Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS)

MOPS exists to encourage, equip, and help women become the best moms that they can be. Women who are pregnant or have young children (birth through kindergarten) are all invited to join MOPS. MOPS provides an opportunity to meet other moms and make the journey of motherhood together. A typical MOPS meeting includes a time of sharing food and conversation followed by a presentation of information relevant to mothers raising preschoolers. The group covers subjects such as child rearing, marriage, relationships, cooking, and homemaking from a Biblical perspective. Children are cared for during MOPS meetings by childcare staff in a loving, nurturing environment.

Team Brave Meets: 1st & 3rd Thursday of each month-1st Thursday in person at church, 5:30-7:30 pm; 3rd Thursday virtual, 8:00-9:30 pm. Contact: Louanna Dorazio at MOPSTeamBrave@southrun.org.
Team Fierce Meets: 2nd & 4th Thursday of each month – in person, 7:00-9:00 pm. Contact: Sarah Horrigan at MOPSTeamFierce@southrun.org.

2020-2021 MOPS International Theme

Because you are fearfully and wonderfully made, you have work to do; meaningful work that was built into your DNA before you were born. Work that you were made for. Sometimes, we believe that our motherhood is a constraint that limits what we can do in this life. We want to remind you that motherhood isn’t a constraint – it’s a catalyst. In fact, God appointed a woman named Deborah to be a judge over the nation of Israel. She was a leader, warrior and prophetess who ultimately helped an entire nation rediscover its identity and destiny as the people of God. And she declared that she accomplished it because she AROSE AS A MOTHER. The villagers ceased in Israel; they ceased to be until I arose; I, Deborah, arose as a mother in Israel. Judges 5:7 (ESV) Before God appointed Deborah, the inhabitants of Israel were distressed and had no fight left in them. Does this sound familiar? Is it possible that through this MOPS community of ours, each of us could reignite a sense of strength, joy and courage back into ourselves, our homes and our culture? This is the year we arise as mothers to awaken a weary and sleeping world. The year to accept and believe that God will fulfill his promises to you, and to embrace your motherhood as a catalyst to his plans and promises for you. Here are the three things we will do to remind ourselves of who God made us to be:

BE STRONG

Arise as a mother. This is your year to get strong physically and mentally. To own the body you’ve been given and build muscle and stamina so you can do all the things that God is calling you to do; important things like chase your kids around the backyard, carry groceries for your elderly neighbor, or even build a mud house for a family in Rwanda. To embrace your own body’s abilities and build it up – whatever your physical ability may be. It also means being strong mentally. Sometimes our thought life needs a little tightening up. It might mean seeing a therapist who can give you tools for dealing with anxiety, or maybe developing mental stamina so you can endure the daily toddler meltdowns. Often we wait for all the right details to come into place before we act, but maybe this is the year God is saying, “Stop waiting and get to it.” Body and mind – this is the year we embrace the self that God gave us.

DO YOUR WORK

Doing your work happens in big and small, but  always significant ways. It’s about persevering through the daily grind of essential but mundane tasks; and it’s also about making brave choices to do new things. Doing your work looks different for each of us, but everyone’s work will require some grit and courage. Maybe it’s choosing forgiveness, healing from past trauma, or making amends to those you’ve hurt. Maybe it’s sharing the secret you’ve been carrying for years, or unlearning harmful patterns of behavior. And when it comes to mothering … God gave those kids to you, Mama! You’ve been appointed and no one else can mother them like you. You are made of brave spirit. You’ll figure it out because you always have, and you have God and your MOPS sisters by your side.  

CHASE JOY

Actively seeking out joy is how we fight discouragement and fear. It’s how we fight our tendency to complain, accuse or be offended. Joy is a decision, a really brave one, about how you will respond to life in all its circumstances. Joy is the most magnetic and contagious force in the universe, the type that people around you can’t help but notice – especially those looking up toward their mom. It is a gladness that’s not just reserved for happy moments, but particularly during the hardest days that come your way. Joy is the deep knowing that you were made for more than anxiety, depression and fear. This is your year to reclaim joy and share it with others!