So glad you are here to learn more about Refresh!
At my church, The Chapel in Green, Refresh started as a no-preparation, non-committal option for women who were too busy for or too fearful of Bible studies.
After creating a Refresh program that mimicked a typical Sunday morning church service, Refresh went through several changes until it resonated best with both the women attending and the women leading.
What has worked the best for Refresh? It’s included simplifying our time together and intentionally creating spaces for women to talk with each other and process their life situations through a biblical frame of reference.
I’d love to share with you the combination of elements that has been winning the hearts – and souls – of women of all ages at Refresh. Feel free to make changes that connect best with women at your church.
Refresh Philosophy
The goal of Refresh is for all women to have a refreshing, biblically-focused midweek pause at church. Because of this, leadership responsibilities are divided between several women so that no one woman feels saddled or burdened by the weight of carrying the entire program.
Refresh Steering Committee
Currently, four women are part of the Refresh Steering Committee. Together we decide on the yearly theme of Refresh and we divide the weekly teaching. The four women also serve as discussion group leaders.
Refresh Volunteers
Women interested in helping with Refresh sign up for roles they’re interested in, as well as the days they can serve. Volunteer roles include:
- Set up (Setting up refreshments and distributing handouts)
- Greeter
- Emcee
- Clean up (Cleaning up refreshments and handouts)
- Discussion Group Leader (Seven women in total have been asked to serve as discussion group leaders. Each week we break into four or five discussion groups, which means that discussion group leaders don’t lead groups every single week.)
Weekly Refresh Schedule
Most weeks at Refresh follow a simple format:
- 10 to 15 minutes: Women arrive and are asked to sign in. Chocolate, water, coffee, and hot tea are available refreshments.
- 5 minutes: Emcee opens with a welcome, announcements, monthly memory verse, and prayer.
- 10 to 15 minutes: Speaker introduces icebreaker activity for all women. (Click here to get a list of 13 icebreaker ideas for Refresh groups.)
- 20 to 25 minutes: Speaker presents message (with hook, thesis, biblical explanation, and practical application).
- 30 to 40 minutes: Women are divided into discussion groups (groups are randomly formed each week as a way to get all women to become comfortable meeting new women. Discussion group questions are provided by the evening’s teacher.
If you try Refresh at your church, please email me at hilary @ hilarybernstein dot com.