Welcome to MOPS
Whether you are a first time mom or a returning mom, we want to extend a very warm welcome to you. Our hope is that you will find encouragement, support, relevant teaching and opportunities to develop relationships with other women who are in the same season of life. We are confident that as you become more involved in our group, you will be better equipped to face the challenges that motherhood has to offer.
What is MOPS?
MOPS stands for Mothers of Preschoolers (and by that we simply mean little kids). We’ve all been placed in this time and place in history as a tribe of women who are raising the world. We know we mother better together, so ALL moms are welcome at MOPS. From the time you get pregnant until your youngest starts first grade, our doors are open to you. MOPS is a non-denominational, Christian organization. You do not need to be a churchgoer or from a specific denomination to join MOPS. We welcome women from all faith or non-faith backgrounds and beliefs. The vision of MOPS is to see no mom alone – because better moms make a better world!
Every year is a new year at MOPS! This year’s theme is Say Yes.
Saying yes means we will…
1. BEFRIEND DISCOMFORT
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. (James 1:2-4)
You have this one life. How do you want to spend it? Regretting the things you didn’t do? Avoiding potentially awkward situations? Hating your body? What if the way forward is to befriend discomfort? Discomfort is a life hack that can improve every area of our lives. Tackling challenging things helps us become more rooted – we start to feel less fragile and less stressed. Don’t wait until you feel “ready” or qualified or when all the details come together perfectly. Now is your opportunity to develop a spirit of adventure and make new memories. Open your hands to release old dreams and receive new ones, or take the brave first step to get help. Grow your capacity to endure. Show absurd courage. Get uncomfortable. Persevere and say yes to the next small brave step God asks you to take.
2. BE EASILY DELIGHTED
He brought me out into a spacious place. He rescued me because he delighted in me. (Psalm 18:19)
It’s been said that if you just went to the supermarket and experienced it fully without the goggles of habit and categories, you would go crazy with pure joy and astonishment. We are declaring this our year of delight. Can you believe how beautiful the world is and how delicious food can taste? How kind people are? It’s all so good. Yet sometimes, fun is the first thing to go between parenting, paying bills, and worrying about doing things right. All of that changes this year. Because God delights in us, we will delight in the life we’ve been given. We’ll exude passion. We’ll learn to love what must be done and be captivated by the smell of our kids’ hair and our husband’s glances across the room. It’s all decadent when we stop and really notice. God, help us be easily delighted with the small things because the small things are the big things.
3. BE HERE NOW
Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you note much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? (Matthew 6:26)
This is the year to uproot our anxiety, worry and hurry. Hustle culture tells us that it’s all up to us. But spacious living reminds us that God’s got us, and a deeply formed life starts with courageous faith. This year we will remember that our direction is more important than our speed. We will stay inside our commitments and thrive within our constraints. Our longing for control will be replaced with a humble surrender to the fact that we don’t have to death-grip every possible outcome. We will choose integrity over image and people over pressure. We won’t let worry rob us of time. Instead, this is the season of trusting that God is providing for our every need, and that means we can tend to the home, kids, marriage, friendships, neighborhood, and work that God has given us and have the time of our lives doing it.
We know what you're thinking: "I'd love to see what this is all about, but what is the commitment?" We would love for you to try out a meeting first, if you'd like, before you commit to the full year (September - May). You are welcome to join us for free for your first meeting and see what we're all about. If you'd like to remain a part of the group for the rest of the year, we will have registration info available. And just in case you were wondering, - Yes, absolutely you can bring a friend! ALL moms are welcome and the more the merrier!
Fore more information on MOPS at Assumption, please contact Meredith Huhman by phone at 573-680-4701 or by email at assumptionofallonmops@gmail.com.
MOPS is about…
- Celebrating motherhood. And who doesn’t love to be celebrated?
- Making connections. Are you feeling isolated in this early stage of motherhood? Are you searching for adult conversation, friendship and fellowship? You’ll be able to find just that and more at MOPS!
- Experiencing God’s love…through relationships, support and resources.
What to Expect…
What exactly happens at a MOPS meeting? At Assumption O’Fallon MOPS, meetings can include any or all of the following:
- Dynamic Speakers and Relevant Teaching: These speakers and activities will encourage members with an inspirational or educational talk on relevant issues in the lives of moms.
- Mentoring: Sometimes we need a wise woman who has been there and done that to bounce ideas off of. That’s why we love our MOPS Mentor Moms. They have sage advice and willing ears.
- Leadership Development: You have the ability to do big things. We want to help you gain the confidence to use your voice to change your world.
- Honest Conversation: Real talk is liberating. It frees us from assumptions that we are alone in our struggles. We value taking a risk and sharing stories in order to heal someone else from their isolation.
- Creative Activities: Create, imagine, and actually finish a project! We all need a little time to indulge in a creative endeavor.
- MOPS Kids: We know what you’re thinking: “ I can’t get to a MOPS meeting – I have little kids to watch!” No worries! We provide a loving and nurturing childcare experience for your kids that they will love going back to.
Twice a month, we have time to meet, catch up and connect with other moms. We all can use some adult conversations with people who know your name other than, “mom.”
A MOPS meeting also includes practical teaching through videos, speakers, and demonstrations. In addition, we have devotions and prayer time – your mentor mom and fellow mamas at your table love to support you through prayer. Sometimes we get a little crafty…sometimes we get a little crazy…we always have fun!!!
Plus, there’s hot coffee, tea and breakfast…MOPS mornings are often the only opportunity our moms have to sit and eat without kids.
Outside of our regular meetings, there are also playdates and moms night out events planned monthly as a way for moms to further connect.
For more information on MOPS at Assumption, please contact Meredith Huhman by phone at 573-680-4701
or by email at assumptionofallonmops@gmail.com
Meetings are the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the month from 9:15-11:00 AM in the Parish Center.