Small Groups

The modern world is definitely very busy, and there is always more to do than there is time to do it. Even the reality of retirement quickly dispels the myth of "free time". There are constant pressures on our time, and how, and where and on what we spend it.

The Church family, and the pressures and demands of Church life only add to this shortage of time, and it would be so much easier if we could just skip that Church service or that Church event now and again. If Church is one more piece of straw on the camel's back then would it not be better to not add Church to the pile of things we already do, and the burden we already bear?

Hebrews 10.25

The writer of the Book of Hebrews in the Bible was urging the early Christians not to "skip Church". The writer was not only emphasising the importance to ourselves of regularly meeting, but also so that we may "encourage one another" — that is, we also meet for the benefit of others. So, it is good to "meet together". However, it is very easy to interpret the phrase "meeting together" or going to church as the regular Sunday service. That is to say, attend Church on Sunday, the beginning of the week, and that is Church done for the week. And this is where the idea of Small Groups comes in.

Small Groups in churches can perform, among other things, two important functions. They can encourage Christians to meet together other than on a Sunday, so that Church is not just about Sunday. And Small Groups can allow people a voice to be heard that may be lost in a bigger group of people at Church on a Sunday.

The Benefice of Coniston and the Crake Valley therefore wishes to foster Small Groups within each church, across our churches, and with our Partner Churches. The Small group initiative below, The Chosen, is an example that encourages togetherness and growth. 

The Chosen