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Secret Server

2012
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Purpose: To gain a testimony of the importance of serving, especially serving without seeking praise or recognition.
Materials:
Picture: Jesus Washing Apostles’ Feet
Clip art for the stories
1 copy of the Service Chart per person
several “You have been Served” calling cards per person

Lesson:
Attention getter:
As you are about to begin the lesson, drop a box of crayons or your papers on the ground with an exclamation such as “Oh no!” or “Oops!”. Wait and see if anyone offers to help you pick them up. If no one does, go ahead and ask for help.
Thank those who helped and explain that Heavenly Father wants us to help one another. This is called service. We can show we love our Heavenly Father by serving his children.

Display the quote on service:

“The Lord answers the prayers of the needy by prompting others to righteous deeds: God does notice us, and he watches over us. But it is usually through another mortal that he meets our needs. Therefore, it is vital that we serve each other.” -Spencer W. Kimball

Show the picture of Jesus washing apostles’ feet.

Jesus set the example for us when he, the greatest of all, served his disciples by washing their feet.

Summarize the story.
John 13:4-5, 12-15

Story:

Helping Mom (for very young children)

 

Discuss the story emphasizing that the service was given in secret. * If you have a personal experience in which someone served you anonymously or you helped someone else anonymously, this would be the perfect time to share it. Testify of the importance of serving others and the blessings that come from it.

Activity/Weekly Challenge:

Secret Server Week

You are going to be a SECRET SERVER for the week. Draw family members’ names out of a hat so that everyone has someone else’s name. Don’t tell anyone whose name you have (parents will help the very young ones). Each day of the week you will perform at least one secret act of service for your Receiver. You may leave a “You Have Been Served” calling card with your Receiver’s name on it (this helps the Receiver recognize that an act of service was done in their behalf). For each day you do a special, secret act of service, you will color in a heart on the Service Chart. Have fun and shhhhhhhh Don’t give yourself away!

Dessert: Zucchini Cobbler

*ideas of small acts of secret service that can be done at home
make the bed for your receiver
set his/her place at the breakfast table
draw or color a picture
leave a favorite treat on his/her pillow
put toothpaste on his/her toothbrush
do one of his/her chores
make a favorite meal or dessert with mom or dad’s help
straighten up his/her closet
decorate his/her bedroom
leave a surprise note or treat in a lunchbox

 

Filed Under: Couples, Families, Families With Children, FHE Lessons for All, Newlyweds, Service Project Ideas, Service Projects, Single Groups, Tweens & Teens

FHE Service Project: Write Letters to Sick Children

2011
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Letters to Sick Children Service Project

Purpose: Jesus taught us by His teachings and His perfect example to bless those that are sick and afflicted. There are many seriously ill children in hospitals all over the world that would love to have your letters of hope and inspiration.

Lesson:

Have you ever had an earache, sore throat or the flu and felt miserable for a day, two or maybe for a week? There are many children all over that suffer from more serious illnesses that leave them bound in hospitals. Many are to weak to play and are unable to go outside, jump in piles of leaves, smell the fresh air or even play in the park.

During this holiday season, you can serve other children that are similar ages to those in your family by performing acts of service. One way is to visit them, go caroling at the hospitals, donate toys and even write letters.

Discussion: What are ways in which you can serve someone daily? Weekly? Monthly? How have you felt as you’ve been served? Share an experience of being served.

Goal Setting: Have family, group or ward members write at least one goal to be more active in serving those who are in need– like the sick and afflicted.

Service Project: Write letters to ill children in hospitals

Each member of the family, group or ward can participate in this service activity.

Gather paper, markers, crayons, stickers, etc. to make greeting cards to send to sick children in hospitals all over the country. If you live outside of the U.S., you can send letters to children in your own area/country or surprise some of these children with letters from all over the world!

Visit: Make A Child Smile (click to link to Web site)

You’ll see a list of children who would love to have your letters! You can click on their names to read more about them.

Treat:5-Minute Chocolate Pie

Ingredients: 1 Ready Graham Cracker Pie Crust 1 1/4 C. cold milk 2 pkg. (4- serving size) chocolate instant pie pudding mix 1 tub (8 oz.) whipped topping (thawed) 1. Beat milk, pudding and half the whipped topping together in medium bowl with a wire whisk for one minute. The mixture will thicken. 2. Pour into ready-made crust. 3. Top with remaining whipped cream. You can eat it right away or chill until ready to eat!
(recipe adapted from Keebler)

 

 

Filed Under: Activities, Couples, Families With Children, Family Home Evening, FHE Lessons for All, Lessons, Service Project Ideas, Service Projects, Tweens & Teens

Christmas Service Countdown Service

2011
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“Christmas Service Countdown Family Home Evening“
Purpose: To reflect on serving one another in our families during the Christmas season. Often times we can focus on selfish thoughts during this gift-giving season. It’s important that we strive to keep the focus on being selfless as our Savior was as we celebrate His birth.
 

Lesson: 
     “Over the years, many people, especially youth, have asked me, “Elder Cuthbert, how can I become more spiritual?” My reply has always been the same: “You need to give more service.
       Service changes people. It refines, purifies, gives a finer perspective, and brings out the best in each one of us. It gets us looking outward instead of inward. It prompts us to consider others’ needs ahead of our own. Righteous service is the expression of true charity, such as the Savior showed.” – Elder Derek A. Cuthbert, Ensign May 1990

Here are a list of ways service helps us become more spiritual:

1.      Helps us see true value in material things vs. things of the eternal value
2.      Service establishes a righteous tradition. Start serving when you’re young and that will lead to more willingness to serve throughout your life in the community and church.
3.      Service helps us overcome selfishness and sin.
4.      Service helps us generate love and appreciation.
5.      Service is the principle in which we show gratitude to our Savior.
 
Discussion:
~ What ways have you been served? How did it make you feel?
~ What are some ways that you’ve served others?
~ How did it make you feel when you’ve served someone else?
~ Why should we focus on service during the Christmas season?
Activity Ideas: *This activity requires prep work*
Prep work for countdown chain: Count down the days from FHE night until Christmas Day. Cut out equal sized strips of red and green construction paper to make the countdown chain. 
1.        Pick one of the ways stated below to use each section of your chain. Remember that the service continues and includes Christmas Day.
W  1. With each section of the chain you can write an act of service to perform as a family.
2.      2. Each night at dinner you can take a piece of the chain off and describe what acts of service each family member did during that day. 
Treat:
5-Minute Chocolate Pie

Ingredients:1 Ready Graham Cracker Pie Crust 1 1/4 C. cold milk 2 pkg. (4- serving size) chocolate instant pie pudding mix 1 tub (8 oz.) whipped topping (thawed) 1. Beat milk, pudding and half the whipped topping together in medium bowl with a wire whisk for one minute. The mixture will thicken. 2. Pour into ready-made crust. 3. Top with remaining whipped cream. You can eat it right away or chill until ready to eat!


Filed Under: Activities, Couples, Couples, Families, Families With Children, Family Home Evening, Lessons, Newlyweds, Newlyweds, Service Project Ideas, Service Projects, Single Groups, Tweens & Teens

Sidewalk Service

2011
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Family Home Evening Service Lesson: 
Sidewalk Service
Purpose: If your summer days are dragging on and you’re wondering what adventure you can do next, then pack up your sidewalk chalk and go for a little service stroll.
Lesson: Service is a trademark attribute of the followers of Jesus Christ. There are many, many ways in which we can serve others. At times we may have the thought that someone could use a visit, but do we choose to go and visit them?
The Lord uses us to help his children here on earth. He has entrusted each of us to serve one another, as He would serve us as if He were here. 

“Service is an imperative for those who worship Jesus Christ.”(Elder Dallin H. Oaks)
Service helps us to set aside our selfish thoughts and desires by putting others first. Doing kind acts help each of us grow in character, as well as in testimony of the importance of serving and being served.
Discussion: Serving others doesn’t have to be a huge under-taking. Review these questions with your family, group or ward.

- How does it feel to serve others?

- Why is important to serve others?

- Have you ever received service from someone else? How did it feel to be served?

- What are some ways you can serve someone this week?
Activity:
Think of 2-3 people or families that you can create a “Sidewalk Service” to. Be sure that adults supervise and OK which homes you visit and where you draw your pictures. 
Create a happy message to let the family/individual know how much they are loved and appreciated. 
You can leave a note on their door so that they can find your drawing.  
Treat: 


1 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
Preheat oven to 325-degrees.  Mix everything together until well blended.  Refrigerate for 30 minutes.  Roll into 18 balls.  Place 2″ apart onto ungreased cookie sheet.  Flatten each ball in a criss-cross pattern with a fork.  Bake for 18 minutes.  Cool.
  

 

Filed Under: Couples, Families With Children, FHE Lessons for All, Lessons, Newlyweds, Service Project Ideas, Service Projects

Thanksgiving Fun

2010
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Thanksgiving Day Family Home Evening
Lesson For Young Children
Attention Activity:
Have each child take a handful of Reese’s Pieces (the fall colors are fun at Thanksgiving), M&M’s or another small candy. After everyone has taken some, go around the room and say something you are thankful for for each piece of candy you have. After you say each thing, eat the treat.
Discussion:

Heavenly Father has commanded us to be grateful for our blessings and to remember to thank him. Why is it important to remember to be thankful? How do we feel when we remember our blessings and thank Heavenly Father for them?

Louise Johnston, “Thanksgiving Is—,” Friend, Nov 1988, 47

T ime to think and time to pray.
H appiness with friends each day.
A pples ripe and rosy red.
N ighttime in my cozy bed.
K ittens purring soft and low.
S ilver moon and stars that glow.
G ardens, flowers, painted white.
I ce and snow and frosty night.
V ees that form when geese fly high
I n the clear blue autumn sky.
N eighbors’ visits, joy, and sharing.
G od, whose love is warm and caring.
*Parents: Take a moment to go around the family and tell each of your children why you are thankful for them and how special they are.
Thanksgiving activity ideas:
Week-long: Wall of Thanks
Choose a wall to dedicate to all of the things you are thankful for. Using a pad of sticky notes, write down something you are grateful for and stick it on the wall. Continue adding to the wall until it is full or you run out of sticky notes. It might be fun to give each person in the family a different color pad of sticky notes!
Other idea: Thankful Turkey
Make the body of a turkey using brown poster board (or color a white one!) by drawing a large circle and cutting it out. Draw a smaller circle for a head. Make an orange triangle beak and add a red gobbler. Draw feathers on cardstock. Have each member of the family decorate one or more feathers with some things they are most thankful for. Attach the feathers to the turkey and mount your thankful turkey on the wall. See the picture for a visual guide. Remember though that your turkey doesn’t have to look perfect! Your kids will love seeing their work on the wall and it will help them remember all of their blessings.
Treat idea:
These are so cute and easy. Fun for all!
Filed Under: Activities, Couples, Families, Families With Children, Service Project Ideas, Tweens & Teens

"Schools In" Service Project

2010
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“School Service Project”

Purpose of Lesson: It’s always exciting as a child/teen to go “back to school” shopping. New shoes, pants, shirts, back pack and supplies– starting a new year. However, there are many who are unable to purchase these new items and basic school supplies for themselves. This lesson is centered on a family, group or individual service project.

Opening Song: “Give, said the Little Stream”

Scripture: Mosiah 2:17~

“And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn awisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the bservice of your cfellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.”

Lesson:

From dispensation to dispensation, the prophets of the Lord have been teaching us by word or example the importance of serving one another. Our Savior, Jesus Christ, was our greatest Teacher of this principle.

From President Spenser W. Kimball’s message, “Small Acts of Service;”

George MacDonald observed that “it is by loving and not by being loved that one can come nearest to the soul of another.” (George MacDonald Anthology, Geoffrey Bles, London, 1970.) Of course, we all need to be loved, but we must be giving and not always receiving if we want to have wholeness in our lives and a reinforced sense of purpose.

We will receive great blessings as we seek first to serve others.

From Elder Russell C. Taylor, “The Joy of Service:”

It has been wisely said, “Service is the rent we pay for our own room on earth.” We should know that the rent is due on a daily basis and know that the receipt is never stamped “paid in full,” because the rent, service in God’s kingdom, is again due today and due tomorrow.

Some mistakenly think that a commitment to service comes after a great spiritual experience. This is like the man who is cold, standing before the stove, and saying, “Give me heat, and then I will put in some wood.” The joy and blessings of service follow the rendering of service. The missionary who renders eighteen months of faithful missionary service then has a lifetime to think about it, while perfecting a life of service to others. Some would want and expect the windows of heaven to open before they pay their tithing, even though the prophet Malachi so plainly teaches:

“Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse … and prove me now … saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” (Mal. 3:10; italics added.) 

Activity:

Check your local stores for back to school specials on basic school supplies such as notepads (15 cents at our local Wal-mart store), rulers, glue, crayons, folders and so on. Plan a family budget for this service project and plan your shopping trip. You can assign each person $1 or $2 and so on according to your budget and have them find supplies within that budget.

Imagine all the notebooks you could get for $2!

Be sure to include everyone in the process. The feeling you get from serving someone else can’t be duplicated by watching Mom and Dad fill the shopping cart.

FHE Challenge: It is tough times for all of us. Stretch your faith and participate in this service project as much as possible for your family’s situation. There may other ways to serve your local schools. Contact your school district for ideas on how to do additional service such a cleaning, painting and so on.

Treat:

Rice Krispey Treats– they’re fast and easy to make and completely transportable as you go out on your service expodition.




Filed Under: FHE Lessons for All, Service Project Ideas

FHE Service Project: Family History Work

2010
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Family Home Evening Service Project: Indexing

Purpose: This month’s service project is centered on the family and genealogical research. One of the great ways each of us can help in this great work is by extracting names through indexing. The church has made it so simple to do and we can do it in the comfort of our homes!

Scripture: Malachi. 4:5,6

Song: “Who’s on the Lord’s Side?

Lesson: One of the missions of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is to redeem the dead. We participate in genealogical research to help bind families for eternity. The Lord has provided us with many tools in order to find missing links in our families so that everyone’s work may be completed.

One of the tools we’ve been given is the use of the Internet. The church has created a way for us to be able to log-in and access records to do indexing from our homes.

What is Indexing?

Family history indexing is the simple process of extracting names from digital images of historical documents and creating online searchable indexes from the previously gathered information.

How is it done? First click on this link: Family Search Indexing

If you have not registered for an LDS account, you can do so on this Web site. You will need to your membership number to create this account and you will be able to use this same username and password on the Family Search Web site for family history.

If you have a previous username and password (LDS account) from doing family history online, use the same password.

If you are not a member of the LDS church or want to help others begin indexing, then you can create a Family Search account for the general public.

How to start? There is a helpful “How To” video that will begin once you log in to begin using the program for the first time. It is recommended that you watch this short video or have a family history representative from your ward help you learn the steps.

Additional Resources: Need additional help or want to learn more about expanding your skills?

Visit, Family Search Online Classes, for FREE help.

Activity:

Young children: (this activity, photo and idea are from SugarDoodle)

Hand Tree



Items needed: Fabric Paint, Paintbrush, paper plates, 1/2 yard of white cotton fabric for tree, markers, scissors, fabric glue, 1 yard of fabric (white or colored for background)

Have your family members pick out their favorite colors of paint and spread a little of each color on a paper plate. Working from the biggest hands to the littlest ones, have each person dip their hands in her chosen paint and print them on the cotton fabric, overlapping the hand prints slightly as the group moves up the tree (practice on paper first). Use a paintbrush to add a tree trunk, let all the paint dry and then identify each set of hand prints with a permanent marker.

Older children:

Older children can participate in doing the indexing online. You can set a indexing goal as a family– make your first goal an easy one for the first week as you learn how to do indexing. Each family member can take turns doing a name or completing one record until each person has had a turn.

Discussion:

How does doing this indexing help others?

What was your experience doing the indexing?

Treat:

Delicious Healthy Cupcakes

For this simple recipe, all you need is one cake mix and one can of soda. If you want to use a chocolate cake mix, use a dark diet can of soda. If you want to use a light cake mix, use a can of Diet Sprite (or Fresca).

Simply mix the can of soda into the cake mix and stir.

Bake as directed for cupcakes.

You can also use some Sugar Free Cool Whip for icing to make a perfectly healthy and super yummy treat!

Filed Under: Couples, Families, FHE Lessons for All, Newlyweds, Service Project Ideas, Single Groups

FHE Service Project: Clean Up is Fun to Do…

2010
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Family Home Evening Service Project:
Cleaning Up is Fun to Do

Purpose: During this Family Home Evening service project your family will focus on serving the community and taking care of the beautiful Earth we live on.

Scripture: Gen. 1: 10

Song: “Fun To Do”

Brief Lesson: Our loving Father in Heaven prepared a beautiful Earth for us to live on and enjoy. We should show respect for our earthly home by not littering.

Discussion:

What is littering?

Why is littering bad?

How can we be an example by not littering?

Service Project: This activity is for people/children of all ages. All you need is some cheap gloves and a garbage bag. Your service project is to go to a nearby park or roadside that needs some litter pick-up. Be sure to explain the dangers in picking up glass, metals and other items to young children before beginning. BE SAFE and have fun making your community cleaner!

Treat: Create this easy treat and take to the park to have after clean up!

Bugs and Dirt

Ingredients:
Chocolate graham crackers
Chocolate sprinkles (ants)
Gummy worms
Raisins (beetles)

Directions:
Crush the graham crackers with a rolling pin. Place into a bowl then add the ants, beetles and worms to the “dirt.” Place the bowl in the middle of the table with a clean sand shovel and let each child scoop up a cup of dirt and bugs. You can let them eat with their hands or spoons. This is also great for outside at the picnic table, using small paper cups or plastic bags for their treats. The real backyard critters will help clean up the mess on the grass!

from family.com

Filed Under: FHE Lessons for All, Service Project Ideas

FHE Service Project: Health Care Kits

2010
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Health Care Kits: Family Humanitarian Service Project
Purpose: This month’s family service project is focused on preparing and sending much needed health care kits to those affected by devastating events throughout the world or to prepare for future use.
Lesson: While you are discussing what happened in Haiti and why it is so devastating, you can begin to discuss how these events can help us draw closer to our brothers and sisters all over the world by doing small acts of kindness. Although we can’t see what our efforts do exactly, we can feel of the love we have for those in need and rejoice in the feeling of serving others.

Health Kit Items:

Place these items inside a sealed one-gallon plastic bag.
  • 1 hand towel (15″ x 25″ up to 17″ x 27″, No kitchen towels)
  • 1 washcloth
  • 1 comb (large and sturdy, not pocket-sized)
  • 1 nail file or fingernail clippers (no emery boards or toenail clippers)
  • 1 bath-size bar of soap (3 oz. and up)
  • 1 toothbrush (single brushes only in original wrapper, No child-size brushes)
  • 6 adhesive plastic strip sterile bandages
Important Kit Assembly Information
  • All items included in kits must be NEW items.
  • All emergency kits are carefully planned to make them usable in the greatest number of situations. Since strict rules often govern product entry into international countries, it is important that kits contain only the requested items-nothing more.
  • Do NOT include any personal notes, money or additional materials in the kits. These things must be painstakingly removed and will delay the shipment.
Filed Under: Couples, Couples, Families, Families With Children, FHE Lessons for All, Newlyweds, Newlyweds, Service Project Ideas, Single Groups