Ideas for a Valentine Box for a Church

Here's a two-year plan to show love on Valentine's Day---and every day of the year! A few weeks before Valentine's Day, give each family in your congregation a paper heart made from light-colored construction paper. Instruct each family to work together to think of a Valentine's goal, and write it on one side of the heart. Some examples include: serving at a local homeless shelter once per month, sponsoring a child in another country, or invite a different neighbor to dinner once per week. Families can then decorate the other side of the heart if so desired. Collect the Valentines in a brightly decorated box. Next year, invite all the families who participated to a "Spread the Love" party, where each family can report on the results of their Valentine's goals.

Host a Secret Encourager program at your church. Those who wish to participate should write their name and address on a small paper heart. Collect all hearts in a brightly decorated Valentine's Box. Have each participant draw a name at random. Participants must send encouraging, positive notes to the person he/she drew for the duration of the program. Try the program for a month. Suggest that participants send at least one note per week. At the end of the period, host an informal party with light refreshments. Have guests reveal themselves to their secret pals with a handmade card or small five- to ten-dollar gift.

During the month of February, ask the congregation to donate school supplies: pencils, notebooks, cute erasers, crayons, markers, inexpensive journal books, small toys, highlighter pens, rulers, colorful paperclips, and other fun tools for school. On "collection day," have Sunday School children decorate shoeboxes as Valentines. Divide the supplies among the boxes. Seal boxes with tape. Mail or deliver the large package to a local children's charity or overseas mission school. If the charity is local, it may be fun to invite the children and their families to come along.

Plan a Sunday School lesson on I John 4:7-8: "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God, and everyone who loves is born of God and knows god. He that loves not knows not God, for God is love." Hand out colorful Valentine's Day gift boxes. When children open the boxes, they'll discover a short phrase of the verse written on a Valentine's Heart. Have the children work together to arrange themselves in order. Say the verse together. Follow up by sharing a Valentine's Day treat.