Introduction
The purpose of this program is to reach women who are recovering from addictions. Contact the Harbor Light Center, the women’s program at the ARC, an AA or Al-Anon group. Inquire how the women’s ministries group could be supportive and come alongside the women.
Welcome to the Family
Organize a program emphasizing friendship. Make it special by decorating with bright colored tablecloths, napkins and centerpieces. Cut circles of netting, place wrapped candy in the middle and tie them with ribbon for table favors. Intersperse the women’s ministries women with the women from the outside group, making them feel welcome.
Games
Musical Gift
Wrap inexpensive gifts in multiple layers of paper. Have the women form a circle and pass the gift. When the music stops, the woman holding the gift unwraps a layer of paper. The game continues until the last layer is removed and the prize belongs to that woman. A variation would be to include a small inexpensive gift in each layer.
Getting to Know You
Give each person two or three pieces of paper. Ask them to answer the following questions:
- I grew up in …
- My favorite color is …
- My favorite kind of candy is …
- I have ____________brothers and/or sisters
- I’m afraid of …
- I’ve always wanted to …
- What you don’t know about me …
Fold the papers, place them in a bowl and mix them up. Each person draws a paper and reads it. They are to guess whose paper they drew.
Refreshments
Provide light refreshments of cookies and punch, or small sandwiches and veggie sticks.
God Has Given You a Gift
In 1 Peter 4:10 we read, “God has given each of you a gift from His great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.” That means that each one of us is so special to God that He gives us a special gift or ability. Sometimes we think that because we can’t do something as well as someone else, we are not worth anything. Nothing could be farther from the truth. The Scripture tells us that we are given just the right gifts so that we can serve each other.
You would not want to hear my husband sing a solo, but he is a really good preacher. Does it mean he is not worth anything because he cannot sing? No. I like to cook and I feel I do a pretty good job at it, but if that’s not one of your strong points, does that mean you are of any less worth to God? No. Some have been given the gift of encouraging others—a wonderful gift.
When my oldest granddaughter was only three, she was in the bathroom with me when I was getting ready for church. I was putting my panty hose on. I happen to wear the support kind, so they are a challenge to put on at times. I didn’t think anything of it. It was just something I did because it was expected of me. When I got them on and in place, my granddaughter clapped her hands and said, “Yea, Mimi! You did it!” Those words didn’t take much effort at all, but God used them to brighten my day.
Don’t listen to Satan’s lies when he says, “You really blew it this time. You’ll never be any good.” Each one of us is special in God’s eyes and He has a plan for each one of our lives. Sometimes we fail and we go the wrong direction, but He is right there to help us get back on track and stay on the course when we ask Him.
Let’s Pray
Heavenly Father,
Thank you so much for Your love and Your grace. Thank You for never giving up on us. Continue to work in our lives to help us be the women of God You want us to be. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
