By Barbara George, Director of Membership Development
Just last week I heard from a first-time Neighborhood Communion participant that the group had met again and what a wonderful experience it had been…. appetizers, insightful guided discussion, and of course, lots of laughter! “It all came together!” Ten groups met this past fall and I’m excited and truly looking forward to launching new small groups to begin meeting in February. Everyone is welcome to participate.
If you have ever even thought about joining a small group but then hesitated, I encourage you to sign up! Here are some reasons why:
You have an opportunity to get to know people you may not otherwise meet. The groups are intergenerational, offering rich opportunities for discussion and sharing of experiences.
The time commitment is small – each group will meet 3 times over an 8-10 week period for up to an hour and a half each time.
Guided discussion topics for each gathering are developed by Dr. Mike Graves. There is no homework or preparation for the gatherings!
The gatherings are flexible. A group leader will set the time and location for the first gathering and help guide the discussion, but after that the rest is up to your group. Your group might decide to rotate the host home, you might take turns bringing a small snack or contribute to the “communion” meal.
The ‘communion’ part of Neighborhood Communion small groups is symbolic of what communion was like in Jesus’ time, when friends gathered in intimate groups, celebrating inclusion and joy and caring for each other; sharing life as well as bread and wine.
From these neighborhood groups we come together as one large congregation for Sunday worship and work together during the week for the greater good. I hope you’ll share in the experience.
