The role Women’s Ministries fills with regard to kitchen, nursery assistance, and other areas of need within the church will vary from congregation to congregation. Many of these responsibilities tend to come under the umbrella of Women’s Ministries. Here are suggestions for forming committees to assist in fulfilling these needs. In addition to the responsibilities listed, each committee chairperson should serve on the Women’s Ministries Council and meet with the Women’s Ministries Director and council. Each chairperson should submit an annual report of the committee’s activities.

Encouragement and Support
The chairperson will

1. Meet with interested women for a monthly fellowship time.

2. Create some worthwhile projects that serve the church.

3. Minister to new widows, single mothers, and other women in need.

Helping Hands
The chairperson will

1. Organize evening meals to be taken into homes of families associated with the church when as the result of surgery or illness assistance is needed.

2. Keep a list of those who receive meals, how many they received, and who provided meals. This list will be used to make the annual report as well as help the chairperson know which names to use alternately to provide meals.

3. Secure volunteer help for housework or child-care when needed due to surgery or illness.

4. Secure volunteers to provide transportation for the elderly as requested.

5. Find homes to house traveling groups that come to the church.

Hospitality
The chairperson will

1. Organize kitchen help for set up, serving, and clean up of all church dinners and fellowships.

2. Purchase all paper products necessary for the kitchen as well as other food, appliances, and utility and cleaning needs.

Ladies Inspirational Fellowship Time (LIFT)
The chairperson will

1. Choose the women’s Bible study leader(s) after conferring with the Women’s Ministries Director and obtaining the approval of the pastor.

2. Give direction to the subject matter for the Bible study after conferring with the Women’s Ministries Director and obtaining pastoral approval.

3. Inform the office secretary, or the responsible person, about announcements that need to be in the bulletin or newsletter and postings for the web site concerning women’s Bible studies.

4. Contact the women’s Bible study leader(s) at least once a month to keep informed of progress.

Nursery
The chairperson will

1. Organize adequate volunteer help for nursery care.

2. Provide nursery care for all regular services, and special services as requested.

3. Oversee the cleaning of all nursery linens and washable nursery toys weekly.

4. Provide the nursery with necessary supplies (diapers, deodorizer, wipes, etc.) and
keep a list of needed items.

5. Instruct all volunteer and paid help of their responsibilities.

6. Organize information on each child in the nursery.

7. Communicate to the parents the nursery guidelines.

Prayer Chain

The chairperson will

1. Receive prayer requests by telephone, friendship and worship cards, email, or in person.

2. Word the request with discretion and record the request in a prayer notebook.

3. Share answers as well as requests on the prayer chain.

4. Carefully select the number of calling captains who will in turn call their chain of women.

5. If you cannot reach a captain, call the next person in her chain. They try to reach the captain later.

6. Use great tenderness, care, and feeling while receiving requests. People should receive warmth as they share their burdens with the chairperson.

7. Keep in confidence the requests. Pray for them. Instruct the captains about the importance of this also.

Tender Loving Care (LTC)
The chairperson is responsible for baby and wedding showers. She will

1. Contact couples in the church who are expecting their first child to see if they want the shower before or after the baby is born.

2. Tentatively decide the date for the baby shower and communicate this to the mother-to-be and to the office secretary.

3. Contact engaged couples at least three months before their wedding date to set a shower date.

4. Ask a woman from the church to be in charge of each shower. The woman in charge will then choose a committee, decorations, location, refreshments, program, etc.

5. Contact the church secretary as soon as a definite date is determined to make sure the church calendar is clear. Request that the date be placed on the calendar and announced in the church bulletin.

Treasurer/Publicity
The chairperson will

1. Provide an interesting, attractive, and informative bulletin board for Women’s Ministries in a prominent location. The bulletin board should be changed at least quarterly.

2. Assist the director as requested.

3. Maintain the financial records for Women’s Ministries and provide a detailed report at each Women’s Ministries Council meeting.