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Women's Ministries Programs
"Warm Woolen Mittens”
By
Jennifer Heath
Southern Territory
Theme:
“Memories”
January Service Program
2006
 
Decorations
In the center of the tables place quilt batting that has been fluffed to look like snow. Add silver glitter for a fresh fallen snow look, along with silver and white candles.
Refreshments
Serve food associated with a cold winter day: vegetable soup or chili, crackers or corn bread. For lighter refreshments, serve Hostess Snowballs ® with hot chocolate or cider.
Program Ideas
Knitting
Arrange for someone from a knitting shop, or one of the women who is skilled, to demonstrate beginning knitting.
Display hand–knit mittens, gloves or scarves that the women have made. These items could be judged and prizes or ribbons awarded.
Games
I Remember
Under a blanket place items that have to do with winter: hats, scarves, mittens, skates, a sled, Chapstick®, ear muffs. Remove the blanket and give the women 30 seconds to look at the items. Replace the blanket and have them make a list of the items that they remember.
Winter Relay Race
Divide the women into two teams. Line them up at one end of the room. At the other end, place a chair with a coat and gloves on it. At a signal, the first two women race to the chair, put on the gloves, then the coat and button it up. Once the coat is buttoned, they can take off the gloves, unbutton the coat and place the items back on the chair. Then tag the next woman in line.
Service Project
- Ask the women to bring hats, mittens and scarves that will be donated to a city or local shelter. The department of family and children’s services may also have a need for these items. If the clothes are not new, they should be washed before they are delivered to an agency.
- Have a fashion show of winter clothing, using items from the thrift store. Sell the clothes and use the money for World Services or another project.
- Contact a department store regarding sponsoring a fashion show of their winter clothing. Charge admission and use the proceeds towards a service project.
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Devotions
The Seasons of Life
Each of the four seasons has its own qualities. January is a winter month that we associate with short days and limited sunlight. But it also has a unique beauty. In the early morning, before a single footprint has a chance to mar it, the freshly fallen snow sparkles in the morning sun, creating a beautiful scene. Spring brings new leaves and blossoms on the trees. Summer is a time of brightly blooming flowers and freshly mowed lawns. In fall the trees are clothed in leaves of red, yellow and orange. It is the time of the year we associate with harvest.
We can compare our spiritual walk with the Lord to the four seasons. Winter is a time of darkness. The trees are barren and the flowers have withered and died. This can be compared to our life before we knew the Lord. We were living in darkness. Our life was barren and didn’t produce spiritual fruit. If we remain in this condition, we will die in our sins. But Christ provided a way out of the darkness. John 3:16 tells us, “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Through Christ we can have a new beginning and a hope for the future.
Once we accept that gift of eternal life, we enter a time of growth similar to what happens in the springtime. Everything is new and we are eager to learn and develop as a Christian. But we are spiritual babies. First Peter 2:2,3 tells us, “Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.” A baby will not grow without milk. Baby Christians can’t grow without spiritual milk. Once we see our need for God’s Word and begin to study it, our spiritual appetites will increase and we will see spiritual growth.
In summer the flowers are in full bloom. The fruit is ripe and ready to be picked. It is during this spiritual season, that we develop the fruits of the Spirit. We read in Galatians 5:22 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self–control.” Are these qualities exhibited in your life?
Fall is a time of maturity. The leaves are turning colors of gold, red and orange in preparation for the winter. This is the time of harvest. As we grow in our Christian walk, we enter the fall of our spiritual life. Our walk with the Lord should be closer. As mature Christians we should be working for the Lord to introduce people to Him. “Then He said to His disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field” (Matt. 9:37, 38). As a Christian, are you doing your part as a worker for the Lord by introducing others to Him?
Each season is important, having its own beauty and purpose. Each of you is in a different spiritual season of your life. But no matter which season, you should be striving to grow so that when you life here on earth is over you have the assurance of eternal life with Him. |
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