Home Groups

'And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.'
Hebrews 10: 24-25

The two components of our church life at St Christopher's are the Sunday celebration and worship and the cells or home groups that meet during the week.
 

Life at the heart of the church

St Christopher's is working at becoming a church of small groups rather than a church with small groups.

We would encourage every member of our church community to be a part of a small relational group, as members are able to care for each other, grow in their Christian faith and have fun and fellowship along the way.
 

Home Groups are small groups of people who meet in homes on a regular basis to develop their Christian faith and to get to know and care for other people.  They are the primary care units of the parish.

There are at present thirty groups for adults and young adults.  The smallest group has five people, the largest sixteen.  Most groups meet once a week while others meet once a fortnight. 

The groups are similar but different!

Each group has a programme which appeals to the people within that group.  There are usually two leaders for each group but some have just one.  Most groups follow a similar pattern for each meeting – a time of getting to know one another better by, for example, talking about their week.  Worship is included but may not include singing – somebody may read a poem or bring along a piece of music to listen to.  Opening prayer may be a formal written prayer or spontaneous.  The main ‘study’ part of the evening is Bible based and may be a discussion on a particular Bible passage using Bible study guides or it may be watching a video or listening to tapes.  The people in each group decide what they would like to study.  Prayer is also important and may be a formal closing or a time of sharing of needs and requests for prayer for specific situations.

People are able to join a group by either being invited along by the leaders or by being placed in a group by the Home Groups’ Coordinator.  We find this system works well in placing people in groups where they feel most comfortable – we have such a diverse set of groups that we try to match people to the most appropriate group.  Placing someone in a group may take a while because matching the type of group with the time of day and day of the week the person prefers sometimes isn’t easy!  However the earlier we know that you are interested the earlier we can place you.

No? - Would you like to be?

Yes? – you are, but you would like a change of group?

Not sure?  You’d like to be in a group but you’re not sure if a Home Group is what you’re looking for?

Got some ideas? – You’d like to meet with other people interested in what you’re interested in doing – e.g. playing chess, embroidery, cooking - and would somehow like to combine these interests with Christian growth and fellowship?

If you would like to either be in a group or find out more about them please contact the Home Groups Coordinator.

Of course groups can function well only with leaders committed to not only the Lord but also the people in their groups.  If you feel that being a leader of a home group is something that the Lord may be asking you to do this year please do two things – pray about it and contact Susan Street to arrange a time to discuss what leadership involves.

For further information, please contact
Home Groups Coordinator
E   homegroups@stchristophers.org.nz

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