Matthew 10:8 “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give.” II Corinthians 9:6 “Now I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.”
This week at Bridge Kids, we began our new month of The Bridge Core Value, Giving, by talking about how Giving to others, of ourselves and/or our resources is a reflection of God’s Love Language of Giving, which can take many forms, just like our own Love Languages – through worship to God, material provision, or loving inclusion of others. We started out reviewing the previous Sunday -- Core Values – what does that mean? It means it’s the center (core) of what we build everything we do on. We also briefly discussed Worship through Songwriting – the Love Language of Quality Time, Gifts and Words of Affirmation.
Today, we focused on giving of material provisions. We talked about how giving of the things we have, in order to help provide for others is a way we can show our love for God and for others. Love God, Love Others as Ourselves.
Dave taught us about how people can manipulate gifts out of people, and it is important to have a pure heart when giving. Not out of obligation, but out of your true self.
As an activity today, the Bridge Kids designed buttons (round pins) to be sold the week of December 9th, at The Bridge, for $1. The proceeds will then go to HomePDX for socks! We talked about how we can use the materials we have either individually, or as a community, to provide material provisions for others. And, that giving can come in many forms and many creative ways. With the sale of the buttons, and the purchase of socks, the kids will be able to see immediate effects of their giving.
We challenged them to find time this week to find creative ways of giving to others.
December – Bridge Core Values -- Giving
Dine and Dish:
Talk – Talk to your kids about giving of material provisions. What does it mean to you?
Discuss a time (or times) in your life when you have been the recipient of someone’s generosity. What type of impact did it have on you? What type of connection to God did you feel?
Discuss a time (or times) when you have given to others, resourcefully. What did you do? Why? How did it make you feel? What type of connection to God did you feel?
Do an activity together: The great thing about Giving is that anyone can give, regardless of social or economic standing. Be resourceful and talk to your kids about what they are doing and why.
Create – Create art/bracelets/scarves/etc. together to be sold for $1-$5 at the Bridge Kids Merch Table, downstairs, before and after church, the month of December. The funds will go toward socks for HOMEPDX. Your kids will get $0.50 from each dollar that they sell. The other $0.50 will go toward HOMEPDX.
Socks – Go to Wal-Mart (or whatever store you would like) and buy a $7 bag of men’s white crew socks and bring them to church for the sock drawer. Let your kids pay for the socks at the counter. Talk with them about what you are doing and why. Discuss what it would be like to have to wear the same pair of socks every day. Let your kids fill the sock drawer at church.
In-Home Change Drive – Decorate a jar or box together that you will put all your spare change into for a month. At the end of the month, count all the change you have collected and donate it to a non-profit, help someone buy groceries, provide dinner for a friend or family member, or think of something you know another person needs and “donate” to their cause.
Clean Out – Clean out your kids’ toy boxes and closets with things they don’t play with or use anymore. Things that are in really good condition. Clean them up and donate them to a local free porch or let your kids choose who they would like to give their items to – family, friends, strangers.
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