Great organization of your Women’s Midweek Study can cultivate a warm, welcoming atmosphere that helps guests to feel at home and included immediately.

Imagine you’re new to a church, and you’ve courageously decided to attend your first Women’s Midweek Study. You’re packing your purse, a diaper bag, a car seat, and an umbrella. How will you feel when you receive a friendly greeting at the door, guidance through childcare, an introduction to your leader, a hot cup of coffee, and answers to your questions?

Imagine now that you arrive to see women standing in familiar groups laughing together. No one approaches you, and you have no idea what to expect.

To which scene would you eagerly return?

Expectations

Expectations are the big E on the eye chart. For a newcomer, knowing what to expect when she first encounters a women’s ministry event goes a long way in developing positive first impressions. Meet expectations, and you’ve won a friend. Failure to meet reasonable expectations like a warm welcome and clear communication sends the message that your visitor is not important. Neglecting a visitor’s needs hollers, “please don’t bother”—and she probably won’t.

Great organization of the event and adequate staffing are two ways that women’s ministry leadership can cultivate a warm, welcoming atmosphere that helps guests to feel at home and included immediately. Just as you would do if you were having a gathering in your home, plan for the comfort and consideration of those who will be blessed by your thoughtful hospitality.

Failure to meet reasonable expectations like a warm welcome and clear communication sends the message that your visitor is not important.

Here is a sample schedule of events for a Women’s Midweek Study. Later we will provide a list of job descriptions that will assist you as you plan for a successful Women’s Midweek Study.

Sample Schedule

• 9:00 Drop off kids & fellowship
• 9:15 Welcome, worship, and announcements
• 9:30 Teaching
• 9:45 Small group table discussion
• 11:15 End

Encourage flexibility in designing a schedule that works well for the women of your church and, for daytime events, takes into consideration local school drop-off and pick-up times.

Once you have determined a schedule, the standard for your team should be to maintain that schedule with consistency to avoid confusion and provide an organized atmosphere. For example, if your promotions say your study starts at 9:15, then you need to start at 9:15. That means your volunteers and leaders need to be in place by 9:00 at the latest.

Neglecting a visitor’s needs hollers, “please don’t bother”—and she probably won’t.

The following things facilitate an organized and comfortable schedule:

• Clear communication and promotions ahead of time
• Trained and committed volunteers
• Regular attenders and leaders arrive on time
• A concierge model
• Prep work is completed before guests arrive
• Emcee goes over the schedule during the welcome

Where should your Women’s Midweek Study be held?

Option #1: For churches with full-time access to their facility:

• Identify a large meeting space within your building
• The space should be able to accommodate: tables, a podium for the speaker, hospitality, and audio/video
• Plan for use of childcare rooms

Option #2: For churches without full-time access to their facility:

• Identify an alternative meeting space such as a community center or large home
• The space should be able to accommodate: large group seating, hospitality, and audio/video if required
• Plan for a separate children’s area, such as a rec room or basement, or separate meeting room

When should the Women’s Midweek Study be held?

Your Women’s Midweek Study should meet regularly during the church year, taking holiday breaks as needed. Determine the day and frequency of WMS based on the options below.

Option #1: Meet weekly

Pros

• Ability to remain consistent with the study material
• Increased regularity makes it easier to stay engaged and committed
• Maximized availability to newcomers
• Allows for regular scheduling of volunteers

Cons

• Scheduling volunteers, speakers, and covering childcare
• Increased financial costs for hospitality and childcare

Option #2: Meet every other week

Pros

• Option to do missional play dates in the off weeks
• Less burdensome on volunteers

Cons

• Less availability to newcomers
• May make it harder to stay engaged and committed
• May impact regular scheduling of volunteers

Check out the complete Organizing a Women’s Midweek Study series.