All about the small groups and fellowships active in our church family.
SMALL GROUPS AND JESUS
Early in His ministry Jesus called together twelve disciples to come and work with Him. It was a small group united in learning from Jesus how to live and to do the work that the Lord our God called them to do. Ever since, when the church has been at its healthiest, there have been small groups of Christians meeting together.
It was the small groups, meeting in homes, which gave the early Christians the support they needed to live out their lives in relationship with God within a hostile environment. The heart and spirit of the early church found its expression in caring communities of Christians meeting together in fellowship to worship, to learn and grow in the faith.
THE IMPORTANCE OF SMALL GROUPS
The importance of small group fellowship can be seen throughout the history of the church. In the reformation small groups met together to study the scriptures. The great strength of early Methodism was the “Class Meetings” where those who were drawn to the church by the Wesley’s preaching and hymns learned to become true followers of Jesus.
When in the 1950’s the communists forced all foreign missionaries to leave China many despaired for the tiny church, which began to experience sustained persecution. As
THE PURPOSE OF CHRISTIANS MEETING IN SMALL GROUPS
In small groups:
- Friendship and fellowship grows and each member of the group is known, valued and cared for.
- People can learn to understand the Bible and their faith together and discover what being a Christian means today.
- There is a safe place to share doubts and fears and concerns.
- People can learn that praying together makes a difference and may bring help and healing.
Some of our groups in 2007 - Most meeting fortnightly.
Tuesdays At 2.15 pm - Women's Fellowship in the Methodist Church. Contact Denese Counter
(alternating with W.F. ) At 2.30 pm - Home Fellowship. Contact Jill Beresford
Evenings - 25 pluses - a mixed group. Contact Mark Filby
Wednesday Evenings
Young Families Home Groups. Start 8 pm. Three week rolling rota. 1- men's group, 2 - women's group. 3 joint group. Social activities feature largely too. Contact Tim Greene
Mixed Age Home Group. At 8. pm .Current Issues with a Bible perspective are discussed with time given just to listen to one another. Always open to new members. Contact Hazel Clayton
Thursdays
Ladies group , mixed ages. Meet for lunch at 1.00 pm. Finish in time to pick up children from school. Contact - Janny Faulkner 01430 423693
Evening Group . Ladies 50 plus meet at 7.30 pm, Bible focus. Contact Winifred Swain