This document outlines a session on service learning and designing meaningful service experiences. It introduces service learning as an intentional four-step process of preparation, action, reflection, and celebration. The document discusses getting community members involved, listening to others' stories, examining one's own assumptions, and reflecting on experiences in relation to Scripture. Participants are encouraged to use what they've learned to plan a service project using a provided planning guide.

1. Prepared by Mark Jackson, Trinity Lutheran College
Session 6: The Story of Service

2. Getting into the Conversation
• Why do you think youth service projects
and mission trips are increasingly
common?
• What are the positive aspects of this
trend?
• What are the potential downsides and
challenges of this practice?

3. Assumptions Exercise
Answer the questions based on what you
can observe about your partner, without
asking questions.
Skip questions that make you feel
uncomfortable or you prefer not to answer.

4. Assumptions Exercise
• How easy or difficult was it to come up
with answers to the questions?
• What did you base your answers on?
• What does it take to know a person well
enough to answer more of these
questions?

5. Assumptions Exercise
• While engaging in service experiences,
how might our group move beyond
forming assumptions about an individual,
group, or a community, to truly getting to
know them and their stories?

6. The Story of Scripture
• John 13:3-9, 12-16
• Luke 24:13-35
• John 4:5-30
• Matthew 25:31-46

7. The Story of Scripture
• What story (or stories) do you see present
in this passage? Who’s telling the story?
Who’s listening? What’s the message?
• In what ways might this passage deepen
your understanding of service?
• In light of this passage, how might service
experiences be better designed to provide
intentional opportunities to listen to,
embrace, and celebrate the stories of
others?

8. Introduction to Service Learning
Service learning is
an intentional
four-step process
that can add
deeper meaning
and value to
service and
mission
experiences.

9. Introduction to Service Learning
Play the video that accompanies this
session to introduce the service learning
process.

10. What is service learning?
• Intentional = thoughtfully designed
• Experiential = expose youth to service
through active engagement
• Process = understand service as more
than one-time projects and trips
• Reflection = time to reflect and debrief
provides a key opportunity to learn from
the experience
Skip these five slides if the video is used. Otherwise, use them to introduce the service learning process.

11. Step 1: Preparation
• Make a plan for logistics (supplies,
paperwork, travel, etc.)
• Listen and learn from stories of your
community or context of your service
• Listen to the story of Scripture
• Build community with your group to learn
about each other’s gifts, passions, and
stories
Skip these five slides if the video is used. Otherwise, use them to introduce the service learning process.

12. Step 2: Action
• Make sure everyone has a meaningful role
• Listen, listen, listen! Recognize, honor,
and embrace the stories of others
• Examine practices that might inhibit your
group’s ability to be fully present as
servants and partners
Skip these five slides if the video is used. Otherwise, use them to introduce the service learning process.

13. Step 3: Reflection
• Provide adequate time to reflect and
debrief – individually and as a group
• Conversation and journaling are common
• Also provide creative reflection methods
• Consider the stories and experiences
encountered and how they might shape
future attitudes and behaviors
• Return to the story of Scripture
Skip these five slides if the video is used. Otherwise, use them to introduce the service learning process.

14. Step 4: Celebration
• Worship and celebrate through Scripture,
prayer, and spiritual practices
• Honor and celebrate the group’s common
experience
• Tell the story to others
Skip these five slides if the video is used. Otherwise, use them to introduce the service learning process.

15. Try It Out: Design a Service
Experience
Choose a service project or mission trip
and use the Service Learning Planning
Guide to put what you’ve learned into an
action plan.
Don’t worry if you don’t finish! You can
return at a later time to continue the
conversation and planning.

16. Closing the Conversation
Holy God, inspire us to be your servants in
your world and among your people. Give us
strength and courage to listen deeply for the
joys, concerns, opportunities, and challenges
of others and of our community. Open our
ears and hearts to the incredible opportunity
to embrace, honor, and celebrate the stories
we encounter. Bind those stories to our own,
and ultimately gather them into yours. We
pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.