Gianna Jensen - viewed October 28, 2010

http://vimeo.com/5387154

Introducing Charlotte

The Many Facets of Women of Heart

A One Woman Observation:

I have been attending Women of Heart for a couple years now. This term will mark my 5^th in this delightful ministry geared towards the refinement and growth of the women of Centre Street Church and the city of Calgary. I’ve been asked to contemplate and write about the many facets that make up Women of Heart as I see it right now. Obviously I have a very limited view and perhaps a fairly unblemished one as I’m new to the leadership team. I hope to discover what makes this group of women tick, who comes and why, what we learn or want to learn, how our children are involved, and so on and so forth. As I write this I’m sitting across from my 5 month old son Judah, who’s happily playing in his Bumbo seat, and listening to my older two boys racing cars in the playroom. I am truly blessed by God in so many ways. So, let’s begin.

• The Leadership Team – I am slowly getting to know the names and faces of the women making up the leadership team for Women of Heart, and what an amazing group of talented women it is. Their job is truly not an easy one. Between face-to-face meetings, email chats, passing comments on Thursday mornings, and the occasional phone call, these women are extremely busy making Women of Heart run so smoothly, and that’s on top of the husbands, children and/or work commitments each of them have. I know that each of the members of the team have specific responsibilities be it childcare, media, running the morning check-in, organizing snacks, facilitating the group leaders, running large group events, community outreach, and much, much more. This group has recently survived a staggering change of leadership; a change that would have made many other groups crumble. They lost the head of the leadership and of the childcare, but rather than admitting defeat, they have risen to the challenge and continued to make Women of Heart a blessing to so many women.
• The Childcare Team – Previously run by Jayme Gray, this team has recently been taken over by Morgan Milia, and what a great job she’s been doing. Despite the huge responsibility, the childcare during Women of Heart has continued to run almost seamlessly since we started in September, and I know it hasn’t been easy for Morgan. As a change from past Women of Heart, the decision was made this term to pay a weekly love gift of $25 to 15-20 women willing to commit to serve each week with our children. This group of God’s servants consists of individuals for whom the extra money makes a difference as well as people who choose donate the money to another cause for Jesus. Each one serves because they love God and because they love kids, and we’re blessed by them. Morgan’s idea to keep the doors to the childcare rooms closed until volunteers have arrived seem to have helped streamline the dropping off of kids each week. There has also been the suggestion of making it easier for women with multiple kids to drop their children off each week without having to wait in multiple lines. Time will tell how this develops. Ultimately, the goal of the Women of Heart childcare is that no children have to be brought into class with a mom unless she has chosen to bring them.
• Small Groups – This is the place where women connect on a deeper, spiritual and emotional level. At least I see this as the goal of small group time. It’s a place where you can learn about God with and from other like-minded women regardless of what the theme of your individual study is. I have noticed that the trend is to have 8 or more groups to choose from, usually with a capacity of about 12 women, although some groups consistently have more than that because of the large number of women wanting to be in them. I love that these groups vary so much from video led studies (Beth Moore), to studies on the spiritual disciplines (Journaling), to parenting (Revolutionary Parenting class), to relaxing, to helping others (Cooking class and their link to Frozen Blessings), to learning about our world and what we can do to improve it (human trafficking groups last term). I have found that no matter where you are on your spiritual journey and no matter how much time you have or want to spend on your group outside of group time, there is a class for anyone and everyone.
• How we choose the types of small groups – This is something I’ve wondered about but actually don’t have an answer for. How do we choose the small groups, and who comes up with the ideas? How do we choose an overarching theme for Women of Heart each semester, and who would one approach if they were interested in leading a group or seeing a certain topic studied in a group. Where does one go to put in a comment or a suggestion about an aspect of Women of Heart?
• Who can be a leader of a group at WoH – This is another facet of Women of Heart I don’t know much about. I have observed that outwardly, each of the women I’ve known to lead a group has a strong, personal relationship with the Lord, and a passion for the topic and group they are leading. However, as always, “man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” That being said, is there anything in place to screen potential leaders of groups in Women of Heart or do we simply rely on the best tools at our disposal, a discerning spirit and the power of prayer?
• Speakers – I have enjoyed the speakers I have heard at Women of Heart over the past 2 years. Each of them has shared something that has impacted me in some way. In particular I remember the gentleman that spoke last year on human trafficking, opening our eyes to the horrors of our world through videos and stories, and providing us with tangible ways we can help. I also remember when Beth so candidly and openly shared her very personal story about abuse and God’s redemption. I know there were tears shed, and hopefully some healing and freedom in the lives of some of our women, because of Beth’s courage. I see us providing an outlet for more of this through interviews on our blog or speakers from our own little congregation that are willing to let Christ use them to help free others from personal bondage.
• Food – A consistently important aspect of Women of Heart is, of course, food. I love the banquets that bookend the term each semester. Food is such a great way to promote an atmosphere that is open and ready to chat. I know there is so much work that goes into the food each semester from the organizing and planning of these two large banquets to making sure food is available at each large group event and in individual groups during small group times. As silly as it might seem to some, I think this is an important part of Women of Heart, because I know I’m not the only one that skips breakfast in my mad rush to get 3 kids ready and out the door to school and then to church. Knowing there is a light at the end of the tunnel, or food at the end of my journey, is a life saver for me. To whoever coordinates this each week, I am truly thankful. You are my Thursday night in shining armour. Of course one challenge is in making sure there are enough people bringing food each week to sustain the large number of women we have in attendance each week. So far so good.
• Kids curriculum – I know very little about what the kids do in Women of Heart and who makes up the curriculum. From what I’ve observed, the kids at Women of Heart follow a schedule very close, if not identical, to that followed in Sunday school on Saturday nights and Sunday mornings. I think that helps so much for kids as it maintains predictability and routine that is essential for kids. Sunday school is Sunday school whether it’s Thursday mornings or on the weekends. I know from talking with my boys that they love that they have a story and craft time, snacks and time to play with the other kids. They are making friends and know the names of some of the kids in their classes, and that’s such a blessing to me. One of the things I would like to see happen as far as curriculum goes is something that the mom’s of Women of Heart could bring home or access that allowed them a peek at what their kids are learning each week, and what the overarching goal is for the kids in childcare. This might allow them to interact easier and more deliberately with their kids on spiritual matters that relate with what they’re learning each week, on a level that they can understand. For example, if they’re learning about helping others and linking that to stories of people that helped each other in the bible, mom’s would be able to deliberately find opportunities to help others, along with their kids, and talk about it in relation to what they learned and did in Sunday school on Thursdays.
• Diversity of attendees – I didn’t realize until I talked with Verna recently how much diversity we have in our group. I’m not talking about nationalities, although we have diversity in that regard also, rather I’m talking about types of women attending each week. We have:
• The stay-at-home moms with varying ages of kids
• The working moms with small kids at home that work part time or full time
• The working moms that have kids in school and either don’t work on Thursday mornings or have managed to get that time off to attend.
• Single moms
• Grandmothers
• Women without kids who work varying degrees
• Single, separated, widowed or divorced women

Wow! What an amazing group of women. What I would like to see happen at Women of Heart, perhaps through our large group events, is a way to connect each of these groups of women. I know a lady who doesn’t want to come to Women of Heart because she hasn’t been able to have kids and feels like she’s the only one there that doesn’t have children to talk about. She’s not. There’s something freeing about knowing that you’re not alone, and in a group as large as Women of Heart, it’s easy to feel that way. The moms are easy to spot because they come dragging kids in tow. So how could we connect everyone else in a way that isn’t pushy or embarrassing, but allows new and more diverse friendships to be cultivated?

• Why we come (with or without kids) – What is the drawing card of Women of Heart? I’ll start by sharing my own reasons for being there each week. My husband and I moved to Calgary in July 2008 3 months after our second son was born. Just before leaving Edmonton I had gotten involved with the women’s program at the church we were attending there thanks to the gentle prodding and repeated invites of a good friend. I loved it, and when we moved and started attending Centre Street I immediately inquired about a similar group. Enter Women of Heart. For me Thursday mornings are a consistent outing in my week; something I look forward to almost as soon as I leave the building. I don’t have any family in Calgary, and knowing I have a place to be once a week where I get a break from my kids, time spent in the word with other women of faith, a place to share Godly insight, and a safe place for my kids to learn and grow and interact with other children, makes life just a little bit easier. And I don’t think I’m alone in this.
• We come because we feel Women of Heart is a safe haven and a place to go each week regardless of how busy or boring said week is.
• We come because our kids like it. They like the outing, the learning, and the friendships they make.
• We come because we have a desire to interact with other women regardless of race, age, gender, kids or no kids, careers or not.
• We come because we want to grow in our relationship with Christ and we want the help of other women to do that. We cherish the insight of those more mature than us and the energy of those younger and the camaraderie of those going through the same things we are.
• We come to know that we’re not alone in what we’re going through.
• We come for friendship and fellowship.
• We come to learn, be that how to be a better person, parent, spouse, Christian.
• We come for a break.
• Who comes to WofH on Thursday mornings and why not go on Monday nights? – Obviously the mom’s come because there is childcare provided. As for the rest of them, perhaps they have Thursday mornings free and want to fill it with something purposeful. Perhaps they enjoy that Thursday mornings has diversity and the added excitement of the children. Perhaps the topic they want to discuss is only offered on Thursday mornings. I can only guess at the answer to this question, and while doing so pray thanking God for each women He brings through the doors each week because each one is truly where she is supposed to be!

October E-Newsletter

♥♥♥ OUR HEARTBEAT ♥♥♥

Blessings and Thanksgiving fill our hearts this Canadian Thanksgiving weekend...
This e-news contains some interesting statistics, some clarifying information and some upcoming projects and events. Our prayer is that you feel welcome, connected, accepted and appreciated whether you are new or returning to spend Thursday mornings together with Women of Heart.

Interesting Stats - Over 230 people are registered - 100+ preschoolers and 130+ adults!! We have 11 of the 15 Consistent Children's Volunteers we desire. Help us find more - it's a treasure hunt because the ones we know are truly jewels in our treasure chest of resources.

Clarifying Information - based on questions some have asked.

1. Serving in childrens ministries with your class
You will not be asked unless you marked the Children's Ministry Team on your registration form or tell your facilitator. There were a variety of interpretations of "Children's Ministry Team #_____". Thank you for checking with your small group facilitator on this. You will have the opportunity to sign up for a serving date (or more by your choice).

2. Paying instead of serving
At the present we offer children's ministry FREELY. We receive income from participation fees and donations to cover expenses. We all benefit from the relationships we enjoy during our 1.5 hour time together each week. You may make a donation for the Children's Ministry Team on Thursday mornings. Information is available at the reception table in the chapel lobby. (Ask Bola or Carolyn).

3.Qualification requirements for serving in Children's Ministry
Most participants want to take a turn serving - To become qualified simply requires filling out some paperwork and receiving some very helpful information on the church's Child Protection Policy (CPP) and the Emergency Evacuation Plan. If you were qualified last year, you may serve again and then sign up for the training at your earliest convenience. (Thursdays - Oct. 14 at 11:15 a.m. and Jan. TBA at 9:30 a.m.) If you are new to CSC you need to do both steps prior to serving. Lots of training times are offered. Sign up sheets are available each week.

4. Our Dream for All-Group Events
Actually this dream encompasses all of our events... we anticipate the day when the babies/children who are in the chapel or class with us are there because a mother has chosen to keep her child for the morning. As we explore patience, longsuffering and brokenness, we appreciate your kindness and grace as we were under-resourced for the number of children who came the first two weeks of our term. Thank you.

Upcoming projects and events

Frozen Blessings

• Cook off Saturdays for Oct 23 & Nov 13, 2010 at the West Campus. All interested please contact Donna Black at 403-613-6061 or Mandee Davidson at 403-210-2339. RSVP's required.
• Cookbook Project - bring your favorite recipes for inclusion by Oct. 28. - Forms are available from your facilitator. Project coordinator - Mandee Davidson at 403-210-2339
• Help fill our freezer - and empty it. There are containers, recipes and packing instructions for items you may want to add to the freezer available at the reception table in the chapel lobby. If you know someone in need, please connect with Donna Black at 403-613-6061 to arrange for a delivery.

Business and Services Directory
Do you have a home based business or service? We would like to promote this through a printed and online directory. Individuals benefit by accessing the information to your products and services. Forms will be available at our next All-Group event on October 28, 2010. (This opportunity is limited to current Women of Heart attendees and their spouses.) The directory will be available in November.

Free-Cycle Boutique
This is a fun way to pass on things you no longer need or use to someone who does and/or receive something you would enjoy or use from another. Please bring "household items" for exchange to our next All-Group event on October 28, 2010. (Left over items will be passed forward to other groups)

4-Single Moms "La Boutique"
Quality used clothing and household items are accepted on the first Thursday of each month to give to the two single moms groups that are associated with CSC.

Next All-Group Event - Thursday, October 28, 2010 - 9:30-11 a.m. in the Chapel
You will want to be there for coffee, snacks, and a time of connecting with friends from other classes. We will continue exploring stories of Brokenness and Hope.

Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. Philippians 1:3

Women of Heart
Connecting | Transforming | Mobilizing
A company of women doing life together, pursuing personal wholeness and influencing others for Jesus Christ.