Women's and men's ministries

[Lisa1967]

This question is for all. Does your church offer women and men’s ministries and if so, do you take part? For the second year in a row, I have been attending a women’s ministry at a church in my former neighborhood (a Protestant church). We have small and large group ministries and meet twice a month. It is for women of all ages and stages of life. Our small group has 6 women and I have become very close to them. I plan to sign up next year. Large group doesn’t meet during the summer but our small group might. We pray for each other, have worship, food, and a speaker.

 

[Christy_Beth]

There’s the Alter Guild, but I would be dependant on someone giving me a ride, so I hesitate. on calling and asking about that. There is the RCIA, which can be run by a woman or a man, and both could be sponsers as well. At one church, they have a sack lunch ministry. Every weekday (I don’t think they do it on the weekend), they had out lunches to any who come asking for it. This is one way to help the poor, making sure they get at least one meal.

 

[UpUpAndAway]

My parish does not have any apostolates or other groups that are specifically oriented towards a single gender.

 

[Marie5890]

My parish does not have any apostolates or other groups that are specifically oriented towards a single gender.

Same with mine.
One of our small Christian Communities, although open to all, is attended by women only.

 

[LisaA]

This question is for all. Does your church offer women and men’s ministries and if so, do you take part? For the second year in a row, I have been attending a women’s ministry at a church in my former neighborhood (a Protestant church). We have small and large group ministries and meet twice a month. It is for women of all ages and stages of life. Our small group has 6 women and I have become very close to them. I plan to sign up next year. Large group doesn’t meet during the summer but our small group might. We pray for each other, have worship, food, and a speaker.

Not really and it’s one of my greatest disappointments as a convert. I have attended a number of Bible studies, some co-ed but most either for men or women at evangelical churches. As you said these groups are not only beneficial for learing Scripture and getting to know Jesus, they provide support and fellowship. In large churches, these smaller groups are truly a benefit.

That being said, there are more and more such studies tailored for Catholics and it’s my dream to get something like this going at our Parish. We do have Small Christian Communities and several Lenten studies but there is no specific Women’s or Men’s ministries. I think this idea would be very beneficial for the Church, evangelization within and without.

Lisa

 

[Lisa1967]

Not really and it’s one of my greatest disappointments as a convert. I have attended a number of Bible studies, some co-ed but most either for men or women at evangelical churches. As you said these groups are not only beneficial for learing Scripture and getting to know Jesus, they provide support and fellowship. In large churches, these smaller groups are truly a benefit.

That being said, there are more and more such studies tailored for Catholics and it’s my dream to get something like this going at our Parish. We do have Small Christian Communities and several Lenten studies but there is no specific Women’s or Men’s ministries. I think this idea would be very beneficial for the Church, evangelization within and without.

Lisa

I agree. I have made some friends through women’s ministry and it makes the church feel smaller. Good luck to you in getting something started. Our large group meets October-May the third Friday evening of the month and our small group meets one Saturday morning a month so the time is accessible for people who work outside the home.

If you are interested in seeing how this church does it, their website is cohlc.com

 

[JonNC]

This question is for all. Does your church offer women and men’s ministries and if so, do you take part? For the second year in a row, I have been attending a women’s ministry at a church in my former neighborhood (a Protestant church). We have small and large group ministries and meet twice a month. It is for women of all ages and stages of life. Our small group has 6 women and I have become very close to them. I plan to sign up next year. Large group doesn’t meet during the summer but our small group might. We pray for each other, have worship, food, and a speaker.

It might depend on what you define as “women’s ministries”. The LCMS has synod-wide the Luther Women’s Missionary League. lwml.org/.

There is also the International Lutheran Layman’s League
lhm.org/about/ourhistory.asp.

Jon

 

[Lisa1967]

Oops, I got the church’s website wrong. The website is cohlc.org. If that doesn’t work, Google Community of Hope Rosemount.

Thanks for all the responses so far–please keep them going.

 

[SteveVH]

Not really and it’s one of my greatest disappointments as a convert. I have attended a number of Bible studies, some co-ed but most either for men or women at evangelical churches. As you said these groups are not only beneficial for learing Scripture and getting to know Jesus, they provide support and fellowship. In large churches, these smaller groups are truly a benefit.

That being said, there are more and more such studies tailored for Catholics and it’s my dream to get something like this going at our Parish. We do have Small Christian Communities and several Lenten studies but there is no specific Women’s or Men’s ministries. I think this idea would be very beneficial for the Church, evangelization within and without.

Lisa

Women can participate in any lay ministry in which men can participate; lectors, extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist, altar servers, RCIA, Baptism classes, Religious education, and on and on. We also have both “Men’s Fellowsip” and 'Women’s Fellowship" which meet once a week to share and learn more about our faith through various resources (Speakers, DVD’s etc…). If you don’t have a women’s group, start one. There are many materials availalble to help you. It just takes someone to get the ball rolling.

 

[stanncie]

Yes my parish does have this but it’s tied to Emmaus which is a retreat that is held twice a year in my parish. Since the retreat is separated by gender the groups afterward follow this. All the other ministries in my parish (over 20) are mixed.

I must say I enjoy being part of this group since we can be very frank about the things we discuss and relate it to what being a Christian woman should be and I’ve formed nice friendships with women of all ages.

 

[hn160]

Women can participate in any lay ministry in which men can participate; lectors, extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist, altar servers, RCIA, Baptism classes, Religious education, and on and on. We also have both “Men’s Fellowsip” and 'Women’s Fellowship" which meet once a week to share and learn more about our faith through various resources (Speakers, DVD’s etc…). If you don’t have a women’s group, start one. There are many materials availalble to help you. It just takes someone to get the ball rolling.

My LC-MS church is probably more conserative than most LC-MS churches. While we have a woman’s group, the pastors do all the readings during the service and only a elder is allowed to distribute the individual wine, the pastors distribute the host and the wine in the common cup. Our elders are always male and appointed by the pastor. The pastors do all the teaching Bible classes.

 

[TC2]

We have both men’s and women’s ministries.

The Baptist Men meet once a month for a meal, Bible study, and prayer/uplifting time.
The women’s CORE group that helps the WM leader run things meets also once a month (I am part of this group).

There are separate bible studies for men and women, along with the regular congregational study on Wednesday nights with our pastor.

A group of our women are now on a retreat to Wesley Gardens in Savannah, and our church is hosting a live simulcast of Priscilla Shirer later this month for women.

We also have a children’s ministry, youth/teen ministries, and a senior ministry. The latter 2groups have retreats and trips all through the year.

Our church also has a family movie night in the social hall occasionally, with popcorn and cokes at intermission, and we have an Upwards basketball league as well.

We have Awana throughout the school year, and vacation bible school in summer.

We’re pretty busy, all around. If your not involved with something, it’s not b/c it’s not offered!

 

[Porknpie]

This question is for all. Does your church offer women and men’s ministries and if so, do you take part? For the second year in a row, I have been attending a women’s ministry at a church in my former neighborhood (a Protestant church). We have small and large group ministries and meet twice a month. It is for women of all ages and stages of life. Our small group has 6 women and I have become very close to them. I plan to sign up next year. Large group doesn’t meet during the summer but our small group might. We pray for each other, have worship, food, and a speaker.

Lisa,

Why do men’s and women ministries exist in your church? For what purpose? Curious I am.

We have a women’s bible study in our church that run by a lay person, outside the formal approval of the church itself as she is not formally educated. Still, 40-50 woman attend this over two difference times. There is a bible study run by the Church and there are small group studies that are self organized by the laity. I laugh when someone says Catholics don’t read the bible? There is the National Council of Catholic Women and the Knights of Columbus. We have a Migrant Ministry to attend to the material and spiritual needs of those working in the US seasonally. There are also ministries to shut ins and visiting those in the hospital. Other ministries are run at diocesan level such as to those with SSA.

 

[Lisa1967]

Lisa,

Why do men’s and women ministries exist in your church? For what purpose? Curious I am.

We have a women’s bible study in our church that run by a lay person, outside the formal approval of the church itself as she is not formally educated. Still, 40-50 woman attend this over two difference times. There is a bible study run by the Church and there are small group studies that are self organized by the laity. I laugh when someone says Catholics don’t read the bible? There is the National Council of Catholic Women and the Knights of Columbus. We have a Migrant Ministry to attend to the material and spiritual needs of those working in the US seasonally. There are also ministries to shut ins and visiting those in the hospital. Other ministries are run at diocesan level such as to those with SSA.

Good question. These ministries exist for friendship with other church members and also for evangelization and discipleship. The ministries are called Women who Move and Men who Move. There are opportunities to outreach to the wider community as well.

I am glad your church has Bible studies and other ministries.

 

[JonNC]

My LC-MS church is probably more conserative than most LC-MS churches. While we have a woman’s group, the pastors do all the readings during the service and only a elder is allowed to distribute the individual wine, the pastors distribute the host and the wine in the common cup. Our elders are always male and appointed by the pastor. The pastors do all the teaching Bible classes.

In our parish, lay men and women participate in reading the OT and Epistle lectionary, only the pastor the Gospel reading (of course), and Elders and a few former elders as communion assistants.

Jon

 

[4Squarebaby]

Yes we do along with gender integrated Bible studies. I attended until a change in work schedules made it impossible to reach in time. because of work schedules other church members only attend the Men’s group. In some cases, especially among commuter churches people attend a group at one church near their work and travel for their Saturday/Sunday service.

 

[andrewstx]

In our parish we have a mens’ group that has monthly dinner and then meets for conversation drinks and cigars after.

The Episcopal church I belonged to has a monthly mass followed by breakfast. I never went since I am allergic to rising before dawn and eggs too.