Archive for the ‘Staff Events’ Category

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Opinions, Please…

Tuesday, December 13th, 2011

Posted by Brandi Wilson

Today is all about practical!  It’s the time of the year where I begin texting a few pastor wife friends and ask the question, “What are you getting your staff (executive team, campus pastors, etc.) for Christmas?”

I think we’d all agree our staff is precious to us.  They’re the people we do life and ministry with.  They implement our vision and jump in the trenches with us.  We want to show them our sincere appreciation around the holidays.  Let them know how much their dedication means to us and the church where they serve.

Let us hear your ideas!  What are some great gifts you’ve given fellow staff members.  What are some of the best gifts you’ve received from your bosses.

When our staff was smaller we could do more personalized gifts… gifts we knew would fit each staff member likes and preferences.  But as the staff has grown and we’ve had to decide how/who to gift we’ve gone with more general gifts like dinner and movie gift cards or even mall gift cards.

Can’t wait to hear your ideas.

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Posted in Staff Events, leadership | 21 Comments »

Fear Factor…

Tuesday, November 1st, 2011

Posted by Brandi Wilson

Last week Jenny Surratt and I pulled together a super fun event for our staff spouses. We put together Fear Factor, Cross Point style. Usually these events just include our staff spouses but this time we also invited female staff.  I’m a firm believer that fun times are necessary.  Having an opportunity to laugh together and sometimes even at each other allows you to maneuver through the not so fun times in a healthier way.  It will allow you to give the benefit of the doubt, to remember you’re on the same team and to lend support when you might not naturally feel like lending it.

The evening included games centering around four major fears; the fear of bugs, fear of the dark, fear of the unexpected and fear of the unknown.  I have to say the fear of bugs might have been my favorite game, mainly because one of our staff girls about hyperventilated when she saw jar full of crickets we had asked her to stick her hand into.

And my volunteers out did themselves with the food. We enjoyed “lady” fingers, chocolate mice, a pumpkin vomiting guacamole, and some delicious peanut butter spiders.

We ended the night with a very special guest.  Since our evening was centered around “fear” we invited blogger, author, speaker and friend, Angie Smith, to wrap up our evening discussing her new book “What Women Fear.” Angie was the perfect ending to our evening.  We ate, we laughed, we competed and we were reminded that He is our protector and knows our greatest fears.

Jump in the comments and let us know you’re greatest fear.  I absolutely LOATHE mice!

Posted in Local Events, Staff Events, leadership | 6 Comments »

Retreating in Oklahoma

Thursday, June 30th, 2011

Posted by Tiffany Cooper

I just returned home from our yearly staff retreat and I’m on a ministry high. The 3 days we spend with our staff on the lake are some of my favorite moments of the summer.  As I type this, my body is aching from a killer tube ride behind the boat and my eyes burn from multiple late nights of stories and laughter.  I haven’t stepped on the scale but I’m sure I’ve gained a few pounds from eating all of the fantastic food and late night desserts. (There was a morning runners group but I didn’t go.)

Our staff families work diligently all year and this is one of the ways we show our appreciation for all they do.  What does our retreat look like?

*Lead Team and Pastors families attend.  The kids get really excited for staff retreat and I love that!

*We bring childcare for families with young kids.  Each childcare worker is assigned to assist a family…it’s their responsibility to serve that family.  I tell them, “It’s your job to make our staff kids super happy! It’s all about celebrating them.  You make our kids happy, we’re happy!”  My babysitter helped me at the pool and on the boat, during meals and at bedtime.

*We spend 2 1/2 – 3 days at the lake.  We rent a boat and jet-skiis, we swim, tube  and play games…it’s all about having fun at staff retreat.

*We enjoy dinner on the lake the first night while the kids stay at the resort and  have pizza with the babysitters.  All other meals are in designated staff rooms at the resort.  Our staff can cook!  We love to eat!

*After the kids are in bed, we meet up in the room designated for dessert:-) We play games, talk and enjoy being together.  I learn more about my staff each year, it’s great!

Why do we have a staff retreat?

*Our staff works REALLY HARD all year!  We make efforts to show our appreciation throughout the year but this is our big event.

*It further develops and reinforces our staff relationships.  After 3 days together, there is a new level of connection between everyone.

*It’s another way to show our kids that ministry is great!

*Because we love our staff!!!

The retreat is really very simple in it’s design but it’s packed full of good times.  What kind of staff events do you enjoy?

Posted in Staff Events, leadership | 7 Comments »

Ladies Tea

Wednesday, April 27th, 2011

Posted by Tiffany Cooper

The People’s Church Staff Ladies April event was all things girly and delicate as we enjoyed a brunch at Inspirations Tea Room.  I invited all the PC staff wives and all the women employed at PC, most ladies were able to attend.  My purpose for the event was to celebrate this amazing group of servant-hearted women!

A group picture before our good-byes.  By this time, we were all stuffed with yummy food, delicious dessert and cups of vanilla tea!

The food was delicate and delicious! The tomato basil soup was my favorite.  I only wish I had taken a picture of my coconut cake!

I was thrilled to have Jamie, my friend/youth pastor’s wife/worship leader, join us since she had her second baby only 2 weeks before.  Jamie is extraordinarily talented but she is even more servant-hearted.  I encourage you to contact her via twitter if you’re involved in worship or youth ministry.  She’s a major foodie and already running 4 miles post baby…what? I know, it’s crazy!

Why I liked this event?

* It was a time to focus love and attention on these great women. * It required very little preparation, everything was provided and in place when we arrived. * I left feeling more connected to our newer staff ladies. * It provided an opportunity for the everyone to meet face to face. * It was girly!!!

Posted in Staff Events, leadership | 10 Comments »

Lessons Learned From Line Dancing…

Tuesday, April 5th, 2011

Posted by Brandi Wilson

Last week our staff spouses took an evening to head to downtown Nashville for some free line dancing lessons.  I’ll be the first to say it was a hectic week… Thursday itself was nuts. The day had slipped away and I caught myself thinking “staying at home in jammies would be so nice.”  But since I’m kinda the senior pastor’s wife I knew my attendance was rather mandatory! ;)

Oh, what a night it was.  We had a blast… danced… danced… and danced our socks off. Laughed until our sides hurt and ate more fried pickles than should be allowed.  Not only was the evening fun, but I did take away some valuable lessons from life on the dance floor.

1. This event took relatively no planning and was very low cost.  We looked around Nashville to see what tourists do when they visit town and followed suit.  I’ve been a Nashvillian for 10 years and never once considered taking line dancing lessons.

2. A core value of Leading and Loving It is connection… I love seeing that played out in our church life as well.  Each of my girls are extremely busy, but they’re also aware of the importance of investing in one another… sitting aside time to truly enjoy those we’re called to do ministry with.

3. The 20 year-old PWs danced their pa-tooties off.  They showed up the 30 year-old PWs like nobody’s business.

4. We are created for relationships.  Sometimes those relationships are built through deeply spiritual moments and other times that growth develops through loose your breath laughter and boot-scootin’.

5. A group of 12 line-dancing PWs is such a blast I can’t imagine what it’ll be like to see a whole slew of them dancing all over Nashville come May! Hint, hint!

Dancing… love it or hate it??

Posted in Relationships, Staff Events, leadership | 17 Comments »

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