General Information
St. Jude Small Church Communities
On this page...
- Mission Statement and Core Team
- Morning of Reflection - Fruits of the Spirit
- 2011 Retreat: Relationship Enrichment Weekend
- Testimonials
- How Does a Small Church Community Function
- Sample of a Small Church Community Meeting
- SCC Study Resources
- Online Resources for Lectionary Based Reflections
- Discerning Service
Mission Statment
Contact: Annette Calloway
Phone: (317) 780-7591
Email: acalloway@stjudeindy.org"Ordinary People helping each other connect everyday life and faith regularly."
In the large church setting, many people often feel disconnected from the pulse of the parish. They want their faith life to be more than just Sunday worship and look for ways to connect what they pray and learn at Mass with their everyday life. Although, this may seem like an impossible task when there are so many people in a parish like St. Jude, Small Church Community are designed to do just that. These groups provide individual members with a core community to journey and share with that is then connected to the larger church. Please contact us if you are interested in joining a Small Faith Community.
Core Team: Joe Horan, Eileen Horan, Martha Kuntz, Jane Jackson, Marilyn Steigerwald, Patty Collins, Annette Calloway, Bill Moyer
Morning of Reflection - Fruits of the Spirit
Who: Anybody
Where: St. Jude Parish Center - Assembly Room (basement)
When: Saturday November 20th, 2011, 9:00am - Noon
Registration: Contact: Annette (317) 780-7591 or : acalloway@stjudeindy.org
Relationships change us. Parents are great testatments to this fact, they want their children to choose companions wisely so they will have a good influence on their lives. The same is true for our ralationship with God, faith. The more active we are in our faith the more it will yeild good fruit. Come spend a morning refining the Spirit working in your life and learn how you can cultivate a better yield. Sponsored by the Small Church Community Core Team all our welcome to attend. November 20th, 9-12, in the Parish Center Assembly Room. Watch this spot for more information.
Couples Enrichment Weekend
Contact: Annette Calloway
Email: acalloway@stjudeindy.org
Married couples promise to be committed in sickness and health. This promise is more than physical, because sickness comes in many different forms. It can be relational, psychological and spiritual. These aspects of our life can also become ill. In the physical sphere, there are many illnesses that can be avoided by tending to our physical needs. We watch our diets, exercise, try to manage stress and get enough sleep. Relationships can be the same. There are many “habits” we can develop to keep our relationships strong and healthy, so that in the difficult times they can ward off illness.
This next January, we are planning a couples (for both married and others in committed relationship) enrichment workshop for all members of our parish to take a look at their relationships. It will take place beginning on Friday evening, January 21st and reconvene on Saturday morning, January 22nd, ending with lunch. The aim of the program is to strengthen your personal bonds and give you skills for managing your lives together.
Even Jesus, at a point in His life, asked His disciples to tell Him who/what others thought of Him. All of us need an opportunity to take a look at ourselves. To ‘see’ where we are in our relationship and ‘focus’ on where we want to go. Watch this web-page or the parish bulletin for information closer to the date.
Testimonials
“My Small Church Community is truly a family in that we range in age from middle 30’s to 70 ’s. There are two married couples, 3 widows, and two married women. This diverse group has become very close because of our varied backgrounds, the lives we have led or are leading and the wisdom of life offered by all. One of the most spiritual events for me was when my husband passed away suddenly ... Many of my other Church family also came, but the love and strength from the family I am with every other Monday was God’s way of letting me know He was right there beside me and that we will always have each other to lean on.” – Gayle Roth
“For where two or three are gathered in my name,
there am I in the midst of them." Matthew 18:20
“Belonging to a Small Church Community has given me the opportunity to participate in shared prayer with my wife. With our busy schedules it gives us both the opportunity to take time to share our faith with each other as well as with our group.” – Joe Horan
“ So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners,
but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones
and members of the household of God.” Ephesians 2:19
“It seems to us that it is quite easy for friends to get together and form a Small Church Community. We believe that it is more of a challenge for existing friends to welcome strangers into their group. As strangers, we were welcomed immediately into our Small Church Group! It was almost as if we had known everyone for a long time, they were so welcoming! This has been the beauty of our SCC for us. Whereas we hardly knew anyone at St. Jude, this SCC took us in and made us one of theirs. For us the Holy Spirit was at work in our SCC.” – Bob and Sue Degitz
“This is how they will know you for my disciples:
your love for one another.” John 13:35
“One of the most beautiful blessings we received from experiencing CRHP 13 was our decision to continue meeting together regularly as a Small Church Community. We have found our group gatherings to be a very special spiritual experience for each of us. It brings us closer to God, our family and to each other. Ours is a diverse group in age, talent and spirituality. We have developed a unique closeness to each other and are available to reach out to one another as well as anyone else who may be in need. ... We thank God for this opportunity to share His love.” – Shirley Dreyer
How Does it Small Church Function
Eight to twelve adults who gather in homes, usually twice a month. These groups grow together through faith sharing experiences that develop in fullness over time. The following is an example of the stages that some groups can choose to follow.
Stage 1: Focus on belonging
Members share in group exercises that introduce them to each other and to group sharing.
Stage 2: Focus on prayer
Members work to develop a comfort level with praying as a group, as well as deepening their own commitment to prayer.
Stage 3: “Owning Your Own Church Story”
The Long Haul– Groups that choose to stay together….
Provide support and affirm each other pray, share and experience fellowship on a regular basis. Sharing can be bible based or other study, which changes with the desires of the group. Group will be connected to the parish and many resources. Develop friendships and experience fellowship e xplore ways to serve the parish and others.
The key is that each group is connected to the larger parish through a pastoral facilitator (PF). This person will receive support through access to resources and continual interaction with other PFs.
Sample of a Small Church Meeting
Prayer : Most meetings start with prayer, which can be as simple as the Our Father or someone praying from the heart.
Catching Up: People have some time to catch up with what has happened in each other’s lives since the last meeting.
Connecting Life & Faith: This portion of the meeting will be centered on some study that the group has chosen. Many times it will be a study that opens up the Sunday readings, but groups can choose from a large array of resources. Many resources are built on a six to twelve session series, so each group can share a variety of topics. All these studies are meant to help the participant to connect their daily lives to their faith.
Final prayer: Groups may end with simple intercessory prayer.
Most meetings are held in the members’ homes, with simple refreshments and hospitality. Each session usually lasts an hour and a half.
SCC Study Resources
The St. Jude Faith Formation Office has vraious sets of books that can be used by our parish small church communities at no cost. Click on the link below to see our latest lising then contact Annette Calloway acalloway@stjudeindy.org to see if what you want is in or can be ordered.
Lectionary Based Faith Sharing Resources Online
Many small church communities reflect on the Sunday readings during their meetings. Below is a link to some free resources that can supplement this sort of group study.
Discerning Service
Many groups who are in a small church community for the long haul begin to yearn to take action. What is all this formation about? They hear the call to enter into active discipleship and they want to do it in the context of the small church they have formed. This link will take you to a page that is designed to help your small church group make a prayerful discernment of how they are called to serve.