Mothers of Growing Disciples

Welcome! The Mothers of Growing Disciples is a group of women who come together in fellowship once a month to support each other, serve others, and grow in spirit. We provide free childcare in the Toddler Room during our meetings, and babies are always welcome to join us for the meetings. Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about Mothers of Growing Disciples.

Who are the Mothers of Growing Disciples?

The member of Mothers of Growing Disciples are women in the church who have young children, who meet once a month for fellowship and a program while their children are at school or being looked after in the Toddler Room.

What do the Mothers of Growing Disciples do?

In addition to holding the monthly meetings which provide an opportunity for the members to socialize, network, commiserate, brainstorm, educate and inspire each other, the group supports several ongoing mission projects and usually two other mission projects a year. We use money generated from our annual fundraiser, the Cookie Walk, for our mission projects.

Examples of projects we have done in the past include: assembling Health Kits for the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), spending a morning volunteering at the Community Clothes Closet, donating to support Vacation Bible School at our church and supporting a child in school in the Philippines Street School program. Ongoing projects include: used cell phone collection which supports Harbor House and New Baby Outreach which helps welcome new babies born to families in the church with a keepsake bonnet and goody bag.

What happens at the monthly meetings?

We usually gather as a group, have some refreshments, take care of that month’s business (project planning, etc) then have the program. We have had guest speakers, watched videos, done book studies, listened to presentations and done crafts. Examples of program topics from the past include Women and Heart Disease, Depression, Child Safety, Simple Living, Christ Centered Christmas, Election Topics, United Methodist Women, Celebrating the Seasons, Teaching Your Children to Pray, Discipline (and your children), Coping as a Mom, and many more.

When and where are the meetings?

The group meets on the third Friday of each month (September to May) from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. in the Wesley Room. Childcare is provided free of charge during the meetings in the Toddler Room.

Mothers of Growing Disciples Current Officers/Contacts

President - provide meeting leadership, plan the meeting programs and handle publicity/communication (with much help from the church office staff!). Amy Conway

Childcare Coordinator – schedules the paid and volunteer childcare providers for the monthly meetings. Rachel Moderson.

New Baby Outreach – arranges delivery of a “Welcome Gift Bag” to families in the church when new babies arrive. Assembles the gift bags and coordinates delivery volunteers. Cara Nagy

Cell Phone Ministry– collects the cell phones donated in the box at church and ships them off for credit which goes directly to Harbor House. Ann Steenbock

Cookie Walk – coordinates supplies, publicity and the volunteers (to make cookies and to help at the sale) for the annual Cookie Walk, held in December. The Cookie Walk is our main fundraiser for the year and we use the money for mission projects, meeting programs/speakers, and for childcare during meetings. Tracy Melzl

Meeting schedule for 2009-2010

For the 2009 – 2010 season, the group has decided to use their meeting time for discussion of the book Mothers of the Bible Speak to Mothers of Today by Kathi Macias. We will also be sponsoring a session of Network, a course that helps people identify their Spiritual Gifts, Ministry Passions, and Personal Style, in January.

NETWORK: DISCOVERING YOUR SPIRITUAL GIFTS, PERSONAL STYLE, AND GOD GIVEN PASSION FOR SERVING IN THE BODY OF CHRIST. This is a 6 hour course spread over three weeks. It will impact the future quality of your life personally, professionally, and spiritually. The insights you will gain will be helpful as you relate to your spouse, your friends, your boss, yourself, as well as finding the right FIT for you in fulfilling your call to ministry that comes via your baptism.

November 20, 2009 – Meet the new Pastor (getting to know Krystal Bartlett), and discussion of chapters 1 and 2 from Mothers of the Bible Speak to Mothers of Today

December 6, 2009 - Annual Cookie Walk fundraiser, 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m., in the Asbury Lounge

December 18, 2009 – Holiday Pot Luck Brunch and more discussion from Mothers of the Bible

January 8, 2010 – Part one of Network Class

January 15, 2010 – Part two of Network Class

January 22, 2010 - Part three of Network Class (final)

February 19, 2010 –Discussion from Mothers of the Bible Speak to Mothers of Today

March 19, 2010 – Book discussion on The Shack by William P Young

April 16, 2010 – TBD

May 21, 2010 – Spring Pot Luck Brunch, program TBD

June, 2010 – Summer Family Picnic - TBD