If you are interested in participating in one or more of our small groups, please contact Karen Sesnon, Pastoral Assistant, Evan Lewis, Elder for Group Ministries, or Brent James, Minister of Community Life.  If you would like to facilitate a new or existing small group, or if you would like to be a "shepherd" for up to five small group facilitators, please share that with us as well.

Membership or regular attendance at LGPC’s worship services and other various ministry events are not required for participation in our small groups. Many groups are open to adding participants, and new groups are being formed all the time! Descriptions about each type of smal group are listed below, along with links to other contacts and information pages on this website.

To see a partial list of small groups, please click

on the following link:  FIND A GROUP

To use this website to sign up for one of our small groups,

please click on the following link:  SIGN-UP PAGE

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COMMUNITY GROUPS: Community Groups usually consist of 4 - 12 participants who meet weekly or bi-weekly, in homes, on the church campus, in offices, or in restaurants. Some groups are age- or gender-specific, others are mixed.  Regular components of Community Groups include: Fellowship, Bible study (or Christian book study), Worship, Prayer, and Mission (service, cargo).  Community Groups are “missional” in two biblical respects: (1) they are encouraged to be open, on occasion, to receiving new participants in the love of Jesus Christ, and (2) they have several service ministries they work on together, outside the group, in Christ's name. Community Groups are really “home churches” that model themselves after Acts 2. Healthy Community Groups will have, as one of their goals, a plan to multiply or “give birth” to a new group (similar to church planting) after approximately two years, thus helping to fulfill the Great Commission of Jesus Christ in Matthew 28. Some of our Community Groups are listed here.

BIBLE STUDIES: Bible studies are just that. They are groups, small and not-so-small, who gather mainly to study the Word of God. They usually meet weekly or bi-weekly, and may be a mix of both men and women, or be gender-specific. Groups may have only 4-5 people, or be as large as 75-80 people. They are usually open to new participants every meeting. Sometimes they have an instructor for the group, and sometimes the group participants share or rotate the leadership and instruction. Bible studies may have some of the other classic components of a small group, but their goal and mission is different than that of a Community Group. Bible studies may meet for several years and grow to very large numbers. Group participants may also be encouraged to join Christian education courses for their theological edification.  Many of our Bible study groups are listed here.

COVENANT GROUPS: Covenant Groups are intentionally very small, with anywhere from 3-5 people, and they are generally "closed" groups for the sake of confidentiality. They can meet weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly. Their purpose is to provide spiritual accountability and encouragement through deep friendship, discussion, and prayer. Due to the level of openness and vulnerability, it is recommended that covenant groups have participants of the same gender! Bible or book studies may become a part of the Covenant Group’s routine, but the main purpose is to provide support, encouragement, and prayer. Covenant Groups usually stay together for long periods of time, and participants are encouraged to also be involved in Community Groups, Bible studies, or adult Christian education courses for their biblical and theological edification.  For MEN's Covenant Groups, please contact Grant Oakes.  For WOMEN's Covenant Groups, please contact Brent James.

SUPPORT GROUPS: Support Groups resemble covenant groups, but are able usually more focused on a particular issue or topic of discussion. Some examples include: Parenting Groups, Cancer Sufferers, Addictions, Alcoholics Anonymous, etc. Many support groups will generally meet monthly, though they may meet more frequently, as desired. They can be men’s, women’s, or mixed groups. Support Groups may or may not have a biblical component, though they need to be recognized distinctly as a Christian group based on group components. Support Groups may be together for several months or years, depending on the needs of the participants. Generally, support groups are not limited in size, though there may be periods of time where a group chooses to be closed to newcomers for the sake of building trust. Support Group participants are encouraged to also be involved in Community Groups, Bible studies, or adult Christian education courses for their theological edification. For more information about the various types of Support Groups, contact Libby Boatwright, our Associate Pastor for Congregational Care.

PRAYER and/or SERVICE GROUPS: These are “specialty” groups in that they also serve a particular purpose separate from that of Community Groups and Bible Studies, which tend to have more focus on Scripture and spiritual formation. Prayer groups gather for the purpose of prayer, meditation, and contemplation, with regards to one’s relationship with God, the world, the church, the mission and ministry of Jesus Christ, and other people. Many of these groups will also be involved in some type of service or missions project, serving the local or regional community in the name of Jesus Christ.  Prayer and service group participants are encouraged to also be involved in Community Groups, Bible studies, or adult Christian education courses for their theological edification.  Many of our prayer and/or service groups are listed here.  If you would like to particpate in a prayer or service group, please contact Libby Boatwright .

MARINERs GROUPS: Mariners Groups are mainly monthly, social and fellowship groups, and are considered to have a separate ministry focus from that of small groups. Mariners Groups are not typically recognized as "small” groups in that they can have as many as 30, 40, or 50 participants. They're usually mixed groups of men and women, some singles, some couples. Though some Mariners Groups may integrate a few of the classic small group components, most of the Mariners Groups are best described as monthly “fellowship” groups.  So the participants are encouraged to be involved in small groups or Bible studies for their edification and spiritual nurture. More information about Mariners Groups can be found here.  You may also contact one of our Co-Commodores, Mark Olen and Susan King.

CROWN GROUPS: Crown Financial Ministries is a 10-week study on biblical perspectives for spending, saving, investing, giving, budgeting, and more! Learning if facilitated in small group settings. At the end of each Crown Ministries event, many of the small groups will choose to stay together to form a Community Group or Covenant Group. More information about Crown Ministries can be found here. You may also contact Libby Boatwright, Associate Pastor for Congregational Care, or Karen Sesnon , Pastoral Assistant.

 

(Updated 02/12/07)