Life Group Leaders Weekly
WEEK TWO (January 28 - February 3)
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."
Also, we now have 130+ people in our Life Groups! Amazing! Even though sign ups are done, if you have a friend who is still on the fence and there is space in their group, consider inviting them to come and try it out for a week!
A few highlights for this week:
First and foremost, I am excited to share with you that 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 a $250 Fugazzi's gift card on the line. The Kootstra/Zonneveld group won that one.
Well, this year we are doing it again! A $250 gift card for a Life Group team to enjoy together! 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
LIFE GROUP TRAINING
Training is THIS Saturday, January 20th at 8:45am. I am delighted that almost all of you are able to attend as we will be engaging the "10 Ways to Kill Your Life Group."
It should be a fun morning! Please remember that we are also going to be taking some photos so be prepared for that.
Our GOAL for Saturday morning is to engage in peer-to-peer learning. That is why we are so grateful that almost all of our new and returning leaders will be there to learn with one another. Be sure to find a seat next to other leaders not part of your group so that Leaders and Hosts can exchange notes later.
We also know that your time is precious so we promise to have you out no later than noon.
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 and that they're an integral part of the group.
- Reminders - Keep utilizing your preferred method of keeping in touch with your group on a weekly basis. Text works great (Heather mentioned Facebook Messenger or the "GroupMe" app as great resources), but emails and old fashioned phone calls work great too!
3) DRINKS WHEN PEOPLE ARRIVE
4) NAME TAGS - If you have more than ZERO newcomers, nametags go a long way! Keep them going for a few weeks until your newcomers know everyone. Go above and beyond to ensure your newcomers feel welcomed and part of the group.
*SERVE OPPORTUNITIES - All groups are signed up! For any logistical details, contact Heather or simply go to:
TIP OF THE WEEK!
THIS WEEK'S TIP OF THE WEEK - "Active Listening"
In our small groups – and in one-on-one conversations with our small group members – we need to be effective listeners. There are few things more validating to people than when others take the time to truly listen to them.
Today, we’re going to look at the five steps to active listening. These are non-verbal ways we tell another person “I’m listening and I’m interested in what you are saying.”
To see the full document, click the link below to go to our RESOURCES tab:
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 ANNOUCEMENTS
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 should go over it together on the first night to establish goals and expectations as a group. You should all have hard copies from Life Group Essentials Training.
- 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 ;) If you need assistance, please contact Heather directly. We're still waiting on a few rosters from week one. ;)
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. Simply go to: http://hanfordcrc.org/lifegroups/leader-tools
SERVE & SOCIALS:
- Once your group has decided on a service project, contact Heather right away to reserve your spot.
FEEDBACK FORMS:
- none this week.
THIS WEEK in our Sermon Series "The Acceptable Sins of Christians"
Ephesians 4:22-24; 5:8-10 and Matthew 12:34-37
Title:
"Gossip - The Acceptable Christian Addiction"
Notes:
"If all of our lives should be pleasing to God, perhaps we should consider every area of our lives, including our speech. There are actually things the Bible clearly labels as sin that Christians treat as acceptable. This message will consider what is perhaps the most widely acceptable Christian addiction – gossip."
LIFE GROUP LEADER SERMON GUIDE NOTES & AUDIO - From Julie Mendes
- A PDF and Leader Audio is on our "Life Group Leaders Page" website.
- Nancy will also print off hard copies of these and place them in your mailbox.
- The link to the leaders page is also below:
SERVE/SOCIALS
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 (we will only be able to see the posts with the proper hashtag link). 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 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 and audios 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/