WHAT IS MOPS?
MOPS stands for "Mothers Of Preschoolers." MOPS is for all mothers of children aged birth through kindergarten. It is a place where moms have the opportunity to make new friends, share experiences, laugh together, and learn principles pertaining to womanhood, marriage and parenting. This year’s theme is called the HOME factor: BEGIN HERE … GO THERE.

In our homes of origin many of us learned the deepest lessons about relationship, developed life routines and acquired our tastes and preferences. And now, as moms, we long to create homes where our families can thrive and grow — and we can too. Our homes must be safe places – physically and also emotionally safe. In them we bond, we eat and play and rest together, we decorate and provision our special home spaces. The theme the HOME factor: BEGIN HERE … GO THERE enriches our perspective and hones our abilities to create a cocoon of home.

But at its healthiest, our home experience should fill us and launch us into wider circles of investment and influence where we interact with our world. We return HOME to reconnect and refuel — but we’ll move from the HOME outwards to make a difference. The heart of the HOME is also a picture of God’s desire to interact with us and deeply love us where we really live. He desires to make his home in our hearts. He expresses it this way in the theme verse: "...he lives with you and will be in you." John 14:17

WHAT ABOUT YOUR CHILDREN?
While moms are enjoying a morning of rest and relaxation, children are being cared for in a loving environment called MOPPETS. They are divided into age appropriate groups and are involved in planned activities such as games, stories, crafts, music and physical play.

A TYPICAL MOPS MORNING
Once your children are settled in the MOPPETS room, it is time for you to relax knowing your children are in good hands. The meeting starts with an informal time of refreshments and fellowship, followed by an instructional time. Presentations from outside speakers offer information that is relevant to the life of a mother. We discuss a variety of subjects such as: womanhood, marriage, child rearing, relationships, how to teach your children awareness, sign language, interior designing, photography etc.

MEETING INFORMATION
We meet at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church on 68 Eagle Street in Williamsville, New York on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of every month from 9:30 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. The MOPS meetings start on September 26, 2007 and continue through June 2008. Please feel free to join us at anytime during the year. Your first visit is free. After your first visit, MOPS International does require a one-time a year membership dues of $20.00, where you will also receive their MOMsense Magazine, mom e-mail, a DVD, a book and other valuable information. However, no mother will be turned away due to financial obligations. Scholarships are available.

If you are interested, please feel free to email the MOPS Coordinator: Shawndra Langlotz at Slalic@roadrunner.com to let her know so she can make proper arrangements. If you want to know more about MOPS International, check out their website at www.MOPS.org.