Be Emmanuel to someone this week
This Christmas, as a church family, we’re choosing to live out the truth of Emmanuel — God with us — by being present with others in simple and meaningful ways.
One person each week.
One act of presence each week.
God came near to us.
Now we go near to others.
How It Works
Each week of the series:
- Choose the weekly category
- Choose one person who needs presence
- Show up for them in a simple, practical way
On Sundays, use your card to write the name of your person for each week.
Below are ideas to help you get started.
Have you carried out an act of presence? Click on the button to let us know what happened!
Use the buttons below to quickly access the ideas for individual weeks
WEEK 1 — FAMILY
Presence begins at home.
These ideas work for ordinary December days — not just Christmas gatherings.
1. A Proper Catch-Up
Choose one family member and give them an evening of your full attention.
Tea, biscuits, no phones, no rushing. Just:
“How are you really doing?”
A simple conversation can be a gift.
2. Help Without Being Asked
Pick something that would genuinely lighten their load:
• Cook one evening meal
• Do the school run
• Sort the laundry
• Handle a life admin task
Small acts often speak the loudest.
3. Bring Back a Forgotten Family Tradition
Choose an old family tradition or create a new one:
• A walk after dinner
• A board game night
• Decorating the tree together
It doesn’t need to be big — it just needs to be together.
4. The ‘I Noticed This About You’ Note
Write a short, handwritten note to one family member telling them what you appreciate about who they are.
Not a grand speech — just a genuine sentence or two.
WEEK 2 — FRIENDS
Show up for someone who might need it more than they say.
1. The Warm Drink Walk
Invite a friend for a winter walk with a takeaway coffee or hot chocolate.
Let them set the pace — and the conversation.
2. The Mid-Week Rescue
Choose a friend who’s stressed or stretched.
Drop off something simple that says “I’m thinking of you”:
• A homemade dessert
• A ready meal for the freezer
• A small care package
No announcement — just kindness.
3. The Proper Check-In
Choose one friend you haven’t spoken to for a while.
Call them — not a text — and say,
“You came to mind. How’s life?”
Let it be unhurried.
4. The Shared Space
Sit with a friend who is struggling — grief, anxiety, burnout, or loneliness.
You don’t need answers.
Your calm presence is the gift.
WEEK 3 — NEIGHBOURS
Presence on your street.
These are practical, non-awkward steps that work well in UK neighbourhoods.
1. Seasonal Hello
Knock on one neighbour’s door just to say,
“Hi, hope December’s going OK — if you ever need anything, I’m just next door.”
Short, warm, simple.
2. The Little Treat
Bake or buy something small (mince pies, shortbread, chocolates) and leave it with a short handwritten note:
“From your neighbours at No. __ — wishing you a peaceful December.”
3. The Everyday Help
Offer something genuinely useful:
• Take their bins out
• Clear leaves or sweep their path
• Offer a lift to the shops
Practical love goes a long way.
4. Notice Someone New
If someone has recently moved in, drop by with a mini “welcome”:
A card, a list of local recommendations, or simply introducing yourself.
WEEK 4 — WORK / STRANGERS
Presence Beyond Comfort Zones
WORK (Choose one person where you work)
1. The Slow Lunch
Invite a colleague who’s often on their own.
Eat together and ask about their life outside work.
2. The Quiet Blessing
Do one task that helps someone else:
• Make them a coffee
• Share resources
• Help with a deadline
• Cover a small job
Do it without making a fuss.
3. The Encouragement Email
Write one colleague a short message telling them the good you see in them.
Not gushy — just honest and specific.
4. The Lift in the Day
Bring in a small treat for one person — not the whole office.
Just say, “Saw this and thought of you.”
STRANGERS
1. A Kind Word
Speak a word of encouragement to someone serving you — bus driver, shop assistant, delivery driver.
A sincere “I really appreciate what you do” can brighten a whole day.
2. The Unexpected Help
Offer to carry a bag, hold a door, or assist someone struggling in a small, practical way — especially elderly people or parents juggling kids.
3. The Coffee Gift
Buy an extra hot drink and hand it to someone working outside — security, parking attendants, street cleaners.
“Merry Christmas — thought you might like this.”
4. Notice the Invisible
Take a moment to stop and speak to someone experiencing homelessness:
Ask their name.
Ask how their week has been.
Offer food, a warm drink, or a gift card.
Presence is more than giving — it’s seeing.
Why This Matters
Emmanuel isn’t just a story we celebrate — it’s a life we imitate.
God came toward us in Jesus.
Now we walk toward others with His love, His compassion, and His presence.
Through hundreds of small decisions this Christmas, our whole city will feel what Emmanuel means:
God with us.
Through us.
For others.
