This project has been shared by the Good Shepherd Lutheran Life Team in Collinsville, Illinois. Thank you to Lynn Cook, Life Team Leader, for her helpful information.
“And the angel said to them, ‘Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger’” (Luke 2:10-13).
Christmas is a time to celebrate Jesus’ birth and be with family and friends. Unfortunately, not everyone is able to attend Christmas events with their loved ones. The Christmas Luncheon was started many years ago by a pastor’s wife at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Collinsville, Illinois. As she became an older adult, the Good Shepherd Lutheran Life Team saw the importance in continuing the event and started hosting it.
The Life Team starts their planning early in the year by picking the theme. This theme flows through the entire event. By their July meeting, the Life Team knows who will help with the various tasks, and all tasks are assigned by November.
Volunteers are essential in making this event successful. Volunteers decorate, cook, clean, and possibly provide rides as needed. They are scheduled in shifts and are given specific tasks to complete. This ensures the event runs smoothly and on time without a few people being burdened with many tasks. For Good Shepherd Lutheran’s luncheon, they have 15-20 volunteers and an average attendance of 75 older adults who attend. It is a wonderful opportunity for the younger members in the congregation to cook, serve, and clean up. Lynn Cook always sends a personal thank you note to all the volunteers. She wants them to feel that their work and service to others has not gone unnoticed.
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church is blessed with two volunteers who love decorating and take on the task every year. While some of the decorations have been elaborate, many luncheons were simply decorated with Christmas decorations found at any local store. Christmas trees, red and green decorations, snowflakes, angels, and items that fit the theme are some possibilities. Poinsettias are used and given away at the end of the event. Your church or group may even have decorations ready for use. The tables also have a favor at each seat for the attendees. These are typically Christmas cookies but can vary depending on the theme for the event.
The event is held on a Friday in early December. It starts at 11:00 a.m. with punch. The pastor leads the group in devotion before and after the activities. The meal is served at 11:30 a.m. and there is a short presentation that fits the theme. The school’s music director is invited to bring a couple of grades to perform. The festivities always end with singing Christmas carols. The luncheon concludes around 1:00 p.m.
The group enjoys having a different menu every year. Here are some menu examples:
- Hashbrown casserole, Italian beef and bread, peppermint ice cream, and cookies
- Lasagna, Italian salad, Italian bread, and cherry dessert
- Ham and sweet potatoes, green Jello, and desserts
- Chicken breast, potatoes, cranberries, and eclairs
- Chicken tetrazzini, green beans, cranberries, and eclairs
Advertising for the luncheon begins in early November. The Life Team puts out a sign-up sheet to ensure they know how many to prepare for. The meal is funded with a $250 Thrivent Action Team Grant. To describe this project when applying to receive a grant, you could refer to it as a Senior Recognition Christmas Luncheon.
“The most important thing is getting the people together,” said Lynn Cook, as encouragement for others that a simple event will be just as welcomed and enjoyed as an elaborate luncheon with magnificent decorations.
Christmas Goody Bags
Along with the meal for older adults, the Life Team assembles Christmas goody bags to bless homebound members. The bags remind these members that they are cared for and loved during the Christmas season.
Christmas gift bags may be used, but the Life Team found they can be pricey. Plain brown gift bags are used, which are decorated by the school’s third-grade class. The bags are given to the teacher in October to provide plenty of time for planning and decorating by the students.
This project is also funded by a $250 Thrivent Action Team Grant. If you decide to apply for a grant, referring to the project as a Senior Christmas Gift Bag project would be a helpful description. Standard items that Good Shepherd Lutheran Life Team puts in the bags are stationery and pre-stamped envelopes, cookies made by a lady from the congregation, a devotional, and footie slippers (including a pair for husband and wife, if the bag goes to a couple). One year a member donated homemade lap robes for each bag. Another year devotional books from Concordia Publishing House and reading magnifiers were purchased. Candy and other snacks may be added.
It typically takes the Life Team an hour to put 25 bags together. Each bag is labeled with the name and address of the recipient. They are then placed on a table in the Narthex for congregation members to deliver to the homebound person on the label. The Life Team also puts together two to three bags without names that can be given to a member’s neighbor or friend in need of a pick me up.