Advent Small Group Project
Adapted from The Worship Design Studio
This Advent season we are inviting small groups, families, and individuals to build “blessing bags” that bring hope, light, love, joy, and peace into our community. These make great intergenerational projects. Or you could make this an individual spiritual practice during Advent by doing a project yourself. You are invited to bring the completed bags/kits to worship on Sundays.
Notes:
Some Suggested Projects
There are so many projects your small groups can take on to help people in need and give light to the world this Advent. Here are just a few possibilities:
During Group Time
make the world so calm and bright.
Wrap them in your love so tight,
Guide them with your holy light.
Go with God into this day
May the Spirit guide your way
Offer peace/joy/love/hope to all you greet
Like Christ, see God in all you meet.
Suggested Supply Lists
These are just some suggestions for blessings bags. There are many items you could potentially include in the packages/kits you create. Feel free to use some or all of these items.
First Responder Care Packages
A clear ziploc bag large enough to fit all items
Chapstick/lip balm
Hand sanitizer
Hand lotion
Small/Fun Size candy
Mints
Hand warmers
Emergen-c/Halls Vitamin C drops
Snacks (protein bars, trail mix, jerky, granola bars, etc.) **no peanuts**
Individual packets of pain reliever (Advil, Tylenol)
Small bottled water or sports drink
Do not include homemade items or items out of their packaging. Many first responders are trained or have policies to not accept these items.
Manna Bags
A clear ziploc bag large enough to fit all items
Baby wipes
Chapstick/lip balm
Lotion (preferably unscented)
Baby wipes
Applesauce (include plastic spoon)
Pudding cups (include plastic spoon)
Trail mix
Beef jerky
Tuna in tearable package (include plastic spoon)
Travel coffee mug
Gift cards
Socks
Hand warmers
Band aids
Small bottled water or sports drink
Do not include: soaps (which makes all the food taste like soap) or hard food/candy (not good when you haven’t had good dental care)
Cancer Care Kits
A bag or box large enough to fit all items
Pretty head scarf or fun hat
Chapstick/lip balm
Lotion (preferably unscented)
Hand sanitizer
Lemon candies for dry mouth/bad taste
Ginger chews for upset stomach
Motion-sickness bracelets
Comfortable socks
Gift card for music downloads, coffee, groceries, etc.
Tea in individual bags
Small activity books - crossword puzzles, word searches, sudoku
Card game or deck of cards
Small notebooks
Pens
Contact the local cancer treatment center to find out if and when they will accept these, and if there are any particular requests.
Hospital Care Kits
A bag or box large enough to fit all items
Small lotions (preferably unscented)
Chapstick
Hand Sanitizer
Snacks (protein bars, granola bars, etc.) **no peanuts**
Small/Fun Size candy
Tea in individual bags
Emergen-c/Halls Vitamin C drops
Tissues (softer than the ones they’ll have in the hospital)
Sample size shampoo/conditioner
Small children's books
Small activity books - crossword puzzles, word searches, sudoku
Card game or deck of cards
Small notebooks
Pens
Contact your local hospital to find out if and when they will accept these, and if there are any particular requests. If you would like to put together kits specifically for children, click here to check out “Jared’s Box”.
Adapted from The Worship Design Studio
This Advent season we are inviting small groups, families, and individuals to build “blessing bags” that bring hope, light, love, joy, and peace into our community. These make great intergenerational projects. Or you could make this an individual spiritual practice during Advent by doing a project yourself. You are invited to bring the completed bags/kits to worship on Sundays.
Notes:
- If you are giving your bags/kits to an organization it is a good idea to contact them beforehand so that you know what donations are accepted and when you can give them.
- In many of the kits and care packages, you can include notes of encouragement or blessing. This could also be an opportunity for children to add small drawings or pictures to the kits. Please keep in mind that people of many different religious background and literacy levels will be receiving these, so simple and general notes are best (e.g., "We hope this makes your day a little brighter", or "With love and prayers from Bangor First United Methodist Church").
- Whatever you choose to do with your small group, make sure that it is a time for you to grow in fellowship with one another, to help meet a particular need in our community, and to connect the work of your hands with the work of your hearts this season.
Some Suggested Projects
There are so many projects your small groups can take on to help people in need and give light to the world this Advent. Here are just a few possibilities:
- First Responder Care Packages – For police officers, firefighters, and emergency medical technicians, the holidays are not a time when they shut down the office and go on break. Usually the holidays are when some of the more difficult calls can happen. This is a care package with things they can use on the job – especially on holiday night shifts when everything is closed. (See “Suggested Supply Lists” below)
- Manna Bags – For folks experiencing homelessness, these bags of supplies can make living on the streets a little healthier and provide some comfort. These can be given to shelters or food pantries or churches in areas where people are living on the streets. (See “Suggested Supply Lists” below)
- United Methodist Committee on Relief Supply Kits – UMCOR is always in need of cleaning kits, hygiene kits, and school kits. (Click here for specific instructions)
- Cancer Care Kits – For those in treatment for cancer, some days joy comes from little things like getting the chemo taste out of your mouth, or having a new headscarf. (See “Suggested Supply Lists” below)
- Hospital Care Kits – For families staying in the hospital during the holiday season, these kits can give a little comfort of home. (See “Suggested Supply Lists” below)
- Cards for Hospitalized Children - For children who are getting medical treatment during the holidays, cards can give them excitement and joy, and a bit of cheerful holiday decoration in their hospital room. Contact a nearby hospital to see if you can drop off a collection of handmade cards for their staff to give to children.
- Project Linus No-Sew Blankets – For children who are seriously ill or traumatized, or otherwise in need. Project Linus delivers these to children, and has patterns and other resources available. (Click here to learn about Project Linus) (Click here for blanket pattern instructions)
During Group Time
- When your group meets, intentionally make this a sacred space and time. This is not just a project – this is an extension of our worship. Light a candle and gather with a prayer that names your intention for what you are doing.
- Make sure to have a list available of what goes in each bag/kit or any other relevant instructions for assembly so that your group feels confident and empowered.
- You may want to help guide conversation back to Advent reflections that build upon the focus of the week – either peace, joy, love, or hope.
- Some questions for reflection: Where do you see peace/joy/love/hope in the world? How do you hope what we are making brings peace/joy/love/hope to the people who will receive it? Can you remember a time in your life when you received something that gave you peace/joy/love/hope?
- End your gathering by blessing what you have made together. Ask everyone to place their hands on the bags/kits or to lift a hand towards them, and say a prayer for the people who will receive them. Pray that the kits will bring light to people’s lives this season.
- You can end with this prayer and benediction that will also be used in worship:
make the world so calm and bright.
Wrap them in your love so tight,
Guide them with your holy light.
Go with God into this day
May the Spirit guide your way
Offer peace/joy/love/hope to all you greet
Like Christ, see God in all you meet.
Suggested Supply Lists
These are just some suggestions for blessings bags. There are many items you could potentially include in the packages/kits you create. Feel free to use some or all of these items.
First Responder Care Packages
A clear ziploc bag large enough to fit all items
Chapstick/lip balm
Hand sanitizer
Hand lotion
Small/Fun Size candy
Mints
Hand warmers
Emergen-c/Halls Vitamin C drops
Snacks (protein bars, trail mix, jerky, granola bars, etc.) **no peanuts**
Individual packets of pain reliever (Advil, Tylenol)
Small bottled water or sports drink
Do not include homemade items or items out of their packaging. Many first responders are trained or have policies to not accept these items.
Manna Bags
A clear ziploc bag large enough to fit all items
Baby wipes
Chapstick/lip balm
Lotion (preferably unscented)
Baby wipes
Applesauce (include plastic spoon)
Pudding cups (include plastic spoon)
Trail mix
Beef jerky
Tuna in tearable package (include plastic spoon)
Travel coffee mug
Gift cards
Socks
Hand warmers
Band aids
Small bottled water or sports drink
Do not include: soaps (which makes all the food taste like soap) or hard food/candy (not good when you haven’t had good dental care)
Cancer Care Kits
A bag or box large enough to fit all items
Pretty head scarf or fun hat
Chapstick/lip balm
Lotion (preferably unscented)
Hand sanitizer
Lemon candies for dry mouth/bad taste
Ginger chews for upset stomach
Motion-sickness bracelets
Comfortable socks
Gift card for music downloads, coffee, groceries, etc.
Tea in individual bags
Small activity books - crossword puzzles, word searches, sudoku
Card game or deck of cards
Small notebooks
Pens
Contact the local cancer treatment center to find out if and when they will accept these, and if there are any particular requests.
Hospital Care Kits
A bag or box large enough to fit all items
Small lotions (preferably unscented)
Chapstick
Hand Sanitizer
Snacks (protein bars, granola bars, etc.) **no peanuts**
Small/Fun Size candy
Tea in individual bags
Emergen-c/Halls Vitamin C drops
Tissues (softer than the ones they’ll have in the hospital)
Sample size shampoo/conditioner
Small children's books
Small activity books - crossword puzzles, word searches, sudoku
Card game or deck of cards
Small notebooks
Pens
Contact your local hospital to find out if and when they will accept these, and if there are any particular requests. If you would like to put together kits specifically for children, click here to check out “Jared’s Box”.