THE CHRISTMAS PROJECTS SERIES: 2009

THE BIG IDEA

- Getting friends together to give back to our community during the Christmas season

WHY ARE WE DOING THIS

- To spread the spirit of Christmas to the less fortunate ones and to spread some joy and love to them

TARGET AUDIENCE

- Less fortunate children in Singapore (eg orphanages, hospices etc)

SO WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO?

- Basically, we call up the homes and select 3 (preferably the most needy ones) and commit to visit them during the Christmas week (suggest 20-23 Dec) evenings to play with them, distribute Christmas gifts, talk to them..basically be a friend to them! We can also find out before hand if the home has any particular needs..for eg, they might need books, old textbooks or even clothes for certain sizes..so, what we'll do is to set up an IN-KIND donation drive to fulfill their needs.

DRAFT PROGRAM OUTLINE

7pm - Gather at selected home

730pm - Ice-breaking games

8pm - Christmas Sing-Along with action

820pm - Gift Distribution

830pm - Christmas Carols

845pm - Draw A Christmas Contest

915pm - Christmas Contest Awards

920pm - Final Christmas Dance!

930pm - Off To Bed!

PROPOSED VISIT DATES
- These are the proposed dates; actual number of visit days will depend on how many visits we can commit. Also, we will have a team rotation system, so everybody will not be stressed outJ

20 (Sun), 21 (Mon), 22 (Tues), 23 (Wed) Dec 2009

Okay what you see below is just the proposed dates for major meetings for team I/Cs and 2I/Cs - As all of you will be involved in a team, you will also have to go for separate team meetings to brainstorm and plan how you’re going to achieve your team’s objectives. So, in short, more meetings required for the team leaders. The rest of the team members need only attend the major meetings.

PROPOSED MAJOR MEETING DATES

27 Nov (General meeting for working committee I/Cs and 2 I/Cs)

6 Dec (to confirm details again)

13 Dec (rehearsal + packing of gifts)

20 Dec (depending on the number of homes we are visiting, this could be the actual event day or a day reserved for rehearsals)

Okay, to make things easier for everybody, please indicate your preferences in your reply email to thechristmasprojects@gmail.com to volunteer at the teams you would like to be involved in: eg 1st choice program, 2nd choice home liaison and 3rd choice gift distribution. Any questions, let us know.

THE TEAMS

Home Liaison Team

- Call homes and liaise with the principal

- Manage the homes' expectations on what we will be delivering/doing

- Conduct needs survey with the homes to find out what do they need (working closely with the Donations Team for the donation drive)

- Confirm activities with the homes (working closely with the Program Team to customise activities for each home)

- Home profile (this is very important and sensitive as we want to have as much info as possible about the homes before we plan the program. for example, # of children in the home (work with the Gifts Distribution, Program and Donation Teams), age groups of the children (work with the Program and Donation Team), race profile of home (work with the Program and Gift Distribution Teams)

Additional Notes: Basically, the home liaison team is the NERVE CENTRE of this project, which all the activities revolve around your team's input. We need people with: good PR skills, a detailed and meticulous nature and possess a very good ear for listening. Note that this team will be working harder than the rest in the beginning due to the nature of work - the need to chase, assess and confirm information for the other teams. In short, you screw up, we screw up...!

Program Team

- Planning and executing the Christmas carolling session, manpower, props etc

- Planning and executing ice-breaking games, manpower, props etc

- Planning and execution the mini contest

- All other activities we are going to do in the homes

Additional Notes: You are the ENERGY of the group - you breathe life in the things we are going to do and craft the experience the kids are going to receive! Enough said...in short, you're the party people! We need people who are: lively, full of ideas and spontaneous! You can be a little crazy, and we'll love that too!:)

Gifts Distribution

- Propose gifts for homes (working with the Home Liaison team)

- Get quotation from supermarkets

- Purchase gifts

- Plan and execute the gift packing session (all volunteers will help)

- Storage of gifts

- Actual day transportation of gifts to the homes

Additional Notes: You are the Santa Clauses that will make the kids' heart swell with delight and to complete the Christmas treat! Run along, boys! (Yep, girls are welcome too!)

Donation Team

- Work out what do we need to get (working closely with the Home Liaison Team)

- Plan and execute the donation drive (working closely with the Volunteer Team)

- Storage of donation items

- Allocate what homes get which items (working closely with the Home Liaison Team)

- Actual day delivery of donation items

Additional Notes: Need we say more? You are the NEEDS FULFILLERS - the homes will be a better place to live in and the children will be happier with their needs fulfilled. You are: resourceful, someone who says never-say-die when you're stuck in a situation (ie not enough donation items) and you love getting things for free:)

Volunteer Team

- Recruitment drive

- Allocation of volunteers to form sub-committee for each team (Team I/Cs can bring in their own members too)

- Allocation of event teams for each day (for eg, must have a good mix of adults and youths, if certain particular homes have more Indian children, we need to allocate more Indian volunteers and other sensitive details like that)

- Scheduling (ie who can make it, who cannot make it, replacement volunteers to fill in the gaps)

- All other administration stuff (eg compiling of spreadsheets for attendance, etc)

Additional Notes: You are the BACKBONE of the team - without enough volunteers, the whole project will be under-resourced and people will get stressed out. You are also: a problem solver, meticulous and well-organised. We need people like you to run big things!

Okay, thats about it. We hope you can be part of this exciting Christmas project - make a difference this December!

Cheers,

The Christmas Projects Series: 2009 Team:)

PS: If you're interested, or would like to find out more, reply to: thechristmasprojects@gmail.com anytime and we'll get in touch with you.

Love Letter

My Child,

You may not know me,
but I know everything about you.
Psalm 139:1

I know when you sit down and when you rise up.
Psalm 139:2

I am familiar with all your ways.
Psalm 139:3

Even the very hairs on your head are numbered.
Matthew 10:29-31

For you were made in my image.
Genesis 1:27

In me you live and move and have your being.
Acts 17:28

For you are my offspring.
Acts 17:28

I knew you even before you were conceived.
Jeremiah 1:4-5

I chose you when I planned creation.
Ephesians 1:11-12

You were not a mistake,
for all your days are written in my book.
Psalm 139:15-16

I determined the exact time of your birth
and where you would live.
Acts 17:26

You are fearfully and wonderfully made.
Psalm 139:14

I knit you together in your mother's womb.
Psalm 139:13

And brought you forth on the day you were born.
Psalm 71:6

I have been misrepresented
by those who don't know me.
John 8:41-44

I am not distant and angry,
but am the complete expression of love.
1 John 4:16

And it is my desire to lavish my love on you.
1 John 3:1

Simply because you are my child
and I am your Father.
1 John 3:1

I offer you more than your earthly father ever could.
Matthew 7:11

For I am the perfect father.
Matthew 5:48

Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand.
James 1:17

For I am your provider and I meet all your needs.
Matthew 6:31-33

My plan for your future has always been filled with hope.
Jeremiah 29:11

Because I love you with an everlasting love.
Jeremiah 31:3

My thoughts toward you are countless
as the sand on the seashore.
Psalms 139:17-18

And I rejoice over you with singing.
Zephaniah 3:17

I will never stop doing good to you.
Jeremiah 32:40

For you are my treasured possession.
Exodus 19:5

I desire to establish you
with all my heart and all my soul.
Jeremiah 32:41

And I want to show you great and marvelous things.
Jeremiah 33:3

If you seek me with all your heart,
you will find me.
Deuteronomy 4:29

Delight in me and I will give you
the desires of your heart.
Psalm 37:4

For it is I who gave you those desires.
Philippians 2:13

I am able to do more for you
than you could possibly imagine.
Ephesians 3:20

For I am your greatest encourager.
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

I am also the Father who comforts you
in all your troubles.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4

When you are brokenhearted,
I am close to you.
Psalm 34:18

As a shepherd carries a lamb,
I have carried you close to my heart.
Isaiah 40:11

One day I will wipe away
every tear from your eyes.
Revelation 21:3-4

And I'll take away all the pain
you have suffered on this earth.
Revelation 21:3-4

I am your Father, and I love you
even as I love my son, Jesus.
John 17:23

For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed.
John 17:26

He is the exact representation of my being.
Hebrews 1:3

He came to demonstrate that I am for you,
not against you.
Romans 8:31

And to tell you that I am not counting your sins.
2 Corinthians 5:18-19

Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled.
2 Corinthians 5:18-19

His death was the ultimate expression
of my love for you.
1 John 4:10

I gave up everything I loved
that I might gain your love.
Romans 8:31-32

If you receive the gift of my son Jesus,
you receive me.
1 John 2:23

And nothing will ever separate you
from my love again.
Romans 8:38-39

Come home and I'll throw the biggest party
heaven has ever seen.
Luke 15:7

I have always been Father,
and will always be Father.
Ephesians 3:14-15

My question is…
Will you be my child?
John 1:12-13

I am waiting for you.
Luke 15:11-32

Love, Your Dad
Almighty God

Sin Cannot Stop God’s Grace!

Romans 5:20
Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more,

When a top executive is charged for corruption or a church minister is caught in the very act of adultery, you will probably hear the phrase “fallen from grace” being used of them. We have come to believe that when someone falls into sin, he falls from grace.

But God wants us to know that when someone falls into sin, he does not fall from grace — he actually falls into grace! Thank God His grace is there to put the person back on his feet.

The Bible tells of prostitutes and corrupt tax collectors — sinners — who fell into God’s grace and got back on their feet. If the sin in their lives could stop God’s grace, they would never have been able to receive His grace of healing, help and power to live right.

Now, it is important you understand that God hates sin because it destroys our lives, relationships and bodies. Sin is evil! But sin is not overcome by us talking about it and relying on our willpower to overcome it. It takes God’s grace to destroy sin. In fact, it is when you are under His grace that sin has no dominion over you. (Romans 6:14) It is when you see His grace in providing His Son to put away your sins and make you eternally righteous that sin will not dominate you.

The devil will say to you, “You think that you can still expect God’s blessings after what you did this morning?” That is when you must remind yourself that Christ alone is your perfection and righteousness. All of us have faults. None of us deserve God’s blessings. That is why we plead the grace of God, which is His unearned, unmerited and undeserved favor toward us.

Sin does not and cannot stop God’s grace. If His grace can be cut off by sin, Jesus would never have come to save us because we were all terrible sinners. But praise God, “where sin abounded, grace abounded much more”!

My friend, God’s grace is bigger, deeper, wider and more powerful than all the world’s sins put together. Receive His grace right now to walk in total victory over that weakness or evil habit in your life!