The Brook suggests ’12 Ways to Bring the Kingdom at Christmas’

Lead pastor Rev. Brian Mayfield suggests that couples, families or friends to “sit down and come up with a ‘Give List.’ “Brainstorm ways you can bless others this Christmas season, … and kick start your creative juices with our list.”

In descending order, these 12 suggestions may remind individuals of the season’s true importance:

12. Hold a “Parachute Pie Party” on your block. ‘Parachute’ refers to dropping in on neighbors, and ‘pie’ refers to taking a dessert. “Invite everyone on your street to pop in for dessert, meet their neighbors and hang out,” Mayfield said.

11. Invite a co-worker’s family to the Christmas Candlelight Service at The Brook on Dec. 23 at 5 p.m.

10. Offer to help an elderly neighbor with their Christmas lights and decorations.

9. Bake and take Christmas cookies to Madison Police Department, Madison Fire and Rescue Department or both.

8. “Have a Nativity Party for the kids in your neighborhood,” Mayfield said. “Have costumes, a script and props. Select kids for all the parts, even the animals, and a narrator. Let them put on a show in the front yard.”

7. As a family, write (not email) letters to military personnel who are deployed overseas.

6. Hold a gift-wrapping party.

5. Call a local university and invite a few international students to Christmas dinner.

4. Buy the coffee or meal for the person behind you at a drive-through eatery.

3. Serve a meal at Manna House or volunteer with Inside-Out Ministries.

2. At worship, arrive early, park far away and sit close to accommodate visitors.

1. Fill in the no. 1 idea yourself to round the Gift List.

The Brook has Sunday worship services, along with preschool and children’s activities, at 9 and 10:45 a.m. Youth and adult study groups meet through the week.

For more information, call 256-837-6633, visit thebrookchurch.com and Facebook/The Brook and Twitter.