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Purpose

This activity encourages service, and allows the group to share service activities with each other in a way that focuses on the acts of service, not the individuals involved.

Materials

Pens, small slips of paper, large sheet of paper, markers, basket.

Time Period

10-15 minutes (or more if discussion is extended)

Steps

1.  Since Book 2 is about all about service, have a discussion about what constitutes service (you might write down the ideas on big sheet a piece of paper). Encourage people to think of big and small acts of service that we can do each day for others (opening a door for someone, buying someone a cup of coffee, helping a person move, etc.) . You can perhaps use the quote of Abdu'l-Baha:

"Think ye at all times of rendering some service to every member of the human race...Let him do some good to every person whose path he crosseth, and be of some benefit to him."   (`Abdu'l-Baha:  Selections ...   `Abdu'l-Baha, Page: 3)

2.  Pass out small slips of paper and ask everyone to write down some act of service they have done in the past. Then go around and place the answers in a small basket. 

3.  At the end of the Study Circle, pass the basket around and ask everyone to read one of the slips of paper. This way, the participants can write down something anonymously so they are not put on the spot about having done something special. This activity encourages and rewards service, at the same time as it gives everyone else ideas on how to serve others.

4.  Now tell the participants that it will be a normal part of every study circle and that each week everyone will be encouraged to write down an act of service they have done --preferably in the previous week! 

Other Applications

This activity can be done during any Study Circle!