If your church is interested in starting a Teacup Ministry, please know that there is no need to reinvent the wheel! God has blessed and encouraged and expanded our territory with this ministry from the very beginning. We began Teacup Ministry because we were burdened with finding a way to encourage and increase the involvement with the widows in our church. We also now include other single women, although they do not attend as well, we feel many of their needs to be similar. We also are still looking for an alternative word for widows as we know several object to it. However, that's the word that best explains our mission!

My husband and I began with a focus group of three widows from our congregation. We just gathered together a couple of times, asked many questions, listened to heart-felt responses and memories. It has evolved into an outreach with national attention at this time. We are not copyrighted, nor do we desire anything back from sharing with you. Our goal is to reach out to those grieving, alone, and in most cases overlooked by their own church. Although most churches have senior ministries with which many of our women are involved, none that we know fulfill the specific need of widows. Our goal is to be there as an alongside-person for the new widow. To that end we have formed a group of women who truly reach out and minister to each other as well! We have also limited our group to church members and have had several women join the church as a result.

Establish a small working group of 3 to 5. These women may or may not continue to be the whole committee, but they will allow you to determine what your church needs the most. Your first goal will be to get support from your pastoral staff, deacons, seniors ministries or anyone else within your church that could be involved. In most churches you will get further if some others know and approve or are willing to back your interest in developing this ministry. Remember, you are not asking them to do anything other than give you feedback about your plans.

1. Do we need this ministry?

2. Are we the best ones to carry it out?

3. Is there any money to fund this?

Your costs should not be great but I would suggest a budget of $250 for the first year. Perhaps several women could donate as needed if funding is not available. These funds would be to purchase teacups, tea, material for the placemats and napkins, and some paper bags to put your gifts together for delivery. The note that accompanies each welcome package can be found in Forms. You will also need to print or copy some forms and lists.

4. Where could we hold a starter teaparty with current widows in our church to explain this ministry to them?

A home is nice and not everyone will attend. In fact, we did a group of 12 that fit around one table to start. We served tea and sandwiches, had a great time of fellowship, and received unanimous support for our ministry. It was non-threatening . . . just come for a teaparty. Every woman realized the need for support from, and to, each other.

1. Send out invitations or make telephone calls to women you think will want to help.

Although not much is involved time-wise, their support and talking about your ministry is crucial to making it a success. There is no need to do anything other than let them know this is a teaparty. This group could come from a Bible study, Sunday school class, seniors group, or just women you choose. Be sure they are all widows to start and you can choose to expand it to other single women at a later date. This starting bond is essential! Set the time for two or three hours.

2. You will need tea, some pots.

I have also just used a large 50 cup coffee pot with only water inside and let the women choose their own flavor from a variety of bags in a basket. Sandwiches and/or cookies are appropriate. Many women will offer to bring items so don't feel you need to it all alone.

3. Hosting.

Jerry and I are married. We choose to host and serve the women, allowing them to be on their own during the luncheon. You may have access to a few women who are not widows who would offer to host this for you so you can participate and enjoy the teaparty. The sharing is unbelievable. So many ideas come up. I am sure that you will have unique ideas as well. Use ours and yours. We are just a catalyst, not the only way.

If you wouldn't mind, I would really appreciate any feedback. These comments will be posted on this site to help others in developing their program. You can either mail to: Jan Erickson, P.O. Box 3006, Bothell, WA 98041 or email jan@teacupministry.org.

1. Welcome.

Welcome your ladies and allow free form visitation for about 20 minutes as all arrive. Most women will be excited they were asked and will come with no preconceived ideas. As we started our luncheon, I prayed and asked for God's blessing on our gathering as we focused on how we can help widows in our church. The ideas came out and the conversation just grew and grew. After the luncheon was over I came in with pen and paper and jotted down their ideas. A casual notetaker during the party would be great.

2. Form some lists at your teaparty.

What other women should be involved? What are our wishes? Who would these women like to visit and to have included? Who needs rides, who can provide rides, where would women like to go together? How about church, lunch, movie, walk, shop, talk on the phone, etc? I provided forms for the ladies to fill out. Forms

3. Responses.

Allow the ladies to take home the forms only if really necessary as it is very difficult to get them to return forms later. Encourage them to choose some areas of interest/participation and let them know they can always change later. Let them know that these lists are just for their use. We do not allow any of this information to be released to anyone else. Women have shared of themselves for the benefit of this particular group only. Please be careful to honor this.

4. Resource brochures came next.

Each woman then provided contact information on who they use for washing windows, car repairs, help around the house, electrical work, CPA, attorney, etc. This is also a private list that includes the name of the person who recommended each individual or business as being reliable and trustworthy. Only our ladies have copies of this list. See Resource Brochure

1. Compile lists.

Our first task was to compile the lists and get them out to the ladies. We wanted them to know who else had the same interests, needed rides, etc. See Wish List. We also wanted to facilitate easy communication amongst the members. Print and distribute these lists to all who attended and give them to all new participants as well. As they fill out their forms, consider updating your lists quarterly. With phone numbers right there, we hope everyone will call someone every week or two.

2. Follow-up.

These women want to do things and help each other. As you provide connections, they reach out to help others and at the same time help themselves! Be sure to update their lists every few months as needed.

3. Expansion.

Ask for volunteers to organize, call, print and visit others to expand your ministry. Our goal is to make this an along-side ministry ready to help new widows when needed.

4. Volunteers.

We also asked for volunteers from our congregation who would be willing to help these ladies. People offered to clean, haul trash, talk, organize checkbooks, help with sorting clothing and housewares, move furniture, etc. The Resource Booklet contains not only recommended business and services information, but volunteer information as well. See Resource Booklet

5. Contacts.

Create a Phone List and distribute to each woman. We include name, phone and email address only. Any other information that might be needed can be found in the church directory. It is best to get approval from the women before adding them to your phone list. Update it quarterly or whenever you have some changes to make. We have added phone captains to our list. Each one has volunteered to be responsible for contacting 6-7 ladies. This ensures that not one person bares the entire burden of contacting all and encourages the group to care and look out for each other. See Phone List

Since starting our planning with a core of three widows, in less than two years this Teacup Ministry is serving over 50 ladies. We have had two ladies in our congregation that do not want to have anything to do with this ministry. So be prepared, it is nothing personal.