There are 3 main committees through which the U.M. church does ministry, nurture, outreach and witness (evangelism) Today we will take about the Nurture committee. Out of this committee comes all other committees that deal with the nurturing of the church family. So we are talking about much more than fellowship meals. We are talking about worship, small group studies, education, confirmation classes, all the things that help the church family to grow and mature as a family. This committee has so many avenues available to them to be creative. As a members of this committee we would ask ourselves the question, what are the ways we can help or facilitate every member of the church to have a more meaningful worship experience, a better understanding of God, a better and more full relationship with all other members of this church family.
Nurture focuses largely on the internal needs of a congregation and prepares the people of that church for ministry outside their congregation. They shall give attention to education, worship and stewardship components of ministry.
It is you, the nurture committee, that tries to see that the needs of the congregation are met. Meaningful worship, education that promotes spiritual growth, mixing and fellowshipping with more recent as well as less recent members.
The education program of the church, which is a subcommittee of the nurture committee, would include the Sunday school program, prayer groups, Bible studies, short term classes on anything from Christian parenting to caring for the elderly or even leadership training for officers.
Fellowship, another type of nurturing activity should be designed to meet the needs of everyone in the congregation. Events should be planned to meet the needs of families, older persons, single persons, children and youth and should include those who feel discriminated against or marginalized by society.
Members of the congregation need to know that others in the church care about them. One important way to care for one another is to pray for each other. Lending a helping hand when someone is sick, ill, or injured or when a baby is born or a loved one dies, these are all ways to demonstrate care and love. Having fun together is another way to provide joyous emotional support to all members of the congregation.
The Sunday worship service is an important vehicle for nurturing the congregation. Care should be taken to plan worship that appeals to everyone in the congregation, realizing that no one can be pleased all the time.
Examples of Nurture Ministries;
Educational:
1. Short term Christian education study class for adults (3-10 Weeks)
2. Annual church board retreats
3. Ongoing or short-term Bible study
4. V.B.S. for kids and/or adults
5. Lenten and advent studies
6. Confirmation and membership classes
7. Training programs for teachers
8. Develop a booklet designed to inform people about church’s history, structure, programs and so forth
9. After school program for children and youth
Fellowship:
1. U.M.M.
2. U.M.W.
3. U.M.Y.F.
4. Midweek evening program for children and familes
5. Church camp scholarships
6. Intergenerational activities such as fellowship meals
7. Children’s day camp
1. Being supportive of one another (cards, visits, food during difficult times)
2. Good financial stewardship
1. Dramas
2. Music for worship service, special and varied
3. Special Sundays, Mother’s Day, and other special days that might warrant a special program
4. Involvement of people in worship service in a special way
5. Special worship services such as Thanksgiving, Ash Wednesday, Sunrise service
6. Ecumenical worship celebrations, such as World Day of Prayer
Synonyms for nurture – aid, cure, support, care, assistance, help, norish, raise, comfort, feed, protect, assist