Mission Service Activity of the Month

March 2023: Thank you First Responder Kits

During emergencies or accidents, our local police, fire, and rescue teams are the first ones to respond. Many of these workers are volunteers. They bless our communities every day. We can show our love and care by lifting them up in our prayers and gifting them with Thank You Kits. Call your local precinct or firehouse and connect with their chaplain to ask about the specific needs of their officers, firefighters, or paramedics. Include your congregation in gathering items for donation. Have the children in the congregation color thank you pages to include with your kits. 

First Responder Kit

1. Drawstring bag to contain items
2. Hand sanitizer
3. Pocket tissues
4. Band-Aids
5. Beef jerky / Slim Jim
6. Energy bars/granola bars
7. Trail mix packets
8. Powdered electrolyte replacement drink mix
9. Chewing gum/hard candy/mints
10. Cough drops
11. A gift card to a local coffee shop
12. Lip balm
13. Bottled water
14. Small spiral memo pad and pen
15. Mustard Seeds Simple Trust or Living in Faith from Concordia Publishing House
16. Note of thanks with an indication that you are praying for them

Gospel Focus

Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you (Deuteronomy 31:6).

Devotion as you plan

Share this LWML devotion Caring for the Caregiver. 

Prayer as you Plan

Dear Heavenly Father, each first responders’ workday requires them to be prepared and ready for whatever may come. Give them the ability to stand strong. Fill them with courage. Help them be aware of Your presence and see You in every challenging situation. In Jesus name, we pray, Amen. 

Download the printable PDF of this Mission Service Activity

Thank you First Responder 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 2023: Sew eyeglass cases to support MOST Ministries eyeglass ministry.

Make MOST Ministries eye glass cases. Plan a sewing day or days to make eyeglass cases.
(Note: MOST Ministries does not collect hard cases.) 

To make eyeglass cases you will need:

• Fabric (i.e., felt - soft yet sturdy, upholstery, or denim)
• Thread to match your fabric
• Sewing Machine

Instructions (Option 1):                                                

• Cut fabric piece 7 1/2” square
• Hem one top edge (1/2” edge)
• Fold in half
• Sew side and bottom seam (1/2” seams)
• Turn inside out unless felt is used or you zigzag or serge the side seam

Instructions (Option 2):

• Cut fabric pieces 14 ½ x 4 ½ “
• Hem top edges
• Fold in half
• Sew both long side seams (1/2” seams)
• Turn inside out unless felt is used or you zigzag or serge the side seams

MOST Ministries is one of the Gifts from the Heart (GFTH) recipients for the LWML Convention in Milwaukee in June. Bring eyeglasses and eyeglass cases to Milwaukee. 

Gospel Focus: THEY SHALL SEE GOD

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” (Matthew 5:8).

Devotion as You Plan

Before your group starts making the eyeglass cases for Most Ministries, open the meeting with the “I Love to Tell the Story” entitled Love Like That. Or you can listen to the podcast from here.

Prayer as You Plan and Prepare

Heavenly Father, please bless all the hands that will be creating eyeglass cases for MOST Ministries. We pray for all the people in need of glasses where MOST Ministries serves. We pray that each one may have the opportunity to learn your Gospel message and see You as their savior. We pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Download the printable PDF of this Mission Service Activity

Sew eyeglass cases to support MOST Ministries eyeglass ministry.
 

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 2023: 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

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

December 2022: Make Advent Twinkling Lights Wreath

Many times during the Advent and Christmas seasons, we hear about the “great joy” of the angels and shepherds and how a very bright star led the wise men to Jesus.  Jesus is our great joy and everlasting light, not only at Christmas time but every day. The December activity is to wrap a wreath with a string of twinkling lights to remind us of the great joy and light that Jesus brings into our dark world. Make two wreaths, one to share and one to keep. As you share the wreath with another, plan to read Advent devotions together with the new twinkling lights wreath shining. Perhaps you could suggest using the wreath year-round at devotion time as a reminder that Christ is the light of the world. 

What you need to prepare:

• A purchased grapevine, rattan, or artificial greenery wreath from a craft store.
• A purchased set of small (15-25) mini white (clear) LED plug-in or battery-powered lights.
• Optional: add embellishments (small red berries, ribbon, etc.).

Extra credit: Take pictures of this service activity and submit them to share on your district website, in your district newsletter, or submit an article to the Lutheran Woman’s Quarterly.

Gospel Focus 

When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy (Matthew 2:10).

Devotion as You Plan

As you plan this service activity, share The Joy of Christmas: Life Light devotion.

Prayer as You Plan and Prepare 

Dear Almighty God, we give You all thanks and praise for Your greatest gift in the birth of Your Son. His birth was announced by the angels with exceeding joy. A bright star led the magi to the Christ Child so they could worship and present their gifts to Him. Christ is the light of the world and our everlasting joy. May we always proclaim His light to others with great joy in our hearts. In Jesus’ most holy name. Amen.

Download the printable PDF of this Mission Service Activity

Make Advent Twinkling Lights Wreath

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

November 2022:  Host an Armed Forces Sunday

Veterans Day is November 11th. We thank all those who serve in the military for their service. Chaplains provide a unique and vital military service that supports the troop’s spiritual health. This Veterans Day we thank all our service members and the Chaplains that guide them. 

We can support our Chaplain service members by hosting an Armed Forces Sunday. Resources can be found or requested at lcms.org/ministry-to-the-armed-forces. You may know a Chaplain and can pray for him, send him a thank you card, or invite him to worship with you. Or your congregation can Adopt-a-Chap through LCMS Ministry to the Armed Forces which pairs your congregation directly with a chaplain. 

Gospel Focus 

Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever! (1 Chronicles 16:34).

Devotion as You Plan 

The devotion Showing Our Pastors and Church Workers Love and Respect can be used while your group is preparing for the event.  After reading this devotion, please take a minute to think of the position of Chaplain instead of Pastor. Insert the word Chaplain for Pastor. Imagine their duties and service overseas, many times away from their families. Imagine what a Chaplain might see or do before holding services on Sunday. 

Prayer as You Plan and Prepare 

Dear Lord, hold our troops and the Chaplains that support them in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. Please place a hedge of protection around each and every one. In your name, we pray, Amen.

Download the printable PDF of this Mission Service Activity

Host an Armed Forces Sunday

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

October 2022:  Make a Pumpkin Floral Centerpiece for a Shut-In

Seasonal decorations often bring joy and delight to people that are shut-in. The October Pumpkin Floral Centerpiece activity can be easily made and may brighten the day of both the maker and the recipient. Prior to visiting the recipient of your gift, you may want to print off the devotion below and some LWML Fall Notecards to share with them.

For each Pumpkin Centerpiece, you will need:

• 1 foam, carvable pumpkin (Often small ones can be purchased at dollar stores.)
• A foam carving knife
• Fall flowers and foliage
• 1 small floral foam block
• Scissors and glue

Centerpiece Directions: 

Cut off the center top of the foam pumpkin.
Glue the small floral foam block inside the cut out section of the pumpkin. 
Trim the flowers and foliage to the size that will flow out from the pumpkin. 
Stick the flowers into the foam, arranging the flowers and leaves in a lovely display.
The centerpiece is now ready to gift.

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

Gospel Focus

Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few (Matthew 9:37).

Devotion as You Plan:

As you plan this service activity, share the devotion, “Pray for a Bountiful Harvest”. This devotion is also available as a podcast, click here.

Prayer as You Plan and Prepare: 

Dear Heavenly Father, all praise and thanks are Yours for the fall harvest. You provide us with both the wonderfully nourishing, harvest in our gardens and fields, as well as the life-saving harvest in our mission fields. May our words and actions always be pleasing to You, always pointing others to Christ. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen. 

Download the printable PDF of this Mission Service Activity

Make a Pumpkin Floral Centerpiece for a Shut-In

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

September 2022: Prayer Throws for Warmth and Comfort

As many experience the challenges of cancer, a fleece prayer throw can provide warmth during transportation to and from treatment, comfort during treatment, and support knowing that, with each knot, a prayer is lifted for them. 

This is a project that can be put together during a group meeting and gifted to members of the church or cancer care facilities in your area.  You will need 

• 2 pieces of fleece, about 1 to 1-1/4 yards each
• a pair of fabric scissors or a rotary cutter
• a cutting board (or another kind of cutting surface)
• a ruler or straight-edge
• Mustard Seeds or a prayer book
• a notecard explaining that prayers have been said for the throw recipient

Directions:

Lay the two pieces of fleece, wrong sides together, and trim to make them the same size. Cut out a square 3-4 inches from each corner. Next, cut out slits — like a fringe — about 3 inches deep all the way around the fabric. The fringe cuts are made about an inch apart. Tie the matching top and bottom fringe pieces together into double knots. Say a prayer for the recipient with each knot you tie. Continue tying all the way around the fabric until the throw is complete!

Fold the blanket/throw and wrap it with a ribbon. Add the notecard and a Mustard Seed devotion or a Portals of Prayer to complete the gift. 

Extra credit: Post on Facebook or write an article for your district newsletter or the Lutheran Woman’s Quarterly.

Gospel Focus

Pray for one another that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working (James 5:16).

Devotion as You Plan:

As you plan this service activity use the devotion, In Times of Need: Help, Lord!

Prayer as You Plan and Prepare: 

Heavenly Father, please provide encouragement to those suffering from cancer and show them what they need from Your Word to see them through. Give wisdom to all who are working to find treatments and cures for cancer, and in Your time, relieve those who are suffering. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Download the printable PDF of this Mission Service Activity

Prayer Throws for Warmth and Comfort

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