When:
October 23, 2019 @ 9:30 am – 11:00 am
2019-10-23T09:30:00-04:00
2019-10-23T11:00:00-04:00

HUGS for Moms

Wednesdays at 9:30 – 11:15 a.m. in Room 132 (unless otherwise noted)

*Childcare is available by reservation. HUGS observes the Rochester Community Schools calendar. When schools are closed, HUGS will not meet.

 

HUGS 2019-2020: Pray Prepare Serve & Repeat!

H.U.G.S. is a multi-generational Mom’s group.  H.U.G.S. is shorthand for Humor, Understanding, Growth and Support/Sharing/Spirituality.  We meet Wednesday mornings in room 132 at St. Paul’s from 9:30 – 11:15 unless otherwise noted.  Childcare is provided at no charge.  Please call ahead so we can have sufficient childcare providers each week: Childcare Reservations: (248) 651-9361, ext. 114.  Our classes are designed for busy women on the go, so there is little homework, but always great discussions!  Even when we schedule a multi-week series, each week runs independently of the others, so you can join when you can without feeling like you are missing something.

The call to action this year is from Romans 12:11-13:  “Never let the fire in your heart go out. Keep it alive. Serve the Lord. When you hope, be joyful. When you suffer, be patient. When you pray, be faithful. Share with God’s people who are in need. Welcome others into your homes.”  Sound familiar?  This embodies what the women of HUGS strive to do.  I’ll admit that the first year we had a contest to decide the following year’s theme, I was filled with a bit of trepidation for agreeing to come up with ways to live out our verse.  But I left the fear behind, as Joshua 1:9 encouraged, and leaned into God’s ever present strength.  Let’s spend this coming year investigating how we can let God’s fire transform us as we continue to be brave and courageous.  We’ll deepen our prayer life, delve into what Christian joy provides us, even in our darkest days, prepare to serve, serve some more, and embrace the Christ-like care we administer to others.  We tend to reserve our most fervent emotions, our most impassioned arguments, for our families or for social causes that touch our hearts. We’ll look at directing this passion toward God. Zeal pushes us to give our best effort, to care when we don’t feel like it, to try when we want to give up, to continue when we want to quit. How high and strong does your flame of zeal burn?  This year we will find ways to keep ourselves fueled and alert for ways to serve all people, intentionally and faithfully.  And not to quit in hard times; but rather, lean in to our prayers.  In sum, we will pray, prepare, serve and repeat, circling back to serve our families, the community, and the greater world.  We’ll tap into the zeal we feel when we’re fulfilling the mission God called us to do.  New this year:  a monthly call to mission.  We’ll try to identify what we are doing in time for the Evangel.  I’m excited to see what our amazing community of faith will accomplish!  We hope you will join us!

September 2019

HUGS Monthly mission:  Birthday Bags for the Neighborhood House.  Gather all the supplies you’d need for a birthday party in a small gift bag:  cake mix, frosting, candles, cupcake liners, plates, napkins, etc. (just no balloons or matches, please!).  We’ll collect the bags on September 25 and bring them to the Neighborhood House.

11    Mugs & Hugs – We know the start of the school year can be crazy busy, so we

will ease into the new year with a field trip to Grand Traverse Pie Company – next to Papa Joe’s  (6920 N. Rochester Road 248-438-5110).  Let’s plan on meeting up at 10:00 and staying til 11:30 or so.  It’s very kid friendly and there’s ample room for us to spread out, so feel free to bring your little guys!

18    Meet and Greet – This starts our official kick-off for anyone too frenzied to meet during our back to school chaos!  We look forward to welcoming new faces and catching up with old friends!

Wednesday LUNCH BUNCH 11:30-12:30.  Once a month, we contribute one ingredient to include in a salad and extend our fellowship through lunch.  For the toddler/preschool set, feel free to bring your little guys in with us as we linger over conversation and lunch.

25  Prayer stations – It’s a perfect time to reboot, try out some different prayer/meditation practices and get inspired to make sure we never let the fire in our hearts go out.  We’ll rotate through several stations and end with some fellowship.  Don’t forget to bring in the birthday bags for our mission project for the Neighborhood House!

October 2019

HUGS Monthly mission: Operation School Bell on Tuesday October 29.

Crafting & Conversation –  We will get our creative juices flowing and actively consider what it means to pray, prepare, serve & repeat as Paul directs in Romans 12:11-13.  We will create a reminder to take with us as we set a few goals for the year.  This will be an easy “craft” that requires no expertise to complete.  You won’t want to miss it!  Also, to get inspired for the fall rummage sale, we’ll bring in a book or two for a twist on last year’s Swap & Drop!  (If you happen to be looking for certain items in advance of the rummage sale, feel free to post any requests on our FB page).  Bring a book, take a book.   Anything left over can be donated to the rummage sale.

Wednesday LUNCH BUNCH 11:30-12:30.  Once a month, we contribute one ingredient to include in a salad and extend our fellowship through lunch.  For the toddler/preschool set, feel free to bring your little guys in with us as we linger over conversation and lunch.

Rummage Sale! Come help us sort and organize and as an added bonus to our helpers, do a little pre-shopping as well!  Our regular childcare is available for this week.  Feel free to come as early as 9am or stay for lunch (chidcare extends through noon, compliments of the Rummage Sale).  Questions?  Contact Kathy Lutey at drlutey2@wowway.com.

16, 23 & 30  The Best Yes by Lysa Terkeurst.  This study addresses the universal dilemma of the modern mama – an overwhelming schedule, endless demand and the need to please.  Terkeurst suggests a wisdom based process to overcome the agony of hard choices – so we learn to give small nos so we can say the best yes – the unique plan God has for each of us.  Each week we will watch a short video and discuss the tips Terkeurst sets out for us.  There is an optional book and devotional that you can read, but it’s not necessary to glean the gems of wisdom we’ll share each week!

Sue Evans and friends will lead this 6 week study.

29  Service Project:  Operation School Belloff campus 8:30-noon (or as long as we can stay).  Back by popular demand – an opportunity for us to serve school-aged children.  The Assistance League of Southeastern Michigan sponsors many meaningful programs, including this one.  We will be helping children in Pontiac choose a winter coat, hat, gloves, pants, tops, underwear, socks, hygiene kit, book and duffel bag. Each of us will be assigned one child to escort through this process.   We will provide details on exact time closer to the event.  Our “uniform” for the day must be black pants and a white shirt.  There will be childcare at St Paul’s starting at 8:15 as long as you call in advance and fill out a St. Paul’s release form.  Camille Doerr will have the forms for us to return to participate in this event.

November 2019

HUGS Monthly mission:  Methodist Children’s Home -TBD

The Best Yes by Lysa Terkeurst – Each week we will watch a short video and discuss the tips Terkeurst sets out for us.  There is an optional book and devotional that you can read, but it’s not necessary to glean the gems of wisdom we’ll share each week!

Wednesday LUNCH BUNCH 11:30-12:30.  Once a month, we contribute one ingredient to include in a salad and extend our fellowship through lunch.  For the toddler/preschool set, feel free to bring your little guys in with us as we linger over conversation and lunch.

13 & 20 Best Yes. Don’t worry if you’ve missed earlier sessions; each week provides new wisdom!

27     NO HUGS – Enjoy your Thanksgiving with your families!

December 2019

HUGS Monthly mission:  St. Paul’s Christmas baskets.  Your choice – donate funds or goods or help organize or distribute the baskets.  See the Evangel for details on ways you can serve.

Mindfulness – BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND!!  Our own Carmelita Samuel will help us regain our peace as we rush head on with Christmas preparations!

Wednesday LUNCH BUNCH 11:30-12:30.  Once a month, we contribute one ingredient to include in a salad and extend our fellowship through lunch.  For the toddler/preschool set, feel free to bring your little guys in with us as we linger over conversation and lunch.

11  CHRISTMAS BRUNCH: NOTE CHANGE IN TIME & LOCATION– 9:30am – noon upstairs in the Parlor – Be on the lookout for the Evite for details as well as an opportunity to bring a dish to share.  Please feel welcome to come whether this is the first time you’ve been to HUGS or whether you are a seasoned veteran!

18 & 25  We are off on Christmas break until January 8!