"You are the light of
the world. A city on
a hill cannot be
hidden. Neither do
people light a lamp
and put it under a
bowl. Instead they
put it on its stand,
and it gives light to
everyone in the
house. In the same
way, let your light
shine before men,
that they may see
your good deeds
and praise your
Father in heaven.”
Holiday Resource Guide
Anonymous Gift Baskets:
Holiday Parties:
Do you know someone in your
Open your home to neighbors this
neighborhood or
season.
your Home Group who needs a
Share the gift of hospitality with
special blessing this Christmas?
friends and strangers. See page 3
Consider creating and giving an
for party giving ideas and
anonymous Gift Basket. Ideas for
resources.
contents can be found on page 2.
Matthew 5:14-16
Share the
light of
God’s love
this
Christmas
season with
those
around you!
Prayer Walking:
Christmas Caroling:
Intercede for your neighbors' needs.
Join together for caroling at the
Take an afternoon or an evening to
Vineyard facility on Wednesday,
walk and pray around your
December 16 from 6:30 to 8:00,
neighborhood and be amazed by
how God will use you and speak to
you. See page 4 for prayer
or with one of the other host
locations. For more information
on caroling, see
walking resources.
page 5.
Give of Yourselves:
Bless your neighbors you’re your
time and talents this season.
Whether it’s baking homemade
treats or spending time serving
them in a practical way, reach out
as individuals, families, or groups to
touch your neighbors. For ideas
and resources, see page 6.
Gift Basket Ideas
A gift basket can be a creative expression of love and friendship. Here are some ideas for baskets, or use your own creativity to
create one that would bless the recipient in a meaningful way.
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Grocery Gift Basket—Include some staple non-perishable grocery items such as canned goods, dried pasta, peanut butter
and jam, as well as some fun items for a holiday meal (if you know the person will have a place to store them) such as a
ham or turkey, fruit, cookies, etc.; include a gift card for a local grocery store
Cookie Gift Basket – bake up some homemade cookies and enclose them in colorful plastic wrap; include a personal card or
poem.
Chocolate Lovers Gift Basket – include individual fancy chocolates, boxed chocolates, or the person’s favorite chocolate
bars along with hot chocolate mix.
Holiday Gift Basket – a Christmas holiday gift basket idea could include small stocking stuffers, candy canes and homemade
Christmas cookies.
Coffee Gift Basket – Your favorite coffee lover will enjoy fresh gourmet ground roasted coffee (or their favorite brand),
flavored creamer, cookies and a fun coffee mug.
Italian Gift Basket – include a variety of dried gourmet pasta like spinach, whole wheat, or dried tomato, two jars of pasta
sauce, fresh mozzarella and parmesan cheese, garlic bread and fancy olive oil.
Tea Lovers Gift Basket – you can include several varieties of black tea, green tea and herbal teas, a mug and homemade
butter cookies adds a nice finishing touch.
Pet Gift Basket – dog and cat gift baskets are the most popular. For a dog you can include: homemade doggie biscuits or
cookies, a doggie collar, doggie toys. For a cat you can include: cat treats, cat nip and cat toys.
Spa, Bath and Body Gift Basket – includes facial and body scrubs, handmade soaps, a loofah scrubber, hand and foot lotion,
a fluffy towel , a gift certificate for a massage or spa visit.
Movie Gift Basket – includes movie tickets, popcorn, popcorn bowl, movie DVD or video, favorite soda, movie theatre style
candy.
Baby Basket - Spray paint a basket white and line it with a baby blanket or use a diaper bag. Fill with bibs, baby oil, baby
lotion, baby powder, diaper ointment, a teething ring, burp cloths, wipes and a rattle.
Baker’s Delight - Line a large mixing bowl with a dish towel. Add cookie mixes, hot chocolate mixes, brownie mix, muffin
mix, a package of walnuts, measuring cups and pot holders.
Ice Cream Lover - Place tissue paper on the bottom of a basket. Add sundae dishes, an ice cream scoop, nuts, hot fudge
sauce, butterscotch sauce, chocolate syrup, Maraschino cherries and a gift certificate for 2 ½ gallons of ice cream.
Soup Basket - In a basket, stock pot or bean crock, add large soup mugs, 7 bean soup, cornbread mix, cookie mix and oyster
crackers wrapped in cellophane bags and tied with a ribbon.
Family Night - In a large bowl, add a puzzle or game, popcorn, candy bars, soda, hot chocolate mix and mugs.
Fruit Basket - Line a basket with tissue paper. Add apples, oranges, hot chocolate mix, various teas and dried fruits (like figs
or raisins). Sprinkle nuts on top of everything.
Holiday Parties
Whether your party is elaborate or just a simple open home with basic refreshments, the act of opening your home to neighbors is
significant. Some party ideas could include:
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Organize a Potluck and Christmas Movie Night. Have everyone bring a dish to share and let them know ahead of
time what movie you will be watching. Some classic and modern holiday favorites include It’s a Wonderful Life,
Miracle on 34th Street, White Christmas, many versions of A Christmas Carol (including the Muppets’ Christmas
Carol!), and Elf.
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Host a Cookie Decorating party for the kids or families around you. Make up a batch of basic cookies, such as sugar
cookies (see the recipe listed on the baking page) and set out frosting, sprinkles, writing icing tubes, candies, or any
other items you might want to use for topping your cookies.
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Keep it simple and just open your home for neighbors to stop by for a warm beverage, such as cider or coffee, and
a small snack. You could make or purchase a simple snack such as a cracker and cheese or veggie and dip platter
or a tray of cookies.
Prayer Walking
Here are some thoughts/guides on prayer walking…
Intercession
Intercession is prayer for the needs of others. Throughout Scripture we are told to pray for the lost, for cities, for nations.
As you walk and pray, you will be a person of secret influence, interceding to the Father, in the Name of the Son, with the Holy Spirit
to the One who works where no man can work, who accomplishes tasks beyond man’s ability to accomplish, and who gains glory
where man sees no glory.
What is prayer walking?
Prayer walking is merely praying while you walk in a given location. The focus will be on interceding for the needs of the people in
and around that location.
Why prayer walk?
Presence
We physically carry and invite the Holy Spirit into that place. Since Jesus lives within you and the Holy Spirit works through you,
there is a sense in which your prayer-walking provides light in dark places and salt in unsavory places (Matthew 5:13-16).
Engage our whole being
Prayer walking allows God to use our eyes, ears, feet, and mouths. When we make all of our senses available to God, He uses us in
ways we couldn’t imagine otherwise.
Connecting with God to allow the Holy Spirit to give us His vision of the place
Developing the habit of prayer walking enables us to see our neighborhoods as Christ sees them and allows us to offer up prayers
for things we see. Prayer walking can also give us insights on the spiritual climate of our towns and cities as the Spirit provides
insight as we walk the streets. Such insight can have a powerful effect on our mission and ministry strategies.
Ablilty to see more clearly the needs and pray for them with greater clarity and receive more of God’s heart for that place and its
people.
As God leads us into a closer walk with Him, we simultaneously find ourselves in closer proximity to our lost world. Walking with
Him, we see as He sees and respond with pointed, empowered intercession. Then as He answers these insightful, on-site prayers,
we are right where we need to be to extend a touch of love and share a word of hope.
Claiming Territory
Often the location of your prayer-walking will be in enemy territory. The enemy and his influence will be obvious to you as you
walk. In times like these, remember that the battle has already been assured (see verses such as Revelation 12:10-11). Walk, not in
fear, but in assured victory.
PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS FOR INTERCESSORY PRAYER-WALKING
Simply wander and look at what God is doing. Allow your mind to focus on God in prayer, allowing the thoughts that intrude into
your mind into your conversation with God.
1. Be spiritually prepared - Daily Bible reading, devotion and private prayer.
2. Wear comfortable, modest clothing.
3. Wear walking shoes that are already “broken-in.”
4. Pray together as a team prior to the beginning of the walk.
5. Pray with your eyes open, sensitive to that which might prompt prayer.
6. Reinforce prayers of other team members before changing the subject of prayer.
7. Stop for more intense prayer as the occasion calls for it.
8. Talk with God in a conversational manner. Don’t focus on formal language to use.
9. Use scripture in your prayer - either direct quotes or paraphrases.
10. Don’t be afraid of silence. It is OK to walk and pray silently for a time.
11. Smile and be pleasant to people you meet. God may be working in their life. Pray for them.
12. It is OK if prayer-walking feels awkward the first few times.
13. When praying becomes difficult, admit it to your team and ask them to pray for you.
14. Be flexible as the Holy Spirit leads.
15. Conclude your walk on time especially if a share time is planned with others.
16. Pray together as a team at the conclusion of the walk.
17. Keep a journal at the conclusion of each walk or write in a small notebook as you go.
Caroling
Join together with the whole Vineyard community and/or go out as a group in your own neighborhood!
Vineyard Caroling
Tuesday, December 15 in Palms
Meet at the home of Chris and Lydia Barlow at 6:30.
10832 Charnock Rd. #12, Los Angeles, CA 90034
Contact Chris or Lydia at 310-279-8479.
Wednesday, December 16 in Mar Vista
Meet at the Vineyard facility at 6:30 p.m. and then go out together to carol and hand out
warm drinks in the neighborhood right around the Vineyard. Then we’ll return to share
some treats and warm drinks together ourselves.
Wednesday, December 16 in Ladeira Heights
Meet at the home of Chris & Paige Newkirk at 6:30.
6741 Springpark Drive #1, Los Angeles, CA 90056
Contact Dean Mellor at 310-821-9125.
Stay tuned for additional locations!
If you decide to go in your local neighborhood, here are a few links to some song sheets to use for carols:
http://www.christmas-carol-music.org/
http://images.marthastewart.com/images/content/web/pdfs/2008Q4/msl_1208_carolabook_lett.pdf
http://www.noelnoelnoel.com/leadsht/shtmx.html
http://www.carols.org.uk/
Give of Yourselves
These are just a few ideas, but consider needs your neighbors have that you could meet or what special interests and talents you
have that could bless them.
Baking
Use a favorite recipe or check out some of the links below. Fill some tins or other festive containers with homemade cookies or
other treats to give to your neighbors.
http://www.marthastewart.com/photogallery/holiday-cookies?rsc=dl_home04
http://www.marthastewart.com/photogallery/edible-gifts
http://recipesource.com/holiday/christmas/indexall.html
http://www.cooks.com/rec/story/151/
http://search.foodfit.com/query?category=Desserts&q=christmas+cookie
Other Homemade Gifts