Connection Group Questions, September 25

Connection Group Questions
September 25, 2011
Opening
Feel free to spend the bulk of your first gathering meeting one another. 

 To begin, play a “get to know you” game. Nothing too hard to start. Maybe share your most awesome adventure of the summer. Or get creative: you could put people into pairs, give them a moment to talk, then take turns introducing the other person to the group. It’s funny to hear how other people can describe us.

After introductions go over the “Connection Group Commitment.” Address any questions and go over childcare needs if applicable. This is a very vital part of the group experience. Give folks a week to think about their commitment. Then next week, have participants sign the Commitment if they plan to stick with the group.

Other things to consider:

• Co-Leaders. Maybe there is a person/couple in the group who want to become group leaders themselves. Let them be “co-leaders” and take a few turns during the semester to lead the meeting. 
• Maybe your group is already pretty big (over 12 adults). If so, perhaps you need to consider dividing into two smaller groups. That could open the doors for even more people to join a group, and more leaders to grow! 
• Perhaps your group is a little slim (less than 10). Prayerfully think about who you could invite to join your gathering. 
• Maybe one person can be the group secretary. They could send out a weekly reminder, and a list of prayer requests and updates. 
• It’s also a good pan to send around a snack sign-up. Maybe turn it into a friendly competition: Who has the best banana bread recipe? Who can bring the most exotic dish? Go ahead, get creative! 

Discussion
If you have time get into a bible study and discussion.
Read Matthew 3:13-17 and Romans 6:1-4.

If someone has a great baptism story, and they are willing to share it, that would be awesome!

Maybe you have not been baptized. If so, and if you have any questions about it, maybe you could ask the group, and hear what they think/believe.

Maybe you know it’s time for you to be baptized. Share what God has done in your life that has brought you to this step of faith. Maybe you were baptized as an infant. Would it be meaningful for you as an adult to now affirm the baptismal vows for yourself? 

 (At Connections we believe that it’s biblically faithful to baptize babies and pray for their adult affirmation of faith; AND we think it’s awesome when adults want to publicly affirm their faith through the re-affirmation of the baptismal covenant. Basically, we take a broad position on this matter, so that it might not be divisive in the church. No baptism, infant or adult, is what saves us. We are saved only by grace through faith in Jesus!)

Close with a time of prayerPraying together is as important as studying the bible together. Both are ways that we affirm our faith is not just personal, but profoundly communal. Your leader will lead the prayer, but you will be invited to participate: maybe by sharing a request, maybe by praying out loud. Feel free to ask any questions about how and why we pray as a group. 

 Maybe read Acts 2:42-47.

Fall 2011 Semester

“And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers... And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.”  ~ Acts 2:42, 47

Connection Groups target the second part of our mission, “to connect people.”  In the Sunday worship service we gather to build into our relationship with God.  In our home groups we gather to build into our relationships with one another.  We hope that everyone who worships at Connections will be a part of a Connection Group.

It is through Connection Groups that each person can give and receive the best spiritual care.  We find a place to belong and find acceptance.  We can find opportunities to grow spiritually by digging deeper into the bible and prayer. We find a place to serve people and our community. 

We know that when people are a part of a Connection Group, they truly feel a part of Connections Church!

Connection Groups, Fall 2011

Groups start the week of September 25,

and run through November 27 (10 weeks)

 

Here’s how they work, generally:

• Groups run on the semester format: Fall, Winter and Spring, 8-10 weeks each

• Groups have a clear starting and stopping date so you know when to step in, and when to take a break
• Groups are made up of about 12-16 adults + children
• Groups typically meet for 1.5 hours each gathering
• The standard curriculum is a bible study and discussion based around the Sunday worship service
• Groups are built around three guiding values:
• BELONG- Every meeting starts with a time of just “belonging” together- having a snack, and getting to know one another.  The bible calls these kinds of relationships “fellowship”
• GROW- This happens through a bible study based on the worship service and time to pray for one another and the church
• SERVE- Groups are to take seriously the needs of one another and their neighbors
• Groups are also encouraged to schedule some fun time together out side of the meeting, or to even plan a group project or event

Registration:

• We have several established groups that have a few openings.  Therefore, we may suggest that you try one of these groups if they meet in your area.
• For most of our new registrants we will place you in a new group.
• And if you get invited to join a group, and say yes, well that’s just fine!  Your leader will let us know.

Write info@connectionschurch.ca and let us know if your interested in join, or helping start up, a group.  It will help if you give us your name and contact information, and what evening(s) you are available.