Journeying together as authentic, Christ-absorbed, compassionate communities.
What’s a Small Group?
... a place to belong, and to experience authentic community with ordinary people a lot like you. ... a safe place to seek God, to ask questions, and to explore the Bible with fellow explorers. ... a place to give and receive the kind of support we all need to develop in our spiritual journeys. ... a place to uncover God's heart for people by serving one another and our community.
... a place to belong, and to experience authentic community with ordinary people a lot like you.
... a safe place to seek God, to ask questions, and to explore the Bible with fellow explorers.
... a place to give and receive the kind of support we all need to develop in our spiritual journeys.
... a place to uncover God's heart for people by serving one another and our community.
What Kinds of Small Groups Are Available?
Connecting Groups: groups that meet weekly to discuss and apply the weekend messages, using the questions in the worship folder as a group study guide. Essentially, Connecting Groups are Care Groups with the topic of study being the weekend messages, allowing for people new to Christ Community and/or small groups to jump in a little easier. Care Groups: groups offering sharing, prayer, a Bible study or topical study, life-on-life relationships, mutual ministry and mission. Affinity Groups for Men, Women, Young Adults, Single Adults, Senior Adults and Others. These are Care Groups made up of people from a specific life stage, common interest or gender, journeying together with one another in community. Focus Groups: groups that focus on specific issues and topics such as parenting, marriage, divorce care, grief support, support for struggles with lust and sexual temptations, and overcoming life's wounds, etc. Missional Life Groups: groups of 4-6 people from Christ Community who commit to share life together in heightened ways for the express purpose of engaging with their culture, enfolding their network of non-Christian friends, and, in the process, investing in one another’s spiritual formation in Christ.
Connecting Groups: groups that meet weekly to discuss and apply the weekend messages, using the questions in the worship folder as a group study guide. Essentially, Connecting Groups are Care Groups with the topic of study being the weekend messages, allowing for people new to Christ Community and/or small groups to jump in a little easier.
Care Groups: groups offering sharing, prayer, a Bible study or topical study, life-on-life relationships, mutual ministry and mission.
Affinity Groups for Men, Women, Young Adults, Single Adults, Senior Adults and Others. These are Care Groups made up of people from a specific life stage, common interest or gender, journeying together with one another in community.
Focus Groups: groups that focus on specific issues and topics such as parenting, marriage, divorce care, grief support, support for struggles with lust and sexual temptations, and overcoming life's wounds, etc.
Missional Life Groups: groups of 4-6 people from Christ Community who commit to share life together in heightened ways for the express purpose of engaging with their culture, enfolding their network of non-Christian friends, and, in the process, investing in one another’s spiritual formation in Christ.
How Do I Get Involved In A Small Group?
There are five likely pathways...
Someone Invites You. Either someone you know or someone you bump into asks you to join their group. You ask a few questions, find it a fit, and decide to say “Yes!” You Ask To Be Placed in a Group, either at an Adult Ministry and Small Groups Expo or throughout the year. Adult Ministry and Small Groups Expos are held each year in August, January and March. We’ll ask you to complete a Small Group Connections Form, and will seek to match you with a small group that fits your schedule and other specifics that are important for you in a group. Small group overseers and leaders are on-hand to answer questions and help you in this process. The Expos occur just before the beginning of a new small group session. By Contacting the Leader of a Small Group you've heard of or read about in the Adult Ministries and Small Group Catalog. As you talk, you discover the group has an opening and it would be a good fit. The Adult Ministries and Small Group Catalog is published three times a year, with copies of the current edition at the Welcome Center and Information Rack in the Lobby. By Banding Together With Some Other People and Leading or Hosting a Group Yourself! Sometimes you know some people also looking to connect and to grow, and you're open to beginning a brand new group with these and other people. To this we say, "Cool!!! Let us help you." Check out the last section on the bottom of this page to find out what's involved, and how to take some next steps. By Completing a Small Group Connections Form Below. Please take the time to complete this form accurately, since we will take everything into account in matching you with a small group. Involve your spouse in filling this out if you wish to participate as a couple. We also encourage you to be flexible, since most of our groups are made up of a people from a diversity of ages and life stages. Anticipate you’ll receive a follow-up call or e-mail from a leader as a part of this process within one week of submitting your form. Small Group Connections Form *Required Information
Someone Invites You. Either someone you know or someone you bump into asks you to join their group. You ask a few questions, find it a fit, and decide to say “Yes!”
You Ask To Be Placed in a Group, either at an Adult Ministry and Small Groups Expo or throughout the year. Adult Ministry and Small Groups Expos are held each year in August, January and March. We’ll ask you to complete a Small Group Connections Form, and will seek to match you with a small group that fits your schedule and other specifics that are important for you in a group. Small group overseers and leaders are on-hand to answer questions and help you in this process. The Expos occur just before the beginning of a new small group session.
By Contacting the Leader of a Small Group you've heard of or read about in the Adult Ministries and Small Group Catalog. As you talk, you discover the group has an opening and it would be a good fit. The Adult Ministries and Small Group Catalog is published three times a year, with copies of the current edition at the Welcome Center and Information Rack in the Lobby.
By Banding Together With Some Other People and Leading or Hosting a Group Yourself! Sometimes you know some people also looking to connect and to grow, and you're open to beginning a brand new group with these and other people. To this we say, "Cool!!! Let us help you." Check out the last section on the bottom of this page to find out what's involved, and how to take some next steps.
By Completing a Small Group Connections Form Below. Please take the time to complete this form accurately, since we will take everything into account in matching you with a small group. Involve your spouse in filling this out if you wish to participate as a couple. We also encourage you to be flexible, since most of our groups are made up of a people from a diversity of ages and life stages. Anticipate you’ll receive a follow-up call or e-mail from a leader as a part of this process within one week of submitting your form.
Small Group Connections Form
*Required Information
Name/s *
Street Address and City *
Best Phone to Use in Contacting You *
Email/s *
Which of the following offers the closest description of your life stage?
College StudentNon-College 20-somethingSingle Adult, Late 20's through 30'sSingle Adult, 40 or OlderSingle ParentWidowedDivorced and Not RemarriedNewly Married, No ChildrenMarried With Young ChildrenMarried With Elementary Aged ChildrenMarried With TeenagersParent of College Aged ChildrenEmpty NesterOther
Explain if checked "Other"
How important is it for you to be in a group with people who are in the same life stage as you?
Of No ImportanceIt Would Be Nice, If It Works OutVery Important to MeI'd Actually Prefer Being With Someone in a Different Life StageOther
How would you describe where you are in your spiritual journey, or in your relationship with Christ?
*
About how long have you been at Christ Community? *
First Choice for the day of the week that would work for you to participate in the life of a Group on a consistent basis?
SundayMondayTuesdayWednesdayThursdayFridaySaturday
Time of Day
EveningAfternoonMorning
Second Choice for the day of the week that would work for you to participate in the life of a Group on a consistent basis?
No Second ChoiceSundayMondayTuesdayWednesdayThursdayFridaySaturday
NoneEveningAfternoonMorning
Will you need a Group to help provide Child Care? NoYes
What kind of Group are you looking for? Connecting GroupCare GroupMen's GroupWomen's GroupFocus GroupMissional Life GroupNo Preference
Would you be interested in Hosting or Leading a Group? Please let us know. Refer to the bottom of this page for what's involved, and how we'll support you.
Yes, I'm interested in ...
Hosting a Group Leading a Group
Anything else you would like to tell us about what's important to you in a Group, any special needs you might have, or any way that we can serve you in finding a Group?
Before clicking "Submit Small Group Connection Form" make sure that you've read the FAQS below and all of the information above is complete. This is the information they'll use to match you with a Christ Community Small Group.
This information is sent automatically to Dick Dougherty, Adult Ministries Associate, and Jenny Hooten, Adult Ministries Administrative Assistant.
Other FAQS
When do groups meet? For 2007-2008, small groups will meet in three sessions: Fall (the weeks of September 9 - November 25), Winter (the weeks of January 20 - March 16), and Spring (the weeks of March 30 - May 18). Over the holidays, in-between sessions, and over the summer months we encourage groups to explore serving and community-building opportunities. Most groups take a break from their regular schedule from June-August. The 2008-2009 group life cycle will be pretty similar to these time frames. When and where do groups meet? Most groups meet in homes around Greeley or in nearby towns. A few groups meet at the church. Most groups meet either weekly or bi-weekly. What if I join a group and it isn’t the best fit? No problem! Relationships and a "fit" often take time to establish. We ask that you commit for at least one session (about 7-10 weeks - see the schedule above), and then let us help you find a group that might be a better fit if you wish to make a switch. When can I sign up for a group? Really anytime. However we offer an Adult Ministry and Small Groups Expo three times a year just prior to the beginning of a new small group session. The Expos remaining for 2007-2008 are before and after all services on the following weekends: January 5/6 and 12/13, and March 8/9 and 15/16. What’s expected of me? We ask you to make a good faith attempt to commit to and participate in your group as a priority. Be yourself, be flexible, make your unique contribution, help make the group a safe place for all, and share the journey. We also ask people in Connecting Groups to listen to the weekend message -- either live or online – and complete the discussion questions in the weekly worship folder before coming to group. How about childcare? Each group is responsible to address the childcare issue for themselves. Let us know if this is something important for you in finding a small group home. Do I have to know a lot about the Bible to join a Small Group? Oh my, no! The primary focus of Small Groups is to care for one another as you study and apply the Bible to daily life. As your group grows, you’ll grow. Enjoy the process of discovery. Don’t sweat it! Can I come if I’m not yet a Christ-follower? Absolutely! Small Groups are where you can experience authentic Christianity for yourself. They’re also safe places for people who are asking sincere questions, seeking God, or making their journey back to God. Is there anyone I can talk to or e-mail if I have some additional questions? Yes … and they’d love to help you: Dick Dougherty (405-1120) Jenny Hooten (353-1159, ext. 215) Bruce Hoppe (353-1159, ext. 240)
When do groups meet? For 2007-2008, small groups will meet in three sessions: Fall (the weeks of September 9 - November 25), Winter (the weeks of January 20 - March 16), and Spring (the weeks of March 30 - May 18). Over the holidays, in-between sessions, and over the summer months we encourage groups to explore serving and community-building opportunities. Most groups take a break from their regular schedule from June-August. The 2008-2009 group life cycle will be pretty similar to these time frames.
When and where do groups meet? Most groups meet in homes around Greeley or in nearby towns. A few groups meet at the church. Most groups meet either weekly or bi-weekly.
What if I join a group and it isn’t the best fit? No problem! Relationships and a "fit" often take time to establish. We ask that you commit for at least one session (about 7-10 weeks - see the schedule above), and then let us help you find a group that might be a better fit if you wish to make a switch.
When can I sign up for a group? Really anytime. However we offer an Adult Ministry and Small Groups Expo three times a year just prior to the beginning of a new small group session. The Expos remaining for 2007-2008 are before and after all services on the following weekends: January 5/6 and 12/13, and March 8/9 and 15/16.
What’s expected of me? We ask you to make a good faith attempt to commit to and participate in your group as a priority. Be yourself, be flexible, make your unique contribution, help make the group a safe place for all, and share the journey. We also ask people in Connecting Groups to listen to the weekend message -- either live or online – and complete the discussion questions in the weekly worship folder before coming to group.
How about childcare? Each group is responsible to address the childcare issue for themselves. Let us know if this is something important for you in finding a small group home.
Do I have to know a lot about the Bible to join a Small Group? Oh my, no! The primary focus of Small Groups is to care for one another as you study and apply the Bible to daily life. As your group grows, you’ll grow. Enjoy the process of discovery. Don’t sweat it!
Can I come if I’m not yet a Christ-follower? Absolutely! Small Groups are where you can experience authentic Christianity for yourself. They’re also safe places for people who are asking sincere questions, seeking God, or making their journey back to God.
Is there anyone I can talk to or e-mail if I have some additional questions? Yes … and they’d love to help you:
Dick Dougherty (405-1120)
Jenny Hooten (353-1159, ext. 215)
Bruce Hoppe (353-1159, ext. 240)
What's Involved in Hosting, Leading or Beginning a Small Group?
We're always seeking to begin new small groups, and to empower and release people to serve as leaders and hosts. Here's a thumbnail sketch of what's involved in leading and hosting a small group, as well as a couple of links to find out more ...
Leading a Small Group ... L oves Christ, and is growing in relationship with Him as a part of the Christ Community family. E njoys people, and helping them connect with one another and with Christ in a safe environment. A vailable to lead a group in serving one another, and serving in ministry together. D epends on Christ for life, strength and wisdom in ministry. To find out more, click HERE. Hosting a Small Group H as a home that can comfortably accommodate 6-12 people. O versees refreshments and meals, and helps facilitate group social gatherings. S erves in partnership with the group leader in helping the group minister to one another. T akes hospitality seriously, and enjoys making others feel special. To find out more, click HERE. Beginning a Small Group and Moving Into Leadership If you're interested in beginning a small group, the next step is to download and complete the Small Group Profile Form, and contact Dick Dougherty (dickd@cccgreeley.org / 405-1120) to set up a time to walk through the Small Group Foundations workbook. Click HERE to view and/or download the Small Group Foundations workbook.
Leading a Small Group ...
L oves Christ, and is growing in relationship with Him as a part of the Christ Community family.
E njoys people, and helping them connect with one another and with Christ in a safe environment.
A vailable to lead a group in serving one another, and serving in ministry together.
D epends on Christ for life, strength and wisdom in ministry.
To find out more, click HERE.
Hosting a Small Group
H as a home that can comfortably accommodate 6-12 people.
O versees refreshments and meals, and helps facilitate group social gatherings.
S erves in partnership with the group leader in helping the group minister to one another.
T akes hospitality seriously, and enjoys making others feel special.
Beginning a Small Group and Moving Into Leadership
If you're interested in beginning a small group, the next step is to download and complete the Small Group Profile Form, and contact Dick Dougherty (dickd@cccgreeley.org / 405-1120) to set up a time to walk through the Small Group Foundations workbook. Click HERE to view and/or download the Small Group Foundations workbook.