Last summer I took on the leadership of Women’s Ministry alongside the K5-5th grade ministry with children and their families. Our goal was to move from event planning to intentional disciple-making. Disciple-making means we’re getting into building new and deeper relationships with Jesus and with other disciples of Jesus. Secret Hallelujah Sisters is a new ministry to do just that. SHS started last October completing it’s first season in March.

I prayerfully recruited a young adult woman A to come alongside a high school young lady O to partner as co-leaders. They worked together to come up with the survey of interests to be completed on a registration form. We used our church registration database, set a start date, set an ending month, decided how to get the information out there, and what the parameters would be. As the ministry lead, I took care of the promotion, calendaring, and lovingly coached them through the process. A talked it up at all the areas she served in and was the communication lead through the SHS season. O made sure the high school girls were included and so much more.

Goal of Secret Hallelujah Sister: to create prayerful, intentional, intergenerational relationships with the women of our church family.
Start Date: October 2nd, World Communion Sunday
End Date: March (exact date TBD) Reveal: offsite (place TBD) and bring an item to share for multiple charcuterie boards.

August & September: planning and advertising
SHS pairings this first go-round had A the SHS for B and B the SHS for A to more easily manage any sister who dropped the ball or moved during the season. Only the 2 co-leads knew the SHS pairings. Pairings for high school ladies were with adults to set the table for promoting inter-generational partnerships.
Promotion info:
Want to raise a hallelujah with a sister in Christ?
You are cordially invited to be part of a new ministry: Secret Hallelujah Sisters! Please share with other ladies in your circle of friends before September 18th.
Sign up to secretly pray and encourage another McEachern lady for a 6-month season of Oct-Mar creating delightful, prayerful, intentional, intergenerational relationships with other Christian women.
Signups expire on Sept. 18 to give time for pairings.
Pairings will be available for pickup on Sunday Oct 2.
Secret Hallelujah Sisters is open to all ladies high school age through adult.
Expectations: 
1. Pray regularly for your Secret Hallelujah Sister, and
2. Deliver by mail or on a designated table on campus a SMALL gift/note at least monthly, and
3. Attend a reveal event in March
Sponsored by McEachern Women’s Ministry, led by A & O
“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor.” Ecclesiastes 4:9

Secret Hallelujah Sister drop-off table – This turned out to be the challenge. A small space already in the church Narthex, but unassigned, served our purposes well and delightfully made the space much more colorful. Table placement encouraged people to come to church since that space was typically locked except on Wednesdays and Sundays. This gave the women two days each week to drop off a note or an item valued less than $5 at least once a month. Every single week the table was filled with colorful packages, plants, and more.

SHS Reveal – We chose a March Sunday afternoon immediately following a youth ministry retreat which took place at the church knowing we’d have a greater likelihood of the busy high school girls attending. Though tired, they came and were so glad they did. The location was the empty parsonage within walking distance of church where a new senior pastor will be moving into this summer with his/her family. Our current pastor is retiring and does not live in the parsonage. One women’s Bible study group cleaned and prayed through the parsonage the week before the event. Part of the reveal event included the SHS praying through the home for the new family to come closing with a congregational prayer. Lovely visuals of women in prayer while laying hands on the doors, washing machine, and counters. The last part of the event was the SHS reveal and was made with scriptures attached to flowers. The women were encouraged to find their partners matching the scriptures and were surprised to discover the pairings.

Last October 67 women chose to be Secret Hallelujah Sisters to one another. Investing 6 months in prayer and expressing the love of Jesus in all the five love languages in quiet service to one another. My greatest delight of the reveal event was the joyful chatter of the women with their now-known SHS. My greatest delight over the SHS season was the multi-generational partnership between the two co-leaders.

We’ve debriefed and the two co-leaders are prayerfully considering who to invite alongside them to coach in the next season come the fall to take on some of the tasks and spread the service opportunities. A & O are chatting it up already for how to set the table for growth and more disciple-making.

“But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.” 2 Timothy 4:5

The scriptures share that for 50 days, the Lord Jesus made His way around His world appearing to more than 500 including His brother, James. The Lord Jesus had a ton of work and coverage to do following His resurrection and so do we.

We Methodists call this Easter Season the Great Fifty Days beginning sunset Easter Eve through Pentecost Sunday. “It is the most joyous and celebrative season of the Christian year.” (UMC Discipleship) I shared a few ideas for April which can be found here.

Many of the Sunday celebrations which follow in May are filled with family celebrations like Confirmation, Graduation, etc. But that’s on Sunday. So, what else?

Before we jump straight into VBS mode, can we ask a few questions around a couple of tables, in prayer, and leverage the power of the Holy Spirit for intentional movement of ‘spring strategy for summer strength’ rather than settling for ‘spring bumps into summer slumps’? (Dan Reiland)

Grandparenting With A Purpose is the second Tuesday evening in May. Grandparents gather to learn and share tips for intentionally sharing their faith with their grandchildren during the May celebrations and the upcoming summer. Prepare a summer calendar of dates and places where grandparents and their grandchildren can be together to celebrate and make sticky faith formation memories: Family VBS, National Ice Cream Sunday, Gaga Ball pit chats, June summer dine-outs, vacation, storytelling with photo albums, etc. GOAL: Intentional plans for grandparents to share their faith stories and engage in faith conversations throughout the summer. Discipleship can come with a dinner plate and the kitchen table/garden can become the new classroom with a little planning. (Dr. Josh Mulvihill)

Summer Book Buddies This is a result of asking, “What’s in our hand?” We received two baskets of Beanie Babies over the last year and I’ve held on to them. We invited the church Book Clubs to donate used copies of biographies of Christian men and women of multiple reading levels to further build our Saints Library of paperbacks for littles and their bigs. Kids will be invited beginning on Mother’s Day to ‘adopt’ a Book Buddy for the summer for Bible and sacred book readings. We’ll schedule random outings this summer for littles to bring their Book buddies and chat about what we’re learning at the park, ice cream shop, lunch, breakfast, etc. GOAL: Summer reading while at home and on the road; Faith sharing reading for fun especially for those who do not like to read. Another opportunity to support a local business and be in the community as a family of faith.

Pentecost Sunday Everyone wears red! Use a birthday cupcake to introduce the birthday of the church with a candle that won’t go out. How will you fan the flame of the Holy Spirit in your own life this Easter Season for a strong summer?

“For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.” 1 Corinthians 15: 3-6

Sharing the account of the Resurrection of Jesus is the basis for our Christian faith. The miracle and power of our triune God can be taught to littles in developmentally appropriate ways that are sticky, celebratory, and filled with truth. We use the word ‘Easter’ because that is what the ‘season’ is known as and we insert the word ‘Resurrection’ every chance we get.

Here are a few ways we walked right into the story.

Jumbo Eggs – This is preschool chapel. Jumbo eggs, purchased after Easter Sunday at deep discounts, are filled with…

Plush donkey with fake palm branch – Jesus came to town for the annual Passover celebration and the children were part of the parade. Ex: Palm Sunday vs Donkey Sunday

Goblet & plastic coins – Jesus had dinner with his friends. Jesus told his friends to ‘do this and remember me.’ But there was one friend who was not a real friend and he took money to tell the meaners where Jesus was so they could catch him and make him stop doing such amazing things.

Flower bunch – Jesus had a big dinner with his friends then went to a favorite place to pray where meaners came to take Jesus away.

Crown of thorns – Have you ever had a splinter? The meaners took Jesus away. The meaners called Jesus names, hurt him, and made fun of him. They put a crown of thorns on his head.

White fabric – After Jesus died on the cross, his friends and his mama’s friends wrapped Him up and buried him in a cave/tomb. They were so sad.

Stone – After Jesus was placed in the cave/tomb, a stone door was placed to close the cave/tomb.

Empty egg – After 3 days (count to 3), the friends came to the tomb and discovered Jesus was not there. The stone was rolled away (rolling arms). He had risen (hands raised), just as He said He would.

White pillow filler – Jesus walked and greeted his friends and more than 500 people including his family then went UP into heaven (that’s how we know where heaven is – UP) to send the Holy Spirit to all those who believe and follow Jesus. The bestest news? Jesus is coming back to make a new Heaven and a new earth.

Easter Story Walk – Based on the book, ‘Twas the Morning of Easter’ a partnering church shared the book signs they prepared with approval from the author and publisher. There was a deep discounted price for bulk purchases of the book several months back. Her church used the yard signs for part of a Hunt For Easter event with live actors and interactive elements a few weeks’ prior. I used her yard signs around our parking lot prayer labyrinth on Palm Sunday morning and again on Maundy Thursday evening. At the page where Mary prayed, the children walked in and out of the labyrinth before moving on to our ‘hunt’ for Easter. Each family received a copy of the book while supplies lasted. This is when sharing resources between churches is at its best. Thank you Kate Morris and Wesley UMC in Evans, Georgia. Our weekday preschool also set the yard signs in the field where they held their egg hunt for the parents to walk through with their children.

Hunt for Easter – 10 stations had signs #1 – #10 with buckets filled with eggs to tell the story of Easter. Students were led by their Sunday school teachers to each station to pick up an egg for each part of the story. At the end of the story walk, the students returned to their classrooms to open their eggs and debrief/tell the story again. This event was pricey, but using it twice means we reach more people (Palm Sunday AM and Maundy Thursday PM drop-in) and the stations can be edited to be less in number.

#1  After Jesus was born in Bethlehem, He grew up going to church. It was His family’s custom. He listened to His teachers and obeyed His parents. (Jesus)

#2  When it was God’s time, Jesus rode a donkey into the town of Jerusalem like King David did so many years before. Jesus was 33 years old. We remember this day as Palm Sunday. (Donkey)

#3  Up to this time, to be forgiven for sin (the things we think and do that are not God’s best for us) lambs were sacrificed as payment. Jesus came to replace the lamb sacrifices once and for all. His friends John and Peter call Jesus ‘the lamb of God’ in
their Bible writings. (Lamb)

#4  Jesus called His friends to a last supper to share a meal with bread and juice. Jesus told His friends, “Do this and remember me.” We call this Holy Communion.
(Whistle)

#5  Jesus and His friends went to one of their favorite gardens to pray. It was late at night. The meaners came to get Jesus. They punished Jesus and made fun of Him. The meaners made a crown of thorns and placed it on His head. (Crown of thorns)

#6  Jesus died on the cross. His friends came to bury Him. On the third day His friends came to pray and discovered He was gone. He had risen from the dead! Only the miracle power of God can do that. (Empty)

#7  We know this really happened because Jesus appeared with the nail scars in His hands to more than 500 people and His brother John over the next 40 days. (Bracelet)

#8  After 40 days, Jesus went UP into the clouds. So, when we believe in Jesus and choose to be His follower, He promises His believers a helper, The Holy Spirit! That’s how we know where heaven is: UP. (Bubbles)

#9  Jesus is coming back one day the same way He left: the clouds. We share His story of saving us with our friends and family and everybody, like bouncing a ball back and forth until He comes back or calls us to Heaven. (Ball)

#10 This really happened. It’s an historical fact with eye witnesses and ancient writings of those who were there and not just in the Bible. We tell this story so that others will know and believe and follow Jesus. We call this re-telling of the Easter story “The Great Commission.”  Who will you tell about Jesus? (Jelly Bean Bracelet)

The Story Walk and Hunt For Easter were set up outside the church entrance for a drop-in on Maundy Thursday 4-6:30pm for families and anyone else with children’s books/Bibles opened to those pieces of the account. Placing literature to accompany the storytelling involves multiple levels of learning styles remembering that children’s literature should provide both a mirror and a window to children’s worlds. I was stationed at the start of the walk to share (1) this account is true, we have historical and archeological evidence to support what they are about to see/hear, and (2) we are called to tell the story every year and remember what Jesus, God, and the Holy Spirit did for us like all other special annual family celebrations. Jesus is alive!

“It gave me great joy when some believers came and testified about your faithfulness to the truth, telling how you continue to walk in it.” 3 John 1:3

I love an Easter Cantata and a Holy Week filled with celebrations like just about everybody, but I want to ask: What if we put just as much energy and creativity into the season following Resurrection Sunday as we do leading up to Resurrection Sunday?

Lent is an amazing, intentional season of teaching, learning, and experiencing the sticky faith practices which point littles and bigs to Jesus. Keeping the main thing the main thing: celebrating our Risen Savior. 

The scriptures share that for 50 days, the Lord Jesus made His way around His world reaching his friends, appearing to more than 500 including His brother, James. The Lord Jesus had a ton of work and coverage to do following His resurrection and so do we.

Before we jump straight into VBS mode, can we ask a few questions around a couple of tables, in prayer, and leverage the power of the Holy Spirit for intentional movement of ‘spring strategy for summer strength’ rather than settling for ‘spring bumps into summer slumps’? (Dan Reiland)

Bring Your Parents to Sunday School is the Sunday after Easter. Kids will invite their parents to their typical kid’s Sunday school morning: Welcome Center, Large Group with song, Bible, prayer, and repeat after me, “We light this candle….as a symbol….of God’s presence with us…and around us always,” then on to their kid’s small group for about 5-7 minutes. After that time I’ll gather all the parents from small groups for a chat altogether: Is this the Sunday school you remember? (NO! It is not.) This is our vision. This is what you can expect this summer. This is what you can expect this fall. This is where YOU can serve and step into this. The stakes are too high! Sooooo, I’ll have Steak & Shake and Longhorn gift cards for those willing to step into the team of coaches this summer and this fall. GOAL: Servant leaders for summer and fall; next steps for those who have been attenders to grow in relationship with their kids and others they’ll serve alongside.

Good Neighbor Baskets Each Women’s Bible study and Women’s Ministry small group (Women’s Ministry is my lane, too) was invited to participate in a service activity before their last class. One opportunity was to bring new/used outdoor play items to fill laundry baskets which will be dropped at local green spaces and neighborhood playgrounds. A sign on the laundry basket will read, “Enjoy this beautiful day that the Lord has made with these items for you to share and keep from your friends and neighbors of McEachern Memorial UMC!” Part of our being a good neighbor is unwrapping everything so it’s ready to play and there is little to no trash/debris. Items include sidewalk chalk, bubbles, balls, bats, hula hoops, play animals/dinosaurs/ people, and more. These will be delivered mid/end of April when we know we’ll be having several days of fabulous weather. GOAL: Be a good and generous neighbor to delight littles and their bigs where they play. No bait and switch, just being a good and generous neighbor. Give small groups an opportunity to serve and practice generosity.

Summer Jubilee is when we offer June and July off for our regular Sunday servant leaders. We typically offer a one-room Sunday school, but our numbers will be too large this year and we wanted to build energy for kids to come and bring their friends/family. We’ve planned to offer an extended large group time with another game, more music, and deeper dive into the Bible story from an apologetics (defending our faith) point of view. That’ll be 30 minutes rather than our typical 20 minutes. The other 30 minutes will be covered in two small groups: K5-2nd grades will be learning American Sign Language to present as part of the summer Children’s Moments in song or Apostle’s Creed or any other regular part of our worship service led by our intern and her ‘wingman’; 3rd-5th grade will be using power tools and building with wood led by a general contractor and his ‘wingman’. A faith in Jesus is always under construction!

What are some other spring strategies for building summer strength? I’ll share a few more ideas in next week’s post.

“Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God.” Romans 10:1-2a