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"Abide in Christ! He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit." (John 15:5 NKJV)
Fruit is sweet! |
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Choose any day of the week, Sweet Monday, Sweet Monday on Tuesday, Sweet Monday on Wednesday, whatever is best for you and your family will work best for the women. Keep one consistent day and date each month (e.g., first Monday of month bypasses a lot of holidays and I don't hold Sweet Monday in September because of Labor Day.). If you use invitations, provide directions. Plan for an hour and a half (7:30-9:00 PM SHARP!). |
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Host Sweet Monday in the same home if possible or create a homey space in your church. It is too confusing otherwise. We are creatures of habit. Same time, same place really helps your attendance. |
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All you have to do to get started is to call some friends, drop notes or friendly flyers, or make an entertaining announcement at one of your meetings. Before long, word of mouth will have your home filled with that wonderful hum of women connecting and learning from each other. |
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Remember Sweet Monday is not about selling any products or businesses, but "reaching out to women one sweet invitation at a time for Christ." It is a night of fun, faith, fellowship, food and genuine encouragement plus a whole lot of practical ideas and a non-threatening way to introduce women to Christ! |
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Tell women they don't have to bring a thing until the tea party in spring, but by all means they can bring a friend or two or three... |
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Use nametags, personalized with stickers or small picture appropriate to theme, if you have time (Mine are usually plain). |
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Provide a welcome book for women to sign as they arrive with name, address, and phone number. In months to follow have only First Timers sign in. This roster will be invaluable for contacting a woman God places on your heart and last minute changes like "Sleet Monday." |
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Welcome the group at large. Depending on size, women may introduce themselves with name and one of their passions in life. In months to come, recognize only First Timers. |
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Make announcements during welcome, tell about the candy theme, and set next month's date, theme, and time. |
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Eat and mingle for first 30 minutes. This gives latecomers time to arrive before program begins. |
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Remember DECAF coffee and tea at night! |
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Take pictures and display for women at Sweet Monday if you are a photo buff. Keep a scrapbook if you would like. Maybe one of your sweet women would volunteer to use her creative skills in this way. |
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Order personalized Sweet Monday pencils for women to take home if budget allows. |
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Provide paper and small pads for women to take notes. |
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Distribute small cards with the months of Sweet Monday, dates and themes, for women to use as invitations and as a reminder. Please feel free to download and use the Sweet Monday logo at www.SweetMonday.org. I personally handwrite "Sweet Monday, Women's Socials on a Shoestring...Tied to a Generous God" around my shoestring border on every card so that women will know there is a spiritual element. |
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Use your neighbor's or your own serving pieces if you want more money than time. |
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Use paper products if you want more time than money. |
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I keep the devotional short and sweet (5 to 10 minutes). Even after 10 years, my heart races when I identify myself with Christ and open God's word. This is one thing we know will not return void (Isaiah 55:11) because God promises it. I usually start with, "Nothing in my life has ever been changed by a woman's magazine but from hearing God speak through His word." We want to point ourselves and every woman to Christ the "Best Encourager" there is! At the end of my devotional, I try to remember to say, "If you have any question about some of the things I have shared tonight, please call me. My number is on the invitation/reminder card." Also, feel free to use my devotional in Sweet Monday, Women's Socials on a Shoestring...Tied to Generous God if you are not comfortable in sharing your own. Take courage that God promises His word never returns void. |
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We can't give out what we don't have and we can't piggyback on other's spiritual growth. The Lord promises to give us everything we need. He will guide us and never leave us. Spend time with Him and His word everyday. Your love for Him and your love for women - all ages and stages - will grow out of that. He wants to use us more than we want to be used! |