Women’s Night of Worship
What a wonderful night!
Tonight months of planning came together beautifully as a group of ladies at my church worked to bring the women of our community our fourth annual evening of worship. Singing, Scripture, and touching testimony moved us to tears. Tacos, chips, salsa, and sopapilla deliciousness fed our bellies as fellowship and worship fed our souls. This year we added a marketplace where the women of our church showcased their local businesses, too. It turned out to be a great time, and I’m honored to have been included in the planning.
After setting up, I had the joy of handing out raffle tickets for baskets full of beautifully tailored items that were just gorgeous. This meant that I got to see almost everyone as they came in. I got so many hugs and my heart is exploding with joy! What a wonderful thing, this church community.
While I am thoroughly exhausted, it is the best kind of exhausted- the kind where you can rest knowing everything came together smoothly. I love my church, I love my women’s ministry, and I love my friends!
Do you have a women’s ministry at your church? If not, have you thought of starting one? I can’t begin to tell you what a blessing it has been for the women of our church. Women need other women. We need women to look out for what we need- community, discipleship, connection. If your church has one, is it active? Make sure you keep it alive- it can slip away easily if not prioritized by the congregation.
For my male friends, the same applies to you! Do you have a men’s ministry? Men need men just as women need women. We all need people to look up to AND people to minister to. We need intergenerational events that bring us all together. We aren’t saved to ourselves but to the church community. No church is perfect, but as long as yours is Bible-based and faithful to that, get involved!
Don’t know where to start? If you don’t have a church home, spend some time researching the churches in your area and visit the ones you like. Check their “beliefs” page and maybe even meet with the pastor or someone on staff. See what ministries or programs they offer and jump in! It might be a little awkward at first, but that first visit is the hardest. Introduce yourself to maybe three people and see where you land. You might just find your new church home! At the very least you are able to fine tune what you are looking for in a church and how you want to treat visitors once you find that home.
If you have a church home but aren’t really involved, see what is on offer. Websites are an easy place to start. Sundays try stopping at a welcome station or stop someone wearing a name tag and ask where you might go for Sunday school (or whatever their version is called). While sermons are valuable, real church happens in the small groups. You get out of these things what you put into them (in this case you get so much more!). Finding a place to serve is an easy way to get to know people, but don’t get trapped in the easy spot of always serving and never being discipled. Make sure you are getting spiritually filled up in order to better fill up others.
Are you well plugged in at your church? Find a way to serve if you aren’t already (but again don’t get trapped only serving). Try to find the new people who look a little deer-in-headlights and offer to let them sit by you or help find them a place to go. Be who you wanted that first time.
We all have a part to play, no matter where we are in our journey. I hope and pray you find a church family as warm and loving as my own.
Love,
Jill
