Life Group Leaders Weekly
WEEK SEVEN (October 29 - November 4)
OUR MISSION
"TO CULTIVATE MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS CENTERED ON GOD'S WORD AND PRAYER"
LIFE GROUP UPDATE
Greetings Leaders!
We are already moving into week 7 which means there are only a few weeks left before the end of the Fall semester of Life Groups draw to a close.
This week I want to encourage you as a group to prayerfully consider where the Lord is leading you as a team for next semester. You have already received an email from me to that end. We certainly don't want to assume that you will continue to serve in this capacity indefinitely, so now comes the time to see what comes next. Please have that conversation with your Leader/Host tandem in praying for the future of your group. Ideally I would love to hear from all of you by next week Friday, November 3.
Also, Heather is now looking toward service projects for the Spring. Have some ideas? She would LOVE to hear them! Look below for more information on that.
We also encourage you to start thinking about who you think from your group would make an ideal future leader or host. We are always looking to expand the Life Group ministry so that as many people as possible can take part in our collective mission to cultivate meaningful relationships on God's Word and prayer. Next week we will begin asking for your referrals to that end.
Finally...what do you think about our new Life Group Leaders AUDIO? Hasn't Julie done an awesome job? Thank you Julie and Amy for putting that together for us! Awesome! I hope you choose to take advantage of that resource on a lunch break or during the drive home from work. It's only 5-6 minutes long each week and will give you some insider tips for a fruitful group discussion.
Thanks everyone!
In Christ,
Pastor Justin
THINGS TO REMEMBER
1) 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. This week be sure to talk together about your future plans as Leaders and Hosts.
2) DRINKS WHEN PEOPLE ARRIVE
3) GREET YOUR GUESTS AT THE DOOR
4) COVENANTS - Please keep the group covenant in a place where the whole group can see it. Consider putting it in a picture frame right next to the coffee pot as a visual reminder of your collective commitment to the group.
GOALS FOR THE GROUP MEETING
- Build Relationships!
- Discuss Homework
- Prayer - Also consider praying in smaller groups. This allows for more voices to pray, and also makes it less intimidating for those still learning to pray out loud.
- Added Optional Goal Idea - As your group is nearing the last couple of weeks, reflect on the James "Faith/Works" series and consider taking some time to encourage one another on how you see each person in your group showing their love and faith by way of what they do as a means of mutual encouragement.
IMPORTANT DATES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
ATTENDANCE ROSTERS:
- You're doing awesome! Keep it up!
SERVICE & SOCIALS:
- Talk to your group about the Serve/Social contest for a chance to win the $250 gift card to Fugazzi's.
- Have ideas for future serve projects? See below...
- none this week
TEAM HUDDLE:
- Begin praying with each other about what the Lord is leading you to do for NEXT semester.
- Consider who in your group might make an excellent leader/host for future groups.
THIS WEEK
Colossians 1:3-6
Title:
"ROOTED"
We are going to take a break from our Faith/Works series so that we can celebrate 500 years since the Reformation! In your groups you will have the opportunity to discuss the essential elements of the Christian faith. Namely, what it is mean to say that we are saved "By Grace Alone," "Through Faith Alone," "In Christ Alone," for "God's Glory Alone," and that "Scripture Alone" is the Word of truth?
LIFE GROUP SERMON GUIDE NOTES - From Julie Mendes
Hi everyone! Attached you will find a PDF of this week's "Life Group Leaders Guide." This can also be found on our website on the "Life Group Leaders Page." Finally, Nancy will print off a guide for you and place it in your church mailbox each week.
Also, we have intentionally made it an audio format so that you can listen to it on the road or during your lunch break. Simply click the clovermedia link below or go to the Life Group Leaders webpage on our website to access that file.
Enjoy!
SERVE/SOCIALS
HAVE IDEAS FOR FUTURE SERVE PROJECTS?
Even though the Spring semester is still months away, now is the time to start looking at future serve projects and you are invited to take part! Have ideas? Here are the basic requirements for an eligible CRC Life Group service project:
Time:
- Ideally a 2-3 hour block
- Monday through Friday from 5pm-8:30pm
- Saturdays 8am-8:30pm
Type of Accepted Project:
- As "Plug and Play" as possible (I.E. No tools or specialized skills required)
- No care package projects
- No cost to Life Group participants
- Ideally for all ages (L.G. parents can bring their children along)
Organizational Focus:
- We believe 'God placed us here, not somewhere else' so we want to pick Christian or value neutral non-profits that are meeting needs in Hanford and Kings County.
- We believe 'Credibility is earned, not assumed.' Therefore we will seek to earn the favor of agencies we are working with to ensure we do good work in our community.
- We believe 'The local church is God's plan A for Kingdom mission and there is no plan B.' Therefore, we want to be part of mission projects that tie Word and Deed together for the glory of God.
- We believe 'Loving our neighbors is knowing our neighbors' so we will be careful to engage in ministries where we can rub shoulders with those we seek to serve (i.e. no care packages to africa).
Ideas? I want to hear them!
Based on the above information, if you have ideas for future serve projects, please email me within the next two weeks with information. I will need from you:
- Contact information from the agency (name, address, phone number, email)
- General times they are seeking for us to serve (season, month, days of week)
- Possibly an indication from you as to why this would make an idea service project for our Life Groups.
Thanks everyone!
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!!!
ANNOUNCEMENTS
- NONE THIS WEEK
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/