Small Groups at Dublin Street

A letter from Gary Partlow

Last August, Centre Staff had the pleasure of doing a four-day Small Group Ministry training event at Dublin Street United Church in Guelph, Ontario. The participants worked very hard over that time. The most difficult task was deciding who would coordinate SGM at Dublin Street. The answer - Gary Partlow & Bruce Horner took on the task as a team. The following is an update from Gary.

We had a "kick-off" Sunday January 20th at Dublin Street United Church for our Small Group Ministries. The Sunday bulletin reminded people that "Jesus was intentional in nurturing a small group - the 12 disciples. It is through this one-on-one contact that many of us have become Christian and part of the church." Anne Martin from the national office was our guest speaker and led us in a workshop over lunch.

Some of the study groups have starting dates set. An outdoor group and a Shawl Ministry are ready to start soon. The Healing Ministry has decided to restructure as a small group.

The Senior Choir has been functioning as a small group ministry with their new Director of Music. Of course the U.C.W. (United Church Women) pointed out that their units have been examples of Small Group Ministry for 40 years.

We have published a list of intentional Small Groups where we have leadership identified and that are either ongoing or ready to start. These include:

• Two UCW Units
• The Chancel Choir
• Doubting Thomas Group: what you struggle with.
• Social Justice Committee: using The Three Faces of Empire as a resource.
• Newcomer Group
• The Disciple: a Bible Study
• A Lenten DVD Series: Countering Pharaoh's Production-Consumption Society Today.
• Simply Christian: a 10 part series Sunday morning.
• Reading the Bible Again for the First Time: 10 sessions using Marcus Borg's book.
• Book Group Circle: Each session looks at a new book.
• Shawl Ministry
• Bible Study: using a guided prayer technique to explore how we are living in the 21st century.
• Sunday after church over soup and a sandwich.
• Children's Circle Group
• Book Shelf Club: a movie night.
• Looking at worship in other churches.
• Intentional Small Group Facilitator Training
• Small Group Facilitator support Group

There are a number of other possible future groups. Bruce Horner and I are the overall coaches for those wishing to start up a new small group on any topic. We continue with our support until the group is up and running.

Congregational News, March 2008 Vol. 14 No. 4

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