I was recently released as my ward’s Relief Society president. Looking back, I feel like one of our greatest successes, as a presidency, was following God’s inspiration to revamp our service committee to help them become more effective. This underutilized committee went from only managing meal deliveries and funerals to proactively blessing the whole neighborhood with light and love. They provided a backup to ministering companionships and eased the burden on our Relief Society presidency. This committee was SO wonderful that I’ve chosen to do a Relief Society leadership training for all the wards in our stake on the blessing of effective Relief Society committees, both Service and Activities. (Side note: I’m currently serving as the Stake Relief Society President.)

As I prepare for this upcoming leadership training, I figured I might as well share the information and handouts online, so other RS presidencies can ponder on this idea too. Maybe it’s something that can bless your own ward!

relief society service

The Most Effective Relief Society Service Committee

Here’s the gist of it: We called a service activity coordinator to be the lead of our new service committee. Together we worked with the new lead to fill her committee with Relief Society sisters. We asked that she meet regularly with her committee to discuss ways to show kindness to those in the neighborhood and ward who could use it. It could be someone who appeared to be sad or withdrawn at church, maybe the mother of a missionary who just left, or the Primary Presidency who just knocked-out a wonderful and time-consuming Primary program. It could be for a widow, or a sister who lost one of her parents or even a pet. It could even be for someone who seems like they have it all together and is doing great – maybe they’ve been forgotten as well. Basically the Committee was to keep their eyes, ears, and heart open to the little promptings of the Spirit pointing them to those who needed love.

At their meetings they were to discuss who was on their mind and also utilize the list of suggestions from the Relief Society presidency that would come to them after their own presidency meetings. And then they would make a plan. Maybe two of the committee members would go do a home visit with the sister. Maybe a couple other committee members would knock on the door of somebody else. Or, they might invite their chosen person to go for a walk or to lunch or even just drop off a simple gift at the door. There are so many ways that they could serve those who were on their minds.

And of course the service committee would still take care of all funerals and meal delivery needs. But, having this extra love assignment added to their list of responsibilities has been magical for our neighborhood.

We also asked that the committee plan two service projects for the Relief Society (and anyone else that wanted to attend) per year. Although we also had an activity committee who would plan activities, we found that most of them didn’t involve service (though still fun and spiritual.) So, by asking the service committee to head up the service activities, we were guaranteed to at least get two great service projects per year. Plus, they would tack on little service additions to any activities that the activity committee planned, such as bringing cans of food or gifts to donate to a special cause.

Once a quarter the service committee coordinator would send the Relief Society presidency a text report of all of the little acts of service that they had done. As a presidency, it was one of our very favorite things to read through that list and know that even more love was being spread and even more hearts were being reached. It’s been an amazing supplement to the ministering program and has eased the burden of the presidency. I highly, HIGHLY recommend this!

A few other notes on this special ward service calling:

  • As a fun bonus we were even able to call women to the service committee who don’t attend church. You know those people that love to serve but are not ready for church? They’re PERFECT for this calling! You know the people that show up to the neighborhood cleanups but don’t come to church? Call them too! It’s a wonderful calling because it’s hard not to feel the Spirit when you are serving somebody else.
  • We asked our service committee lead to really impress upon her committee members that this calling as a committee member was not an unimportant calling. When fulfilled, wonderful and even amazing things will happen. The regular meetings helped to keep committee members engaged and involved in the return-and-report principle.
  • The acts of service did not need to be reserved for the sisters of the ward and women of the neighborhood. We invited them to reach out to all people in our neighborhood, men and children included, if they had insight on special needs for them as well.
  • We found this committee very helpful as a backup to ministers. For example, if a minister was caring for one of her sisters who had been injured but didn’t feel like she had the time or means to give all the care needed, we could invite our service committee to help out as a backup. And, if the service committee needed more help beyond what they could offer, we would start reaching out to our other Relief Society sisters and neighbors.

Responsibilities for the RS Service Committee Coordinator:

Feel free to download and print this list of responsibilities!

This list includes what we asked our ward’s Service Committee to do, but there are other things that could also be on their list of responsibilities, such as:

  • Manage the Missionary Meal calendar and fill the spots.
  • Send out birthday cards or texts to the sisters in the ward.
  • Be the welcoming committee in the Relief Society room on Sundays.
  • Find volunteers for the cannery, temple cleaning, and branch assignments when needed.

Service Ideas for the Service Committee:

Here’s just one page of a multi-page list of simple service committee ideas that they can use. Feel free to print and download as many as you need.

In conclusion…

As we cultivate our Zion mindset and gather Israel, we must remember that we have covenanted to look after the poor among us. “Poor” includes more than the financially poor. There can be those who are poor in spirit, friendship, opportunity, hope, self-worth, testimony, education, resources, or a myriad of other things. We are asked to turn our hearts to others as Christ has turned His heart to us. May God bless you in your service.

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