Blessing the needy | Forgiving the sinful | Freeing the burdened | Calming the fearful | Exhilarating all

On a calendar, plan a family activity three times a week during December through Christmas Day. Consider these three categories to include each week.

Day 1: make a present night Day 2: visit/bless someone in need Day 3: movie or fun night

Sample of activities and ideas:✴ Spend Less by purchasing one less gift per person.

✴ Review last year’s Christmas activities. Determine all that was draining and decide what you WON’T DO this year.

✴ Decorate the tree and house for Christmas

✴ Go to Larry’s II coffee shop, get a holiday drink & help write the family newsletter

✴ As a gift, give each child “time” coupons. One will get Donuts with Dad on one Saturday morning. One will get Shopping with Mom on a Saturday afternoon, etc.

✴ Read a Christmas book & drink hot apple cider

✴ Make and decorate Christmas cookies or make gingerbread houses

✴ Give out plates of cookies to the neighbors

✴ Make Christmas ornaments

✴ Have some friends over for dinner and a Christmas movie

✴ Make Christmas cards for Grandparents and other family/friends

✴ Snowball fight! (crumble newspaper into “snowballs” and throw them all over the house. Have snow-cones or popsicles after.)

✴ Make a video of a Christmas skit together

✴ Fill a box for Operation Christmas Child

✴ Drive around and look at Christmas lights

✴ Make something from the Christmas story out of legos

✴ Have peppermint ice cream and watch a Christmas movie

✴ Make up choreography to some Christmas songs and do it together (this is so hilarious!)

✴ Christmas caroling with Pastorate or some other families

✴ Get some new play dough or clay and mold something Christmas-y together

✴ Read a Christmas story while drinking hot cocoa with mini candy-canes

✴ Have a cocoa and hot cider stand in the neighborhood to raise $ for a special cause.

✴ See a Christmas play or musical.

✴ Write a story, poem or journal reflecting the person you are giving to

✴ Gift of time – visit, bring a meal, take person to play, concert, movie

✴ Gift of your services – housecleaning, yardwork, home repair, transportation

Resource sites: www.instructables.com directions on how to make/build/improve almost ANYTHING! furniture, dolls, etc. www.pinterest.com/advntconspiracy/ creative ideas for gift giving

TEA HOUSE

ESL SCHOOL: TEA HOUSE NORTH

LFA is committed to praying and giving to send and support three couples in Tea House by 2016. The total cost is $60,000/year per couple. All gifts go to support and set up costs for our workers.

✴Personal Gift: $5/week or sacrifice 1 tea or coffee cup/week

✴Family Gift: Fill one Teapot with loose change for Tea House

✴Pastorate Gift: Fund 1 week for an international worker in TeaHouse $575 (matched by church)

RUSSIA CENTRAL ASIAN MINISTRY MOSCOW

Partner with our workers to disciple Central Asian people who come for short work tours in Russia and then return home. They are trained to go back to their homeland and share their faith, and build the Church back home where US passport holders are not permitted.

✴Personal Gift: $25/ Winter clothing for people in need

✴Family Gift: $100 Rescue women in Crisis

✴Pastorate Gift: 1 Month rental for outreach ministries: $600 (matched by church)

ST PETERSBURG COMMUNITY CENTER

Join in reaching out with personal health counsel, ESL, and youth camps that open doors to the Truth.

✴Personal Gift: 1 Week of: Language Lessons $25/student or Snacks for Classes: $40

✴Family Gift: English camp for youth $75/student

✴Pastorate Gift: 1 Month rental for ministry center: $500 (matched by church)