Taking over a Ministry

[juliasmith]

I am supposed to take over our ‘God’s Quilts’ ministry. My problem is that I have four month old.

I have no doubt that I am supposed to take this ministry. It will go away if I don’t.

What I am proposing to do is to let the ministry take a year long hiatus. my son will be older and ‘ideally’ be able to require slightly less attention while I work on quilts with the ladies for 3 hours a week.

Does anyone have any other ideas, or does this seem reasonable enough for the continuation of the ministry? Do you think God will be okay with this? I know He wants me to do this. It will be possible in a year, just not right now.

**I am a SAHM, my husband does not want to take money for a sitter for this ‘volunteer’ work when I am not paying a sitter so I can go to work. The child has to go with me.

 

[gelsbern]

How often are the quilting bees going to be? Once a week, twice a week, 40 hours a week? Seems to me that the few hours a week you spend quilting could be ideal for your husband to participate in some quality father-child time and a time for you to get away and spend time around adults where you can communicate about common interests without goo-goos, ga-gas and peek-a-boos.

Also, you didn’t state, but it is inferred that the quilting bees take place during the day. I am sure you aren’t the only mother who would be there, perhaps, you each take turns where one woman watches all the children during the bee one week and then you rotate around. Then the children are near by, and you can still fulfill your ministry.

Finally, maybe there are other women who would like to be involved, but cannot due to the bees happening during the day. Perhaps this is God’s way of getting the bee rescheduled to something that would work for a greater number of women, such as a Saturday morning, or Friday evening, and causing the ministry to grow.

Just a thought or three.

God Bless

 

[juliasmith]

My husband is a truckdriver, so he would be unable to get time in with the baby in this way. He is away from home for up to two weeks at a time.

Those other ideas sound wonderful. Initially, I had agreed to keep the days the same because one of the ladies, who is 85 years old, was still interested in helping.

I might need to pray more about this. I suppose if God thought enough of this ministry to call it my attention and confirm my participation, He would certainly answer if I ask how I am suppose to do this.

The group previously worked from Sept to May each year. They met once a week during the day for about three hours.

I think the group was disbanding due to a lack of participation. There were only about six women working regularly.

I might put an announcement in the bulletin and see if there might be others who would be interested but did not come because of the same or similar obligations and/or scheduling conflicts.

Thanks, you’ve given me some new angles.

 

[NewUlm1976_2000]

I am supposed to take over our ‘God’s Quilts’ ministry. My problem is that I have four month old.

I have no doubt that I am supposed to take this ministry. It will go away if I don’t.

What I am proposing to do is to let the ministry take a year long hiatus. my son will be older and ‘ideally’ be able to require slightly less attention while I work on quilts with the ladies for 3 hours a week.

Does anyone have any other ideas, or does this seem reasonable enough for the continuation of the ministry? Do you think God will be okay with this? I know He wants me to do this. It will be possible in a year, just not right now.

**I am a SAHM, my husband does not want to take money for a sitter for this ‘volunteer’ work when I am not paying a sitter so I can go to work. The child has to go with me.

It sounds like much of it will be just getting times and places for the group to meet. You could still have the title as head of the ministry, but maybe encourage someone else (or more than one person) to actually take charge at the quilting times for however many months you need. Yet you would be the one making the calls to remind people to come and calling the parish to reserve the room at a certain time and place. That can all be worked around nap schedules and you can get things done and not even leave the house.

 

[juliasmith]

It sounds like much of it will be just getting times and places for the group to meet. You could still have the title as head of the ministry, but maybe encourage someone else (or more than one person) to actually take charge at the quilting times for however many months you need. Yet you would be the one making the calls to remind people to come and calling the parish to reserve the room at a certain time and place. That can all be worked around nap schedules and you can get things done and not even leave the house.

I like this as well. you guys must have been through something similar before

I’ve never even been involved in a ministry before, let alone run one. I feel a bit overwhelmed. But, I know I have been called on to do this and cannot walk away.

I suppose i could discuss all this with fr. And I will probably be on the phone a good deal tomorrow.

Thanks for the ideas. Keep 'em coming. I feel this is going to help me come up with a gameplan.

 

[juliasmith]

Would anyone have any ideas about how to attract new volunteers?

 

[NewUlm1976_2000]

Would anyone have any ideas about how to attract new volunteers?

Parish bulletin as you mentioned is one way, another is to have the current members recommend other members. Also look at other ministry groups and see if they are interested or know people that are intrested. The given rule for any parish is roughly 20% of the people do most of the ministry/volunteer work. If someone is in multiple ministries and are interested, make sure they do not get too overloaded with time and energy commitments.

You can also give a recruitment speech during mass at the time your priest thinks is best (after homily, before dismissal, etc…) and maybe have your priest mention it in announcements before the end of mass.

Also it helps to have posters up in the back of church, general meeting place, school (if you have one), etc… Be realistic in your total recruitment numbers as some will jump at the chance and some will be very hard to impossible to reach.

 

[Nanny_PK]

Would anyone have any ideas about how to attract new volunteers?

Our parish has a ministry fair – where all the different ministries have “booths” with information about their particular area. You could draw up a little brochure with FAQs and contact information.

 

[juliasmith]

These are all such wonderful ideas! i cannot thank you all enough.

 

[KathyA]

Would anyone have any ideas about how to attract new volunteers?

Is there anything a novice quilter/beginner could do to help? I don’t know how the ministry works, but as someone with very minimal sewing skills, I would automatically think “I can’t do this.” So, if there is a way to include and invite people who aren’t experts, you may get a few more people interested in helping. (I’ve always loved the idea of quilting, but it seems way out of my reach with the skills I have and the time I can put into it. I would LOVE an opportunity to ‘help’ on a project like this, all the while learning something for myself too.)

Kathy

 

[Nanny_PK]

At my church we started a prayer shawl ministry – people knit or crochet shawls to be handed out to people who are ill, have lost a spouse, et cetera. We offered knitting and crocheting classes to get people involved. Might get some of the older ladies who are very experienced quilters to do a class for ladies who are interested in this ministry.

 

[juliasmith]

Is there anything a novice quilter/beginner could do to help? I don’t know how the ministry works, but as someone with very minimal sewing skills, I would automatically think “I can’t do this.” So, if there is a way to include and invite people who aren’t experts, you may get a few more people interested in helping. (I’ve always loved the idea of quilting, but it seems way out of my reach with the skills I have and the time I can put into it. I would LOVE an opportunity to ‘help’ on a project like this, all the while learning something for myself too.)

Kathy

Actually, the name ‘God’s Quilts’ is a little misleading. We use large squares of upholstery fabric for the tops, and old blankets and mattress pads for the batting. The backs are of a softer material. We make them like this to provide maximum warmth as they go to shelters and persons that might have no or limited heat in their homes. There is no actual quilting involved as in the traditional sense. They are tacked together.
So, really, there is no skill involved and anyone could do this.
Perhaps I should somehow get that info out while looking for new members.

 

[KathyA]

Actually, the name ‘God’s Quilts’ is a little misleading. We use large squares of upholstery fabric for the tops, and old blankets and mattress pads for the batting. The backs are of a softer material. We make them like this to provide maximum warmth as they go to shelters and persons that might have no or limited heat in their homes. There is no actual quilting involved as in the traditional sense. They are tacked together.
So, really, there is no skill involved and anyone could do this.
Perhaps I should somehow get that info out while looking for new members.

Hey, I’d be all over that. Perhaps a short blurb in the bulletin just like above would help people understand what would be involved and inspire some new workers to join you.

Kathy

PS What a wonderful ministry! I can understand why you feel called to this!