G r o c e r y
Store Food
Drive
A different and
effective sort of
food drive. Select
a grocery store
and set a date.
You as leader
will need to talk
with the store
management
asking permission
to hold a food
drive for your
local food closet
by distributing
grocery lists to
shoppers as they
enter the store
on the designated
date. Your mixed-group of teens and adults
will be the smiling and friendly greeters
at the entrance and the same smiling and
friendly helpers as you collect the purchased
donations as the same people exit the store.
On the day of, spread yourselves out at
the entrance of the grocery store, put on
your beautiful and smiley faces, and greet
everyone with the grocery list. Keep those
smiley faces on as people exit the grocery
store. Graciously receive any bags they
have purchased with a thank you. Place
these bags of food items in the boxes you
have brought with you. If your boxes
are overflowing with donations, let them
overflow and point out to the new shoppers
how gracious everyone has been to donate
already inviting them into the fun.
Brenda Seefeldt, youth pastor at New Covenant
Fellowship, VA, www.ncfweb.org
Acts 242
Retreats
They devoted themselves to the
apostles’ teaching and to fellowship,
to the breaking of bread and to
prayer. Acts 2:42
We can all learn from the early
church’s format of study, fellowship,
shared meals, and time of prayer and
worship when planning a retreat for
youth or the whole church family.
TEACHING: Study the Word! Use a
passage as the core theme of the
retreat and set aside a time for
discussion. FELLOWSHIP: Plan in fun!
Relationships develop and strengthen
when we play together. BREAKING
OF BREAD: Share meals! Set the
tables and use a centerpiece. Practice
the art of se rvanthood by pouring
drinks for one another and passing
the salad and rolls. PRAYER: Spend
time in worship! Ask participants to
bring musical instruments to share
during this time. Use a responsive
or group reading to open or close
your gathering. Involve many in the
planning for a variety of ideas and
leadership.
Liz Perraud, GenOn Ministries,
www.genonministries.org
11
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