Women's Ministry - Opportunities to Serve

Bible Study Team
This team of women prepares for and ensures details of each week's meeting during the scheduled calendar year.

• Table Leaders - these are the women leading the discussion and prayer time of each table. Each table is assigned a group of women each session. Table leaders keep in contact with the women at their table.
• Hospitality - individuals who coordinate the table decorations and food for each meeting date.
• Music - individuals who lead worship time (vocalists, piano players)
• Technical Support - individuals who assist with audio and visual of the study
• Registration - individuals who help with registration, book distribution, and payments

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Prepare Him Room Team
This team of women plans, organizes, and executes our annual women's Christmas outreach event, Prepare Him Room, typically held on the first Saturday of December each year.

• Table Hostesses - individuals who wish to host a table on the day of the event. They decorate their table with a centerpiece and their own holiday dishware. They serve as the table's conversation leader and creates a welcoming environment for the women attending.
• Program Team - individuals wishing to help plan and execute the details of the Prepare Him Room event.

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Women's Retreat Team
This team of women plans, organizes, and executes our annual women's retreat typically held in February each year. Our Retreat Team typically consists of the following volunteer roles:

• Retreat Coordinator - this position is appointed by the Women's Ministry Director and manages the planning, organization, and execution of the retreat.
• Workshop Coordinator - coordinates details of the workshops during the weekend: speakers, room arrangements, materials, hostesses, etc.
• Platform Coordinator - coordinates timing and rooming of all activities pertaining to the weekend
• Worship Coordinator - coordinates all music for the weekend and coordinates practices and worship of the worship team
  • Worship Team members - vocalists and musicians
• Media Coordinator - coordinates all audio and visual needs for the main session room. Coordinates all technical assistance members
  • Technical assistance members
• Emcee - leads the weekend activities from the main stage
• Drama Coordinator - coordinates the practice and performance of the drama team members
  • Drama team members
• Activities Coordinator - coordinates fun activities/ice breakers for the women to do throughout the weekend
• Registration Coordinator - coordinates and processes registrations prior to the retreat weekend as well as check-in procedures on the opening night of the weekend
• Facility Coordinator - coordinates the contracting, pricing, and details of the retreat venue and serves as facility troubleshooter during the weekend
• Prayer/Encouragement Coordinator - coordinates prayer during the planning stages of the retreat and then coordinates prayer time at the retreat
  • Prayer Team - volunteers available for praying with women
• Promotions Coordinator - coordinates all materials and communications to promote the retreat, coordinates development of the participant notebook and all contents
  • Individuals with desktop publishing experience
  • Photography - need individuals willing to take pictures throughout the weekend to document the weekend events
• Hospitality Coordinator - coordinates the welcoming atmosphere of the retreat through greeters
  • Greeters - individuals willing to welcome women at the door, hand out any materials or giveaways
• Decorations Coordinator - coordinates platform/stage and table decorations
• Favors Coordinator - coordinates design and acquisition of any giveaways
• Small Group Coordinator - coordinates table leaders for the main session small group times
  • Table Leaders - individuals willing to lead and guide the discussion at each table

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MOPS - Mothers of Preschoolers - Team
This team of women plans, organizes, and executes all meetings from September through May.

• MOPS Coordinator / Co-Coordinator - these positions are appointed by the Women's Ministry Director. These positions direct the planning, organization, and execution of all MOPS meetings.
• Discussion Group Leaders - these women currently have preschool-aged children who serve as the table leaders of the women registered.
• Mentor Moms - these women have "been there, done that" in terms of preschool-aged children. These are experienced moms with a strong faith who guide and mentor newer moms through this tough life stage.
• Team members - there are various committees in MOPS that have responsibilities each meeting. Some committees include hospitality, fundraising, creative activities, etc.

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Leadership Development Team
This team of women plans, organizes, and executes all leadership development events/workshops.

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Prayer Team
This team of women serve as prayer counselors for Sunday morning services. This team also prays over specific prayer requests of the various Women's Ministry teams and Board members.

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Connections Team
This is an emerging team for Women's Ministry. It is intended to be the team of women who plans, organize, and execute mentoring relationships, getting women involved in service within women's ministry and outside to the community. More information as it becomes available.

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There are opportunities within First Free Church beyond Women's Ministry programs and events for women to serve or be connected with other women.

Deaconesses have long been an active part of Women's Ministry at First Free. Theirs is a ministry that is most often behind the scenes and unheralded, but a ministry that is pivotal to meeting the needs of the body of believers at First Free.

These women are actively involved in ministry opportunities where they employ their spiritual gifts of serving and mercy. Among their many areas of service include: visitation of elderly/shut-in women of the First Free family and in-home celebration of their birthdays; an annual Birthday Party for all of our over 80 folks; assisting families in their time of loss; and distribution of benevolent funds to needy women.

Mary Lou Widstrom is the 2009 Chairperson for the Deaconesses and can be contacted through the Caring Ministries office at First Free. Visit the Caring Ministries web page here.

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Missions & More

For more than 100 years, First Evangelical Free Church of Rockford has been sending missionaries "into all the world." Forty-two families are now serving throughout the United States and around the globe. From teachers to pilots, church planters to doctors, our families are involved in speaking and teaching the transforming message of Jesus Christ.

How do we as a church meet the diverse needs of these missionaries? Missions & More plays a significant role in caring for the physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs of these families. Whether rolling bandages, sending care packages, or providing for the Treasure Chest, the goal is to increase the effectiveness of our missionaries. Along with "hands-on" projects, a challenge for this coming year is to uphold each missionary family in regular times of prayer. As we get to know our missionary family members in a more personal way, we can minister to their needs more effectively.

Nancy Carlson, Missions & More chairperson, and the members of the Executive Board direct the various ministry opportunities. Contact Nancy through the World Missions office.