We are so excited to BLAST OFF with you into loving God and loving others!

Get ready for some cool ways that we can blast closer to God – that’s our mission training – and serve others – that’s our mini-missions!

There will be time to explore with your church, your family and on your own.  All the while, God will be at the center!

This month we will be focusing on service.  This practice helps us to be more like Jesus.

December Mission Training and Mini Missions

Each week throughout December on Instagram and on this Facebook Page we will post a Mission Training (on Mondays) and a Mini Mission (on Thursdays) Follow us for these posts and more family faith forming posts. Share with the families in your community and invite them to follow us too! Want to see the posts we will be sharing? Or are you or the families in your community not on Instagram of Facebook? You can see all of December’s posts here.

Family time capsule

During this exceptional year, wouldn’t it be interesting to create a record of what God is doing in your family as you grow together?

This is easy – with a few prompts, you can create a cool time capsule. You can do it in a journal or notebook.  (If your really keen, check out some ideas we have gathered on crafty time capsule ideas that we have compiled on this Pinterest board)

December Questions:

PRO-TIP: Date your pages!

Name 3 things that are going on in your family right now.

Christmas is coming and Covid is still a reality.  How will Christmas look different for you this year?

Take a picture of the whole family with some Christmas decorations.

What do you like about learning about your gifts? What do you find challenging?

What has God been saying to you as you have been serving others?

What is one way you can share God’s love this month?

What is one thing you would like to pray for your family members this month?

Learning Space

Ministry leaders, are you looking for more resources and ideas for incorporating this month’s discipline into your ministry? Here are a few to consider:

For your own learning:

This article is a concise explanation of the discipline of service from Richard Foster.

This article is helpful for understanding the spiritual discipline of service.

This article has some helpful thoughts to consider on the difference between the gift of service versus the discipline of service.

Ideas for Families

This post has helpful tips and resources for families on teaching the discipline of service.

This article from National Geographic has ideas for kids volunteering from home, during this pandemic season.

This post has some helpful tips for becoming a family that volunteers.

Check out this idea from Lacy Finn Borgo.

Christmas service ideas for families in this post.

Ideas for teaching kids

Check out this lesson plan for teaching kids on service from Ministry-to-Children.

In this post find how to teach kids to serve as well as several service project ideas.

Intergenerational Worship Experience

Pastors, it’s December, and there are so many places for people to serve.

Whatever serving initiative your church is supporting – food banks, homeless shelters, angel trees – invite kids to participate!  Appoint someone to be a point person to ensure the kids understand the need they are serving at an age-appropriate level.

When your serving project is complete,  debrief the experience with everyone – kids included – with some simple questions…

Which of my gifts did I use?

Where did I see God at work?

Where am I called to serve next?