Early Winter/Spring 2016 Dates

• Saturday/Sunday, January 2/3 – Small Group Signups begin (catalogs in worship services, small group listings at foyer table and church website)
• Sunday, January 10 – SG Leader Vision/Training Session, 10:00-11:15AM, LCCC Gym (One session offered twice. This is option 1.)
• January 17 – 23 – Official SG Kickoff Week!
• Saturday, January 23 – Church Family Summit, 9:00AM-1:00PM (Four hours of workshops for the entire church family. The small group leader training makeup session will be one 50 minute workshop.)
• Saturday, February 6 – LCCC Membership Class 

Fall 2015 Testimonies

It’s always good to celebrate what God is doing in and through us. Take a minute to enjoy these fun reports and pictures from the semester that just ended!

1. From new leaders of a new group who didn’t know what kind of group God would assemble:

We’ve had 14 contacts you’ve sent of couples and singles. Of those, one is a missionary; another has two daughters entering mission work; one is an Army Chaplain who was able to connect with another who wants to become an Air Force Chaplain, and another who has also done mission work. We have quite a theme here!

Fun Note: This group eventually called themselves the “RIBS Small Group” (Rejoice in Being Servants).

2. A small group in action:

We garnered help from our group for the Harvest Carnival and made tentative plans for a potluck. Next week we are going to start with the You’ll Get Through This video and then move outside around the fire pit for our discussion ending with s’mores (might be a good time for a visit-wink, wink).

Sadly, I had to miss their s’mores night, but visiting the groups each semester is a personal highlight for me and our small group coaches.

3. A leader shared this anonymous note and said to me, “Reg, this is what is kind of cool about being a small group leader.”

…Thanks for the kind word.  You actually just caused me to Google the word shy and it’s funny because I’m a little too proud to say that about myself, but the definition fits: “Being reserved or having or showing nervousness or timidity in the company of other people.”  It’s actually a little tough to swallow. But it’s a trait I have carried my whole life. Thank God He blessed me with an amazing family who I can be absolutely opened up to, without any shields or filters or fears. With them, I get to be a comedian, a rock star, a superhero.

That’s why we do what we do.

4. One of many ReEngage Testimonies:

Ben and Nina say:

ReEngage has caused a focus shift in our marriage; we have both started to serve our spouse more, and put their needs and desires ahead of our own. We apologize out loud and ask forgiveness of each other when we mess up, and we are more gracious and patient in general. We are a team, and we spend intentional time together growing that bond. We love ReEngage!

 

~Nina

5. Numerous shorter statements shared this fall:

• “You’ll Get Through This” has caused some interesting discussions. Our members are pretty good about sharing openly, and the trust level is getting high.
• We did the videos together, then split into men and women. This has worked very well as more open sharing has occurred.
• Separating guys and girls has worked out well for our group this Fall.
• Top moments this semester were singing with the children at the end of our meetings and sharing our testimonies.
• We have addressed many prayer needs in the group from strength to deal with an antagonistic coworker, to providing a partner for a mission trip, to dealing with a problem special education teacher, to serious health issues, to travel mercies.
• We have connected more outside of the group.
• You will be happy to know that we are starting an inner circle (leadership/discipleship team).

6. Pictures!

 

7. From a leader’s prayer report:

Praise the Lord for a great small group Christmas party. One person told me, “Small group is the only thing that I look forward to each week since moving here last summer.”

We could go on and on, but suffice to say God was glorified and we were blessed in our community this year. So much more to experience in the Winter/Spring 2016 semester, which kicks off the week of January 17. If you are not in a group yet, join one by then! See how and start browsing now  right here.

For His glory and our joy,

Pastor Reg