	Viewpoint: From the Corner Office

Octo= ber 10, 2006	Volume 1, Number 2

Home Group Facilitator Orientation Sunday, Oct 15 12:00 – 2:00 p.m. Mahany Community Room “Home is the one place in…the world where hearts are sure of each other. It is the place of confidence. It is the p= lace where we tear off that mask of guarded and suspicious coldness which the world forces us to wear in self-defense, and where we pour out the unrese= rved communications of full and confiding hearts … without any sensation= of awkwardness and without any dread of ridicule.” -Frederick W. Robertson	Home= Groups Now that we have a new newsletter format, I am also getting used to a new way= of sharing with you – in these Viewpoint emails. It= 217;s all a little different, strange and exciting. Most changes are like that – and we certainly are going through a lot of them right now!<= /o:p> We are creating a new church, but we already have a core of long-standing members. We have been part of a faith community with lots of tradition. W= e’re not starting. We’re starting over, re-planting, just as our congregation re-planted itself 4 other times over its history. Our challe= nge is to understand our own heritage of “progressive Christianity̶= 1; (Congregationalists have always been independent religious thinkers), and then present our message in a way that is relevant and engaging for people seeking a place for spiritual experience and meaningful service in the wo= rld today. We are taking steps into this new, unknown territory, but relying on somethi= ng we already know works! That’s heartening! What works is that new pe= ople connect best in small groups, in home groups, where they can gather with a common interest. While Sunday worship is vital, it is not the easiest pla= ce for a new person to make their first connection. While we are paying close attention to keeping our worship uplifting and engaging, we are also star= ting intentional home groups – probably three at first, where friends, neighbors, and strangers may be invited. Many ideas have been presented as possible themes for the groups. The groups will not all be the same. It is important, however, that there be a common sense of connection to our chu= rch, and that those who are group facilitators have a strong sense of the purp= ose of the groups and commitment to keeping them going. Examples of possible groups are: theological discussion (such as “Living the Questions”), book studies, music or art endeavors, senior women (su= ch as Good Hope Colony), meditation, single parents, or couples fellowship.<= o:p> It may seem that we have been moving slowly in this area, but a number of th= ings need to be in place in order for the groups to be effective. We need trai= ned facilitators. We need print
“We must make our homes centers of compassion …” -Mother Teresa	materials to place in peoples’ hands as part of an invitation. = Our print materials need a “new look” and hopefully a new name, although we must be prepared to launch groups without that. The good news= is that we already have the framework of at least two groups in place – “Living the Questions” and the Good Hope Colony. Now we have = to learn how to invite new people to those groups, and connect them to the excitement of being a new church. All of you with any interest in learning more about facilitating a home group are urged to attend the facilitator orientation= on Sunday, October 15 from 12:00 – 2:00 p.m. in the Mahany Community R= oom. At the orientation, I will present a proposed format for the groups. I wi= ll coordinate the facilitators and provide resources for use with your group= s. If appropriate, I will also visit groups. The groups are not intended to = be a way to split up our current church membership. The groups are an addition= al way for new people to connect with us, other than coming to worship on a Sunday morning. The groups are intended both as “pre-launch” manifestations of the new church, and hopefully as fellowship opportuniti= es that continue into the indefinite future as vehicles for growth. It is vi= tal to remember than many of the people to whom we are opening our doors do n= ot share the same experiences of church that many of us have had. They may h= ave been away from church for a long time. Their experiences may have been mi= xed or negative. If they are young enough, they may never have been to church= at all, and know nothing except what the wider media makes accessible to the= m. Each one of us is a spiritual being. We are drawn togethe= r by our spiritual natures into communities seeking experiences of the sacred and opportunities to create a better world through love, peace, justice and – in our case – the teachings of Jesus. I challenge you to reflect and pray on the questions: “How many ways can we ‘create home’ for new people?R= 21; “Could I open my home?” Peace and grace, Pastor Carol
	First Congregational Church, United Church of Christ<= /st1:PlaceName> 2= 323 Euclid Ave Redwo= od City CA 94061 650-369-0344 fccrc@fccrc= .cnc.net www.f= ccrc.cnc.net

Viewpoint: From the Corner Office

Home= Groups

Viewpoint:
From the Corner Office