Hello everyone! I would like to share a brief story with you regarding the Small Group ministry. Last week I received what looked like a typical request for a small group referral. Someone had filled out a green card. It read, “Please contact me about Adult Small Groups (TLC’s).” Simple. Routine. I sent an email to the address provided and asked what the person was looking for. I got the following response:
“My main need right now is emotional support to gain strength for my marriage. My husband just told me he wants a divorce. June would have been 24 years and I’m crushed. … I’m attempting to reconnect with him and will know better after that time if counseling is something we can seek in the future. If not, a group to meet women going through similar situations?”
Suddenly the request was no longer simple or routine. It felt urgent. I wanted this woman to have all the support she needed right then. And I was instantly reminded of why we do small groups at Washington Cathedral - because small groups fill a deep and distinctly human need for community, for the opportunity to serve and be served, and for the supportive environment we all need in order to discover and grow in the abundant life of Christ. Not all of the requests we get for a small group connection indicate a time of crisis for the individual, but they do all indicate a need of some kind, most often for Christian growth and fellowship.
I was incredibly thankful to have a small group to refer the lady to last week. But that is not always the case. The problem is that our current system is not able to keep up with the demand. For example, Pastor Jackie has identified eleven families who have junior high kids and are not currently in a small group. We do not, however, have a group to send them to at this time! In addition, we expect the need for small groups to grow with the impending completion of the new building.
In order to meet this need, we have two challenges ahead of us: 1) to create a greater number and variety of small groups, and 2) placement of people into the appropriate group.
With the Lord’s help, we are making progress in launching new groups. We still need many more and your involvement in identifying emerging leaders has been great. Thank you and keep the ideas coming!
Regarding placing people into small groups, we find that frequently people are reticent to come forward and ask for a small group placement - they’re shy, they’re not sure if they have the time, they don’t know what it will be like, they don’t know if they’ll fit in, etc. So by the time they get their nerve up to ask, we want to be sure to respond quickly, and with an appropriate suggestion. In order to help with this process, we are currently working on an “at-a-glance” information page for each group that will help us to better know and serve the small group community at Washington Cathedral. It will have fits and starts, but please bear with us as we move to get all of this information in one place.
Meanwhile, you can help in the following ways!
1) Pray diligently for the health of the small group ministry at Washington Cathedral.
2) Continue to do the wonderful work you do in your small group.
3) Mark your calendars and plan to attend the Small Group Leadership Conference on Saturday, September 29th. Note – This is not one of the Small Group Seminars of yore! Whether your group is old or new, this is your event. Please plan to come!
4) Stay connected. Please check and respond to your email regularly. We may need a response from you in order to know if someone would fit into your group! Or, you can always call Bill and Elaine at (425)898-8190.
5) If you would like to comment, you know the routine! - click on the tiny "Comments" beside my name at the end of this post. Your comments are always encouraging and educational!
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Saturday, April 21, 2007
Top Ten Reasons Why Every Small Group Needs a Good Sam Project
The community impact of a small group can and should extend beyond the regular meeting times. The influence of a well-functioning group will expand to include support of members throughout the week, and also service to the broader community, called “Good Sam” projects here at Washington Cathedral. Each small group at Washington Cathedral is encouraged to have their own Good Sam project. Those groups who have projects know the benefits and blessings of serving the communities in which we live. Here are my “Top Ten Reasons to Have a Good Sam Project!”
10. Personal Growth – Caring for other people expands your vision and impacts your understanding.
9. Group Growth – Serving together strengthens the bond between members and allows them to deepen their relationships with each other.
8. Expanded Ministry – Moving church “out of the church” allows us to reach people we would never have the opportunity to reach during regular services.
7. Reordering Priorities – Tending to the sometimes desperate needs of our fellow man encourages a reassessment of the stewardship of our time and resources.
6. Parenting Opportunities – Bringing your entire family along (if appropriate) allows you to model an appropriate use of time and gifts to your children.
5. Friendship Evangelism – Serving in the community provides opportunities for the unchurched to witness the impact when we truly love our neighbors as ourselves.
4. Personal Blessings – Loving others enough to serve them in their time of need uplifts our own hearts.
3. Changing View – Witnessing the plight of others impacts our attitude toward our own trials and allows us to assess our situation more realistically.
2. Community Appreciation – Becoming more aware of the people around us deepens our appreciation of the larger community.
1. Seizing Opportunity – Serving in Good Sam projects gives us the opportunity to be the “light of the world” we were intended to be.
Matthew 5:16 Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
Monthly Challenge - The opportunities to serve are endless. Groups which have done or are doing Good Sam projects, please enlighten us by clicking on the tiny “Comment” link right beside "Posted by Elaine Brammer" directly below and tell us about your project. Tell us what you do, but also please tell us the impact of your work on the community and how it affected you in the process. Groups who do not currently have a Good Sam project, please consider some ideas among your group and let us know! For suggestions, contact Pastor Elise Diaz at elise.diaz@wacathedral.org
Tips on entering a Comment - 1) Type your comment in the first box. 2) Type the green characters you see in the second box. 3) Choose "Other" as your identity and type your name in the third box. 4) Click on "Publish Your Comment."
10. Personal Growth – Caring for other people expands your vision and impacts your understanding.
9. Group Growth – Serving together strengthens the bond between members and allows them to deepen their relationships with each other.
8. Expanded Ministry – Moving church “out of the church” allows us to reach people we would never have the opportunity to reach during regular services.
7. Reordering Priorities – Tending to the sometimes desperate needs of our fellow man encourages a reassessment of the stewardship of our time and resources.
6. Parenting Opportunities – Bringing your entire family along (if appropriate) allows you to model an appropriate use of time and gifts to your children.
5. Friendship Evangelism – Serving in the community provides opportunities for the unchurched to witness the impact when we truly love our neighbors as ourselves.
4. Personal Blessings – Loving others enough to serve them in their time of need uplifts our own hearts.
3. Changing View – Witnessing the plight of others impacts our attitude toward our own trials and allows us to assess our situation more realistically.
2. Community Appreciation – Becoming more aware of the people around us deepens our appreciation of the larger community.
1. Seizing Opportunity – Serving in Good Sam projects gives us the opportunity to be the “light of the world” we were intended to be.
Matthew 5:16 Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
Monthly Challenge - The opportunities to serve are endless. Groups which have done or are doing Good Sam projects, please enlighten us by clicking on the tiny “Comment” link right beside "Posted by Elaine Brammer" directly below and tell us about your project. Tell us what you do, but also please tell us the impact of your work on the community and how it affected you in the process. Groups who do not currently have a Good Sam project, please consider some ideas among your group and let us know! For suggestions, contact Pastor Elise Diaz at elise.diaz@wacathedral.org
Tips on entering a Comment - 1) Type your comment in the first box. 2) Type the green characters you see in the second box. 3) Choose "Other" as your identity and type your name in the third box. 4) Click on "Publish Your Comment."
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Identifying Emerging Leaders by Elaine Brammer
Small Groups are known as the “heart of Washington Cathedral.” It is where people find a community to celebrate with them in times of joy, and mourn with them in times of sorrow. These are the friends who will support you in your challenges, and uplift you in your struggles. It is a primary avenue for spiritual growth and fellowship. It is not a clique or a club, and operates with open doors at all times. Our goal is to offer this level of support to every person who attends Washington Cathedral, and we are hopeful that at least two-thirds of the people who attend regularly will choose to join a Small Group. The challenge ahead of us is great. Presently only one-fourth of our regular-attenders belong to a Small Group.
As members of a Small Group leadership team you are already supporting the Small Group vision. You are also an integral part of helping us form more groups, for which we must have more people willing and able to be part of a leadership team. We need your help! We would like you to assist us by identifying those adults in your group who you would call “emerging leaders.” These are people who you think might be a good candidate for leadership. We ask two things of you during this process.
· First, do not make any judgments regarding whether the person would or would not agree to be part of a leadership team, even if you have asked them to be part of a team and they said “no.” Simply make your recommendations based on whether you think they might be qualified to be in leadership.
· Second, please do not share your recommendations with anyone, including the persons you are recommending.
Leaders Please Repond by April 1st:
As members of a Small Group leadership team you are already supporting the Small Group vision. You are also an integral part of helping us form more groups, for which we must have more people willing and able to be part of a leadership team. We need your help! We would like you to assist us by identifying those adults in your group who you would call “emerging leaders.” These are people who you think might be a good candidate for leadership. We ask two things of you during this process.
· First, do not make any judgments regarding whether the person would or would not agree to be part of a leadership team, even if you have asked them to be part of a team and they said “no.” Simply make your recommendations based on whether you think they might be qualified to be in leadership.
· Second, please do not share your recommendations with anyone, including the persons you are recommending.
Leaders Please Repond by April 1st:
Click here and tell us who you believe are your emerging leaders - include their names (and emails if you have them.)
Saturday, February 24, 2007
Top 10 Reasons Every Small Group Needs A Leadership Team
Why do we need a Leadership Team?
by Elaine Brammer
At Washington Cathedral, each small group is led by a Leadership Team, not an individual or one couple. The team has three positions, which can be filled with individuals or couples: leader, assistant (or sometimes two co-leaders), and host. It is important for each of us to recognize the purpose of the leadership team, so here we go:
TOP TEN REASONS WHY EACH SMALL GROUP SHOULD HAVE A LEADERSHIP TEAM:
10. Accountability – We all need fellow believers to keep us accountable in our actions as leaders.
9. Success – Small Group history at Washington Cathedral tells us that Small Groups with fully functioning leadership teams have the greatest chance of long-term success.
8. Burn-out – There are many jobs inherent in the Small Group – praise time, leading prayer, facilitating the study time, attendance reports, finding new people to invite, following up with absent members, supporting members through difficult times, refreshments, babysitting, providing an inviting location to meet, greeting members as they come in, etc. Leaders who try to do it all themselves have a much greater chance of burn-out than those who share the leadership responsibilities.
7. Individual Growth – More fellow believers are given a chance to grow in their ability to service others.
6. Program Growth – By growing more leaders in the church, we can grow the number of small groups so we can serve a greater portion of our attenders.
5. Continuation – When a leader has a life situation (a move, career challenges, family issues, etc.) that forces him/her to move out of Small Group leadership, the remaining part of the team can provide the continuity to keep the Small Group healthy.
4. Attendance – Even if no one else shows up but the leadership team, you have AT LEAST 3 – 6 people there.
3. Quality – A leader who is part of a team will be able to devote more time to their assigned tasks and do a better job of their Small Group responsibilities.
2. Ideas – Six heads are better than one to come up with fresh ideas of how to keep your Small Group active and interesting, whether that includes group activities, curriculum decisions, or any decision regarding direction of your Small Group.
1. Survival – When your job sends you out of town, or your child is throwing up, or you are throwing up, or all three at once – you have someone to call to shoulder your Small Group responsibilities until you are back on your feet. At Washington Cathedral no one stands alone, and that includes Small Groups!
by Elaine Brammer
At Washington Cathedral, each small group is led by a Leadership Team, not an individual or one couple. The team has three positions, which can be filled with individuals or couples: leader, assistant (or sometimes two co-leaders), and host. It is important for each of us to recognize the purpose of the leadership team, so here we go:
TOP TEN REASONS WHY EACH SMALL GROUP SHOULD HAVE A LEADERSHIP TEAM:
10. Accountability – We all need fellow believers to keep us accountable in our actions as leaders.
9. Success – Small Group history at Washington Cathedral tells us that Small Groups with fully functioning leadership teams have the greatest chance of long-term success.
8. Burn-out – There are many jobs inherent in the Small Group – praise time, leading prayer, facilitating the study time, attendance reports, finding new people to invite, following up with absent members, supporting members through difficult times, refreshments, babysitting, providing an inviting location to meet, greeting members as they come in, etc. Leaders who try to do it all themselves have a much greater chance of burn-out than those who share the leadership responsibilities.
7. Individual Growth – More fellow believers are given a chance to grow in their ability to service others.
6. Program Growth – By growing more leaders in the church, we can grow the number of small groups so we can serve a greater portion of our attenders.
5. Continuation – When a leader has a life situation (a move, career challenges, family issues, etc.) that forces him/her to move out of Small Group leadership, the remaining part of the team can provide the continuity to keep the Small Group healthy.
4. Attendance – Even if no one else shows up but the leadership team, you have AT LEAST 3 – 6 people there.
3. Quality – A leader who is part of a team will be able to devote more time to their assigned tasks and do a better job of their Small Group responsibilities.
2. Ideas – Six heads are better than one to come up with fresh ideas of how to keep your Small Group active and interesting, whether that includes group activities, curriculum decisions, or any decision regarding direction of your Small Group.
1. Survival – When your job sends you out of town, or your child is throwing up, or you are throwing up, or all three at once – you have someone to call to shoulder your Small Group responsibilities until you are back on your feet. At Washington Cathedral no one stands alone, and that includes Small Groups!
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