Share The Love This Christmas
Many of us celebrate the season of Advent with a calendar, starting on 1st December, to count down the days until Christmas Day. It can be a helpful way to refocus on the true reason for the season, with some calendars revealing the journey of the Christmas story behind a door each day. Other calendars are filled with little gifts or chocolate treats to enjoy while counting down.
Would you like to join us in doing something different, something bigger than ourselves, something that goes against our culture of consumption during the Christmas season? As you count down to Christmas this year, here are some ideas of ways you can show God’s love in practical ways to other people…
REVERSE ADVENT CALENDAR - give something away or share your time each day to help other people:
You can use our ready-made calendar: click here or download our template to make your own: click here
Alternatively, pick a charity, organisation or foodbank you would like to donate to, contact them to find out what items they are most in need of and when you should drop them off, then start to collect an item each day to give away… (please note, some charities prefer that you do this in November, so they have the donations at the start of December, ready to give away for Christmas)
VOLUNTEER YOUR TIME
Caring in Bristol are looking for some extra help with their project ‘Caring at Christmas’ which supports people facing homelessness in Bristol: click here
Get in touch with your local community centre to find out if there are any activities you can support during the Christmas season (contact us if you’d like our help to find your local community centre!)
Have a browse on our Volunteer 365 page to see a variety of roles being advertised around our city
CONNECT WITH YOUR NEIGHBOURS
Deliver Christmas cards to everyone on your street or on your block
Host a ‘Mince Pie Mingle’ - invite your neighbours round to enjoy some Christmas-themed refreshments (this works indoors or outdoors!)
Gather some friends together to entertain your neighbours with some carol singing
Decorate your front window with some lights or decoration and bring a smile to those walking past!
Offer to make up and deliver a plate of Christmas dinner for any neighbours who are housebound, or invite them to join you!