Small Group Ministries

Small Group Ministry seems to be the most common buzz-word among churches both large and small these days. Most people hear the term and think of this as a process that large churches employ to ensure their members form relationships and bonds of community. Others hear of it and envision small churches trying to survive by building intergenerational groups where people still encounter God in the midst of study. Truth is…both definitions are true, and yet inadequate to describe all that small group ministries encompass in the life of the church. 

     This fall we at First Christian Church will embark upon this new method of ministry. Small group options surround us all the time in our day to day lives. Placing the faith aspect within the realm of personal interests is what is new about the process for most of us. Small group ministry as an essential part of our congregational life will become our primary focus in faith formation in the very near future. The groups we form will meet on a regular basis around a central common interest. The members will agree to meet for 6-8 week periods of time and may even rotate leadership within the group. They will covenant with one another to connect outside of meeting times to check in with each other and hold one another in prayer. They will connect with each other on days of worship with the larger congregation. In a nutshell, we will be forming close friendships with those whom we worship by taking part in a common interest and sharing our faith journeys with one another.  

     Our first groups will meet on Wednesday evenings beginning September 26th with the following themes…Faith in the Kitchen, Faith in Exercise–Zumba, Faith through Art, Disciples of Christ 101, Book Study of Liz Curtis Higgs' "Bad Girls of the Bible. All interested participants need to respond to our bulletin survey inserts as to the theme of interest. Please include contact information as well as nursery care requests for children pre-school or younger. These groups will meet weekly until Nov. 14th. Small groups will then take a hiatus for the holidays and new groups will form January 2nd and meet weekly until Ash Wednesday. 

     In addition to nursery care for little ones, activities for children will coincide with small group studies to help enable parent participation. Breaks in studies are designed to coincide with busy holiday seasons as well as school breaks. Children's Choir and Bell Choir practices will also begin in September and possibly run in conjunction with small groups. We are in need of adult volunteers to lead many of these children's groups, so offerings will depend on available adult volunteers. Ideally a rotation between time for small group study and time leading children's groups would enable everyone to enjoy the benefits of small group ministries. Every effort will be made to ensure each person's opportunity to become a part of a core group of members willing to enter into this new ministry of friendship and faith. 

     Please prayerfully consider joining us on Wednesday evenings for these exciting new group ministry options and stay tuned for upcoming studies in the very near future. 

Blessings,
Tracy