Community Service Ideas

Good morning blog world! 

So I have been thinking about starting a group at my church. Our church has been pushing small groups for the past year or so and I've been kicking around the idea of starting one off and on but I couldn't think of one that felt right. Years ago I led a girls group and I've thought about starting up a girl's group here but we already have a girl's group for the older girls and there aren't really enough little girls in our church to start one. Then I thought about maybe leading a health or fitness group but that didn't really grab me either so I just keep shelfing the idea. I don't want to commit to something to just do it, I want it to feel right and so far nothing felt right. 

Then I had an idea and it feels right! I want to start a group that will minister and reach out to the community. Part community service, part random acts of kindness type of group. Something similar (or exactly like lol) to what I'm doing with my family. The more I think about it the stronger I feel that the church just isn't fulfilling our purpose anymore, that Christians have lost sight of what we are called to do and be. I know that I've lost sight of what it means to be a follower of Jesus. As a church whole, we have gotten so caught up in just attending services, we spend so much time and energy keeping ourselves prayed up and saved, and I'm just going to say it, entertained that we don't have the time or energy for anything else. 

I know this isn't true of every church and every Christian but most churches that I see don't have any real outreach or ministry programs in place other than things like Wednesday night Bible studies, Sunday school, Sunday evening service, maybe a youth night on Friday nights and a prayer service once a week. But there isn't any focus on feeding the hungry or visiting shut ins, even things like nursing home ministries seem to a thing of the past. Everything seems to be believer based, believer focused and while I agree we do need those things, we need prayer, preaching ad Bible study we can't neglect reaching out to the hurt, sick and hungry. I worry that we have become too self centered. 

Anyway that is the reason behind why I want to start this group. My idea is to have a group of people within the church that will sign up to volunteer at food pantries, nursing home visitations, to go visit shut ins or volunteer at animal shelters or environmental groups. I know our town has a community group that focuses on keeping our city beautiful. They pick up litter and plant flowers, I'd love for our church to be involved in that!

I think that this would be a great outreach too, it will help us to get to know people in our town and neighborhoods, make some new friends and maybe God will lead us to people that we can touch?

My idea is that once I have a group of interested volunteers I can find opportunities within our community and make them known to the group. I thought I'd come up with a sign up sheet and people could sign up for the events/opportunities they are interested in. At first I'd keep it to just 2 or 3 activities a month. 

I need ideas and suggestions! I'm thinking of naming the group In Action Ministries- I think it's kind of what I have in mind-the church in action, love in action that sort of thing. I'd really like to hear any opinions or suggestions. Thanks in advance!