Burden Bears

[DA Weaver]

Our Ladies Tea Cup ministry has begun a "Burden Bear" ministry. As I was sharing it with a friend, I was encouraged to share it here with everyone.

Before I share about the Burden Bear ministry, please allow me to share a little about the Tea Cup Ministry. The idea behind Ladies Tea Cup Ministry is a prayer ministry. Once a month we meet for tea and share prayer requests and praises. We have a prayer chain, and minister to the other ladies involved in the ministry through the month. I.E., sometimes ladies have requests or concerns that aren't necessarily appropriate for the entire church to know about. However, we still need specific prayer: breast biopsy ~ possible breast cancer, annual gynecological exam ~ possible hysterectomy or surgery regarding the female organs, colonoscopy, etc... This ministry opens the door for a person to call someone else in the group and share their prayer request, and for that request to be passed along in a quiet manner.

Another way in which we minister for example is: recently, two of the ladies have gone on vacation. The Tea Cup Ministry put together a small care package to let the recipient know we are thinking about and praying for her while she’s gone. Items included in the basket were everything from snacks to books to coupons for McDonalds so they could enjoy a meal while they were gone. We also recycle the basket so we may pass the blessing along to the next person.

The basic idea behind a "Burden Bear" is explained in the poem that comes along with the bears that are sent:

"I'm not a very fancy bear,
I'm plain and rather small.
Even so, someone who loves you
Said I should come to call.

Hide me beneath your pillow
Or set me on a nearby shelf
And when you fell discouraged
I will do my best to help.

I brought my favorite blanket,
That I snuggle when I'm sad...
It's a present from my Granny,
Made for days when things seem bad.

My Granny always told me,
"Life's like a patchwork quilt...
Just give Jesus all the pieces,
And he'll make a pretty quilt."

Sometimes I don't see the pattern,
Sometimes he seems far away,
Then I clutch my favorite blanket
And I pray and pray and pray.

Though I don't have all the answers,
For I'm just a "Burden Bear"
I've been sent here on a mission
From someone who really cares.
When you see me, please remember...
You are in her thoughts and prayers."

~ Author UNKNOWN

Basically, we use scraps of material and pinking shears to cut out the bears. A piece of batting is placed between the two pieces of material, and it is stitched along the edges. A ribbon is used to tie around the neck, and a small piece of white fabric has been used to write a little note on. Ours happen to have "Jesus loves you, so do I." and "Casting all your cares upon him for he cares for you." 1 Peer 5:7 written on them. However, you could use any verse appropriate. This is one of the simplest sewing projects I've ever experienced.

The burden bears fit in a grade-card size envelope. However, you could make them as big or as little as you wish. If your church operates on a tight budget, I would suggest you cut down the measurements of the bear in order for them to fit into a standard card sized envelope. This will save on postage.

We mail out the “Burden Bears” to someone God has revealed is carrying a burden. So far, we have mailed them to someone who was recently diagnosed with breast cancer, a teenage boy who was having difficulties with “friends” at school, and a pastor’s wife. We don’t always know the details of the situation, but if the Lord lays it upon our hearts to send one out, we do.

Attached you should find a picture of one of our burden bears. The options for making them are endless. Some individuals use actual teddy bears, while others use foamies to create their bears; ours are made of scrap pieces of material. I imagine if you wanted, you could even make them out of paper.

As I said, I was asked to share about this ministry. It is my prayer that through sharing, God will continue the ministry.

Thanks!

D.W.

P.S. I think there's an attachment on here, but I don't know.

[Barb Bouldrey]

What a clever, creative idea. The Bible says to "bear" one anothers burdens and you do that with a Bear. And the white strips are the blanket..

Thanks so much for the instructions and the picture. I am going to show this to our Women's Ministry and see if we can do something like this. We have been doing "Card Showers" in this same way, but this is a great new idea for us.

Barb

[Gina Stevenson]

Thanks for this cute idea/poem combo. 'Might try it sometime.

[Joanne Vergin]

Fabulous. I am saving this.

[Barb Bouldrey]

Update on this program:

I printed this out and showed it to our Women's Ministry meeting in May. We decided to do it for the new church year. Here is how God has used it already:


1. We have a new couple who just joined the church. At our last ladies Bible Study and lunch out I talked about finding what you can do that is naturally a part of you to help others. This lady, said, "I guess I cannot do anything."
As she and I were visiting in her home, I told her about the burden bears and she said she sews and has lots of scraps. I asked her and she said she would be the chairman of the Burden Bear committee.

2. The Women' Meeting loved the idea and we have started it.

3. This lady made one with a fishing vest on and put a cloth fishing rod on its hand and sent it to a man who just had surgery for cancer.

4. The first one went to our office secretary whose husband was diagnosed with cancer last week. She told me, "Yesterday was my worst day. I fell apart. Then I got the Burden Bear. The poem said just what I needed to hear. I sat there and cried. Thank the ladies for me."

Thanks, Denise, for sharing this wonderful idea. It already has been a blessing to our church.

Barb