Small Group Ministry

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What do you want from a church? Many people come to provide their children with religious education. Many people come to church because their friends come to church. However, most of us also long for something more. We long for meaningful relationships with other people and we long for a greater understanding of how we are connected to that which is larger than ourselves. We come to church for deeper intimacy and greater ultimacy.

We also come to church to help us both survive the day and to help us save the world. Our driving question is: “What am I going to do with my one wild and precious life?” Can this community support me in my personal struggles and joys? Can I find like-minded people who will support me and join with me in social justice projects to save our corner of the world?

We are beginning a new and exiting way of ministering to our congregation this year; a form of widely shared ministry. Small Group Ministry will provide greater experiences intimacy and ultimacy for our members. Small Group Ministry will also support you better in your joys and sorrows as well as provide opportunities for social justice.

This new form of ministry is based on the old understanding that listening is the foundation of caring. We feel cared for when we feel heard. Furthermore, we are best heard and we can best listen to others when we are in groups of no more than 10 people. Individuals can get lost in a large group. In Small Group Ministry we divide up the congregation into groups of 6-10 people who gather about twice a month to share the stories of their lives and their experiences related to deeply meaningful topics. These groups are facilitated by a trained leader who meets once a month with the minister. The small groups also make promises about how they will be together and what they will do to help save the world.

We encourage all newcomers to contact our minister about visiting a Small Group to see if this form of ministry interests you. You do not need to be a church member to enjoy in the shared ministry of this congregation.