What are Home Groups?
Home Groups are a great way to meet others in an informal setting to discuss the Christian faith and particularly how it applies to everyday issues. They enable us to support each other and to develop really meaningful friendships.
Why join a Home Group?
Some Home Group members find meeting during the week very helpful in reinforcing the shared worship experience at Church on a Sunday morning. Others are simply more comfortable being part of a smaller informal group than going regularly to a Sunday morning Church service. If you are new to the parish, or an established resident interested in finding out more about the Christian faith, joining a Home Group is an excellent place to start. Whatever the situation, Home Groups have an increasingly important part to play in our spiritual development and growth as a parish.
Who goes and what do they do?
Around 150 people in the parish already attend a Home Group. Each group typically has around a dozen members.
Although each Group determines its own "feel", a meeting will typically involve considering what the Bible has to say about the way we live our lives and how we should approach personal challenges and opportunities. There is a suggested topic for each meeting which ties into the teaching at the churches around the same time. The format and tenor of these discussions is shaped by the Group themselves - Home Group members range from "seasoned" churchgoers to those still in the early stages of exploring the Christian faith. An example of the suggested "plan" for a recent meeting is shown below.
When do they happen?
Home Groups generally meet once a fortnight. Three groups currently meet during the day, while the remainder meet in the evening. All gather at the home of one of the members. A meeting will generally last a couple of hours, but there are no rules!
Hmm, sounds interesting - how do I find out more?
A list of current Home Group leaders is shown below. If you know one of these people in particular, why not just give them a call? You can also contact Charles Gibson, who co-ordinates the Home Groups, or simply catch up with a couple of people who you know are members of Home Groups to get a further insight.
Sample Home Group Discussion Guide
Home Group Session 5. Fifth Value: Encountering God
Welcome
- Name someone you look up to and consider why; or
- If you could change one situation in the world today, what would it be? or
- Think of something you wanted badly enough to make some sacrifices for. What was it and how did you get it?
Worship
- Read Mark 10:46-52. Reflect on the question: "What do you want God to do for you?" Apply the question to yourself, your group and the Church. Ask yourself what obstacles you may need to remove and throw aside in order to receive from God; or
- Read a story of someone whose life has changed through the presence of Jesus or get a couple of people in the group to share their stories. Spend time thanking God for situations affected and changed by Jesus; or
- Listen to a hymn or song which focuses on our individual journey with God. What is it saying to me as I reflect on it - let it lead you into a time of prayer.
Word
- Read Isaiah 61:1-11, Matthew 15:21-28 and Acts 2:38-47.
- What are your expectations in encountering God? What would you like to see more of in your experience as a group?
- God's power:
- Overlooks our weakness
- Overwhelms our lives
- Overcomes our fears
- Overflows to others
- Overturns our complacency
Which of these points do you feel particularly challenged or encouraged by? How might you respond as a group?
Witness
- To what extent does the life of your group overflow to others who are on the outside of the group? Have you arranged an event to enable this to happen? If so, are you encouraged? If not, what are the issues? Share your experience so far and ask God to teach you more in this area.
- If not an event (or in addition), have you arranged something the group can do collectively within the community?
Home Group Leaders
| |
Leader |
|
Group meets |
| |
Hilary Aiken |
|
Thursday morning |
| |
Dawn Bashford |
|
Tuesday afternoon |
| |
Stephanie Carter |
|
Thursday evening |
| |
Melanie Cook |
|
Tuesday morning |
| |
Diane Davidson |
|
Thursday evening |
| |
June Elliott |
|
Tuesday evening |
| |
Jim Friend |
|
Tuesday evening |
| |
Ian Howell |
|
Wednesday evening |
| |
Ian Lipscombe |
|
Thursday evening |
| |
Tina Osborne |
|
Tuesday evening |
| |
Alan Wiltshire |
|
Tuesday evening |
