The Monday Group

 

 

I'm not too sure where this page will go.The Monday Group is the growth group that we help lead.This is quite a rare picture of all of us, plus Caroline's mum!She is in the middle row with Dave, (group leader), Derek, and myself.

This group has been running for 2 or three years. I don't think we can even remember how long.

although it is not the most orthodox group in the world, it is the only one , apart from pastor's ,that is still running from the last reorganisation.

We are a group with a BIG problem- we all talk far too much!

As a result, we take ages to get through study books.

We should have got through at least six books, but I think, unless I've forgotten one, which is eminently possible, that we've got through four.

A twelve chapter study of Genesis took us the best part of a year. We were not so long on the study of the beatitudes that followed. Then, for reasons that are still beyond our comprehension , we studied Job!

We also , along with all the other growth groups , did "Firm Foundations", which is a base book for most of the study guides we use.

Just lately, we have been studying 1 Peter. Again this was a case of "Don't judge a study book by its cover". We chose this book partly because we all liked the cover graphics. (That is the kind of group we are)It has taken us ages again to get through it. So long, in fact, that at times we have forgotten what the authors meant when they referred to earlier chapters.

The study books we normally use are by Matthias Media

We do split the sessions up with tapes, prayer evenings, ( although we spend a fair amount of time in prayer most weeks).

Growth groups are supposed to have social events. We have a problem with this. For a group that is often radical in its approach, we are rather stick in the muds!

We usually manage punch and mince pies, ( maybe) before Christmas. This year, we did go to see "Lord of The Rings".

We always finish our formal summer session with a barbecue, although those of us that can do try to meet throughout the summer.

There aren't any particular membership regulations for the group. We range from 60+ down to 20+, with all the decades in between represented. It's a mix of married and single people. At the moment, we do not have any divorced or widowed people.

Having said that, I should add that some people don't come directly to a group. They may have been to a Just for starters, or Christianity explained course first. These are usually run by a couple of the elders, and sometimes our group leader is involved.However, these courses are not obligatory.

Click this link to find out more about the growth groups

 

All the growth groups have links with the housebound, and members try to visit them, as we can.

Sometimes all the groups, or at least the leaders meet up, but this does not happen as often as it might. We are all busy people