Ideas for your group
| Send us your ideas! Email joannsmith@justmoved.org or mail to Just Moved, 8010 E. Morgan Trail, #7, Scottsdale, AZ 85258 |
Zonya Hamilton, Class Leader, The Rock Church, Castle Rock, CO
Session 1 – 1st Day of Class:
We purchased small brown 4×4 inch boxes and decorated them with “fragile, just moved, handle with care” on the outside and filled the inside with goodies such as candles, luggage tags, pens, Kleenex, and candy for each woman.
Carol Gulletine and Suzi Kuenster, Class Leaders, Highlands Church, Scottsdale, AZ
Session 1:
Have gals use a push pin and a map to mark where they moved from last. One who moved the farthest got a gift. This gift was a favorite Bigelow Tea and a scripture glued to the back and placed in a cellophane bag with a tag saying ”Arizona “Son” Tea.
Session 2:
Purchased some postcards with Arizona scenery for the gals to mail to someone they cherish. It is helpful to place a stamp on the postcards. Return address labels were made for each gal with a cactus as a graphic. This helps them remember this is where they are residing now.
Debbie Shaum, Class Leader, Chandler Christian, Chandler, AZ
Publicity:
A skit from the front of the church: a large moving box on stage and a woman is inside hidden by newspaper or brown wrapping paper sticking out the top of the box. The woman “pops out” tossing the paper aside and gives a “plug” for the Moving On Study.
Class Ideas:
In addition to asking the usual information during the first session, ask also for their favorite kind of muffin, favorite color, etc. When each member has a birthday, present her with her favorite muffin. Women are very surprised because they will have forgotten about the survey.
Make a name place card for each group member and place them on the table, moving them around each week to “mix-up” group members. Each woman gets a chance to meet and talk with every group member.
Donna Luger, Class Leader, Red Mountain Community, Mesa, AZ
Publicizing her class:
Donna sent an email to a list of local friends and family explaining the Moving On study. She gave specific information (when, what, where, how to register, etc.) about the study and shared the mission of Just Moved Ministry. She also asked them to contact any newcomers they may know and invite them to the study.
Cheri Heffield, Class Leader, Church of Charlotte, Charlotte, NC
Graduation:
The last day of class have a collection of olds hats and aprons. The hats are our ‘graduation caps’ and the aprons remind us that we are leaving ‘to serve with Martha’s hands and Mary’s heart’. Take a class photo and everyone gets a copy. The photo is a reminder of the group of women who walked through moving together. Their hearts will always be tied together in small ways because they know each other’s stories, struggles, and the joys they have discovered as they moved from hurting together to becoming more other-focused.
Ann Berven and Gloria Phifer, Class Leaders, Ankeny Free Church, Ankeny, IA
Publicity:
Have a letter explaining the Just Moved Ministry and Moving On Class and send to the Human Resource Departments of local corporate businesses. In the letter, ask that their Moving On information be included in any new employee packets. The letter emphasizes the benefits of the class for the new employee families in transition.
The church has a booth at the annual community festival and are able to visit with people and give newcomers a brochure about the Moving On class.
Julie Welch, Class Leader, Colonial Heights Baptist Church, Ridgeland, MS
A Moving Pastor:
Made a basket full of “moving” goodies for the wife of the pastor that was moving. Had a nice big basket full of fun things that would make her transition easier (including the book, After the Boxes Are Unpacked, of course!)
JM: Another great idea…some Moving On classes may have a new pastor moving to their church. On our website, we sell a Heartwarming Welcome Gift Pack which includes: 1 autographed copy of After The Boxes Are Unpacked, 1 bookmark, 4 Note Cards, and 10 Change of Address Cards. Arrives gift wrapped with a pink bow! Thoughtful enclosure card with your name and the greeting ‘Welcome to your new home!
Janet Hill, Class Leader, University Heights Baptist Church, Springfield, MO
Publicity:
Produced a generic magnet which was glued to a postcard with information about current classes. Magnets were distributed to local colleges/universities/schools to be included with their new employee packets. Also distributed to neighborhood elementary schools to all new enrollees.
Asked church members to invite friends they knew had recently relocated to our community to an information tea two weeks before the first class. Provided the invitations, members mailed invitations with a personal note written on it. For those who responded to the advertising we enlisted church hosts to attend the tea with these ladies, so everyone already knows someone when they arrive. At the tea, we give the details of the class, sell our books and enroll those who wish to attend.
Anne-Mi Hendrikse, Class Leader, Evangelical Community Church, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Other groups formed from the Moving On Class:
We had a class with many talented ladies so they did a few crafts together and formed a Scrapbooking Class within their group.
Kerry Reddick, Class Leader, Stone Bridge Church, The Woodlands, TX
Publicity:
Put together a “Moving Packet” to be given to newcomers that visit on Sunday. This helps them to start getting connected and is full of information on the community and events at the church, coupons, maps, information about the Moving On Class with a personal letter from Kerry and how to contact her.
Shirley Spillman and Phyllis Bennett, Class Leaders at Eastern Hills Wesleyan Church, Williamsville, NY
We contacted the local monthly newspaper to put the class on their calendar. After the information was sent to the newspaper, one reporter called and asked if she could do a story on the class. We welcomed 3 women from that story and 5 merchants who saw the article called to offer gift certificates, etc. to the ladies.
Julie Tipton, Class Leader, Christ Community Church, Huntersville, SC
Graduation:
Big day is finally here, your class members are ready to fly on their own wings. Make it extra special with some of the following creative ideas
What a creative (and yummy) design for a cake!
Pretty personalized diplomas tied with a pink ribbon
And the new “graduates” (everyone loves balloons)
