Looking for a way to involve your families in local missions? 

"The Giving Tree" is the perfect way to get them involved...and meet the needs of your community. 

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And it all starts...with a Christmas Tree!

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You can use a plain, ordinary Christmas tree OR...if you have someone that is handy with tools...have them build a super, fantastic tree from wood. 

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Since your tree will be the "Main Event" make it spectacular!

Switch the decorations out occasionally, keep it FRESH looking!

Let your imagination run wild.

You may even want to decorate it with a holiday or seasonal theme.

Make it spectacular but leave LOTS of room for the donations. 

Remember the adage...less is more! 

Bright colors are always an eye-catcher so don't forget to use color in your decorations!

You may want to create a huge "Topper" and keep the rest simple and appealing!

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Switch out your mission event monthly!

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Here are a few tree ideas for you to consider

 

Regular Christmas Tree

Select a tree that is large enough to be seen...and one that will hold plenty of donations.

Prepare a colorful collection box to sit beside the tree. All item that is too heavy to go on the tree can be dropped into the box.

Change the look of your tree each month.

Keep the decorations simple...and few...so that you have room for your donations.

Consider spray painting your tree a different color each month. Just take it outside and give it a fresh look. Even a hint of color is good!

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Go ahead and add a few items to your tree so that families will know what you are collecting at a glance. For instance, if you are having a sock drive, add a few pairs of colorful socks to get things rolling.

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Attach clothespins (hooks, tiny colorful bags, ribbons, etc.) to your tree to be used when attaching their gifts. (you may want to paint the pins various bright colors).

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Remember to support your tree. Attach a support wire to prevent it from tipping over onto someone. Although a regular tree (depending on size) is not that heavy...it could still hurt someone.

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Send me a picture of your tree, I would love to add it HERE to help kick imaginations into gear!

arleneclark@sbcglobal.net

479-619-9932

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Wooden Christmas Tree

With a wooden Christmas Tree, you can get even more creative. Design the tree as tall as you like, design it with a little crook or lopsided, etc. You could even create an entire forest with several trees, cotton batting as snow, etc. 

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Attach cup hooks to your tree for the hanging of donations. Ribbons or small bags could be     

added to the hooks as well. 

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The main thing here is support. Since families will be touching the display, it must be sound in design. A good idea would be to have a support wire attached to the top to prevent tipping over onto someone. 

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Paint your trees with any creative colors that you would like. Who says there can't be a purple tree?

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Create an over to top tree topper and switch out a few things each month.

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Go ahead and add a few items to your tree so that families will know what you are collecting at a glance. For instance, if you are having a sock drive, add a few pairs of colorful socks to get things rolling.

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If you create your own tree, please send me a picture so that I can add it HERE to help kick imaginations into gear!

arleneclark@sbcglobal.net

479-619-9932 - Text

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You Know Your Community Better Than Anyone

Mission Events

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The following events are simply suggestions. You know your community better than anyone else. If you have a specific mission event in mind...that is not listed, simply send me a message and I will try to create one for you (FREE)

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IMPORTANT - PLEASE READ! 

Don't forget to add cards or tracks or tags to each gift.

Reach out to those who are hurting, hungry, cold or lost! 

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Draft those in your church who may not be able to physically participate in the mission to write cards or fill out tags for each item.

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This is the perfect time to start working on future volunteers. Get EVERYONE involved in some way. People want to serve where they see results. If they see a thriving Children's Ministry...they will want to become a part of it. 

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I have added gift tags and gift card downloads with the download link below. 

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Teach your children to give and to help those in need...Make one day per month (perhaps the Sunday that your Christmas tree changes to the next mission event) your mission focus. There are some excellent lessons in the Bible such as:

• Dorcas/Tabitha - Who did good acts for neighbors, etc. Acts 9

• Instruction that Jesus gave to farm owners - Leave the outer portion for those in need and do not harvest fields a second time. (Good whiteboard lesson) Leviticus 23

• The Widow of Zarephath 1 Kings 17:7–16 

• The Shunammite Woman 2 Kings 4:8–10 

• Joseph of Arimathea Matthew 27:57–60 

• The Churches of Macedonia 2 Corinthians 8:1-5 

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Include your children in tagging gifts, sorting, counting...and even delivering the items. There is nothing more powerful than seeing their work in action. 

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