So Long, Throngs; Welcome Back, Small Groups!
The World Cup showed us the momentary glory of huge groups. Throngs of orange-clad Holland fans parading through the streets. Throngs of thirst-clad Scotland fans singing in Boston bars. Throngs of [grunt] seated Norwegian fans [grunt] pulling on imaginary [grunt] Viking oars.
Yes, huge groups are loads of fun every four years. But year in, year out, month in, month out, the lasting value is in small groups. Like the many small groups found here at SUM.
What is a SUM small group?
Small groups are in-person gatherings of five or 10 or 15 people who meet with some regularity. A few examples:
Mission groups, such as South Park Inn and Days for Girls
Music groups at 9:00 and 10:30 services
Bible studies and book studies
Fellowship clubs
Standing committees, such as Trustees
Lasting benefits of small groups
Did John Wesley subscribe to Psychology Today magazine? In the 1700s, Wesley was a big promoter of several types of small groups. These mini-communities provided candor, education, growth, and encouragement.
Fast forward to the present. Psychology Today has documented the many benefits of a sense of community. This combination of essential support, belonging, and shared purpose:
Boosts mental and physical health
Fosters personal growth through shared perspectives
Increases resilience against life’s challenges
Reduces loneliness
Improves overall life satisfaction
An easy yet powerful way to love your neighbor
Consider this. If you enjoy a great benefit from being among, say, seven other people on a regular basis, then your presence and participation is a huge favor – a gift of love – for those same seven people. You are doing a good deed for them and yourself.
New small groups are forming this Fall
Our new church year starts Sunday, September 13., and your old favorite small groups, including Adult Spiritual Growth, will be starting up again.
SUM also wants to experiment with a few new small groups this Fall. We are looking for your ideas. A group could center on a hobby, a favorite activity, an area of study, whatever. It could meet on campus, at a restaurant, or in a home. Day time, night time, weekends.
I’ll be happy to host a Cribbage and Coffee club in my house. Eileen Brogan would like to host a genealogy hang-out group at her condo clubhouse. She also plans on starting a People without Partners club for outings, such as meals, plays, and museums. Please reach out if you’re interested. More opportunities may emerge as September 13 draws near.
If you have your own small group idea in mind, please contact Eileen, me, or JLo in the office to discuss next steps.
Thanks!
Bruce Hale