www.creativeladiesministry.com

[vamommy]

Hi all I'm new here.

I am heading up our church's Ladies Night Out starting in September. We have had the same format for years, and I'd like to shake things up a little. Not many women attend and I'd like to increase the number of attendees. (Is that possible? )

Usually we have a game, devotional and then a lady from the church speaks/shares her testimony that type of thing.

I'm having a hard time thinking of what to do differently. I have some ideas for themes each month, but they aren't set in stone.

Right now I'm suffering from a head cold, so if this makes no sense, it is because my brain has left.

I'm looking for some ideas.

Virginia

[jodi]

When I first started having monthly meetings we met and made things for various agencies in the area. We had a couple of ladies who could crochet so they taught the rest of us and we made baby hats for the Crisis Pregnancy Center. Some brought their sewing machines and sewed newborn gowns. We also collected items for the women's shelter.

We would bring snacks and just sit around for a couple of hourse making things and used that time to fellowship and get to know each other.
_________________
Jodi
Jer 32:27 Behold, I [am] the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?

[mi3sons]

what about going out to dinner at a local restaurant. Sometimes I just want to get out with the girls and chat.
We had a scrapbooking night that was great fun at our church. Some of the local stores hold scraps for groups, you could try that.
We had a fashion show once with lunch.

[vamommy]

Do you think something like a "Craft Night" where all the ladies bring a craft they are working on and finish it/work on it and chat would be good? Maybe no speaker that month?

Virginia

PS I forgot if I have a signature here.....

[jodi]

Ours worked out very well when we did that. The ladies really seemed to enjoy the opportunity to fellowship. In our case there were those who are not crafty (including me). So those that are good at a craft taught those of us who aren't. It was Titus 2 in action and we had a good time doing it!
_________________
Jodi
Jer 32:27 Behold, I [am] the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?

[wildflower]

I attended a SBC a while ago and we had a movie night. We went and saw a chick flick . I don't go to the theaters now, nor do I advise it. But maybe watching a decent movie "Ann of Green Gables" or something like that at the church or someones home.


We also did a craft night. They made a stupid looking styrofoam plant. I can't even describe it. Everyone loved it, but it was really cheesy. Anyway, I brought my quilt along and worked on that.
_________________
God Bless,
Cathy

God is always Good, God is always right

[allen_red]

Last month, we had AMerican Idol night. We ordered pizza and rented a karaoke machine and had a contest. I bought formal dresses in all sizes from the Goodwill and borrowed some wigs. Each contesttant had to dress up, come up with a name, and had to draw the song out of the hat.

It was great! We had about 10 contestants. And about 6 in the audience. But it was the first, so we hope to have better attendance next time. We had 3 big gift bags from Bath and Body works for the 3 winners.

[jodi]

[Guest]

A Chonda Pierce video would be a great one to watch!
About the kareoke night, how did you encourage the ladies to do this?
I think this would be great and lots of laughs, but I am envisioning our group and see many of them saying "no way!" but what a great time that would be! Please give more information. This sounds like something I really want to do. Are there christian songs for these machines or are they not?

[allen_red]

I am not saying it was easy to get the ladies to do this. But if a leader or 2 would do it first, then it makes the others want to also.
Also, we had BIG prizes for the winners. We voted after each round. Each judge(all the ladies who werent contestants) voted for the 3 best entertainers.....and the contestants with the least votes that round, were out. We had a short break, so they could change the wigs and dresses. Then we started again, they drew a different song out of the hat, etc. We did this until there were only 3 ladies left. All three were declared winners.
Even though there are CHristain cd's for the karaoke machines, we decided to carefully screen the songs that went into the hat. We choose old favorites that most everybody would know, such as R-E-S-P-E-C-T, YMCA and Splish-Spalsh I was taking a bath, etc. We chose fun songs......and we checked the lyrics first.

We promoted this heavily. We used the American Idol pics, logos and colors. The Pastor approved of everything,. and he is over 60!

I think they enjoyed dressing up in the dresses and wigs more than the singing! Some of the "shy"est ladies acted completely different when they put the wigs on! You wouldnt believe it!

We had some opposition. Some said we were bringing the world into the church. But we were not having a prayer meeting or Bible study, we were having a party! What better way to reach out to unchurch friends (ladies) than to show them that Christian ladies know how to have fun too!

Hope this helps!!

[crtmama]

We started have a Ladies Churchwide Supper & Fellowship about 2 years ago. Usually we just bring a covered-dish and for those who work we try to encourage them just to pick something up if it is easier for them. We usually have from 9-18 attend monthly and just this year we have about 5 new ones attending. I have been planning the activities monthly and everyone seems to have a good time. I go to dollar stores and a salvage store we have in town from time to time always with my eyes open to little happies I can give as prizes (for games) or door prizes. For example, this last month, we had our supper. I had found at the salvage store pens like a tube of lipstick; 3 to a pack for 50 cents so I bought several. I used the theme from this website about being A Beautiful Woman in Christ. We first played a game in teams of 3 (2 with purses/1 without). I had written a poem giving them points for certain objects on them or in their purses. I then gave the winners a cute little mirror from $tree and a makeup bag. We had our time of devotion and had a few door prizes. Everyone seems to look forward to the next meeting! (Oh, and everyone got a little bag including the pen lipstick!)

[crtmama]

If I could just mention a few other ideas. Sometimes I plan activities and programs around holidays. Sometimes I asked them to bring "Soup & Salad" or we have an "Eggs-travaganza" Supper around Easter time...etc.
I always decorate the table a little according to whatever the theme is going to be. Around spring, I did a theme on Spring-Cleaning decorating the table with newspapers and cleaning supplies. The ladies broke into 2 groups and had to design a maid using an ironing board, apron, mop, dishpan, dishcloths, clothespins,etc. IT WAS SOOOO FUNNY! We laughed til we cried and I must say both teams did remarkably well. I share some Cleaning Tips from the Lighter Side which were really cute as well. Also once in a while we do little crafts. I just keep my eyes open to emails you might receive from friends that really has good messages or ideas you can work around and just "surf" around. But by far.....I love this website. Mrs. Julia has some wonderful devotionals and words of inspiration in here! But most of all, we just have a good time of Christian fellowship! P.S. In December we eat out dutch-treat at a nice restaurant
as our monthly fellowship.