THIS IS MOTHERHOOD
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
John 10:10 (NIV)
We’re local moms, just like you. We live in Meadville and the surrounding communities. Each of us is unique, with our own set of joys, struggles, and preferences that play into how we think and live and care for our children.
We’re local moms, just like you. We live in Meadville and the surrounding communities. Each of us is unique, with our own set of joys, struggles, and preferences that play into how we think and live and care for our children.
Like the moms in the video above from another MOPS group, we’re all different–but we can come together celebrate those differences!
We build circles of women who love each other like family, because raising humans is beautiful and hard, and having each other to lean on is life-giving. We connect monthly to laugh, cry, and embrace the journey of motherhood together.
We’re single, married, divorced mamas,
Breast-feeding and bottle-feeding mamas,
Health-food mamas and anything-goes mamas.
Timid, outgoing, in-between mamas,
Organized and “Where did I put my keys?” mamas,
Conservative and not-so-conservative mamas.
We’re adoptive, natural-childbirth, surgical-birth mamas
Rural and downtown mamas,
Fashionable and comfy, athletic and basic mamas.
We’re new-to-the-area mamas and Crawford-County-born-and-bred mamas,
Laid back, funny, intense mamas,
Loving and welcoming mamas.
We learn and grow together at MOPS, in an atmosphere of encouragement and support.
We believe that better moms make a better world.
Won’t you join us this year?
MOPS meetings run the 1st and 3rd Thursday mornings every month, September - May! We serve brunch at our Thursday morning meetings, which run from 9:00-11:30 am.
MOMSnext meetings run the 1st and 3rd Tuesday evenings every month, September - May! We serve dinner at our Tuesday meetings which run from 5:30-7:30 pm.
MOPS stands for Mothers Of PreSchoolers and MOMSnext stands for mothers of kids 1st grade - age eighteen. The purpose of MOPS and MOMSnext is to encourage women in their role as moms from conception to adulthood. The purpose statement of MOPS & MOMSnext is "Better Moms Make a Better World." You can read more about MOPS International on their website, www.mops.org. It’s not just a coffee date–but not a Bible study or a church service, either.
Our local MOPS and MOMSnext group is open to women of any age from when they’re pregnant with their first child until their youngest turns 18! While MOPS and MOMSnext is a faith-based organization, our group is open to women from any religious background.
Yes, your children are welcome at MOPS! Our kind, background-checked MOPS Kids volunteers will make sure your children are well cared for. Those past the baby stage will enjoy a snack and simple activities such as singing, doing crafts, playing in the gym, and hearing a Bible story. At New Beginnings, this child care is offered by volunteer workers that love on our kids! This year we are offering child care for older home schooled children. Our MOPKIDS program for Tuesday evening runs a little differently than our Thursday morning group, but we still offer childcare and activities for children of all ages.
You’ll be greeted at the door by our helpers, who will welcome you and print off name tags and a pager number.
While your kids are enjoying friend time, you will too! You’ll walk into the meeting space and check in at the registration table, where you’ll see nicely decorated tables to sit at and enjoy a cup of hot coffee without interruption and chat with other moms.
We always have a great buffet with yummy snacks, along with some kind of game or skit and prizes and opportunities to celebrate new moms and birthday girls.
We get to hear a speaker present on a topic that relates to our stage of life and/or an inspirational challenge from the Bible, always relevant to us as women and moms. Meghan, our Mentor Mom, is excited about what God has laid on her heart — as well as bringing in some new guest speakers! Sometimes we also listen to a song that goes with the theme or watch a brief video from MOPS International.
Most weeks, we divide into Discussion Groups, where we can get to know other moms on a more personal level and discuss what we’re learning and how we’re growing. All are invited to share, but no one is pressured. To close the discussion group time, the Discussion Group Leader will often ask if anyone has a need she’d like to have prayed for and then ask for a volunteer to pray.
Once a month, we also get to do a fun craft—without any little helping hands! At the end of our time, we’re dismissed to go pick up our kids and hear about the fun they’ve had, see their crafts, and leave refreshed and ready to embrace our crazy lives with renewed joy!
You will have a pager number on your name tag that matches your child's. If there is any issue, your number will be displayed at the front of the Family Life Center, where you’ll be enjoying time with other moms.
Absolutely! If your child is under a year old, you’re welcome to keep him or her with you. MOPS and MOMSnext is a nursing-friendly environment, and many moms wear their babies or let them play on the floor. Many of our moms whose kids are past the baby stage are often eager to help you have some hands-free time, if you would like!
There is a $31.95 annual fee for MOPS International, as well as a $5 per-meeting fee. You can pay each meeting that you attend, or if you prefer, you can pay by the semester or the entire year! Currently, we’re able to receive payment forms of check or cash.
We also have a limited number of scholarships available for those who simply can’t afford to pay.
We usually meet the first and third Tuesdays of each month or the first and third Thursdays of each month, from September through May. Occasionally, we switch it up, due to the Crawford Central school district's schedule. (We do not have MOPS/MOMSnext when school is not in session.) We also cancel according to any school cancellations or delays and inform members via our Facebook page and group, as well as through e-mail or phone calls, for those who prefer those contact methods.
We schedule play dates on non-MOPS weeks within our discussion groups and have Mom's Night Out activities in the evenings, about once a month. We also have one or two “MOPS & POPS” events where you can bring your husband, partner, or a friend along.
This year, we’ll be adding occasional “Mommy & Me” outings, typically when there’s a fifth Thursday in a month. We also have occasional community service, or “outreach” events.
Nope, and definitely not! You can start coming at any point in the year, and you can skip a meeting, anytime. Life happens. We get it. However, if you do pay for the whole semester or the entire year, those fees are nonrefundable, as is your MOPS International fee. We do think you’ll love it so much that you won’t want to miss out on our first meeting, or last meeting, or any meetings in between.
Um, you might miss the best coffee creamer, or even get stuck with only decaf–but otherwise, nothing. Like we said, we get it; we’re all moms.
Whatever you want–within reason, of course. Some of our moms like to dress up a little–as in put on some makeup and a necklace since they’re actually getting Out. Of. The. House. But most of us wear jeans and hoodies, or sweaters, or T-shirts, when it’s warmer. Maybe capris or shorts, it just depends on what’s clean–or at least, you know, not disgusting. Seriously? No one cares what you wear; just come. Really. Unless you feel like wearing heels and a formal. Please, just don’t. But when in doubt, wear a smile–that’s everyone’s best accessory!