First Church MOPS meetings are held twice a month on Fridays (typically the 1st & 3rd Fridays) from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. at First Reformed Church, 3060 Wilson Avenue in Grandville, and run October through May. Women of all ages and backgrounds are invited to join us—the only requirement is that you are the mother of a child age 0-Kindergarten. Childcare is provided so that our moms can have a well-deserved break & come away feeling refreshed (see MOPPETS program below).

Each time we meet, we begin with breakfast together and then we either spend time working on a craft as a large group, or we have a speaker on a topic relevant to moms. Then, we get together in small groups to talk about the speaker’s topic, motherhood, our joys and sorrows, or whatever else is on our minds. You’ll be assigned to sit with the same table of women throughout the year so you can get to know them better. Over the course of the year, each table takes a turn at providing breakfast for the group.


MEETING TIMETABLE
Meetings run from 9:30 – 11:00 a.m. and children may be dropped off beginning at 9:15 a.m. Breakfast begins at 9:15 a.m. and the meeting starts promptly at 9:30 a.m.

Please note that if Grandville Public Schools are closed due to inclement weather, MOPS will be canceled .

MEETING DATES FOR 2011-2012

Sept. 23                                          Jan. 6 & 20

Oct. 7 & 21                                    Feb. 3

Nov. 4 & 18                                   March 2 & 16

Dec. 2 & 16                                    April 13 & 27

May 11 & 25

THE MOPPETS PROGRAM
While you are enjoying a morning of relaxation and rejuvenation, your children are being cared for in a parallel program called MOPPETS. Our MOPPETS program is designed specifically to care for the needs of infants, toddlers, preschoolers and kindergartners. Every MOPPETS morning is filled with stories, songs, crafts, playtime, and a snack. We have loving teachers and volunteers in each room to care for your children.

WHAT DOES MOPS COST?
If you decide our MOPS group is right for you and your children, there is a branch dues of $45/ year (or two $25 installments) to help cover the cost of speakers, crafts, and refreshments. We want to make our MOPS meetings affordable and do not want anyone to be excluded due to financial reasons.

There is also a $23.95 MOPS-to-Moms membership fee to MOPS International. This fee is due when you register. MOPS International provides us with valuable resources for running our group and by registering with MOPS International, you will receive the following benefits for a full year:

  • MomSense Magazine
  • Weekly Mom-E-Mail
  • MOPS Reusable Shopping Bag
  • MOPS Iron On Appliqués
  • MOPS Stickers featuring VeggieTales

If you’ve got questions, or would like to register, please contact First Church MOPS Coordinator Amanda Deppe at 616-669-5607 or by e-mail at abjdeppe @gmail.com. You may also download the registration form, fill it out, and mail it in or drop it off in the First Church office.