CLM Hen House

jodi · Joined: 14 Mar 2026 Posts: 217 Location: Lake Mary, FL

I got a wonderful idea for Small Groups from amyjoyousone on this site. I am getting ready to launch it within my Women's Ministry and am looking for some feedback.

The reason for starting small groups is because our WM has grown to the point where we can't get to know one another well. We get together every six weeks for meetings. However, with 35-50 ladies in attendance it is hard for the women to reach outside of their comfort circle and get to know others.
So here is my plan:
I will divide my ladies into 5 teams. Each team will have 9 or 10 ladies. I have hand picked five leaders (now I just have to talk them into being leaders Mr. Green

). Teams are to meet once a month for a simple gathering (dinner, coffee and dessert, etc). The purpose of these meetings is for the ladies to have a small group setting where they can fellowship and get to know one another.
A by-product of small groups is the training of leaders. If they have the opportunity to learn how to lead 10 ladies they will feel more comfortable when they are called upon to assist in leading in the Women's Ministry as a whole. I am hoping the five original leaders will be able to appoint assistants within their small groups. Eventually those assistants will be able to oversee a small group on their own.

Following are some guidelines I have worked on. Just looking for any additional thoughts anyone may have. Thanks for taking time to read this!

Goal: To provide opportunity for ladies to get to know one another in small group settings.

Guidelines:
- Small groups will compliment and be in addition to regular TLC meetings
- Groups will be changed every three months to prevent the forming of cliques. This will also make it easy to incorporate any new ladies.
- Groups should meet at least once a month
- Group meetings do not have to be elaborate
- Group meeting ideas
Sat. morning breakfast
Dinner at a restaurant
Coffee and dessert in someone’s home
Sat. morning shopping (downtown historic district)
Outreach to other ladies (shut-ins, sick, etc)
- Do your best to plan meetings at a time to allow the most participation from ladies
- Small groups will be responsible for various activities throughout the year (i.e. plan church anniversary, pastor’s birthday, decorate church for various holidays, etc.)
_________________
~Jodi

outnumbered · Joined: 16 Mar 2026 Posts: 56

That sounds wonderful. How will enroll ladies in a group. I figure the faithfuls will be easy but what about those "on the fringe" or new to the church within the 3 month period. I suppose each group could have a flyer or business card inviting ladies out? Just curious what your ideas are.
Bonnie

MertVnWV · Joined: 21 Mar 2026 Posts: 201 Location: Southern WV

Jodi,
this is similiar to how we have our WM set up. We are a small WM so our groups only consists of 3 ~ 4 members per group.
Our groups are responsible for "the whole nine yards" of any event whether it be WM related (retreats, dinners,etc.) or church related (ex. Mother's Day, Father's Day, Pastor Appreciation) that comes up within their month. All groups are assigned 2 months out of the year. That way you only have to be responsible those 2 months......BUT.......everyone is to help with clean-up at any and all events; here you have your faithful few though as is with all groups.
Also if it is your month you or one of the ladies within your group have to do the devotion at the regular monthly meeting, prepare refreshments for the meeting and bring a $10.00 door prize. The ladies share this resoponsibilty and expense. Just recently we have incorporated a SICK/SHUT-IN ministry into the groups. We named our ministry "Heart to Home." The monthly group is to assign a shut-in of the month taken from a list that was made up for this. We post in the church bulletin who the person/family is that has been selected shut in of the month. The church is asked to send cards to this shut in person/family and the ladies (group for the month) are responsible for making at least one home visit to that shut in and it is suggested that they take a small gift or food item with them to present to them.
You mentioned that you will be rotating your ladies; we rotate months on a yearly basis....hope this makes sense.. Laughing

Well, that's about it for my 2 cents
Good luck with your newly developed plans!
Mert
_________________
~The difference between stepping stones and stumbling blocks....... is how you use them ~

jodi · Joined: 14 Mar 2026 Posts: 217 Location: Lake Mary, FL