Christmas Sunday School class idea
Sunday, November 16th, 2008Of course, you leaders must plan ahead, so allow me to share an idea for a Christmas project next month.
This is one of the Christmas ideas in my book, Fresh Ideas–1000 Ways to Grow a Thriving & Energetic Church:
A Nativity-a-Day
“For a ministry project, purchase a twelve-piece nativity scene and do this version of the Twelve Days of Christmas for a homebound member or person who will be alone for the first time this Christmas. Deliver one piece of the nativity scene daily for twelve days, ending with the baby Jesus on Christmas day. If this is a church or class project, a different member could deliver each day. A friend of mine did this with “secret” deliveries, leaving daily notes and gift-wrapped nativity pieces on the front porch, by mail or other delivery methods. At a scheduled time, she and her family delivered the baby on Christmas day.”
I received a note today from a lady who read the book, saying that she was purchasing a nativity scene and planning to do this with an elderly neighbor this Christmas. Her husband’s Bible class was doing this as a mission project, with a different class member making a delivery each day. (I’m not sure if it’s a person in a nursing home, someone with an extended sickness, or a homebound member.) Each gentleman in the class is assigned a specific day, and makes a visit to deliver one nativity scene piece. You don’t actually have to do exactly twelve–it could be more or less. The gift is your reflection of God’s love as you show his care to one who needs it this season.
My friend who did this with her young children made it an annual tradition. Each year, they would ask the pastor for an idea of a person who needed Christian encouragement, and they carefully made their plan. Each day was an adventure for the children as they planned how to deliver their surprise. As Christmas neared, they sent word through their pastor or a common friend to specify a time on Christmas Day they would like to stop by for the last delivery. The recipient each year became a dear Christian friend of that family, and they began planning for next year’s Nativity-A-Day.
Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays are such a wonderful time to shine for Jesus…
Keep on shining!









