Purpose Statement

MOPS Purpose Statement: MOPS International exists to encourage, equip and develop every mother of preschoolers to realize her potential as a woman, mother and leader in the name of Jesus Christ.

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Summary of Fri 12th, 2010


MOPS started for 2010 on Fri 12th with a lovely morning
introducing the new team and the new theme.

Changes to the Team:

With the start of the new year there are some changes to the team.
Please bear with us while we all settle into these roles and do our best to keep the
momentum of MOPS going.

Mia T has stepped down from the Coordinator role
Ursula is temporarily in this role for the duration of Term One while we find a full time Coordinator
Natalie has stepped down from Finance
Kylie B is now doing Finance
Melinda has stepped down from Hospitality to take on the Assistant Coordinator role.
Michele has stepped down from Publicity and remains Discussion Group Leader
Tracey remains in the "Captain Creative" Craft role
and has also taken on the Newsletter (temporarily).
Simone and Loren assist Tracey with craft.
Del is assistant with blessings
Mentors: Sadie, Lyn?, Dott?

TABLE LEADERS (to be finalised):
Michele
Rosalie
Simone
Melinda
Tracey?
Kylie?


Several others are currently considering roles on the team
(thanks for expressing an interest and welcome!)

and there are positions vacant as follows

Coordinator
Publicity
Hospitality
Table Leaders

As well as a definite need for:
MOPPETS Coordinator
MOPPETS Carers
Mentors

Please speak to any member of the team or see the current Newsletter (The Daily Planet) to get further information about each of these positions.

THIS YEARS THEME IS:

Together on Planet Mum.

This year is all about the importance of relationships and connection and how these grow and change as we become Mums.

It is about not doing Motherhood alone !

The key scripture underpinning this theme is

"Where two or three of you are gathered, there I am in the midst of them"
Matthew 18:20

This scripture is a great reminder that God is with us while we raise our children
and is also a great part of all our relationships.

We are built for relationship:
with ourselves, our partners, our children, our friends and our community.

Throughout the year we will be using a MOPS DVD as well as Guest Speakers to cover various topics to do with relationships such as:

Bridging Planet Me and Planet Mum
Building a Community of Friends
Growing with an Extended Family (In laws etc)
Loving and Giving in Service (Connecting with your Community)
Navigating Unsafe Relationships
Living with God

THE CURRICULUM
As well as the DVD MOPS International provides us with copies of a book called
"Together on Planet Mom"
which is a great resource for those that want further reading on this topic.
The book is very mum-friendly (ie quick to read, not too heavy going, and relevant to your life and the joys and challenges we all face on Planet Mum).
If you would like a copy they are available (with a carry bag and pen and maybe some other goodies?) for $20. Please see Kylie on the front desk to get your copy.

TODAY AT MOPS

Today at MOPS we looked at the DVD segment about Bridging the Gap Between Planet Me and Planet Mum and spent some time in our Discussion Groups following up on the ideas presented.

Craft was Valentine's related (making/decorating a mini book for a loved one).
Instructions have been provided below if you would like to try this again at home.


Other:
Cost per meeting/per family now $6 to cover rising costs
A once off annual MOPS Australia registration fee of $10 per mum has been introduced. This goes to MOPS Australia to help fund the admin/support side of MOPS and keep MOPS running and growing across Australia. Please see Kylie at Finance to pay and/or for more information about this fee.


Craft Instructions - Valentines Mini Book
(Thanks to Silje from Little Bird Crafts)
http://abeautifulmess.typepad.com/my_weblog/2010/01/guest-diy-with-silje-from-little-bird-crafts-.html

Cut two 4x4" card squares and four 4x5" card strips. I used brown card stock, but you can also use coloured or patterned cardstock. Fold 1" so that you have a 4x4 square, and a 1" flap - do this to all four of the 4x5" card strips.


Use glue dots or wet glue on the back of the paper flaps,

and glue each paper strip flap to each of the four sides of one of the squares.

Glue the second 4x4 card square in the center to cover up the paper strips.

Now you can decorate with pictures and embellishments, or just cute little notes and text

- the options are really endless.

Make a cute little book for your best friend, or for that special someone for Valentine's day.


Posted by Michele @ The Hills are Alive at 11:18 AM Labels: 0 comments

Tuesday, February 02, 2010

Something for your parenting toolkit - Separation Anxiety

Just came across this great blog post on managing Separation Anxiety and thought would share it here for anyone with kids settling into MOPPETS, a new daycare centre, kindy or school (and for us Mummys too). Great book suggestion to read with your children and a craft/necklace with message for you and your child to both wear when apart
Posted by Michele @ The Hills are Alive at 10:13 PM Labels: , 0 comments
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Theme Scripture

Psalm 139

1 You have searched me, LORD, and you know me.
2 You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.
3 You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.
4 Before a word is on my tongue you, LORD, know it completely.
5 You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.

7 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?
8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea,
10 even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,”
12 even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.

13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
17 How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them!
18 Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand — when I awake, I am still with you.

19 If only you, God, would slay the wicked! Away from me, you who are bloodthirsty!
20 They speak of you with evil intent; your adversaries misuse your name.
21 Do I not hate those who hate you, LORD, and abhor those who are in rebellion against you?
22 I have nothing but hatred for them; I count them my enemies.
23 Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Annual MOPS Participation Fee

The annual MOPS Participation Fee of $10 assists MOPS Australia in covering the cost of training for Regional Coordinators to help other MOPS groups to develop around Australia. It also allows more MOPS group leaders around Australia to access regional training.

This will go a long way to helping MOPS Australia bring MOPS to more Mums around Australia.

When you register for MOPS each year, you will be handed an Annual Participation Fee form, and we ask that if you are able to pay this $10 participation fee, please do so before the end of April 2011.

The payment options are...
1. Direct Debit to MOPS Australia bank account
2. Credit card
3. Cheque payable to MOPS Australia
4. Cash to MOPS@MBC front desk

Thank you, from the MOPS@MBC team.

How did MOPS begin?

It was a Tuesday morning, at about 9.30. They each had faced spilled cereal, tangled hair, and a few had even been forced to change their outfits due to a last-minute baby throw-up on a shoulder or lap. They had driven, or pushed strollers, to the church and had dropped their little ones off in the creche. They had made it!

And now they sat, knees almost touching, in the circle of children's chairs from the Sunday school room. Hands held hot cups of tea and biscuits in utter freedom because this treat did not have to be shared with a child's sticky fingers. Mouths moved in eager, uninterrupted conversation. Eyes sparkled with enthusiasm. Hearts stirred with understanding. Needs were met.

That morning in 1973, was the first morning of MOPS, or Mothers of Preschoolers. Little was it known that from this small beginning in a church in Colorado, USA, the seeds of the MOPS concept and format had been planted. The needs of the women were met even then, through the opportunity for friendship, creative outlet and spiritual emphasis. MOPS International now charters approximately 2,500 MOPS groups in churches in the United States and 13 other countries throughout the world.

How did MOPS begin in Australia?

How did MOPS begin in Australia?

Nineteen years later and thousands of kilometres away, the same mutual need for sharing was realised by a group of mums with children under school age in Melbourne. After reading about the MOPS concept in the US, leaders introduced the program to the Clayton Church of Christ Fellowship in early 1990 and MOPS was born in Australia. From this small beginning, the seeds for future growth were planted, resulting in the formation of an affiliated body to support the ever-increasing number of Australian groups and the mums they served.

Since its formation in June 2000, MOPS Australia, Inc has grown rapidly and there are currently over 100 groups throughout Australia. In the last year alone, 35 new groups have commenced, with groups starting up regularly throughout different Christian denominations. Groups now meet in every state and territory in Australia, with an estimated ministry to approximately 2500 mums and 3000 children.

How did MOPS begin at MBC?

A Brief History of MOPS at MBC by Karen Askey-Doran (COordinator of MOPS til 2008 and currently Regional Coordinator).

In 1999, the leader of MBC’s women’s ministry caught the vision of MOPS. At that time I was a new Mum with little inclination to help; I was interested but not convicted!

Roughly a year later another meeting was held to generate interest. At this time I had another little baby girl, a 16-month-old toddler and, although I was unaware of it, Post Natal Depression. And once again people were interested but not compelled to lead.

In 2005 Holly, caught the vision of MOPS and began to sow the seeds of interest throughout the young Mums in our church. Robyn Robertson came to our first meeting and inspired us into action…the seeds Holly planted took hold!

People came slowly at first to fill the positions, it seemed there were a lot of blanks for a long time! Holly was going to be our Coordinator and when she filled out the charter she realised that a Mother of Preschoolers should really fill that role…. So she called me! Very graciously, Holly took a side step into a Mentoring role (very appropriate really).

God was moving in our midst, we had been blessed with an inspired team of 15 Mops Leaders and 9 Moppets Leaders, each one having a testimony about how God had lead them to this ministry!

I suspect that God has big plans for our group. I still feel very inadequate sometimes but I do trust God and I want to serve him and to reach out to Mums who are hurting, to support them. I want to encourage, you know, to build up… to make a difference in people’s lives, especially my children’s!

I know I’m not alone… In Romans 8:28 it says “we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” He planned for my girls, my twins, my battle with PND. He planned for MOPS - at this time - in our church! The door has literally been flung open!

What happens at a MOPS meeting?

When a mum enters a MOPS meeting, she is greeted by a friendly face and escorted to MOPPETS, where her children enjoy their special part of the MOPS program. In MOPPETS, children from infancy through to school age experience a caring environment while they learn, sing, play and make crafts.

Once her children are settled, the MOPS mum joins a program tailor-made to meet her needs. She can grab something to eat and not have to share it! She can finish a sentence and not have to speak in words of two syllables!

The program typically begins with a brief lesson taught by an older mum who's been through the challenging years of mothering and who can share from her experience and from the truths taught in the Bible. Then the women move into small discussion groups where there are no "wrong answers" and each mum is free to share her joys and struggles with other mums who truly understand her feelings. In these moments, long-lasting friendships are often made on the common ground of finally being understood.

From here, the women participate in a craft or other creative activity. For mums who are often frustrated by the impossibility of completing anything in their unpredictable days, this activity is deeply satisfying. It provides a sense of accomplishment and growth for many mums.

Because mums of preschoolers themselves lead MOPS, the program also offers women a chance to develop their leadership skills and other talents. It takes organisation, creativity, and management skills to run a MOPS program successfully.

By the time they finish the MOPS meeting and pick up their children, the mums feel refreshed and better able to mother. MOPS helps them recognise that mums have needs too! And when they take the time to meet those needs, they find they are more effective in meeting the needs of their families.

Meeting the needs of Mothers of Preschoolers

The MOPS program is dedicated to meeting the needs of mothers of preschoolers. These needs have been identified by Elisa Morgan and Carol Kuykendall in their book, What Every Mum Needs:


The need for Identity: Sometimes I'm not sure who I am

The need for Growth: Sometimes I long to develop who I am

The need for Relationship: Sometimes I long to be understood

The need for Help: Sometimes I need to share the load

The need for Perspective: Sometimes I lose my focus

The need for Hope: Sometimes I wonder if there's more to life


Here's How Some Mums Describe MOPS

"MOPS means that I am able to share the joys and frustrations and insecurities of being a mum. Our meetings provide the opportunity to hear someone else say, "I was up all night," or "They're driving me crazy!"

MOPS mum, Perth

"As a single mum, this is the first group I've felt accepted in for who I am."

MOPS mum, Canberra

'On my first day at MOPS, I knew my life had changed forever! The women made me feel so relaxed. I had a peace I hadn't felt for a long time. They were so caring, pleasant, helpful…the list goes on! I just want to say, "Thank you MOPS!" If it weren't for MOPS, I wouldn't be where I am today.'

MOPS mum, Melbourne

'When I first started MOPS, I was very, very lonely. MOPS gave me a chance to get out of the house which I was grateful for. The talks were very informative. I found out a lot through these talks. My problems seemed to become smaller. When I first started at MOPS, I thought I was a Christian. I wasn't. Through MOPS I can now say, 'I am a Christian.' MOPS to me is not only Mothers of Pre Schoolers, but My Own Private Salvation!'

MOPS mum, Canberra