Weekend of Service

November 4th & 5th, 2023!

“The fruit of silence is prayer; the fruit of prayer is faith; the fruit of faith is love; the fruit of love is service; the fruit of service is peace.” Mother Theresa

Join us for the 24th Annual Weekend of Service on Saturday, November 4th and Sunday, November 5th!! We have 20+ projects planned with varied activities for ALL ages, including some of our favorite organizations as well as a few new ones. It is a wonderful opportunity to both give-back and get-back by connecting with both our church and local community. Help us make it a big success with over 150 volunteers – serving our community and re-connecting while we work side by side serving others!

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WEEKEND SCHEDULE

Saturday, November 4th
Kick-Off Breakfast & Reflection: 8:00 – 9:00 am (RSVP below)
Service Projects: 9:00 am – 8:00 pm (see list below)
Ham & Bean Supper & video: 5:30 – 7:00PM (RSVP below)

Sunday, November 5th
Church Service “Wear Your Jeans to Church Day!”: 10:00 – 11:00 am
Service Projects: 10:00 am – 7:00 pm (see list below)

Click here to sign-up for projects on Service Central.

NOTE: You must be logged into Service Central to sign-up for projects. You may view projects without being logged in.

Saturday Service Projects

  • Neighbors in Need Shelf Repair: Repair sagging storage shelves. Takes place at Neighbors in Need Warehouse, 60 Island Way, Suite 74A East, Lawrence. Click here to sign-up.
        • Saturday 9:30am-11:30am
  • Care Packages Part 1: Craft and Cards: Gather in Fellowship Hall to create craft and make cards to be included in the care packages for those in our community who need some extra love. Supplies provided, though donations of items appreciated.  Click here to sign up.
    • Saturday 10:30am-noon
  • Care Packages Part 2: Baking Treats with Love: Gather in the kitchen and bake treats to be included in the care packages for those in our community who need some extra love. Recipes and supplies provided, though donations of items appreciated.  Click here to sign up.
    • Saturday 9:00-10:30am in the kitchen
  • Bikes Not Bombs – bike prep: Under the direction of Bikes Not Bombs staff, we will “flatten” the donated bicycles for shipment overseas. This entails removing the pedals, re-aligning the handlebars to be parallel to the frames of the bikes, and making any other changes that minimize the lateral footprint of the bikes. We will also solicit monetary donations from the bike donors to help cover the cost of shipping. Minimum age 10 when accompanied by an adult, age 15 without an adult. Takes place in front of South Church. Click here to sign-up.
    • Saturday 9:00am-noon
  • Holiday Cards for our Military: Stop by Fellowship Hall and write a holiday greeting and personalized note that will be sent to our deployed U.S. troops in time for the Christmas/Hanukah/Kwanza holiday season. Adults or kids with an adult. Click here to sign up.
    • Saturday 9:00am-noon
  • Lazarus House – Project Bethlehem Prep: Lazarus House’s annual Christmas giving program served over 3000 people last year. Help to clean and prep the gift receipt area or make baked goods for freezing — to be brought out daily through the month of November and December for volunteers and guests. A great activity for adults and children over 8 with adults.
  • Singing at Woodlands & Atria Marland Place: Our group will sing at 2 Communities: The Woodlands Inn, which provides assisted living and memory support households on the Edgewood campus in North Andover; and Atria Marland Place, a senior living community in Andover that offers independent, assisted living and memory care. All ages with adult supervision for children under the age of 10. Click here to sign up.
    • Saturday 9:00-noon
    • Saturday 1:30-3:00pm
  • Giving Garden – Seasonal Work: Winter garden prep and maybe late Fall harvest. All are welcome, 12 and under with adult supervision. Click here to sign up.
    • Saturday 9:30-noon
    • Saturday 1:00-3:00pm
  • Habitat for Humanity: Our team will head to Hamilton for the day to work on a new site where 5 duplexes are being built. It is in the early phase of construction so the work will likely be mostly framing. No prior experience is necessary. Habitat will provide all the tools. Wear good supportive shoes and dress for the weather. Bring your generous spirit and be ready for anything! Must be at least 16 years old to participate. Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Click here to sign up.
    • Saturday 9:00am-3:00pm
  • Leaf Raking for our South Church Family: Flexible times and EVERYONE can help (youth accompanied by an adult) as we go out to homes connected to our church and remove the fall leaves from their yard! Our Scout troop will have 3 or 4 houses covered, and we need help seeing how many more yards we can service! Click here to sign up.
    • Saturday 9:00-3:00pm
  • Bread & Roses – Food Sorting: Help sort and organize food drive donations. 14 years or older, fully vaccinated, and wear a mask while in the building at 58 Newbury Street, Lawrence, MA. Click here to sign up.
    • Saturday 10:00-1:00pm
  • Lazarus House Good Shepherd Soup Kitchen Lunch: Volunteers age 16 and up are invited to serve lunch to approximately 100 people and bring ice cream and toppings to set up a special ice cream sundae bar! Click here to sign-up.
        • Saturday 11:15am-1:15pm
  • Village Food Hub Refridge and Food Moving: Feeling strong? Help Village Food Hub set up its new distribution center at Ballard Vale Church. Move two large refrigerators on dollies and then box and move canned goods and kitchen equipment from upstairs to new shelves downstairs. Click here to sign-up.
        • Saturday 1:00pm-3:00pm
  • Ham & Bean Dinner Volunteers: Come serve the servants! To celebrate our weekend of service, we will gather in Fellowship Hall for a classic Ham & Bean Feast, and we need help setting up, serving and cleaning up. Great for adults and children 12 and up. Click here to sign up.
        • Saturday 4-5pm. Set up
        • Saturday 5:30-7pm. Serve
        • Saturday 7-8pm. Clean up.

Sunday Service Projects

  • Care Packages Part 3: Assemble: Gather during Sunday School to assemble the care package parts for those in our community who need some extra love. Great for families with young children! Click here to sign up.
    • Sunday 10:00-11:00am
  • Holiday Cards for our Military: Stop by Fellowship Hall and write a holiday greeting and personalized note that will be sent to our deployed U.S. troops in time for the Christmas/Hanukah/Kwanza holiday season. Adults or kids with an adult. Click here to sign up.
    • Sunday 11:00am-noon
  • ABC House Fall Outdoor Clean-Up: Leaf raking, yard projects, and (potentially) small indoor projects at ABC House. All ages welcome, but children must be accompanied by an adult. Click here to sign up.
    • Sunday from 12:00-3:00pm
  • Care Packages Part 4: Delivery: Sign-up to deliver one or more care packages after church to local Seniors and others needing a little extra love. Click here to sign up.
    • Sunday noon-4:00pm
  • South Church Maintenance Closet Project: Wear your jeans to church and offer some love and care to our church property! Gather at the Maintenance Closet (near the Men’s restrooms, downstairs from the sanctuary) and help organize it. Click here to sign up.
    • Sunday noon-4:00pm
  • South Church Window Cleaning Project: Volunteers will clean the interior and exterior windows in he new building (church school & offices) from inside (no ladders!). If there is time, we will also do the interiors of the older windows. No equipment is needed except gloves and a desire to see out of the windows! Click here to sign up.
    • Sunday noon-4:00pm
  • Neighbors in Need Food Packing: Sort and pack food to be distributed through the pantries. Takes place at Neighbors in Need Warehouse, 60 Island Way, Suite 74A East, Lawrence. Click here to sign up.
    • Sunday 1:00-3:00pm 
  • South Church Shed: Wear your jeans to church and offer some love and care to our church property! Gather at the shed in back of South Church and help organize it. Click here to sign up.
    • Sunday noon-4:00pm 
  • Lazarus House Family Shelter Dinner: Bring your favorite recipe and ingredients to prepare dinner and dessert for 7 adults and 9 children. Use our spacious kitchen to prepare the meal, and serve buffet style in our family shelter dining room. A great activity for adults and children with supervising adults. Click here to sign up.
    • Sunday 4:30-7:00pm

Food & Bike Donation Drives

  • Village Food Hub Food Drive for the Ballard Vale Community Pantry and Fridge (donations accepted from Oct. 21-Nov. 5th at South Church): 
    • Shelf stable milk
    • Cereal
    • Healthy snacks for children
    • Canned veggies and/or beans
    • Pasta/sauce
    • Mac n cheese
    • Tuna
    • Canned chicken
    • Canned fish
    • Hearty soups

Gift cards for Market Basket, Walmart, and Aldi are also welcome and appreciated! Or you may make a donation by clicking here.

  • Used Bikes for Bikes Not Bombs (donations accepted Sat., Nov. 4th from 9am-noon at South Church): Bikes of all kinds are welcome, from mountain bikes, road bikes, BMX bikes, tandem bikes, children’s bikes, adult bikes, tricycles, and kick scooters. The only stipulation is that bikes cannot be rusty. The drive is also accepting bicycle parts, tools, lights, pumps, and locks. Bicycles will be sent to Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean to be used for transportation.

Saturday Breakfast & Dinner

  • Kick-Off Breakfast & Reflection: Sat., Nov. 4th from 8:00-9:00am at South Church
Click to RSVP for Breakfast!
  • Ham & Bean Celebration Dinner & Video: Sat., Nov. 4th at 5:30pm at South Church
Click to RSVP for Ham & Bean Supper!

Remote WoS Projects

If you are engaging with South Church from somewhere other than our building, we hope you will join us from wherever you are and choose one of these Weekend of Service projects!

  • On Your Own Time:
    • Holiday Cards for our Military: Write a holiday greeting and personalized note that will be sent to our deployed U.S. troops in time for the Christmas/Hanukah/Kwanza holiday season. Your message will offer a connection to home, a bridge of caring, and a taste of the holidays to our beloved warriors. Let them know they are not alone during the winter holiday season!If you would like to make a card from home, please contact Brian in the church office for details!
  • Saturday, November 4th 9:00-11:00am
    • Remote/Online Service Project:  Gather together on Zoom (link will be sent after you sign up) for a morning devotional, and then spend an hour serving the world around you! Do you have a neighbor in need? Could you pick up some trash along the road? Maybe you’ve been needing to set aside time to do home improvements that will be more energy efficient and, therefore, kinder to God’s Creation? You can come with a project in mind, or we will discern something together. No matter who you are or where you are, you have gifts to offer and there is service to be done. After we serve our local communities, we’ll gather again on Zoom to share our experiences and get to know one another! We look forward to meeting you and working with you from afar! Click to sign up.