Join us on the spiritual journey at Southminster Presbyterian Church during this trimester of Growth Groups. In this catalog you will find a listing of study topics, times, and group leaders. Unless otherwise specified, groups begin Monday, June 4 and end by Sunday, August 26. Study and prayer, play and service, are the components of each group. Child care and/or children’s programming will be provided for the Sunday morning groups, for the Friday morning group (#4) and for other groups as requested by participants.
Each study resource is accorded its place on the Presbyterian and Reformed theological continuum, since each person is at a unique place in his/her own journey. In order to help you choose a group that suits you, we have indicated whether a group is conservative (taking the Bible and church doctrine in a primarily literal sense), moderate (blending literal and metaphorical understandings), or progressive (tending toward metaphorical and symbolic understandings). You will find that the majority of our offerings are in the moderate range, while we may also have a few items on either end of the spectrum. There are many different ways of understanding Christian faith, and Southminster is a spiritual home for people with a variety of viewpoints.
In order to sign up for a group, you may fill out a connection card during worship (being sure to put the group number on your card) and turn it in with your offering. You may also sign up in the Narthex or online (below), beginning on May 13.
Learning in community offers a wonderful experience of fellowship, care and spiritual growth. We pray that you will join us in this phase of our church’s journey into a deeper spirituality.
The Growth Group Committee
NOTE: We have attempted to find the least expensive on-line ways to purchase materials. Some of these are available as Kindle books, but this is not mentioned in the descriptions. If you do not have access to on-line buying, please contact Pastor Jackie to order your book.
Registration
Group #1: James: Living on the Edge
Leader: Pat Elliott, Steve Davis
Meets: SUNDAY, 8:45 – 9:45
(Child CE provided, IF families register their children.)
The book of James is an instruction guide for Christians. The author knew the weaknesses of those believers he pastored in the early church, and we today continue to struggle with the same temptations and failures. William DeVries, Pastor of 1st Christian Reformed Church, Grand Rapids, MI, helps class members explore together ways this ancient book helps 21st century Christians deepen faith and grow in spiritual maturity. 9 sessions
The book is a necessity and can be ordered, by May 25, through the church office. A second order will go in on June 1, but delivery is not guaranteed by the first class date. Cost is:$10.
Group #2: MINI-SERIES James: Living on the Edge
Leader: Jackie Nowak
Meets: SUNDAY, 11:15 – 12:00 (August 5 - 26)
(Child CE programs offered)
The book of James is an instruction guide for Christians. The author knew the weaknesses of those believers he pastored in the early church, and we today continue to struggle with the same temptations and failures. William DeVries, Pastor of 1st Christian Reformed Church, Grand Rapids, MI, helps class members explore together ways this ancient book helps 21st century Christians deepen faith and grow in spiritual maturity. 9 sessions
The book is NOT a necessity for this mini-class, but can be ordered, by July 18. Cost is:$10.
Group #3: Your Time-Starved Marriage
Leader: Megan Collins
Meets: SUNDAY, 11:15 - Noon
(Child CE programs offered)
Do you feel overscheduled and under connected? Would you love to bring back the rest and recreation you both crave? Do you wish there was a surefire way to create more meaningful time together each day? Reclaim your time together and all the relational benefits that go with it. This small group DVD curriculum by relationship experts Les and Leslie Parrott gives you the tools you need to stay connected as a couple and make every moment together count. 12 sessions
The workbook will be useful for the study. If you wish to order a copy of the book, you may do so through www.amazon.com or other book retailers. The cost is approximately $9.
Group #4: Women of the Bible
Leader: Jackie Nowak
Meets: Friday, 9 – 11 a.m. (5/25, 6/29, 7/13 & 27, 8/10 & 24)
(Child care provided)
NOTE the beginning date for this six session group
Immerse yourself in the lives of six of the women in the Bible, and you'll see more and more places where your life intersects with theirs. Women of the Bible includes 52 Studies for Individuals and Groups and is designed especially for those who want to delve more deeply, either alone or in a group, into the lives of women like Ruth, Anna, Esther, Leah, Rachel, Mary, Elizabeth, and other women who encountered the living God. While the book contains fifty-two studies, we will study six of these. Each timeless biblical story mirrors the challenges and changes today's women face. Through understanding these women's lives, this easy-to-use study resource will help you discover the God behind their stories---and yours.
NOTE: This group begins on May 25 and meets from then on the 4th Friday in June, the 2nd and 4th Fridays in July and August. 6 sessions
The book is not necessary for this study, though is can be purchased from Amazon for $10.
Group #5: NOOMA Videos on Life and Faith
Leader: Joyce Fisher
Meets: Tuesday, 6:30-7:30 (beginning June 26)
(Child care upon request)
Share your faith the way Jesus did! Wherever he went, whatever he did, Jesus started discussions about what matters most, because for Jesus, God is always inviting us to open our eyes and join in. Nooma is a series of short films that explore our world from a perspective of Jesus. Nooma is an invitation to search, question, and join the discussion. Author of these videos, Rob Bell, is the founding Pastor of Mars Hill Bible Church and currently a best-selling, provocative author. This is a completely video-based group. 9 sessions
Group #6: Book Study: The Shack
Leader: Drew Fisher
Meets: Wednesday, 6:30-7:30
(Child care upon request)
Mackenzie Allen Phillips's youngest daughter, Missy, has been abducted during a family vacation, and evidence that she may have been brutally murdered is found in an abandoned shack deep in the Oregon wilderness. Four years later, in this midst of his great sadness, Mack receives a suspicious note, apparently from God, inviting him back to that shack for a weekend. Against his better judgment he arrives at the shack on wintry afternoon and walks back into his darkest nightmare. What he finds there will change his life forever. Wm. Paul Young was born a Canadian and raised among a Stone Age tribe by his missionary parents in the highlands of former New Guinea. While he suffered great loss in his early years, he now enjoys the "wastefulness of grace" with his family. 12 Sessions
To order a copy of the book, you may do so through www.amazon.com or other book retailers. The cost is approximately $8.00. The book is necessary for group participation.