Small Groups, Community and YOU
Everything Small Groups Newsletter
Everything Small Groups Newsletter
Small Groups: Do You Have One?
Are you seeking meaningful connection with friends? Do you want to learn more about Jesus and how to grow in the Christian life? Do you hope to find groups of people who want to fulfill the Great Commission?
Look no further. PCC Small Groups are here!
Small groups are micro-communities in the church who share life together, develop close friendships, and live out their lives in pursuit of Christ. Groups meet weekly, biweekly, and monthly. Some groups focus on a certain topic of Bible study or leadership while others work together to fulfill the Great Commission. Choose a group that is right for you!
Didn't find the group for you? Don't walk away empty-handed. Contact the Ministry Deacon of Small Groups at smallgroups@pittsfordcc.org!
Small Group Leader Spotlight - Meet Pastor Dana Goodnough, Small Group Leader of The Whetstone Group
What small group do you lead? I lead the Whetstone Group (Sharpening your Leadership Potential)
Why did you become a small group leader? Small groups have always been a significant part of my spiritual formation from the time I was a teen until today.
What do you love best about small group ministry? Building relationships is key. It’s great to hang out with friends who share a common desire to grow as leaders.
Tell us about you! (Your family, your job, etc.) Monica and I have been married for 41 years. God has blessed us with three children, three children-in-law, and five grandchildren. Our grandchildren, by any objective standard, are the cutest in the land.
What do you do for fun? Monica and I love spoiling our grandchildren, and we love quiet time at our lake camp.
What is something surprising about you? I grew up just down the road from the birthplace of the 13th president of the U.S. (Look it up!) I’ve also been a certified scuba diver since I was 13.
What is your favorite book in the Bible? I always love best the book of the Bible that I’m currently reading.
What is your favorite Scripture? John 15:1-12 Hebrews 12:1-3 still challenge my heart.
What’s next for your small group ministry? We’re currently studying a book entitled “Lead Like it Matters to God,” and will work through this book until summer 2022. Then, well, we’ll decide later.
If you would like to join Pastor Dana and the Whetstone Group, see the link below!
Small Group Leader Spotlight: Meet Pastor Chris Arcadi, Small Group Leader of the Arcadi Group
What small group do you lead? I lead the Arcadi small group.
Why did you become a small group leader? I became a small group leader because I have often found true biblical community elusive in a small group environment and desired to create something a bit deeper and more committed than a typical small group tends to go.
What does your small group like to do for fun? We will gather regularly for dinners and game nights. We also take weekend retreats 2-3 times per year simply to grow together and deepen community.
What ministries do you do together? Our first ministry is to our neighborhoods. We believe that God is planted us where we are for a purpose. We are intentional about building relationships with our neighbors throughout the year. We have had girls/guys nights, block parties, and holiday gatherings. Several times a year, we intentionally bless our neighbors with encouragement and baked goods. It’s been awesome to see the Lord open up doors for spiritual conversations. We also serve together at the church – coming alongside the Easter outreach and serving at the farmer’s market outreach are a few examples from this past year.
What do you love best about small group ministry?
Small group ministry is a place that we have committed to doing life together. This is not only accomplished in our growing in knowledge together, but in ministering together, hanging out together, holding each other accountable, and encouraging one another to be committed to participating in God’s mission together. In this, we have become a family.
Tell us about you! (Your family, your job, etc.) – I have been married now for 15 years to my beautiful wife, Becky. God has blessed us with two daughters, Anna (8) and Sarah (4). I’ve also been blessed to be on staff at our church for the past 11 years.
What do you do for fun? I enjoy family vacations, game nights, and playing sports.
What dreams are you pursuing now? Currently, my wife and I are pursuing counseling certification through Grace Life International. We are blessed to be able to walk with people through life and its issues - its ups and downs - and we want to be equipped to do that well.
What is your favorite book in the Bible? So many…probably Jonah.
What is your favorite Scripture? Phil. 3:14 – I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Who is your favorite Bible character or what is your favorite Bible story AND why? Favorite bible character is Elijah because the dude is just awesome. He’s a real guy who struggles in his ministry, yet loves the Lord and has incredible faith.
How have or how will you reach out to the community or other PCC ministries this year? We exist to be a blessing to both our church and the broader community. As doors open that the Lord gives us opportunity to walk through, we are postured and committed to doing so.
If you would like to join Pastor Chris and The Arcadi Small Group, see the link below!
Small Group Spotlight: Meet Mary Jane Clark, Small Group Leader of the Monday Night Ladies' Bible Study Small Group
What small group do you lead? Women’s Monday Night Bible Study
What do you love best about small group ministry? Seeing our ladies either in person or on Zoom and hearing their stories.
Tell us about you! (Your family, your job, etc.) Married to Dave for 21 years, 2 wonderful sons Mike and John.
What is something you want people to know about you? Asked Jesus into my life at age 7.
What is your favorite Scripture? John 15:1-12
What’s next for your small group ministry? Abigail from Revive Our Hearts
How have or how will you reach out to the community or other PCC ministries this year? Volunteered at 441 Ministries a few years ago. Also Foodlink.
If you would like to join Mary Jane and the Monday Night Ladies' Bible Study Small Group, see the link below!
Small Group Spotlight: Meet Carlene Huang, Small Group Leader of the Tuesday Morning Women's Study
What small group do you lead? Tuesday morning women’s Bible study
Who is your co-leader? Brenda Myers and Elaine Pragle
What do you love best about small group ministry? Getting to know one another and caring for each other in a deeper way and sharing prayers and praises.
Tell us about you! (Your family, your job, etc.) I have lived in Rochester for 23 years and am originally from Brooklyn, NY. I began attending church when I was in third grade and have always hungered to learn more from the Bible since then. I have three daughters and was a stay-at-home mom until we became empty nesters five years ago. Then I went back to my profession as a clinical dietitian and have been working part-time for three and a half years plus already.
What do you do for fun? Play tennis, hike, do Zumba, play word video games and read.
What is something surprising about you? Despite my profession, one of my favorite foods is layer cake. I grew up eating it.
What is your favorite Scripture? Nehemiah 8:10
Go to link: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=nehemiah+8%3A10&version=WEB
How have or how will you reach out to the community or other PCC ministries this year? I have been prayerfully considering this question over the years. We have traditionally done Operation Christmas Child box(es) together and have helped to decorate the Worship Center for Advent and Christmas. Other outside ministries we have supported include Youth for Christ and Sole Hope.
If you would like to join the group, please see the link below.
Small Group Spotlight: Meet Craig and Marti Palardy, Small Group Leaders of Together in Christ
What small group do you lead? Thursday, Together in Christ
Who is your co-leader? Lou Colombo
What does your small group like to do for fun? Occasional BBQ
What do you love best about small group ministry? Getting to know other people as well as growing in the faith.
What do you do for fun? Play softball, maintain tropical fish aquarium, ride bike, hiking, go to beach with wife Marti/family, watch football, listen to Kansas music.
What job have you held in the past that was the most fun, stretched you the most, or one we would never guess? 6 years in the Navy maintaining weapons system on Battleship Missouri (where WWII treaty was signed)
Next to the Bible, what is the best book you ever read and why should everyone read it? All Tom Clancy books, just can’t get enough of that military action! Ray Bradbury’s, The Illustrated Man (odd short stories)
What dreams are you pursuing now? Retirement!
What is your favorite book in the Bible? Daniel/Revelation
What is your favorite Scripture? Philippians 4:11 Go to the link:
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=nehemiah+8%3A10&version=WEB
What’s next for your small group ministry? Have begun to study book of Hebrews
Small Group Spotlight: Meet Preston and Ari Young, Small Group Leaders of The Young Couples
What small group do you lead? PCC Young Couples
Who is your co-leader? Ari Young
What ministries do you do together? We do casual dinners with different couples hosting.
Tell us about you! (Your family, your job, etc.) I work full-time as the Director of Student Ministries at PCC, so the majority of my time is spent working with the teens of the church. Ari and I have been married for 3 years (we just had our anniversary last week!), and have an amazing dog named Indie. I just began Seminary as well, so that has been a new change this year.
What do you like to do? Ari and I love to go to antique stores and thrift shops. We love to decorate our apartment with all the stuff we find.
Next to the Bible, what is the best book you ever read and why should everyone read it? One of the best books I have ever read was The Christian Mind by Harry Blamires. It totally revolutionized my entire worldview and theology in a single book.
What is your favorite book in the Bible? It's hard to pick a favorite book, since so many speak to me in different ways at different seasons of life. I generally go back to the book of Isaiah because - despite many people saying the "God of the Old Testament is all wrath" - we really see the heart of God in the things He has to say to the people through His prophet Isaiah. There are also so many glimpses of Christ and a foreshadowing not only of His death and resurrection, but also of the love that has run through the redemption story since the Fall.
What’s next for your small group ministry? We just (about a week ago) finalized a semi-formal schedule for our group. We are going to try to meet every other Sunday night for dinner at someone's house as we rotate hosting everyone.
If you would like to join The Young Couples small group, please contact Preston and Ari at this link here!
Small Group Spotlight: Get to Know Your PCC Small Group Leaders
Small Group Spotlight with Arnold Smeenk of The Senior Saints: The 60s and Older Life Group
We typically rotate teachers. Pam Knapp and David Conquest have also taught. We have volunteered with Rochester Family Mission and 441 Ministries as a Life Group and have done some things as couples with Rochester Christian School, CG Finney School, Flower City Work Camp and others.
My wife and I married 45 years ago and throughout the years have taken in over 25 foster children; mostly teens. We have 9 grandchildren and number 10 is due in November. Something surprising: I hitch-hiked through Europe for 6 weeks after my junior year of high school in 1972. I even went to the Olympic Games in Germany. I left there the morning of the attacks on the Jewish team.
My favorite book other than the Bible is anything by WEB Griffin. I read all 58 of his historical fiction books that were about the US military between 1939 and 2008. My favorite book of the Bible - right now it would be Matthew - because it shows the Jewishness of Jesus. My favorite Bible story: Peter walking on the water. Of all the disciples in the boat, only he had the faith to step out of the boat to follow the voice of Jesus.
We are studying the connections between the Old and New Testaments. Maybe we will study the “That the World May Know “ series.
If you would like to join the 60s Group, contact Arnold Smeenk at the link below.
Small Group Women's Bible Studies - Fall
Monday PM Women’s Bible Study – 6:30-8:30 p.m.
https://pittsfordcc.churchcenter.com/groups/small-groups/monday-night-women-s-bible-study
Tuesday AM Women’s Study – 9:30-11:30 a.m.
https://pittsfordcc.churchcenter.com/groups/small-groups/tuesday-morning-women-s-bible-study
Wednesday Women’s Study – 1:15-3:15 p.m.
https://pittsfordcc.churchcenter.com/groups/small-groups/wednesday-afternoon-women-s-bible-study