Saint Mark United Methodist launches kindness campaign

Kindness has been the key ingredient in a summer outreach program of Saint Mark United Methodist Church.

At the beginning of the program church members were asked to write their favorite scripture passage on a card to be given away to friends and strangers. The more visible expression has been the acts of kindness, either through a series of organized events or spontaneous actions that members have listed on large posters at the church.

The series of organized events have included handing out frozen treats at nearby Wald Park to promote a series of sermons using clips from the movie Frozen, giving away more than 90 full-size pizzas at a Hoover daycare center as parents picked up their children in the late afternoon and handing out 150 bottles of chilled water out to parents parked in the afternoon carpool line at Vestavia Hills West Elementary school. 

Scott Perry, co-chair of the church’s Evangelism Committee, recalled a teacher’s surprise. 

 “I’ve worked all day and am stressed out. I’ve had a million things to do, and you’ve taken this (meal preparation) off me.”

Chilled water bottles seemed timely at the hot afternoon carpool line at Vestavia Hills Elementary School West. The pizza boxes had small fliers attached with the church’s name, street address and website. Water bottles had similar labels and a scripture verse: “But whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst.”

Church members also had the option of writing acts of kindness they had seen or had offered. Examples included helping a neighbor with groceries and visiting a shut-in member. One member wrote of having received an encouraging devotion from another member. Writing the acts of kindness on large posters was to give members ideas for things they could do.

The outreach that began on in late July concluded around Labor Day with a drive-through breakfast served in the church parking lot for residents of nearby apartments.

“Acts of unexpected kindness put a smile on their face,” said Perry. “We are not asking for anything. It’s what we are called to do.”