The FAQs of Community Life Groups... 

What is a Community Life Group?

Community Life Groups are small groups consisting of 8 to 12 people that meet weekly, typically in someone’s home for fellowship, Bible study and prayer.  The fourth component is a service ministry where at least one time during the semester individual gifts are used with the other group members to serve others in the church or community.  Community Life Groups are for adults of all ages, stages of life, and spiritual maturity.

What kinds of community groups are there?

Married Couples
Community Life Groups comprised of married couples.  Some groups will be in the same stage of life (couples without children, with children, and empty nesters) and others will be multi-generational.   

Men’s and Women’s Bible studies
Men and women can join same-gender Bible study groups of various stages of life groups (married, single, divorced, widowed).

Singles
Men and women can join same-gender, singles-only groups (single, divorced, widowed).

Starting Point
Starting Point is a 10-week conversational small group where people can explore faith and experience community. These groups are comprised of men and women of all ages and stages of life (single, married, divorced, and widowed).  Click Here for the Starting Point website.  

           Are there groups that have married couples and singles together?

Starting Point groups contain both singles and married couples together.  Some of the married couple groups (listed under ‘type of group’ in the groups’ catalog) may have only one spouse attending the group for any of a variety of reasons.

Are there co-ed groups?

Our co-ed groups are the married couples Community Life Groups and Starting Point groups.

Is childcare provided for each Community Life group meeting?

Childcare is not provided, but we do reimburse parents for babysitting expenses (at a predetermined rate) for each group meeting. Click Here for a childcare reimbursement form.  The exception to this is the Women’s Bible study that meets on Tuesday mornings.  This group meets at the church and utilizes nursery services for mothers with preschool children.

When and where do groups meet?

Our groups generally meet Sunday through Thursday evenings, with some meeting on Fridays and Saturdays from time to time. Most married groups meet in the evenings, while men’s and women’s Bible study groups meet mornings and evenings.  Most groups meet in a consistent location (the home of a group member), however some groups prefer to take turns meeting in different members’ homes.

How often do community Life groups meet?

Most groups meet weekly, and we encourage all groups to do so.  We believe relationships are best developed and sustained when people are interfacing on a weekly basis. 

How long does each group meeting last?

Each Community Life Group determines the length of time they will meet. However, most groups meet for an hour and a half to two hours.

What goes on at a group meeting?

Though each group is different in how they do things, many groups have a social time in the beginning, transition to a time of Bible study with a life application focus and conclude with a time of praying for each other. At the very beginning of the semester the whole group decides how much time they will spend on social interaction, Bible study and discussion, and prayer time (as well as the order in which they take place).

How long does a community Life group last?

Community Life Groups are set up on a semester system.  During the course of a calendar year there are 3 semesters: fall, spring and summer.  Each semester ranges from 10-14 weeks.  All Community Life Groups last for one semester at a time.  All the participants in a group can continue into the next semester but need to sign up during group promotion month.

When do the semsters begin and end?

There are 3 semesters of Community Life Groups during the calendar year.  The fall semester begins in September and goes into the beginning of December.  The spring semester begins in late January wrapping up at the end of April.  The summer semester begins in June and goes until mid-August.

What is group promotion month?

This is a time consisting of 4 consecutive Sundays before the beginning of the semester where people are informed of, encouraged and challenged to sign up for a Community Life Group or Bible study.

What does it mean when a group "multiplies"?

All group leaders are encouraged to be training an apprentice to be the leader of their own group.  An apprentice may stay with a leader for 2 or even 3 semesters before leading their own group the following semester.  The apprentice (after becoming an approved leader) will invite some of the current group to form the core of the new group.

What do groups study?

Each group chooses their own curriculum to study with the guidance of the leader and his/her coach (a staff member who meets with 3-4 community life group leaders each semester). 

How do I join a community life group?

You can sign up during group promotion month either on the web, at the groups table in the church lobby or by using the connect card in your bulletin. 

I'm a Young adult and just want to meet people socially. Should I join a Community life Group or go to grounded?

Grounded is a college and 20-somethings environment to connect young adults each week.  In contrast, Community Life Groups are small groups of 8 to 12 individuals that meet weekly in someone’s home for fellowship, Bible study, and prayer.

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