Opportunities to serve are everywhere

Craig Macartney
Spur Ottawa Writer

Christmas is known as a time of generosity; a time where people embrace giving to their communities. For families, Christmas is an ideal opportunity to instill the value of emulating Christ’s gift to us by giving your time and love to those around you.

Volunteering during the holiday can be something that helps put you in the Christmas spirit, as it did recently for Ottawa Valley Vineyard Church. They decided to switch things up for their first youth meeting of December.

“Instead of our regular youth programming, we took a pianist, a cellist, and the youth group to a retirement home,” says Pastor Ahren Summach. “They sang carols with the residents and there was a brief concert with the cello and piano.”

Summach says most people in retirement homes are separated from normal home and family life rhythms. In the lead up to Christmas, especially, they crave those connections and reminders of the joys of Christmas.

“There were a couple moments where we saw people in tears, singing. It was tears of joy as they connected with what was going on,” says Summach. “Part of the excitement for the youth was the time afterward. They took candy canes to the residents, visited with them, and listened to their stories. It was just a beautiful moment.”

Ottawa Valley Vineyard took their youth group to sing carols at a retirement home. Photo by Ahren Summach.

There are many Christian organizations in Ottawa that depend on volunteers to help them reach needy people. Jake Harding, who coordinates the volunteer teams at The Ottawa Mission, says they have tons of opportunities for children and families to connect.

“As an institution it is always wonderful when we can get young people engaged with and aware of the issue of homelessness,” he says. “Baking treats at home and dropping them off or putting together Hope Packages (small bags of candy with hopeful messages) are two wonderful ways to get younger family members involved.”

Groups can also contact The Mission and arrange to volunteer making sandwiches and helping serve the homeless more directly.

Another Ottawa ministry gives families the chance to invest in others and build the Christmas spirit right from the comfort of their living rooms. Friends for Dinner connects international students with Christian families to share Canadian holidays.

“It’s a way the whole family can get involved in something,” says Friends for Dinner coordinator, Benton Willard. “For students, being in a home on a traditional Canadian holiday is a neat experience. It’s one I’m pretty sure they’re not going to get any other way.”

International students share a Christmas dinner as part of Friends for Dinner. Photo courtesy of Chuck and Bev Frankish.

Friends for Dinner is an evangelical initiative and specifically aims to introduce international students to the reason behind Christmas, Easter, and other holidays.

“It allows international students to see a family celebrating Christmas, why they celebrate Christmas, and what Christmas means. They get the biblical basis for it shared with them. All around, I think it’s a neat opportunity that way.”

While registration has closed for hosts this Christmas, those who want to do something similar can share a Christmas meal with neighbours or members of their church who do not have family to spend this Christmas with.

The opportunities to volunteer and share God’s love with others are plentiful at Christmas. Regardless of what it looks like, Summach says, “Anytime the Church gets outside the four wall, it’s a good thing.”