Yale University

Youth Ministry Institute

Thanksgiving Service Project

This is a an example of an all church service project for adults, families and youth.

Overview

Enhancer of Joy Service
Lesson developed byCaroline Ainsworth Huges and Kelly Antonson
Setting the Atmosphere
  • Set up tables for assembly of boxes as needed
  • Organize and label by partner site
Materials Checklist

If this is an all church project, other programs will be responsible for different pieces and supplies.  If it is a youth group event only, make sure you have the following:

  • Cardboard boxes
  • Tape, Scissors, Ribbon
  • Construction paper, markers, stickers for cards
  • Food for sides (boxes of stuffing, mashed potato mix, cranberry sauce, canned yams, cookies or other dessert – or similar items)
  • Turkeys
  • Print outs of the scripture
  • Driver schedule
  • Driving directions and contact information for partner sites
  • Name tags and sharpies/pens
  • Someone assigned to take photos
  • Corn kernels – enough for the entire group to have 3 each (organized by number of people in each vehicle – can give to the driver)

Introduction for Leaders

This event will address hope; agency; purpose/vocation; gratitude; Spiritual Disciplines; resilience; humility in the programming.

Could touch upon prejudice/bigotry/racism; Substance abuse; Absence of resources through the work/mission of the partner agency.

 

Gather

Gather [20 minutes]

Greeting One Another:

  • Youth leader and adult team members (volunteers, committee members, etc) meet early to get driving directions and gratitude activity information.
  • Drivers arrive early and check in with adult leaders/volunteers for instructions.
  • Student leaders arrive 10 minutes early and get name tags ready – greet youth as they arrive and have them put on name tags.
  • Youth group seniors arrive early and get together and select scripture for gratitude activity.
  • Circle up.

Opening Prayer:

  • Frame the evening’s project (through Matthew 25 scripture), thank drivers, hold hands in full circle for prayer over the food.

Engage

Engage: [1 hour and 30 minutes]

Activity 1:  Loading Up

  • Ministry team/adult volunteers have drivers come to the loading area.
  • Adult leaders assign students to cars by team and students load the food into vehicles
  • Caravan to partner sites

Activity 2:  Gratitude Exercise

  • Once onsite, find the contact and introduce the team.
  • Unload food.
  • Contact gives tour/orientation to the site and introduces clients/co-workers as appropriate.
  • Circle everyone up and pass around the jar of corn kernels.  Instruct everyone to take 3 kernels.
  • Either the adult leader or a senior leader introduces the activity about gratitude and reads the selected scripture passage (suggestions include:Psalms 9:1; 100:4-5; 118:29, Colossians 2:7)
  • Going around the circle, each person lifts up a gratitude for each corn kernel (my parents, our church, my best friend, having ample food, etc.). 
  • Ask if anyone would like to close the group in prayer. (if not, close in prayer yourself)
  • Return to the church.

Reflect

Reflect [10 minutes]

  • On the car ride back to the church, ask everyone to reflect on the expressions of gratitude that they heard.  Was there anything that surprised them?  Did anything come up for them that is a new gratitude based on the experience?  What do they think of the work that the site is doing for those in need and how might the student help in the future?
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