Please take a moment and share what your WM did this year. By doing so, we can get some new ideas as we plan for the upcoming church year.

Here's what we did at my church (we average about 185 on Sunday mornings):

Sept Kick-off - Hawaiian theme - everyone contributed 1 item for a "Javanese" meal (I got this idea from First Baptist, Brandenburg KY - the ladies really loved it) - gave prizes for best costume, best flip-flops - borrowed a "learn to hula" video from the library (lots of laughter!)

Fall bible study (evening)- "Loved by God" by Liz Curtis Higgs

Fall retreat - Pigeon Forge, TN

Winter - ornament exchange and potluck dinner

Winter Bible Study (morning) - Beth Moore's "Stepping UP"

Spring Bible Study (evening) - Book of James - met in a church member's home for 5 weeks in March

Spring "Hats Off to You" luncheon - Ladies were encouraged to bring another lady to church with them that had been an encouragement / mentor to them. Of course they were encouraged to wear a hat that day. We had a potluck salad luncheon following the morning worship. Prizes for the best hats. Ladies introduced their guests and told what they had done for them.

Summer - Book Clubs - ladies sign up to read a book and we get together at the end of the month at a local restaurant to eat and discuss the book. June - Mandisa's Idol Eyes; July - Angela Hunt's The Debt; Aug - Farrel's Men are like Waffles, Women are like Spaghetti;

Summer - seminar - some ladies will attend the Beth Moore simulcast and some will go to the Women of Faith conference

OTHER:
Service Projects - our WM group was originally founded on monthly service projects. We found this to be a little expensive, so this year we "adopted" one agency and are doing quarterly projects. Fall - collected baby bottles; Winter - made no-sew fleece blankets; Spring - collected preemie clothes; Summer - will go to the agency to help sort donations, etc.

Secret Sisters - ministry of encouragement- runs May - April

Special interest groups - A scrapbooking group meets monthly on a Saturday and a new quilting ministry will begin this summer.

Birthdays - all the ladies of the church receive a birthday card from the Women's Ministry


So....please take a moment to share what you are doing! Blessings to everyone!

I no longer lead women's ministry, but a couple of summer's back my ladies took a trip to Living Proof Live in OKC, I was ill and had to forfeit my spot on the trip but the girls had the best time.

During the four years I led ministry, we did 9 Bible studies. All of them happened to be Beth Moore, but that was the season we were in.

We travelled a lot when I led ministry - we went to Women of Faith in San Antonio and a second trip to a Lifeway Event there, then Living Proof Live in Oklahoma and another trip to Women of Faith in Dallas. It was a marvelous time for all.

We also had outings - we did Dinner and a Movie a number of times. There is a great resource at Lifeway that has recipes, movie and decorating ideas ... etc. One of the best times was watching "One Night with the King." We had a huge feast with an elegantly set table. We drank grape juices in white and red and toasted to our Rev. 19 vision of our King of Kings. We welcomed Him as our host for the evening and embraced our identity as the royal Bride of Christ. It was a beautiful evening capped off by the movie about Esther's journey from captive to Queen and her legacy of faith.

I also did vision casting events - I called them "Food, Facts and Fun." Once a quarter we would have a meal with some activity that revolved around a lesson. The first one netted about 20 attenders. We had a great time with a simple lunch, and the women had to draw in pictures the plan of salvation (Each table took the assignment) and it was great the way it worked out. Then I shared the ministry plan and the ways they could join in and help out. It was a fabulous time and the women really seemed to catch on. I gave them response cards to fill out and well... it was occasions like this that made women's ministry so fun and fresh at our church.

It also helped the women to realize ownership of the ministry and get involved in the planning.

There were two rules for my activities and events in women's ministry - no idea was too big or too small... and nothing but the best. Every event was presented with excellence and great attention to making the women feel welcomed, special and valued as if God had prepared a special occasion just for them. Everything we did had a Scripture foundation and focus and nothing was left to chance. Every detail was given great prayer, plans and preparation... and I enjoyed every minute of it.

If I had it to do over again, I would have gotten more people involved in helping sooner... it would have made the experiences more valuable for others.

I found that these priorities bred successful ministry: 1. God first, 2. Women second, and 3. an atmosphere that invited both God and the women at the same time! Praise music was always playing... it was the best time of my life and ministry thus far... I led ministry for four years and now am starting a new adventure as I left the former in capable hands a year ago.

I hope these ideas give you some help as needed.

I'm new to the forum. It's exciting for me to communicate with other Pastor's wives. I am from a small community, where "samll ideas and mind-sets" still reign. Coming from a much larger community, it is difficult to find the right activities for my ladies ministry. One activity that went over fairly well for all ages was "Dinner and Movie". We had pizza and viewed the first movie in the Jeanette Oke series, "Love Comes Softly". This movie was safe to show, and even though many ladies had already viewed the movie, we enjoyed seeing it together. We are going to continue the series this fall. This takes very little planning and could be done with a large or small group.