Women’s Ministry – January 2012
As we come into a new year, we think about changes we want to make in our life–new year, new ways to live life. What better way to start a new year than seek our Father’s wisdom for changes we need to make!
Psalm 25:4-5 (NIV)
Show me your ways, LORD, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.
“Be Still and Know God” – 2012 theme for Women’s Ministry at Messiah
Thank you to everyone who responded to our survey about what you would like to see at Messiah for women’s ministry. The results have been tabulated, and we now know what we suspected, that the women of Messiah are a very diverse group with a wide range of interests and needs. But one common thread ties us all together – our desire to share with each other and work together as a church family.
The survey confirmed that some of us would like to meet regularly on a weekday morning. Others would prefer to meet in the evening. And some can meet only on Saturdays. So that’s what we’ll do! Our plan is to organize several small groups around when we each can get together. We will post sign-up sheets in the Gathering Space on Sunday mornings for a few weeks before the end of the year. Please sign up for the group that will meet on the day and time that’s most convenient for you. Depending on the number of women who sign up, we could potentially have a different small group meeting almost every day of the week – some in the morning, some in the evening. The groups will meet once or twice a month. One or more times during the year we will have a retreat or other event to which all groups, as well as women who are not part of a group, will be invited, much like the half-day retreat on “Praying When the Well Runs Dry” that we had last September. We also plan to offer occasional specialized retreats, such as a silent retreat at a spiritual retreat center.
What will the groups do? The common theme for 2012 will be “Be Still and Know God.” The book, Seven Spiritual Gifts of Waiting by Holly Whitcomb will be our focus for the first few months. After that, we will select another topic from our survey results or from other suggestions, all related to the overall theme of “Be still and know God.” Some activities may include Bible studies, book studies, topical discussions, service projects, exercise groups (Yoga, Pilates, or Tai Chi), and craft projects.
We are exploring various ways of keeping all the women of Messiah informed about the women’s ministry offerings available to them. In addition to “The Column” newsletter, and announcements in the bulletin, we will provide information on the church website and on Facebook. We also plan to send information by email. To be added to the women’s ministry email list, please send an email to the church office ( ourchurch@messiahchurch.com ) and ask to be added to the women’s ministry email list.
The Women’s Ministry Planning Team is excited about the opportunities available to the women of Messiah. Please watch for the small group sign-up sheets in the weeks ahead. If you have any questions or suggestions for women’s ministry, feel free to contact Holly Tunak (email holly@messiahchurch.com or call 608-206-3400).