Life Group Leaders Weekly
WEEK TWO (September 24-30)
OUR MISSION
"TO CULTIVATE MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS CENTERED ON GOD'S WORD AND PRAYER"
LIFE GROUP UPDATE
Greetings Life Group Leaders!
Week Week 1 is in the books. How did it go? I hope it was a wonderful start! Remember like we learned at our Life Group training that every gathering centered on Christ is, by definition, a "Holy Moment."
A few highlights for this week:
First and foremost, I am excited to share with you that almost every group has already chosen their Life Group SERVE project. Awesome! This gives us ample time as Coordinators to work out the logistics and for you as Leaders to get all those details to your team. Please note that if anyone from your group has NOT gotten their serve T-Shirts, please get their shirt sizes and let Sharon know. That way we can have a bag of shirts for you to bring next week and hand out to your team.
Speaking of Serve projects, last semester you heard of our friendly "Serve/Social Contest" with 15 movie tickets on the line. The Carpenter/Holden group won that prize.
Well, this year we are going to do something similar. This time, however, a $250 gift card to Fugazzis is on the line for your team. So please read the "Serve/Social Contest" below for more details and get your team excited to serve!
Finally, please remember to share with your team the vital importance of doing the homework beforehand to your group. Remember the analogy of a potluck dinner. If one person doesn't bring anything to the potluck, no big deal. If half of the group does, the group goes home hungry! Homework works the same way. If you are looking for helpful tips on how to present this subject in a positive way, the "Essentials 2.0 Training" powerpoint on planning center can walk you through it.
Let's get into the logistics for this week...
In Christ,
Pastor Justin
THINGS TO REMEMBER
1) CONTACT EVERYONE IN YOUR GROUP expressing excitement that they have joined your group! Also, remember:
- Members Who Missed the First Week - If anyone missed the first week, be sure to send an email or call letting them know they were missed. This will go a long way in letting them know their presence is valued.
- Reminders - Keep utilizing your preferred method of keeping in touch with your group on a weekly basis. Text works best most often (Heather mentioned Facebook Messenger or the "GroupMe" app as great resources), but emails and old fashioned phone calls work great too!
2) LEADER/HOST TANDEMS - Remember that you are encouraged to meet together as a Leader/Host team each week independently of group time for planning, mutual encouragement, and post-group meeting evaluation. Remember that you are a TEAM! Lean on one another.
3) DRINKS WHEN PEOPLE ARRIVE
4) NAMETAGS - If you have more than ZERO newcomers, nametags go a long way! Keep them going for a few weeks until your newcomers know everyone.
5) TIPS ON GROUP PRAYER - See the Planning Center Resources page for helpful tips on this.
6) COVENANTS - Remind your group that you will go over and sign the group covenant NEXT WEEK (Week 3).
*SERVE OPPORTUNITIES - For the few groups who haven't done so already, check out the "serve" page on our website at:
GOALS FOR THE GROUP MEETING
- Build Relationships! Continue to provide ample social time for group members to mingle and to get to know one another. Consider 15 minutes at the very beginning with a 5 minute call out to give folks time to transition to group study time.
- Discuss Homework - Remember the techniques on how to ask questions. See the Planning Center Resources for helpful tips. This is a good time to explain the MISSION of Life Groups. That will help answer questions such as: Why are we doing these questions? Why is the homework so important?
- Prayer - Remember to make time for what matters most! Either be committed to watching the clock and ensuring there is enough time for prayer, or do what some groups do and pray immediately after social time to make sure it's a priority.
- Planning For Service Projects & Socials
IMPORTANT DATES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
COVENANTS:
- Be CERTAIN to go over the Life Group Covenant during the first meeting. You do not have to sign it at that meeting (do that on week 3), but you most certainly should go over it together on the first night to establish goals and expectations as a group.
- Also, be sure to utilize the "Leader's Guide" Covenant. Those are for you to help flesh out that discussion. Remember that it is the last page of the "Leaders Guide" that entire group will sign.
ATTENDANCE ROSTERS:
- Get them in! Every week we will remind you ;) Three groups have NOT handed in their attendance this week yet. If you need assistance, please contact Heather directly.
LEADERS WEBPAGE:
- Remember that the "Leader Tools" web page is available to you always. There are lots of resources there, along with the most recent "Life Group Leaders Weekly." Be sure to check it out each week.
SERVICE & SOCIALS:
- Once your group has decided on a service project, contact Heather right away to reserve your spot.
- none this week
THIS WEEK
James 2:14-26
Title:
"CADAVER CHRISTIANITY"
Preacher's Notes:
What is the relationship between our 'faith' and 'good works'? How do we reconcile Paul's message that it is "By grace you have been saved through faith, NOT BY WORKS" and James message that "Faith without works is DEAD"? Are they opposing views? Are James and Paul in conflict with one another? This week we will explore what God says about a faith that truly saves.
LIFE GROUP SERMON GUIDE NOTES - From Julie Mendes
- A PDF is on our "Life Group Leaders Page" website.
- The link is also below:
SERVE/SOCIAL CONTEST - #CRCLIFEGROUPS
Leaders and Hosts, as you meet with your teams to complete your service projects and social events, be sure to take lots of pictures and videos! After that, here are two more things you can do:
- Send your pics and videos to Heather Thomas at: hnthomas.2002@gmail.com, and
- Post your pics and videos on Facebook with the hashtag #CRCLifeGroups. Also, be sure to express why you love your Life Group in the post.
Once all 10 groups have completed their service projects we will do a random draw for every individual email with videos/pictures to Heather and social media interaction from your group (max of 2 per individual).
The winner will receive a $250 gift card to Fugazi's for your entire Life Group for a group social event.
Share the news with your team!!!
The Life Group Coordinator Team
Sharon Johnson
Amy Breslow
Amy manages all training events along with Life Group promotions and sign-ups
Julie Mendes
Julie makes sure the homework guides are prepared for your weekly Life Group gatherings.
Heather Thomas
Web Manager
Heather will run the Life Group webpage and manage the 'Service' and 'Socials' aspect of Life Groups.
LIFE GROUPS
Pastor Justin
Justin will work with the team to carry out the vision of First CRC and will assist Coordinators in their respective tasks and objectives.
About Us
Email: hanfordcrc@comcast.net
Website: www.hanfordcrc.org
Location: 2175 Leoni Drive, Hanford, CA, United States
Phone: (559) 582-4423
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HanfordCRC/