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Fall is a great time to gather the women of the church together and cast a vision for ministry, study, fellowship, and service as a group. Many of our younger women are either returning to school themselves or have children who are. Schedules are more formalized than the freedom to be spontaneous throughout the summer months. In Autumn, attendance for church and ministry events begins to stabilize, and we look forward to gathering.
Fall is a perfect time to host a women’s ministry kickoff event to share your vision for ministry to women in your church and to help all age groups of women get excited about upcoming events.
Small churches have the advantage of knowing each member by name and of building inclusive relationships. These relationships help you, as the leader, tailor events and programs to the perceived needs and expressed desires of the women in your church.
For example, one small rural church had men who regularly hunted during deer season. Women joked that they were “Hunting Widows,” meaning that every weekend of hunting season the men were gone from the end of business day on Friday until late Saturday night, or even early Sunday morning. The women would have Friday evening gatherings or Saturday afternoon Bible studies throughout hunting season. They were a source of encouragement, support, and fellowship for one another.
Each small church will have its own personality and members’ needs, use a fall kickoff as a time to create momentum for the winter and spring months.
Here are seven ideas to help you get started. Please feel free to modify them to meet the needs of the congregation you serve.
7 Women’s Ministry Fall Kickoff Ideas
1. Planning Party
If you are new to the role or have been feeling uninspired, a Planning Party is a fantastic way for women of all ages to contribute to the year’s ministry plan. Small Church Ministry has excellent resources available to help you with a Planning Party. Click on the hyperlink for quick access to the archives at Small Church Ministry. You will be so glad you did!
2. Mugs, Muffins, & Our Mission
Select a morning that will work with the schedules of the women in your church. Saturday morning may be best if you have many women who work full-time. Or you may need to choose a different day if most members have children involved in sports that require attendance at Saturday games.
Setting up for this event is relatively easy and economical. A quick trip to Goodwill for a bunch of quirky mugs and baking two or three dozen homemade muffins will be your only expenses. When the women arrive at the event, encourage them to select their favorite mug and share in the muffins. Women will bond over giggles or even discussions about why they chose their mug. An alternative is to ask each member to bring a mug and have a “Mug Swap.”
Use this gathering to introduce any upcoming ministry projects or planned Bible studies. At the conclusion, each woman takes her chosen mug home as a tangible reminder of the day.
3. Women of Vision Dinner
A dinner requires more planning and may need to be funded by the ministry budget. But a planned meal is a nice way to reconnect after a summer apart. Prepare a presentation outlining the studies, mission projects, and events for the upcoming months. You may also find it helpful to have printed calendars of events for the women to take home.
Encourage one or two women to prepare a five-minute testimony about the benefits they have experienced or what they enjoy most about being active in the women’s ministry. This is a good event to invite guests to as well.
4. Faith in Full Color
Build on the autumnal theme and decorate your centerpieces with potted plants or even beautifully colored fall leaves. Serve hot chocolate, coffee, or even hot apple cider (my favorite because it smells amazing with hints of cinnamon and cloves).
Start a discussion about what living a vibrant life in Christ looks like and how living out a “full color” faith can create opportunities to share the Gospel. As the discussion grows, guide the group in selecting a ministry project for the upcoming year.
5. Faith and Flannel
Dress code for the event is flannel —more is better! Have prizes for the most different flannel items worn, for the craziest combinations of flannel patterns, and for the “comfiest” flannel outfit.
For decorations, use flannel sheets as tablecloths and sprigs of fresh-cut evergreens or holly leaves with berries as centerpieces. If you serve food, think “comfort food” as you plan the menu. For the Bible study, use Scripture references about God as our Comforter.
6. Pumpkin Spice and Purpose
Choose your favorite pumpkin recipes and pumpkin spice coffee creamer as the base of your menu for this event. Choose a community food bank or homeless shelter to serve as a group in the fall and winter months. Ministry as a group emboldens those who might be shy and builds accountability among members to be faithful in the service project.
7. Autumn Awakenings: A Time to Renew and Reconnect
Fall is a time of gathering and a great time to start a new ministry. Perhaps you would like to begin outreach to young mothers, or you may see a need to create a ministry to visit homebound women. Whatever the Lord has laid on your heart, Fall is a great time to begin!
Work with church leadership to identify the ministry niche that will bless the women of your congregation and your community. Actively look for new ways to minister to the women you serve and watch the Lord work!
Looking for a step-by-step guide to starting or restarting your women’s ministry?
Check out the Women’s Ministry Bundle For Small Churches!
Leading with Insight and Connection
Whether you are paid staff or a volunteer leader, you have great insight into what will work for the ministry to women in your church and community. Choose a theme that resonates with you and move forward.
That is your superpower as a women’s ministry leader in a small church. You know the women you serve. You have a level of connection that is unheard of in a larger church. Feel free to use any of these ideas as they are or modify them to fit the needs of your congregation. The important thing is that as a ministry leader, you are providing opportunities for the women in your small church to build relationships, study the Bible, grow in their walk with Christ, and serve others in love.
With the exception of the Women of Vision Dinner, these seven ideas are built on the premise that we, as ministry leaders in small churches, have limited budgets. Each of these themes can be easily tailored to serve small groups or expanded to accommodate a larger number.
A welcoming environment that also feels festive is a perfect way to encourage women to gather and introduce new members to the joy of fellowship within a Christian community. To find more resources and connect with other small church leaders, we invite you to join our Facebook group.
Serving alongside you,
Carla
Read More:
How To Host A Women’s Tea Party
11 Best Community Outreach Ideas For Women’s Ministry
7 Effective Ways To Increase Women’s Ministry Attendance
Carla Adams is a wife, a nurse, and a women’s ministry leader. As an author and a speaker, she seeks to encourage women to use their God-given tools, talents, and gifts to serve Him and others.
