Seasonal Work - Once springtime brings warm weather, get a list of seniors who could use help pulling weeds, fixing/cleaning gutters, pruning shrubs or other outside chores and have your group commit to a few of these projects.You can arrange visits from community members and families, or for the holidays you may provide a simple gift such as wrapped body wash or toiletries. Adopt a Nursing Home - Connect with the activity director at a local nursing home and ask how you can support their residents.Your group can also do this for anyone in need of extra encouragement such as single parents, a family in crisis or children in foster care. Snuggles for Singles - Have your small group collect or create soft blankets, socks or pillowcases for widows and widowers in your congregation and deliver them with a warm meal and a hug.Switch it Up - Rotate serving several widows or widowers in your church with once-a-month opportunities such as a housing project, providing small freezable meals or a seasonal need such as snow removal or grass cutting.Ĭoordinate service opportunities at a women's shelter with a sign up.These don’t need to be extravagant to be meaningful. Blessing Baskets - Your small group can adopt someone, either from your church or in the community, who receives chemotherapy and deliver a once-a-month or biweekly blessing basket to their front step with things like fresh fruit, gift cards for local smoothie shops, crackers, canned soups and hard candy.Dedicate a small group meeting to talk about the experience and study Acts 2:43-47. Sharing Resources - Have small group members sell one item (or more) and give the proceeds to a local charity, mission trip or a church ministry.Cover water bottles with promotional sleeves for your church’s VBS or service times and hand them out at your local baseball field or swim meet. Summer Outreach - If your small group takes a break for the summer, consider a once-a-season outreach to the community.What a meaningful gift for those living far away from home at the holidays!

Get enough for all those living overseas (families and singles) and save on postage by mailing them in one large bunch.

Christmas Cards for Missionaries - Round up holiday photo cards or Christmas letters from anyone in your congregation who plans to send them out and mail copies to the missionaries in your church.

Letters to Missionaries - Who doesn’t love mail? Have your small group take an evening once a month to write letters of encouragement to missionaries your church supports.

Have small group members bring games, set up tables around the gym or large meeting space, and invite families from the neighborhood. Advertise ahead of time with fliers put on front doors with washi tape.

Gather Your Community - Invite other small groups for a Saturday afternoon outreach to the neighborhood around your church.

Genius Tip: Check out these college care package tips and ideas for inspiration.

Care Packages for Graduates - Ask your youth pastor for a current list of high school graduates and send each a care package with an encouraging message, a devotional book and a gift card for necessities (even upperclassmen from your congregation will love this one).

Be sure to leverage the interests and passions of your group members, then keep it simple, get out there and begin serving! Serve Your Church

You can start small with a one-time act of service or go big and commit to serving together monthly. If your small group is ready to serve, there is no better way than starting together with a shared project.

One and all church community groups