Central Serves

With a cup of coffee, planting a garden, maybe over a fireside chat, this fall we’re taking Central Serves to the neighborhood. Yours in fact. We want to take time to get to know the people on our street, learn their names and how to better serve them. We’re praying God deepens our love for the people around us and gives us eyes to see how we can grow friendship, hope and ultimately the redemption that is found in Jesus.

Each week we will suggest one way to engage with our neighbors. Think of it more as a game than a to-do list! Make it fun, include the whole family and pray as you go. Keep scrolling for weekly prompts...

The first step to loving our neighbors is knowing them! Here are some ways you can make that happen. When you see them outside, introduce yourself. If you're taking out the trash and they're on their lawn, walk over and say hi, ask a question. Try to learn their names, hobbies, history, anything. Ask good questions, then listen and learn. Make yourself available to your neighbors by spending time outside. Sit on your front porch or driveway in the evening and be sure to say hello if people pass your home. Take more walks around your place engaging the people you see along the way. If folks aren't outside much in your neighborhood, try knocking on some doors to introduce yourself, and let them know you're there if they ever need anything.

A little initiative can go a long way.

Jot down what you learn through these encounters and keep a few notes so you can remember and connect with them in a more personal way in the future. We’ve created a printable form that will make it easy to do this for the homes on your street. Keep this paper in a convenient place, but not a visible place.

This is for your own knowledge to help you build relationships and know your neighbors.

there if they ever need anything.

A little initiative can go a long way.

We’ve created a printable form that will make it easy to do this for the homes on your street. Keep this paper in a convenient place, but not a public place. This is for your own knowledge to help you build relationships and know your neighbors.

Prayers Walks are a great way to develop deeper care for our neighbors. Praying with eyes open may be new to some of us, but seeing what is around you on a prayer walk is part of the process. The things you observe can prompt specific and thoughtful prayers. You might choose a specific house or neighbor to pray for as you walk past, or pray general prayers for your whole street. Enjoy your neighborhood and the weather as it continues to cool.

And who knows, you may even meet people along the way!

Here is a printable prayer guide to give you ideas as pray and walk.

Who doesn’t love a little unexpected treat on the doorstep? This week we will have a little fun leaving gifts and notes with neighbors. If you know a snack someone loves, grab it the next time you’re at the store. Cut some of those roses that have been blooming in your backyard and stuff them into a jar. These little acts of kindness along with a personal message can go a long way to brighten someone’s day and build friendships. Below are some ideas of things you could leave a neighbor with your note. Let them know you’re praying for them and you’re there if they need anything.

Who doesn’t love a little unexpected treat on the doorstep? This week we will have a little fun leaving gifts and notes with neighbors. If you know a snack someone loves, grab it the next time you’re at the store. Cut some of those roses that have been blooming in your backyard and stuff them into a recycled jar. These little acts of kindness along with a personal message can go a long way to brighten someone’s day and build friendships. Below are some ideas of things you could leave a neighbor with your note. Let them know you’re praying for them and you’re there if they need anything.

• Flowers - Pick up a $5 bouquet at Alberstons. Take that jar with one pickle left, empty it, soak it in hot water, and scrub off the label. Voila! You have a vase. Tie a ribbon on it if you have it!

• Food - This could be homemade cookies or a bag of skittles. Snacks are the way to many a heart. If you know someone is more cautious about social distancing, prepackaged is the way to go. There should be plenty of candy for sale at the store these days.

• Fall things - With the weather dropping, everyone is getting into the fall mood! Check out Dollar Tree for the latest fall decor or mugs you could pair with a candle or a hot drink.

• Flowers - Pick up a $5 bouquet at Alberstons. Take that jar with one pickle left, empty it, soak it in hot water, and scrub off the label. Voila! You have a vase. Tie a ribbon on it if you have it!

• Food - This could be homemade cookies or a bag of skittles. Snacks are the way to many a heart. If you know someone is more cautious about social distancing, prepackaged is the way to go. There should be plenty of candy for sale at the store these days.

• Fall things - With the weather dropping, everyone is getting into the fall mood! Check out Dollar Tree for the latest fall decor or mugs you could pair with a candle or a hot drink.

This week there are a couple of things you can do to connect with your neighbors.

1. Dinner/Coffee/Firepit/Dessert – Invite a neighbor over for a meal, for a late-morning Saturday coffee, or an evening sit around the fire in the backyard. Cook up a big pot of chili and some cornbread and invite them over (or to the back porch for distancing). Or maybe it’s s’mores for the kids on a chilly evening. This will allow for a longer time of connection than you’re getting when you walk the dog or drag your trashcans in. Ask good questions, get to know them, and have fun!

2. Join your neighborhood social media group. Visit nextdoor.com and sign up for notifications in your neighborhood. People post about lost dogs, advice on roofers, ask for a cheap piano, report crime. It’s a really easy way to hear from people and connect on personal level because they’re already reaching out publically. It’s also a place we can post in a public way to gather people or to express need ourselves. Click on it and sign up now! It’s a no-brainer. Sometimes neighborhoods will have a Facebook group. If you’re on Facebook, search your neighborhood and join.

This week is all about invitations. As you're talking to your neighbors this week, invite them to watch our online church service at CBC! Something as small as an invitation to watch a livestream church service can go a long way.

Here's the info to tell your neighbors about the online service:

Go to our website, wearecentral.org, and click on the watch online button. From there you can access the service on Facebook or YouTube. The service starts at 9:00 am on Sunday morning and even has an online Kids lesson! There will be a host available on the chat for either platform if you have any questions or just want to chat with some other people during the service.

Here's the info to tell your neighbors about the online service:

See you online!

Here's the info to tell your neighbors about the online service:

Get outside with all those trick-or-treaters this week!

Here are a couple of ways to participate on Halloween night:

1. Pair up with a neighbor and sit on one of your front drives together to hand out candy for Halloween. Chat with neighbors as they stop by and have fun! If you want to keep more social distance, you could put candy in small gift bags in a bowl for kids to take themselves while you interact from a few feet away. 6 or more feet to be exact!

2. “Trick-Or-Treat” through your neighborhood (no costume needed) and give your neighbors a little treat instead of taking one. Treat ideas: homemade cookies, individually wrapped mini pumpkin with drawings from the kids (sharpies work great!), gourds from the grocery store , cute fall mug from dollar tree, a box of hot chocolate, homemade popcorn balls (recipe here)

1. Watch this video from Mission Arlington to hear about their initiative.

Click here. (https://youtu.be/GWf4pUzGZjk)

2. Print out this flyer or pick up a few on Sunday in the main lobby. Fill out the personal info so they know where to bring the food and how to contact you. (Download flyer here)

3. Take the flyers to your neighbors and invite them to participate in a canned food drive for Thanksgiving. Make sure they know the deadline (November 11) and that you will have it delivered to Mission Arlington or 6 Stones.

4. Collect the food at your home.

5. Deliver the food or allow Central Students to deliver it for you! If you live north of I-30, please deliver to 6Stones. If you live south of I-30, please deliver to Mission Arlington.

CBC , you do such a good job volunteering your time and energy to serve our people. This week, we are going to look for unique ways to serve our neighbors. Is there someone on your street who needs help raking and bagging leaves? Maybe you notice someone dragging bulk trash to the curb or know of a family experiencing hardship who would love to have a meal brought to the house. If it’s not obvious, maybe you knock on some doors to ask if they need help with anything and let them know you’re available to them. Let’s get out to serve and love on our neighbors this week!