10 Women’s Ministry Events I Would Actually Enjoy

I have a confession: I have never been a big fan of women’s retreats, teas, conferences, and the like. It’s not that I dislike ministry or women or brunch (trust me, I LOVE brunch). Really, I just have a hard time sitting still and talking without a shared activity or passion.

I think more women than I realized feel the same way. We want to get to know one another, but we like to do so through a common pursuit. Last night, I had a lovely dinner with some friends from church, and we talked about different ministries we would love to start, projects we could do together, and events we could host that would be unique and enjoyable. (My current favorite event is a “Super Bored” party where anyone who dislikes football can come to my house during the Super Bowl to watch a cozy movie, eat snacks, and revel in not having to sit through four hours of timeouts.)

So, without further adieu, here are ten women’s ministry activities that I (and my fellow fidgety introverts) would genuinely enjoy:

Walking/jogging group: Lace-up your shoes and bring your kids if you want. We can all take turns pushing strollers or monitoring littles at the playground. We don’t have to run fast so long as we move!
Chore share: Have a closet you need to organize but keep avoiding? Laundry piling up? Windows thick with the grime of the ages? Let’s swap chores. I’ll organize your closet if you’ll clean my windows.
Meal prep night: Have everyone bring a few ingredients, gather at the home of whoever has the biggest kitchen, and prep enough freezer meals to survive the winter. Nobody wants to do this alone, but it would make life much easier. Besides, church ladies always have amazing recipes.
Painting parties: This one is totally self-serving because I love painting. I’m not kidding; let me paint your home. It’ll get done quicker, and we can chat while we work. Or, if we don’t want to talk, we won’t feel awkward because we’ll be busy painting.
Garden swaps: My garden is thriving mostly because a friend from church gifted me wildflower seeds and helped me plant my other flowers. Especially here in Iowa, everyone seems to have plants they’d like to give away or swap for others. We can also help each other get our gardens under control! (This is a little selfish because I could always use help with my garden.)
Old books reading group: There are a lot of great women’s ministry-specific resources out there, but we don’t have to be limited to these. It’s so important that we remember the history and traditional of our faith. Those old books can be intimidating, so let’s read them together!
Tutoring co-op: Our church is packed with smart women. Why don’t we all contribute our knowledge and help out the youth? Hosting study groups or events can also help bridge generational gaps.
Costco caravan: All you need is one friend with a Costco card and a few friends with large cars. Let’s buy in bulk together and then treat ourselves to pizza and frozen yogurt on the way out!
Handicrafts tutorials: Again, this is a little selfish because I have always wanted to learn to crochet. Many older women I know are gifted in this area, and women of my generation seem more interested in handicrafts than ever before as an escape from our digitalized lives. Besides, can you think of anything more cozy than drinking hot beverages and knitting together in the dark of an Iowan winter?
Brunch: Like I said, I love brunch. But maybe we can bike or hike first?