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#373, sent to over 23,000 wm leaders & friends
Dear Friend,
This week we have the second installment on Organizing a
Book Club, a Travel Retreat Theme: Journey Back to
Jesus, and a Ministry Organization Tip.
Also, I, Robyne, want to thank all of you who sent emails last
week celebrating my 5th anniversary with WomensMinistry.Net.
You all are a constant source of joy and blessing... Hugs to
you all!
Congratulations to bboyd@son..., the winner of our
Featured Sponsor Click-to-Win Contest in issue #372! Look
below in this issue for more information on how to collect
your prize.
Ladies, don't forget to take a look at the featured resource
and website and... please take a moment to visit our wonderful
sponsors like...
This is our second installment on organizing a Book
Club. They are popping up all over the country in Women's
Ministries and are a great tool for outreach and
fellowship. This week we look at holding your first
meeting...
Before your first meeting: Create a sign-up
sheet for those who decide to participate to record their
name, address, phone, and email address. You can make a
copy for each member to keep and use it to remind members
of meeting or notify of changes.
Write each discussion point on the top of a separate sheet
in your notepad. As the women answer questions or make
suggestions, you can move through your notepad and record
what they say. This will help you review things during and
after the meeting. Leave the meeting with your guidelines
recorded and type them up to distribute at the next
meeting.
Hold Your First Meeting: Create an agenda or
timeline for the first meeting.
1 ½ hour meeting example:
7:00-7:10 Arrival and Welcome
7:10-7:20 Introductions
7:20-8:00 Discuss guidelines (see below)
8:00-8:15 Discuss books
8:15-8:30 Finish any discussion and close.
Welcome each woman as they arrive. (If the women will
not know each other, consider having nametags available.)
Here are some things you will need to decide either
ahead of time or as a group. If you plan to lead the group
and want to make some of these decisions, be sure that you
leave some flexibility for group members to participate in
the process. Have a notepad and pen ready to make notes.
1. Ask the women to share why they want to join the
club and what they expect to get out of it?
2. What kinds of books would they like to read?
3. Will the cost of books be limited? (paper backs only?)
4. How will the books be paid for and when? Will someone
order the books or will each member be responsible for
ordering their own?
5. Will the leader maintain records of what was read and
when, who suggested which books, etc, or will the group
elect a secretary?
6. When will the club meet?
7. What about summer holidays and Christmas?
8. Can the schedule be altered? How? And for what reasons?
9. Will you meet at your church, coffee shop, book store
or in member homes. If so, who will host? What does
hosting include? Limits to food costs? Kinds of food?
10. Who will lead book discussions? The person who
recommended the book? (You need to avoid having the same
person host and lead a book discussion at the same time!)
Does the organizer want to be a permanent leader?
11. What about children, pets, tardiness, and telephone
calls during book discussions?
12. Will your book club be open to new members?
13. What if a person wants to be a guest?
14. How will the books be selected?
15. Choose the first book.
16. Decide whether you want to come up with a catchy name
for your club. If time permits, choose one. If not, ask
women to bring their ideas to the next meeting.
Okay! That should get you going! If you start a book club,
send me an
email and let me
what worked for you.
This is a fun travel theme that was published in July
of 2005 and sent to us by Linda Justice of Lock Haven, PA.
Retreat Theme Idea: Journey Back to Jesus, Your First Love
Based On: Rev. 2:4, 5
Description: Our Ladies Fall Retreat takes a tour of the
seven churches of Revelation, an overnight journey
designed to take us back to a deep love relationship with
Jesus. A "travel ticket" will be used as a simple
notification of the upcoming trip. The invitation itself
is designed to look like a travel brochure.
At the retreat, each session will highlight one of the
seven churches. Before each session a "tour guide" will
humorously, but accurately, give background information of
each site, highlighting the city's history, archeology and
religion. The daily program will be each participant's
travel itinerary. Centerpieces will be fashioned using
small travel bags as the base. As favors, small
travel-sized toiletries will be available in guest rooms.
To enable "travelers" to meet a variety of people on their
tour and to process their experiences; women will discuss
their excursions in small group and partner sessions.
As I, Robyne, have talked with WM leaders around the
country over the last few months, I have noticed that
there are a wide variety of planning strategies for
ministry. Some of you are just settling down to plan your
fall studies and events. Some of you have your main events
scheduled on the church calendar for the next year. And
some of you are out there saying "Plan? What plan? We'll
see what the women want to do and then figure it out."
Now, I am not saying that any of these are right or
wrong strategies. What really matters is what suits you,
your church and your leadership style. Those of you in
smaller churches typically have more flexibility in
planning and calendaring your events. While ladies in
large churches must reserve rooms, childcare, and
janitorial services far in advance due to the many other
ministries in the church.
Just before you kick-off for the Fall, take a few
minutes and go over any notes or thoughts from the
previous year to evaluate the studies and events that
you held. You can make any necessary adjustments and
look at ways to better serve the women in your church.
Wherever you are and whatever you are planning, there
is always room to grow. Take time to stretch out side of
your comfort zone and explore different resources. Lifeway
has a great archive of articles for
Women's Ministry Leaders.
Whatever your planning style, always keep in mind that
the key to true ministry is people and not
programs. Plan well, but focus on building
relationships.
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