Community Groups are small group gatherings of about 5-15 people that meet weekly.  Community Groups exist to provide a place for you to make friends, follow Jesus, and make a difference.  In a Community Group, you will enjoy interacting with friends in a caring community while growing spiritually through Bible study, prayer, and service.  No matter where you are in your spiritual journey, we have a group for you.

Please look for the appropriate option below if you would like to lead/start a Community Group or if you would like to join a Community Group.  For more info about Groups, be sure to check out the FAQ's below.

If you have questions or doubts about faith, are new to church, are coming back to church for the first time in a long time, are figuring out what you think about Jesus, or recently decided to follow Jesus, we would encourage you to check out Base Camp.
 
Otherwise, we invite you to use the Group Finder below to find a group that works for you. Groups are added a few weeks before the dates listed below.

Upcoming Groups Seasons:
Winter Groups: January 29-April 2, 2023 (10 weeks)
Spring Groups: April 16-June 4 (8 weeks)
Summer Groups (Optional): June 25-August 27 (10 weeks)
Fall Groups: September 10 - November 12, 2023 (10 weeks)

1.  Complete the Community Group Leader Training online by clicking here (if prompted for a password, enter “community”).
 
2.  Submit a Group Leader Application.
 
3. Sign and return the Leadership Agreement to the Community Groups Pastor, and ask any questions you have about leading or starting a Group.

Which type of Group is right for me?
If you really enjoy technology and meeting with others in an online format, and the idea of participating in Group community from the comfort of your own home is appealing to you, then an Online Group is great for you.  Also, if you have a health issue or are simply concerned about being around people right now, then an Online Group would be a great choice for you.
If you’re tired of being stuck at home, you love being outside, or you cannot handle being tied to another Zoom meeting, then an In-person Group might be the best option for you.  In-person Groups are a good choice for those who enjoy being around small groups of people, but we do recommend that Group members stay home if they have a fever, are showing signs of sickness, or generally not feeling well.

What will we study?
During this time, we want the Groups to emphasize personal connection, conversation, and sharing in prayer with one another.  Therefore, the bulk of the meeting should revolve around things like catching-up on one another’s week or laughing with a Group member about something funny that happened recently, and praying for a need in one of the Group member’s family, etc.  The study time can be as simple as discussing a few questions provided after Pastor Dan’s Sunday message, going through a short daily devotional together, or diving into a more serious Bible study.  In any case, resources are available and can be provided to the Group leaders to help them facilitate the time together and make it easier for everyone.

What about my kids?
Kids and childcare are handled differently by each Group.  For some Groups, the kids are welcomed and encouraged to attend with their parents and can play with one another in a nearby room.   Other Groups may decide to chip-in to cover the cost of a babysitter to help with the kids during Group time.

How long will the Group meet?
Both the Online Groups and the In-person Groups should plan to meet for 40-50 minutes once per week.  If the Group decides together that they would like to meet for a longer time, then of course they are welcome to do so.  The Fall season of Groups is twelve weeks long (From the week of August 29 until the week of November 14).  After a break for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year, most Groups will resume for the Winter Season sometime in January.

What if I need help as a leader?
Leading a Community Group is a very rewarding experience, and you probably have what it takes to be a great leader!  We have some online training and resources to help you be successful as a leader.  We also offer study materials and discussion guides at no cost to the leader to help make your job as easy as possible.

What if I tried a Group and it wasn’t a good fit?
If you tried a Group but it just wasn’t a great fit (for whatever reason), it is perfectly acceptable to try a different Group.  If you need help navigating this process, feel free to ask Pastor Eric Schumacher for assistance.  We would rather you feel free to try several different Groups before finding the right one instead of feeling frustrated in a Group and giving up.  We are here to help.  Please let us know what we can do.