Good to Go…

Fellowship

        Woodinville Alliance Women meet the 2nd Friday of each month (corresponding with the night they have kids club) in a fellowship room at their church for "Coffee Connections." They decorate with hurricane candle holders filled with coffee beans and a cream-colored candle tied with a pink ribbon. Color scheme is pink and brown. They use real mugs because there is something about a real mug that says, “stay for awhile.” They made coasters that have open-ended conversation starters on them. The women gather for coffee and dessert, then a woman from the church shares her story. Next they ask a couple of discussion questions, then let the discussions flow. Women sit around tables in groups of six or less. Women are beginning to bring neighbors and friends because it is not intimidating. It is a place where women can be real and open up to one another. Women's Ministry Director at Woodinville, Karyn Schneider, says, "Hopefully we're starting to break down the stereotypes people in the world have of Christians. It is pretty simple but the impact is amazing. Women relate to stories and the emotions behind them. These events help women get to know each other and learn a little more about the character of God."

Discipleship 

        In response to what God did at their women's retreat, 40+ women from Northside Community Church in Bellingham began meeting monthly for worship, prayer and mentoring. "These younger women are hungry for growth and community," says Amber Zollitsch, their leader. Amber is encouraging the older women to develop a passion to mentor these younger women. "My twenty-something women want to hear from them!"

Outreach 

        Hood River Alliance Women sponsor an annual Raft Retreat down the Deschutes River each summer. Last summer was their eleventh year. “It is all about reaching out, reconnecting with other women, and recommitting to trusting God. We gear this retreat toward women who wouldn’t usually come to a church event, so we emphasize adventure and exploring faith issues,” says Jan Brauer, women’s ministry pastor.

Missions

         Alliance Women at Dallas, Oregon hosted a baked potato bar and salad lunch after a church service. They advertised it as a fundraiser for the District Outfit Fund. They served about 90 people. Donations after expenses came to $459.00 for the outfit fund. They were pleased with the results and say they had fun doing it.   

Prayer

        Lighthouse Christian Center includes prayer as one of their Women's Educational ministry opportunities. They meet in the prayer room with a prayer team member facilitating on various days of the week.

Other Ideas

• Women at Mehama Community Church demonstrate cooperation and servanthood in many ways. They fill gallon zip lock bags with small items such as soap, toothbrush/toothpaste, razor, socks etc. They donate these to the local mission for the homeless. These servants of the Lord also seek to meet needs at their church. They have repainted and organized the church kitchen, provided funds for the purchase of new carpet in the auditorium and Sunday school rooms, sewn costumes for Christmas programs and made chair pads for the wooden pews in the auditorium. They run a bake sale at the local grange hall to raise the funds for these special projects, for the gospel mission and local food bank. At Christmas time they provide the mission with baskets of goodies (sugar free if needed) and include socks, slippers, bath salts, lotions and homemade cards.  

• Women of the C&MA Chapel of Bly, Oregon have their purses packed with love. A former member is confined to a nursing home due to a stroke. The women travel fifty-eight miles to visit her as often as possible. They sing hymns with her and the rest of the residents of the nursing home. On her birthday, they take cake and goodies to celebrate. These women from Bly make Thanksgiving tray favors that include goodies and a Bible verse for the residents of another convalescent facility in the area. Several women from this church also participate in a community widow's support group called Grief Share.

• Women at Fox Island Alliance Church enjoy monthly ESCAPEs. ESCAPE stands for Enjoy, Share, Care, Affirm, Pray, Encourage. They have done several movie nights at their church, a "walk 'n talk" downtown where they met at a coffee shop and a Hawaiian themed evening get together.

• Women at Smokey Point Community Church used the theme from the Leadership Link, "Falling in Love Again," for their Heart to Heart Women's Night Out in February. The room was decorated with red, white and black balloons, purses and hearts. Refreshments were strawberries dipped in white and dark chocolate, dipped pretzels and brownies frosted with white icing and a red candy heart in the center of each. Each woman attending received a cookbook and "Love Baskets" were given as door prizes. Laura Goheen led in worship, presented special music and facilitated a "Name that Tune" game. The speaker, Jerilyn Tyner, told her story of falling in love again. 

• Lighthouse Christian Center in Puyallup has many exciting activities going on for their women: Bible Studies, Fitness Classes, Emotional Support and Recovery Classes, Woman to Woman Mentoring Ministry, Prayer Shawl Ministry, Needle Crafters in Service, Military Wives Small Group, Pink Ribbon Teas, Monthly Women's events, Free Time Fridays, weight loss programs, and three MOPS groups, including one for teen moms. They keep their women informed through a quarterly newsletter. Wow! No wonder this church is growing!      

• Wolf Creek Alliance Women display missionary barrels in their church as a reminder to bring items for the Missionary Supply Center. Barrels are filled to overflowing by the time retreat weekend arrives.

• Madison Community Church men give the women of their church a special treat by serving a special dinner to them once a year. 

• Chico Alliance in Bremerton enjoyed an overnighter with a different flair. Ladies brought food to eat and supplies to make quilts for their adopted MK. Three quilts were completed and given to their MK and his siblings.

• Richland ladies meet for a workday once a month. They write letters and prepare packages to send to district missionaries. I’m sure our missionaries look forward to receiving these wonderful blessings. 

• Salem Alliance Church sponsors "Project Back to school" each summer. They provide back packs and school supplies for low income families in their community, fill    the church gym with clothing and allow families to shop for back to school clothes