion, The Parenting Profession.

Prayer as You Plan and Prepare:

Heavenly Father, thank You for giving us Your Holy Word. You have given us the command to train up a child in the way he should go. Please help us to teach Your words to our children. As they grow, may it strengthen and nurture them. Let us all daily rely on Scripture for guidance and instruction. In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Fill Backpacks with School Supplies

Although it seems like summer has just begun, it’s back-to-school season already. Teachers are getting their classrooms ready, and schools are sending out supply lists. Over the last few years, school preparation has been difficult for parents, students, and teachers. Many parents struggle to fully supply their children’s back-to-school lists. Help ease the transition back to school by gathering school supplies for local children in need and placing the supplies in a backpack.

Prepare for This Activity:

• Contact a local school to ask if you can donate school supply backpacks.
• Get a list of most needed school supplies.
• Fill a backpack from the list provided from the school. List might include notebooks, paper, pencils, crayons, glue sticks, scissors, dry-erase markers, folders, etc.
• If the school gives you permission, include a colorful child-centered encouragement card.

Gospel Focus: THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law (Galatians 5:22–23).

Devotion as You Plan

Read Back to School in the Word!

Then learn “The Fruit of the Spirit” song. You really can go back to school in the Word by sharing this song. Maybe start a new tradition and share this with your Sunday school class or other children in your life.

Prayer as You Plan and Prepare

Dear Lord, bless our teachers and schools as they prepare to begin another new school year. While we can provide supplies, you supply the grace that allows teachers to love and teach the students in their classrooms. May the children be blessed with the fruit of the spirit that you provide. In Your name, we pray. Amen.

Download the printable PDF of this Mission Service Activity

Fill Backpacks with School Supplies

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

Fruit Baskets for Seniors

Being connected to Jesus, the Vine, is a wonderful comfort. You have an opportunity to share that comfort with those who might feel left out or alone. Bringing a small basket of fruit to a homebound individual or a person in a nursing home will help them to remember they are a precious part of the vine and belong to Jesus. Take a moment to sit with them, read a devotion, and share time in prayer. It can be a wonderful time of fellowship, connected to the True Vine, Jesus.

Ask the church secretary or pastor for a list of congregational members who are homebound or in a nursing home. Call the individual or nursing home to arrange a time to visit. There may be restrictions; please be sensitive to regulations or requirements. If you cannot spend time with the individual, make sure you insert a personal note with a message of encouragement, letting them know you are praying for them.

For each gift basket, you will need the following:

• small basket or container
• assortment of fruit
• plastic wrap
• Mustard Seed devotion (see below)
• beautiful bow or decoration

If you are doing this activity in your LWML group, take photos of the activity in progress. Seek permission from the individual to see if they are willing to have their photo taken with their basket. Submit the photos to share on your district website or in your district newsletter.

Gospel Focus

I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing (John 15:5).

Devotion as You Plan

Use the Mustard Seed devotion, “Living in the Spirit … Help me be Fruitful”.  This devotion may be used both in the preparation of the activity and included in the gift basket.

Prayer as You Plan and Prepare

Heavenly Father, Creator of all, thank you for sending Your Son, Jesus, to be our True Vine. Help us to serve You by serving others, letting them know they belong to You and sharing in the joy of being attached to Jesus. Let these gifts nurture their bodies as Your Word strengthens their souls. Keep us all attached to Jesus, for without Him we are nothing. In His most holy name we pray. Amen.

Download the printable PDF of this Mission Service Activity

https://lwml-ned.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/FruitBasketsForSeniors-MissionServiceActivity-FINAL_2024-05.pdf

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

FromGoodToBetterToBest_Mission-Service-Activity-FINAL_2024-04-01

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)

My Cup Overflows

Let’s support and encourage shut-ins or those who feel alone this month. Let them know that they are loved by God, by their church family, and are being lifted in prayer.

Project idea:
Construct a mug rug and put together a gift bag that includes a coffee cup, mug rug, tea bag, hot chocolate packet, or individual coffee packet, with sugar or honey, and a copy of Psalm 23.

Before the servant event meeting:

• Collect names of shut-ins that you would like to bless, so you know how many items you will need.
• Collect cotton material, batting, sewing pins, and scissors. Mug rug instructions are readily available online. Ask a member or two to bring their sewing machines.
• Ask for donations of gift bags, coffee cups, tea bags, hot chocolate packets, individual coffee packets, and sugar or honey. You might want to include a cookie or other treat.
• Print out of a copy of Psalm 23 or a card to include in a gift bag for all the items.  Someone will need to bring a sewing machine to sew the mug rugs together.

During the servant event, some can cut and pin together the materials for the mug rugs and others can sew the mug rugs. While others assemble the items into a gift bag. Take time to write personal notes on the back of the Psalm 23 printouts, highlight verse five. What a blessing it will be for shut-ins when you deliver the cups and mug rugs to remind them of their Savior’s love.

Take pictures of this service activity and submit them to share on your district website or in your district newsletter!

Gospel Focus

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows (Psalm 23:5).

Devotion as You Plan

As you plan this service activity, share this devotion: We Are Full!

Prayer as You Plan and Prepare

Lord God, You are our holy, almighty, loving Father. We know that, on our own, we are unholy. We are empty. Sometimes we hurt others. We are sorry, Lord. Thank You for not leaving us empty. Thank You for sending Jesus as the fulfillment in our place. Thank You for forgiveness; for Your means of grace through which You give us forgiveness of sins and eternal life. Thank You for loving us beyond our emptiness. Thank You for filling our lives with Your love, hope, joy, and peace. Please be with all those who feel empty. Help us to show them Your love. Help us, who are now made holy in Your sight through the death and resurrection of Your holy, most precious Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, to continue to serve You with gladness. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Download the printable PDF of this Mission Service Activity

My Cup Overflows

NEW MONTHLY LWML MISSION SERVICE ACTIVITIES CAN BE FOUND ON THE NATIONAL LWML WEBSITE PLEASE CLICK ON THIS LINK:Mission Service Activities – Lutheran Women’s Missionary League (lwml.org)